Ayyy congrats on 100%-ing! "Challenge mode" was the game's original balancing, so you're right that it's definitely achievable with the right strategy and build! The game was made easier since playtesting reviewed some found it a little too hard (which is fair, since it is part incremental/idle!), and the challenge mode toggle was made because there were also those who enjoyed the original challenge :)
Also, completely relate to you on the I NEED MORE part lmao. I get so sad whenever i near the end of a really good game i played knowing it may be forever before i find another that makes me feel a similar way. It's so bittersweet to hear that BIOTOMATA made your list <3
35 days and I can’t say I’ve found a game that matches up with the kind of one I’m looking for. Tried White Knuckle and sure that’s been fun as hell (I already have 20ish hours on it after not even half a week of getting it and unlocked just about everything in it) but it’s not quite… the same. I need some kind of story. That’s also a pretty interesting story for that mode. Guess I can see why some would’ve thought so but personally I played through the challenge mode after making that comment and it wasn’t exactly that much harder. Though that might just be because of the fact that I had everything already… Anyway that’s all I had to say. Back to my search I suppose.