When I started playing, the guide was completely useless. He would also open your doors and leave them open, I very quickly grew to despise the guide and made his home a prison.

To each their own, I hated playing without knowing the crafting recipes and always loved looking up what I can make with everything I picked up.

Keep the wiki open, explore the surface for cave entrances and look for pots/chests, the game completely changes once you get a grappling hook.