Tidefall is filled with important NPCs, and knowing where each one is will save you hours of random wandering.
When you first enter Tidefall, you land in the central hub, which acts like a small underwater town.
Here you will immediately see multiple Tidefall Divers, scattered around different platforms and ledges. They mostly provide lore, hints, and minor interactions.
Also in this central area you will find the main shopkeeper selling items like Abyssal Tonic, Super Flippers, and special equipment.
Right next to the shop area is the Drowned Appraiser, a unique NPC who offers higher mutation rates and heavier fish appraisals at a greater cost.
To find him, swim slightly to the right of the main entrance waterfall and look for a glowing blue appraisal station.
If you head toward Coral Basin, you will encounter Coral Divers who guard structures and give area-specific dialogue.
In the Sunken Relics region, you will find a mysterious NPC known as the Seeker of Sunken Relics, who gives you the essence-based boss quest.
He is located near a ritual pedestal that requires three essences before activation.
Throughout Tidefall you will also see Obelisk guardians standing near puzzle monuments, usually positioned in hidden corners of each sublocation.
The easiest way to track all NPCs is to first explore the central hub, then move clockwise through each of the four paths one by one.
Every major zone in Tidefall has at least one important NPC tied to progression, so do not rush through any area without speaking to glowing or highlighted characters.