In 2020, Obsidian, masters of role-playing games, released Grounded. Even more surprising is that it became the company’s biggest hit. At the start of early access, it topped the Steam charts. By July 2025, the total number of players had exceeded 13 million. Neither Fallout: New Vegas nor Pillars of Eternity could boast such numbers. Enter Grounded 2.
At the same time, Grounded had its flaws. The battles resembled mindless grinding, the grind was relentless, and the quests were monotonous. However, the setting was incredible: children were reduced to the size of insects and viewed blades of grass as skyscrapers. Ordinary things became extraordinary: trash on the ground resembled the legacy of titans, a drop of dew could quench a person’s thirst for the whole day, and spiders seemed like the greatest threat.
On July 29, Obsidian released Grounded 2 in early access. The approach hasn’t changed: the world is still incredible, but many questions remain.
It’s more pleasant to survive in a park full of bugs than on an island or in a desert.
Against the backdrop of other survival games, Grounded stood out with its extremely unusual take on the setting: blades of grass the size of trees, anthills as dungeons, and everyday objects as entire locations. The sequel takes the same idea and develops it further, with Obsidian Entertainment’s project growing, as they say, “not upwards, but outwards.”
In the world of Grounded, a corporation shrinks people and conducts experiments on them. One day, innocent children become victims of these experiments. From then on, they must survive in a world of insects and find a way to escape.
The premise is simple, but I believe it has the best setting in the genre. I’ve survived on snow-covered plains, uninhabited islands, deserts, and space. Nowhere else have I fallen so deeply in love with a world. Obsidian took an ordinary backyard and filled it with magic.
As you wander around, you come across traces of a picnic. There’s a champagne cork on the table, but you can’t move it. It seems like a relic of an all-powerful civilization. They say these creatures can step over a curb without first building a ladder!
An uneaten hot dog lies on the neighboring table. You could eat it for years, but it’s already been claimed. An army of beetles, spiders, and other bugs is crawling over it. With such a crowd, a hero of your size is better off not getting involved. It’s a pity because a plastic spoon lies between the tables. Someone clumsily threw it, but to you, it seems like a majestic bridge that would make your life easier.
As you explore the world further, you come across a plastic soda can. The giants are incredible, having drained it in a couple of gulps. However, they are irresponsible for not making it to the trash can. However, their laziness works to your advantage. You climb into the can and see that there is a space the size of a shopping mall inside. You also find a drop left over. Yes, just a drop, but it will give you energy for the whole day.
The giants’ belongings aren’t the most interesting. For example, you encounter a snail along the way. It’s twenty times bigger than you and incredibly fast, yet it hides in its shell when you approach. On the other hand, a ladybug looks at you curiously and calmly walks on. Ants don’t pay any attention to the miniaturized children. Don’t touch their larvae, and one day they may become your allies. You might even get a ride on an ant!
Unfortunately, the insect world consists of more than just ants and ladybugs. There are also spiders and scorpions. Believe me, you will hate them from the moment you first encounter them. These creatures are huge, with terrifying red eyes and eight hairy legs. They live in every yard and are scarier than zombies, demons, and xenomorphs. It’s no surprise that the game has a mode for arachnophobes.
Although the mechanics of Diablo in V Rising and Skyrim in Enshrouded are absent from Grounded 2, the setting is immersive. Obsidian has presented ordinary things in a charming, frightening, and grandiose manner. There is something captivating about this approach.
New blueprints and buildings have appeared, as well as an extensive park with biomes that differ significantly in terms of inhabitants and conditions. You can now tame and ride red ants, similar to Smalland: Survive the Wilds. Ants can speed up movement, help in battles, summon allies, and speed up resource gathering.
There are plenty of new inhabitants. Some are cute, like blue butterflies, slugs, and mantis larvae. Others are aggressive, ranging from scorpions to giant, scary cockroaches. The game even has two cockroach bosses, each with their own moves. For those who can’t stand spiders, there’s an arachnophobia mode.
However, the battles are not always fair — sometimes insects pass through walls, get stuck in textures, or fall through the ground for no reason. There are also glitches in the gameplay — the riding ants can get stuck, and dropped loot can disappear in the grass.
The first part had a charming world, but nothing else about it was interesting.
I’ll continue playing Grounded 2 for its enchanting world, but regretfully note that the shrunken children survived in the same way in the first part, and nothing exciting was created for the sequel. Typically, the number two in the title suggests an evolution of ideas and increased scale. But what new features has Obsidian added? I would highlight two changes: the combat system and the tools.
Originally, the fights resembled mindless chanting, interrupted only by blocks and parries. Now, however, the skirmishes often resemble a dance. Once, I climbed into an insect lair and stole a larva right in front of a warrior ant. This started a merciless fight. I memorized the enemy’s moves, rushed behind him, and swung my weapon like a medieval spearman. I only won on the fourth try, and I was fighting for a silly reason—all my loot had been lost near the ant.
Meanwhile, heroes can use equipment to transform into warriors, bandits, or even mages. Did you tear a ladybug to pieces? Put on its sturdy remains, and you’ll become a tank with a shield. Did you destroy a couple of large spiders? Their remains will be useful for a nimble bandit with a pair of daggers. If you play with friends, divide up the roles, and you’ll quickly become kings of the insect world.
Another advantage is that, instead of the typical axe and shovel, the characters have a single omni-tool. This tool can be upgraded in the laboratory and is suitable for various tasks, such as cutting grass, splitting stones, and digging holes. The omni-tool’s main advantages are that it does not break and does not take up space in the inventory. Simply approach a bush, press a button, and your hero will take out the necessary device and get to work. It’s incredibly convenient and should be included in every survival game!
But are improved combat and convenient tools enough to call Grounded 2 a full-fledged sequel?
No, these innovations are better suited to a major update. Compared to other survival games, Obsidian’s new release stands out solely for its setting. Such battles have long been the bare minimum for the genre, not the standard. In Enshrouded, for example, the combat is more entertaining, and there is even stealth.
The main problem is that the sequel is so incomplete that it shouldn’t have been released. Half of the starting map in early access is an empty ring with no activities or points of interest. The optimization is subpar, even on decent graphics cards like the RTX 4070.
Most of the story quests involve grinding and pointless searches for new resources. Collect weed stems and build something. Then, defeat the spider and collect something from its legs. Unfortunately, it’s boring!
But what about the bosses? They are mostly scorpions, cockroaches, and mantises. In the first part, these were considered dangerous but ordinary enemies. Their attacks haven’t changed much; only their health bars and damage have increased.
Obsidian has released a roadmap including bosses, revamped locations, and new features such as zip lines. All of these additions will be available in about six months. Perhaps then the game will become incredible and interesting; for now, it captivates only with its setting.
Is it worth playing?
As I mentioned above, Obsidian has definitely expanded the capabilities of the original game. The crafting, resource gathering, and base building systems remain recognizable. Survival still requires tracking hunger and thirst, gathering grass, stems, insects, and scraps of loot. Building follows the same pattern: draw it, drag it, and finish it (à la Forest).
For me, Grounded 2’s world is attractive enough to spend dozens of hours in it. Unfortunately, this world’s content, mechanics, and optimization seem to be downsides. If rummaging through soda cans and chasing ladybugs doesn’t intrigue you, it’s better to wait until closer to the release date. Maybe in six months, it will be in excellent shape and deserve attention.
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