Thank you so much for playing our game! This is really great feedback - we've been having a lot of discussions about Narrative recently, and we agree that it could be a lot stronger in this project.
The Hollow Knight example of level design is also such a good point. Our levels were made with our mechanics in mind like you said, but they could absolutely use more landmarks/visual difference to keep players engaged in the world. It would be a dream come true to create memorable rooms like the Crossroads vertical platform area. (I immediately knew what you were talking about, and what is around it!)
Hopefully you were able to see all that we had to offer! The Caves area that you start in can be a bit long, but afterwards we have a few different areas that are visually distinct, with some fun new mechanics to find.