Make Exploration EVEN MORE REWARDING.
The first time a player opens a big chest, it should provide a guaranteed, exciting reward—like a 100% ember drop. After that initial discovery, future respawns can draw from a randomized loot table.
Apply the same logic to small chests: the first discovery offers a guaranteed reward, and subsequent openings are purely RNG-based.
This approach would significantly boost the incentive to explore, making the already stunning world even more rewarding to engage with.
Consider also implementing a tracker for how many unique big and small chests have been discovered. Tie in milestones with achievements and rewards.
For example, discovering 20/40/60/80/90/100% of all big and small chests could grant the player cool titles like the Master Explorer , a special achievement, and unique rewards (gear/rings/weapons) like an ultimate explorer outfit.
With a system like this in place, I could easily see myself and others spending hours on end just chilling and exploring, knowing every step brings meaningful progress and tangible rewards.
This game has the potential to be a masterpiece and even create an entirely new sub-genre.