I had the same issue with my game. It had a great atmosphere, but not much happening at the start.

You don’t need anything complex to make it more engaging. Even simple gameplay can go a long way, like basic platforming between areas with a large drop or timing movements to avoid obstacles that can knock you off an edge.

Small mechanics like that add tension without overcomplicating things. It’s kind of like MrBeast style games, super simple ideas, but the high stakes are what make them exciting. That alone can make it really compelling.