Grounded 2, co-developed by Obsidian and Eidos‑Montréal and published by Xbox Game Studios, has launched into Early Access across Xbox, Steam, and Windows. It builds upon the addictive survival action of the original Grounded while delivering major new content: the buggy system (easily its most exciting addition), a nostalgic ’90s aesthetic, and deep co‑op gameplay that’s equally thrilling solo or with friends. Whether you’re a veteran returning shrunken kid or a newcomer curious about the hype, the sequel offers both familiarity and adventure in equal measure. This Grounded 2 review will explain why it delivers on its promise, and how it manages to feel fresh without reinventing the wheel.
Visuals & Audio
Unreal Engine 5 Upgrade
The art style remains stylized, cartoonish, and family-friendly, now enhanced by Unreal Engine 5. Everything from foliage to UI to insect models looks sharper, more dynamic, and beautifully lit. On a gaming PC it’s stunning, and even on Steam Deck or low-end hardware, the visuals retain their charm. Shadows add depth, lighting effects bring the park to life, and cutscenes look smooth and polished.
Soundscapes & ’90s Vibes
Audio design hits the mark. Insect footsteps, buzzing wings, and combat cues each have distinct, recognizable sounds that are essential in high-tension moments. The soundtrack leans heavily into ’90s sci-fi, think B-movies or Stranger Things, which enhances the mood whether you’re exploring or holed up in a crafted base. Whether I played with laptop speakers, Deck headphones, or a PC sound system, the world, characters, and story felt consistently immersive.
Characters & Story
Familiar Faces + New Mysteries
Your favorite squad is back: Pete, Willow, Ally (Hoops), and Max, all voiced by the same actors from the first game. BERG.L takes on a more substantial role, and there are intriguing newcomers too. Sloane Beaumont of Ominent Practical Technologies becomes your new human contact, while the enigmatic Masked Stranger slowly reveals their role as you dig deeper into Brookhollow Park.
From Backyard to Brookhollow Park
The familiar shrinking premise returns. You wake up miniaturized again, but this time inside the sprawling public Brookhollow Park rather than a backyard. From there, survival kicks off: gathering resources, crafting gear and shelter, and slowly uncovering a hidden threat that looms over the ecosystem.
Sandbox vs Story Balance
What stood out to me is how Grounded 2 balances story and sandbox. While the narrative introduces escalating tension and deepens the mystery behind the shrinking experiment, you’re never forced down a linear path. Whether you’re eager to push the plot or just want to build, craft, and cruise around on your buggy with friends, the game lets you play at your pace and in your style, with the story ready when you are.
Combat Challenges, Buggies, and Character Archetypes
Combat Frustrations
Combat in Grounded 2 still has its rough spots. Weapon reach, attack speed, and unpredictable insect AI make many encounters feel clunky, especially when playing solo. Bows miss due to erratic enemy movement, hammers are too slow for fast bugs, and daggers are nearly useless against airborne enemies. Without someone to manage aggro, fights often feel more annoying than strategic. It’s a shame, because each enemy has weak points you can exploit, but thanks to the combat issues, I usually just ended up whomping them in the face every time instead.
Enter the Buggies
Thankfully, buggies change everything. Unlocked early in the game, buggies let you travel fast, fight more effectively, and even recruit certain insects. Each buggy comes with stats like stamina and combat effectiveness. For example, soldier ant buggies can rally worker ants to your side.
Mounted combat feels smoother and more rewarding. Buggies attack quickly, absorb damage, and let you focus on timing and mobility. If dismounted, your buggy continues tanking unless you steal aggro. Compared to on-foot brawls, it’s a major upgrade.
Buggies in Action
- High-speed traversal between zones
- Insect recruitment adds new strategy
- Vacuum harvesting (see below) makes them great for farming
- They double as loadout extensions, especially useful in co-op
Once I got a buggy, combat became more enjoyable and exploring the park was a blast.
Character Archetypes
Grounded 2 introduces a flexible archetype system that lets players fill classic MMORPG roles like tank, rogue, archer, or mage, but without being locked in. You can mix and match gear, weapons, trinkets, and mutations freely. Want to shift from a brawler to a ranged fighter mid-session? Go for it. Your playstyle evolves organically as you use different tools, unlocking new abilities through continued use. The game rewards experimentation. Armor sets offer specific bonuses, and mutations enhance your abilities based on how you play. Whether solo or in co-op, the versatility adds variety to every session and encourages creative builds that suit your preferred style for combat, crafting, and exploration.
Crafting & Exploration
Base Building & Decoration
Defend your base with spike traps and turrets, then personalize it with furniture and mounted bug trophies. Crafting weapons, armor, and consumables adds layers of strategy while letting you shape your playstyle.
Harvesting Refined
What initially looked like a grind turned into a satisfying loop. Buggies and scanners streamline resource collection. The vacuum function quickly gathers materials like sap, pebbles, and fiber without the need to dismount. It makes gathering feel fast, fluid, and actually fun. While early materials take effort to collect, progression ramps up well. As you unlock scanners and better buggies through quest and progression, the process becomes efficient. Even large projects become achievable without the grind dragging things down.
Quests & Progression
Story Quests
Story missions push the narrative in logical steps, offering direction without hand-holding. One early task, for example, marks a picnic table but doesn’t tell you how to get on top. You’ll fight, explore, and craft your way through each challenge in your own way.
Ranger Challenges
These optional objectives offer Science Points, which can be used to unlock gear and upgrades. They’re not required but accelerate your progression and help you discover mechanics you might otherwise miss. It’s a smart way to reward curiosity and experimentation.
Together, the two quest systems give the game both structure and freedom, letting you steer your experience without sacrificing momentum.
Grounded 2 Review – Final Take
Grounded 2 takes everything great about the original and pushes it further with clever upgrades like the buggy system, retro sci-fi vibes, and flexible co-op gameplay. Combat still has its rough spots, especially when playing solo, but the rest of the experience more than makes up for it. This is one of those “just one more hour” games that can easily turn into an all-day adventure. Playing with friends makes every moment more dynamic and fun, turning survival into a shared experience you’ll want to keep crawling back to. Whether you’re new to the series or a returning fan, Grounded 2 is absolutely worth buzzing about.
