I have an idea for a Hard Mode for Deltarune...

Called Stagnant Hope, it doesn't increase the party's stats when completing chapters or defeating enemies with violence, meaning everyone retains their Chapter 1 stats throughout the whole game.

You enable it like Undertale's Hard Mode, by naming the Vessel "Stagnant" and yourself "Hope". Chapter 1 plays exactly the same, but once you start Chapter 2, the voice from the Goner Maker speaks up, saying:

EXCELLENT.

TRULY EXCELLENT.

THE FIRST HURDLE HAS BEEN CLEARED.

AND YET...

YOUR HOPE REMAINS UNCHANGED.

HOW INTERESTING.

THIS OUTCOME WAS UNEXPECTED, BUT WHAT GOOD IS AN EXPERIMENT WITHOUT UNFORESEEN RESULTS?

NOW, LET US HASTEN TO THE NEXT CONNECTION...

After that, Chapter 2 begins as normal, but once you reach the Dark World, you'll notice that your stats haven't improved.

Kris still has 90 HP, 10 Attack, 2 Defense, and 0 Magic.

Susie still has 110 HP, 14 Attack, 2 Defense, and 1 Magic.

Ralsei still has 70 HP, 8 Attack, 2 Defense, and 7 Magic.

But unfortunately, the enemies remain unaltered, so their middling damage becomes slightly more dangerous...