I absolutely love Soulsborne games, but I totally see where you're coming from.
I played and gave up on DS1, 2 and Bloodborne. It was playing DS3 that made everything click.
These games are more famous for the boss battles and combat mechanics than as puzzle games. Once you know where to go, they get a lot more fun. Unfortunately, for people who don't wanna spend hours wandering around aimlessly, the fastest way to get to the next boss is to use Google. Sometimes, though, reading the descriptions of key items can help point the way.
I'm currently playing Elden Ring and I'm having the most fun ever playing a Fromsoft game. I keep trying to do the main quest, but keep getting side-tracked by optional dungeons. It's easier than the Dark Souls games, but then again, I did beat DS3+DLC without levelling up my character, so my skill set has gone up a little bit.
For anyone interested in getting into Fromsoft Soul and soulslike games, start at DS3. Definitely do not start at DS2.