Grounded 2 – Review (Early Access)
A long-anticipated follow-up to Obsidian Entertainment’s beloved survival crafting game, Grounded 2, arrived with a familiar yet refined premise. Released in Early Access on July 29, 2025, for Windows and Xbox Series X/S, the game continues the captivating tale of miniaturized teens in a colossal world, this time swapping the backyard for a sprawling suburban park. Developed by Obsidian in collaboration with Eidos-Montréal, Grounded 2 builds upon the foundation of its predecessor with meaningful quality-of-life improvements, a significantly expanded world, and a deeper, more mysterious narrative. It is a triumphant sequel that, even in its incomplete state, showcases a confident evolution of the series’ core formula.
Narrative and World-Building: A Park Full of Peril
The story of Grounded 2 immediately draws players back into the grand mystery of their miniaturization. The game’s premise is set two years after the events of the original, with the teens once again inexplicably shrunk and transported, this time to the new, more expansive setting of Brookhollow Park. The overarching plot is more front-and-center than in the first game. A compelling mystery unfolds through a new series of audio logs and cryptic transmissions, with a “persistent, unseen threat” constantly looming over the teens. The discovery of Ominent technology and the introduction of “O.R.C.” (Ominent Remote Control) bugs, which are mind-controlled creatures with glowing transmitters, add a sinister new layer to the lore.
The narrative in Grounded 2 is more engaging and better paced than its predecessor. While the first game’s story was compelling, its progression was often slow, separated by dozens of hours of pure survival gameplay. The sequel’s first act, which is available in the Early Access build, is more focused and actively pushes players to explore new biomes and face new challenges. The tone remains a unique blend of lighthearted adventure and genuine horror, with the goofy banter between the characters contrasting sharply with the terrifying reality of facing off against a monstrous, new creature in the dead of night.
Gameplay: A Refined Survival Experience
At its heart, Grounded 2 remains a survival crafting game, but every aspect has been refined and expanded. The fundamental gameplay loop—gathering resources, crafting tools and armor, and building bases—is as addictive as ever, but with several key improvements that streamline the experience and remove tedious elements.
Survival and Crafting
The survival mechanics of hunger and thirst are familiar, but the crafting system has been a major beneficiary of the sequel’s design philosophy. The Workbench now offers a huge array of new recipes for weapons, armor, and tools. From new consumables like “Bratburst” and “Splatburst” to advanced gear like the “Crimson Saber” and “Northern Shredders” (crafted from Northern Scorpion parts), the crafting tree feels much more robust. The introduction of the Omni-Tool is perhaps the most significant quality-of-life change. This single, versatile tool replaces the need for separate axes, shovels, and hammers, seamlessly switching functions to harvest different materials. This small change has a massive impact on the flow of the game, making resource gathering a much smoother and more enjoyable process.
Base building has also seen enhancements, though some early access bugs and placement issues still exist. New building materials and architectural pieces allow for more creative and ambitious designs. The ability to move entire base sections is another welcome addition, granting players the freedom to relocate their home as they venture into new territories.
Combat and Creatures
Combat in Grounded 2 is a challenging dance of blocking, dodging, and precise attacks. The returning cast of enemies, including the formidable Orb Weavers and Wolf Spiders, are joined by a host of terrifying new critters. The new creatures are not only visually distinct but also have unique behaviors and combat patterns that force players to adapt their strategies.
- Northern Scorpions: Found in the new, more arid regions, these creatures are fast, relentless, and a true test of a player’s combat prowess.
- Praying Mantis Nymph: A formidable foe that is highly resistant to certain damage types and will punish players who rely on brute force.
- Blue Butterflies: These seemingly harmless creatures are deceptively powerful, capable of launching stunning ice attacks.
- Cockroaches: Both the common and the terrifying “O.R.C.” variants, are hardy, resistant to most elemental attacks, and add a new level of threat to urban environments like the Trash Can POI.
- The Caterpillar and Garden Snail: These new passive creatures provide a welcome break from the constant threat of combat, though they still serve as valuable resource providers for those brave enough to kill them.
The addition of the Buggy system is a game-changer. Players can now tame and ride certain insects, such as Red Soldier Ants and Orb Weavers, using them as mounts for both traversal and combat. This not only makes exploring the vast new park much faster but also provides a powerful new tool in combat. A trained bug can act as a tank, a distraction, or even a resource harvester, adding a new strategic layer to the gameplay loop.
Exploration and New Biomes
The shift from the confined backyard of the first game to a massive public park is a major change that dramatically expands the scale of the adventure. The park is a tapestry of diverse, interconnected biomes, each with unique flora, resources, and dangers.
- The Playground: A vibrant new area filled with toys, slides, and other oversized objects that offer unique traversal and building opportunities.
- The Trash Can: This area is a breeding ground for roaches and other scavengers, full of hazardous materials and valuable loot.
- The Community Gardens: A lush new biome that will be added in a future update, promising a rich new environment to explore.
The world design of Grounded 2 is both more expansive and more intentionally designed. Landmarks like the Ice Cream Cart and the Podium serve as natural navigation points, making the lack of a traditional compass feel more organic. The world feels alive, with different insects having their own territories and routines. Players will find themselves climbing high onto a discarded toy to survey the landscape or scurrying under a picnic table to escape a predator, constantly reminded of their minuscule size in a truly colossal world.
Technical Performance and Art Direction
Grounded 2 utilizes Unreal Engine 5, and the visual leap is immediately noticeable. The game features improved lighting, more detailed textures, and smoother animations, all of which contribute to a more immersive and polished experience. The unique art style, a blend of realistic insect models and a vibrant, almost cartoonish environment, is a beautiful and effective aesthetic choice.
However, as an Early Access title, the game is not without its technical issues. Players have reported occasional frame rate drops in highly detailed areas and some persistent bugs with the base-building system. Despite these minor issues, the game generally runs smoothly and is a significant improvement over the first game’s Early Access performance.
The game also includes robust accessibility options, such as an Arachnophobia Safe Mode and a “Read to Me” feature, which were praised in the original and return here in full force.
The Verdict: A Triumphant Sequel in the Making
Grounded 2 is, without a doubt, a fantastic sequel. It takes everything that was great about the original and enhances it with smart design choices and a scale that feels genuinely new. The narrative is more focused, the gameplay is more fluid, and the world is larger and more exciting to explore. While some players may feel the early access version is “more of the same,” it is “more” in the best possible way—a more refined, more complete, and more compelling experience. The introduction of mounts, the Omni-Tool, and the expanded story make this an essential purchase for fans of the original and a perfect entry point for newcomers. It is already a standout survival game, and as it continues to grow through its Early Access period, it has the potential to become a definitive title in the genre.
