I usually go ahead and get Meteor Armor/Space Gun as soon as I start a new world. When I get that, I fight EoW/BoC to get the pickaxe. I'll head to the dungeon, kill skeletron, and loot the Water Bolt and Cobalt Shield. After that, I'll head to the jungle just to grab jungle armor, loot potions, and life crystals. I also prepare an underground mushroom farm. Right after that, I head to hell and break pots hoping for a mana regen/power potion and fight WoF.
In hardmode, I'll grind the WoF until I get a ranger emblem and a Clockwork Assault Rifle. Heading to the corruption/crimson, I break every altar I see. I usually mine enough of hardmode ore #1/2 till I can make a pickaxe that can mine titanium or orichalcum, depending on the ore generated. I'd head to the underground crimson/corruption and grind for enough cursed/ichor bullets. I grab a truffle worm from my mushroom farms and kill Duke Fishron. After that, I just breeze through the entire game.