Unveiled at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 in June, Grounded 2 was a surprise announcement that had us excited, especially since it would launch into Early Access just over a month later, on July 29. As a group, we enjoyed playing the original Grounded while it took shape in Early Access, and we found the finished product to be one of the best in the crafting survival genre. The game featured a unique twist: players take on the role of shrunken teenagers trying to survive in a backyard filled with threats like ants and spiders. It had a competent base-building system and decent survival mechanics, but it was marred by janky combat—which really has become a genre staple. Still, at release, it had an interesting story, well-written dialogue, and enough content to keep us entertained for dozens of hours.
With Grounded 2, the team at Obsidian Entertainment teamed up with Eidos-Montréal to build on Grounded, expand combat, and give players a much larger world to explore. Currently, the game has a single act, and about one-third of the map is explorable, although even that is about the same size as the original Grounded’s map. That means Grounded 2 will ultimately be three times the size of Grounded, and after spending almost 20 hours to clear the current content, we are really excited to see what the future holds. Not surprisingly, the game is off to a great start, carrying over everything that worked in the original and adding mounts in the form of Buggies and a more compelling combat system, while streamlining gathering with the Omni-Tool.
Once again, the four playable characters from the original Grounded make their return in the sequel: Pete, Max, Hoops, and Willow. This time around, their personalities take a different, more humorous turn after being shrunk again. They’re joined by Sloane Beaumont of Ominent, who guides players through the adventure. Meanwhile, the game’s major mystery revolves around a character played by Ashly Burch. Choosing a character mostly comes down to personal preference, as they don’t have classes or skills tied to them. The story is interesting from the start, and we’re very curious to see who’s behind the mask of Burch’s character. One big reason Grounded stood out in the crafting survival genre was its story and characters, and Grounded 2 already looks better in that regard.
Overall, combat feels very similar to the first game, which is a bit of a disappointment. However, there have been some improvements to the underlying systems. For starters, you can now build into archetypes with supporting gear to accommodate different playstyles. As an example, specializing with a dual-wielding weapon steers the character toward being a rogue, while those who prefer a traditional sword-and-board can do so, too. I found bow-and-arrow combat most comfortable, especially since my Buggy could tank for me. The added depth to combat customization is important, too, because, as of now, Grounded 2 is surprisingly difficult.
Arguably the most significant addition in Grounded 2 is the introduction of Buggies, which serve as transportation mounts and combat companions. For the Early Access release, players initially get the Red Soldier Ant, which becomes accessible about two to four hours into the game, depending on their familiarity with Grounded. Buggies aren’t just a quick way to move around the map; you can also engage in combat while riding them. I feel this is a major reason the difficulty feels a bit unbalanced right now, since the game ultimately has to be balanced around the idea of having Buggies. The park is full of familiar threats from Grounded, along with a couple of new ones, but enemies seem a bit overpopulated right now. I was surprised by how often combat music triggered and how frustrating it was at times to just gather resources.
Finishing the first act unlocks the second Buggy, the Orb Weaver spider, which is noticeably different from the Red Soldier Ant. Overall, the spider is better in combat and traversal, but it cannot help with crafting. Meanwhile, players can actually chop down grass and carry weed stems with the Red Soldier Ant. I’m excited to see what additional Buggies the game has in store, and hopefully one of them is a flying option. Any Buggy can serve as a secondary inventory, which is really handy since Grounded 2 is packed with a wide variety of items to collect. Unfortunately, you can only have one Buggy summoned at a time, but switching between the two is quick and easy.
The core gameplay loop from Grounded remains mostly unchanged in Grounded 2. Players will stick to a questline that guides them as they unlock more tech, and this time around there are a lot more weapons and armor to choose from. The Omni-Tool streamlines gathering by combining the axe, shovel, wrench, and hammer into a single tool that doesn’t take up a hotbar slot. When you’re in range of something the Omni-Tool can interact with, a separate key or button activates it. It also has its own unlocks, which are basically upgrades that let the tool harvest higher-tier materials.
When it comes to base building, it’s very similar to the first game for now, but there’s an added mechanic requiring base defense. After progressing a bit through the first act, players will experience periodic waves of attacks from enemies. These enemies target the player rather than the base, but new structures help repel those attacks, so it’s best to be near the base when they happen. It’s an interesting mechanic that doesn’t feel fully fleshed out yet, but the added element of base defense is a welcome one. I, for one, look forward to seeing how the team improves turrets, since the current acorn turret feels a bit lackluster.
While I didn’t experience major technical issues on PC, I did notice the frame rate dropping below 60 FPS despite running on an RTX 5090. I’ve heard the game suffers from technical issues, which isn’t too surprising in Early Access. My companions experienced momentary freezes, which were frustrating for them. Visually, it looks great, though it seems optimization still has a way to go. Hopefully, the team is focused on that, especially since the entire map is a single huge zone and we currently have only one-third of it to explore.
Grounded 2 might be in Early Access, but it’s clear the foundation is solid, and the additions really improve on the original’s formula. The new Buggies expand how you can enjoy the game, from quickly moving around the park to having a friend in combat. The team definitely needs to balance the game’s difficulty, especially in sections where a Buggy can’t join you. I’m also hoping the game expands the base-building options, with a greater emphasis on base defense. We can’t wait to see what the entire park has in store, as Grounded 2 already has the makings to be even better than Grounded.
Grounded 2 enters Early Access on July 29, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S and PC. These first impressions are based on a purchased retail copy of the game on PC. While FullCleared does have affiliate partnerships, they do not influence our editorial content. We may, however, earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links.
Grounded 2 First Impressions Gallery
