[TOTK] Feel like I’m not progressing

Does anybody else feel like you never make combat progress in this or BotW? I’m completing shrines, getting better armor, cooking for advantages, and completing dungeons. I feel the accomplishment of game progress, but I feel like the same weak character I was at the start of the game, just spongier. In past Zelda games, I could tell I was getting more powerful because I could fight starter enemies pretty much anywhere and clear areas with ease. These last two entries constantly increase the strength of the world across the board, making any strength gained seem nonexistent.

I guess I’m just trying to find out if it’s just me and I’m missing something. The rest of the game is really fun, it’s just the combat progress that seems stuck.