Most Casual games overthink Meta Progression.

Most Casual games overthink Meta Progression. You don’t have to.

My recommendation:
↳ Use a simple Meta Layer
↳ But one that clearly shows Player Progress

A good meta should:
↳ Be lightweight and dynamic (not eat up too much playtime)
↳ Deliver a strong sense of progression
↳ Motivate players to keep moving forward
↳ Support a smooth flow for your features

Keep it simple. Make it meaningful.