The game is perfectly playable in single-player, and needs no simplifying.

If you die often, stick to the Meadows until your skills, both in-game and personal, get higher.
Upgrade your gear as you unlock upgrades, and make sure to not go out with half-broken items.
Never, ever underestimate the importance of being rested, eating properly, or managing stamina properly.
Never, ever overestimate your skill as a player.

Basically, play smart, and you'll have a perfectly manageable time. Foolhardy, reckless, or over-confident players are guaranteed to have a difficult time -- and it is their own fault, not the game's.

(Source: 1100+ hours played in single-player, and, by now, I can go without dying for as long as I don't make a stupid mistake.)