diff --git a/docs/release-notes.md b/docs/release-notes.md
index c51dec39..ab120994 100644
--- a/docs/release-notes.md
+++ b/docs/release-notes.md
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 # Release notes
 ## Upcoming release
 * For players:
+  * Added more progress updates in the log during startup.
   * Fixed crash loading mods with corrupted translation files.
 
 * For mod authors:
diff --git a/src/SMAPI/Framework/SCore.cs b/src/SMAPI/Framework/SCore.cs
index df6cd129..86b69239 100644
--- a/src/SMAPI/Framework/SCore.cs
+++ b/src/SMAPI/Framework/SCore.cs
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ namespace StardewModdingAPI.Framework
             this.UpdateWindowTitles();
 
             // start game
-            this.Monitor.Log("Starting game...", LogLevel.Debug);
+            this.Monitor.Log("Waiting for game to launch...", LogLevel.Debug);
             try
             {
                 this.IsGameRunning = true;
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ namespace StardewModdingAPI.Framework
 
             // load mods
             {
-                this.Monitor.Log("Loading mod metadata...");
+                this.Monitor.Log("Loading mod metadata...", LogLevel.Debug);
                 ModResolver resolver = new ModResolver();
 
                 // log loose files
@@ -1487,7 +1487,7 @@ namespace StardewModdingAPI.Framework
         /// <param name="modDatabase">Handles access to SMAPI's internal mod metadata list.</param>
         private void LoadMods(IModMetadata[] mods, JsonHelper jsonHelper, ContentCoordinator contentCore, ModDatabase modDatabase)
         {
-            this.Monitor.Log("Loading mods...");
+            this.Monitor.Log("Loading mods...", LogLevel.Debug);
 
             // load mods
             IList<IModMetadata> skippedMods = new List<IModMetadata>();
@@ -1523,6 +1523,7 @@ namespace StardewModdingAPI.Framework
             this.ReloadTranslations(loaded);
 
             // initialize loaded non-content-pack mods
+            this.Monitor.Log("Launching mods...", LogLevel.Debug);
             foreach (IModMetadata metadata in loadedMods)
             {
                 // add interceptors
@@ -1572,6 +1573,8 @@ namespace StardewModdingAPI.Framework
 
             // unlock mod integrations
             this.ModRegistry.AreAllModsInitialized = true;
+
+            this.Monitor.Log("Mods loaded and ready!", LogLevel.Debug);
         }
 
         /// <summary>Raised after a mod adds or removes asset interceptors.</summary>