Game looks very eye-candy and unique from graphics standpoint, keep doing awesome job in that direction!
I think such game should be more psychological. There are ways to do it, but I would like it to be MMO'ish, so players could team up with potentially dangerous strangers (other players with changeable nicknames, who may have their own plans!) to travel to more difficult zones. No map - traveling should be based on rumors about what could be found where... each new base spot or talking to strangers brings new rumors on where the next spot is. That story puzzle is fun while you are in beginners zone, and becomes vital when you travel deeper into the beautiful frozen hell! That way collecting information on your own will take long time, pushing players to collaboration instead. Leveling/research/perks/items should be temporary for current life. The only score in leader board is a sum of days you survive, multiplied by zone difficulty (that is exponential of cause). If you die, the score gets dropped to zero, in order to make people value their lives and think twice who they trust.