Grounded 2, co-developed by Obsidian and Eidos-Montréal and published by Xbox Game Studios, has launched into Early Access on Xbox, Steam, and Windows. It expands the addictive survival formula of the original with major additions: the buggy system (arguably its biggest upgrade), a nostalgic ’90s aesthetic, and deeper co-op gameplay that’s fun solo or with friends. Whether you’re a veteran shrunken kid or a curious newcomer, the sequel balances familiarity with fresh ideas. This Grounded 2 review breaks down how it delivers on its promise while feeling new without reinventing the wheel.
Visuals & Audio
Unreal Engine 5 Upgrade
Grounded 2 keeps its stylized, cartoonish, family-friendly look, but Unreal Engine 5 elevates everything. Foliage, UI, and insect models are sharper and more dynamic, with lighting that makes Brookhollow Park feel alive. On high-end PCs, the results are stunning, but even on Steam Deck or lower hardware, the visuals hold up beautifully. Shadows add depth, highlights pop, and cutscenes run smoothly without breaking immersion.
Soundscapes & ’90s Vibes
The audio design is just as strong. Every sound—buzzing wings, insect footsteps, the snap of combat cues—is distinct and immediately recognizable, which is critical in tense encounters. The soundtrack leans into retro ’90s sci-fi, blending B-movie energy with Stranger Things-style atmosphere. Whether through laptop speakers, headphones, or a full sound system, the mix consistently delivers an immersive backdrop that ties the world, characters, and story together.
Characters & Story
Familiar Faces & New Mysteries
The core crew returns—Pete, Willow, Ally (Hoops), and Max—once again voiced by the same actors, keeping the charm and humor intact. BERG.L plays a larger role this time, while fresh characters bring new intrigue. Sloane Beaumont, a representative of Ominent Practical Technologies, serves as your new human contact, and the Masked Stranger emerges as a key mystery, their motives slowly unraveling as you dig deeper into Brookhollow Park.
From Backyard to Brookhollow Park
The shrinking premise remains central, but the setting has shifted from a suburban backyard to the sprawling Brookhollow Park. It’s a step up in both scale and variety, filled with playgrounds, gardens, picnic tables, and hidden corners that beg to be explored. Survival once again revolves around gathering resources, crafting tools, and fending off dangers—but with the expanded environment, exploration feels fresh and layered with new surprises.
Sandbox Meets Story
Grounded 2 strikes a careful balance between story-driven tension and sandbox freedom. The main narrative slowly escalates the stakes behind the shrinking experiment, but you’re never forced down a rigid path. Whether you’re chasing the next story beat or just cruising in your buggy, building elaborate bases, and experimenting with gear, the game adapts to your style. The story is always there, but it waits for you to engage on your own terms, which keeps both narrative-focused and sandbox-loving players satisfied.
Combat Challenges, Buggies, & Character Archetypes
Combat Frustrations
On-foot combat in Grounded 2 still feels rough. Weapon reach, attack speed, and unpredictable insect AI make encounters clunky, especially when playing solo. Even gear tailored to specific bugs often feels underpowered. Without a teammate to draw aggro, fights lean more toward tedious than tactical. Every enemy technically has weak points, but with the current balance, brute force usually wins out.
Enter the Buggies
Buggies flip the combat experience on its head. Unlocked early, they allow faster travel, smoother fights, and even insect recruitment. Each buggy has unique stats like stamina and combat effectiveness—soldier ant buggies, for instance, can rally worker ants to fight alongside you.
Mounted combat feels quicker and more satisfying. Buggies soak up damage, attack rapidly, and let you focus on timing and mobility. Even if you’re dismounted, they’ll keep tanking unless you pull aggro back. Compared to clunky on-foot battles, it’s a massive improvement.
Buggies in Action
- Speedy traversal between zones
- Insect recruitment adds strategy
- Vacuum harvesting makes farming easier
- Double as extra loadout space, especially in co-op
Once I unlocked my first buggy, combat felt more dynamic and exploring Brookhollow Park became a blast.
Character Archetypes
Grounded 2 also introduces a flexible archetype system inspired by MMORPG roles like tank, rogue, archer, and mage. But instead of locking you in, it encourages experimentation. You can freely mix gear, weapons, trinkets, and mutations—shifting from brawler to ranged fighter mid-session if you want. Armor sets and mutations provide bonuses tied to how you play, rewarding creativity and variety whether solo or in co-op.r, 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, Harvesting, & Exploration
Base Building
Grounded 2 doubles down on the creativity of base construction. You can still throw together simple shelters to survive the night, but the expanded building system rewards players who want to go big. Defensive options like spike traps, walls, and turrets make your stronghold feel secure, while decorative touches such as mounted bug trophies, furniture, and lighting give it personality. In co-op, this really shines—one player can focus on designing a fortress while others gather resources or defend against raids, making base-building both strategic and social.
Harvesting Refined
Resource gathering was one of the grindier parts of the first game, but Grounded 2 streamlines it into a much more satisfying loop. Buggies now come equipped with vacuum functions, letting you scoop up sap, pebbles, and fiber without dismounting. Scanners make it easier to locate rare resources, saving you from endless wandering. Early-game harvesting still takes effort, but as you unlock stronger buggies, better scanners, and higher-tier tools, the process evolves into a quick, almost relaxing flow. What once felt like a chore now becomes a natural part of the adventure.
Exploration Beyond the Backyard
Brookhollow Park is far larger and more varied than the original backyard map, offering playgrounds, gardens, picnic areas, and even water zones to uncover. Traversing these spaces feels fresh thanks to the buggy system, which makes long journeys faster and safer. Secrets and hidden paths encourage you to explore every nook, and environmental storytelling—from abandoned soda cans to forgotten toys—adds layers of nostalgia to each discovery. Exploration feels rewarding not just for resources, but for the sense of uncovering a tiny world full of history and mystery.
Quests & Progression
Story Quests
Grounded 2’s story missions provide a steady backbone without turning the game into a linear experience. Objectives come in logical steps that nudge you forward, but they rarely hold your hand. For example, an early quest marks a picnic table on your map but doesn’t explain how to climb it—you’ll have to experiment with crafting, combat, and exploration to figure it out. This design keeps progression engaging and rewarding, since every milestone feels like something you achieved through problem-solving rather than following a breadcrumb trail. The narrative stakes rise gradually, giving you time to settle into survival before throwing bigger challenges your way.
Ranger Challenges
Alongside the main story, optional Ranger Challenges act as bite-sized goals that pay out Raw Science points. These points can be spent on unlocking gear, upgrades, or crafting recipes, letting you advance faster if you take the time to complete them. Challenges also serve as clever teaching tools, pointing you toward mechanics you might otherwise overlook—like experimenting with a new weapon type, hunting a specific bug, or gathering materials from an unfamiliar zone. They reward curiosity while helping you develop a broader skillset.
A Balance of Freedom and Structure
What makes these two systems click is how they complement each other. The main quests give you a sense of direction and narrative momentum, while Ranger Challenges add flexible side goals that break up the grind and keep exploration purposeful. Together, they let you shape your journey—whether you want to chase the plot, build your dream base, or just knock out side challenges for upgrades—without ever losing momentum.
Final Take – Is Grounded 2 Worth Playing?
Yes, Grounded 2 is worth playing because it expands everything the first game did well, layering in standout features like buggies, flexible archetypes, and retro sci-fi style. The shift to Brookhollow Park makes the world feel bigger and more alive, and the streamlined resource systems keep progression fun instead of grindy.
Combat still has rough edges, especially for solo players, but the thrill of exploration, base-building, and co-op experimentation easily outweighs those frustrations. With friends, it shines even brighter, turning survival into a shared adventure full of memorable moments.
It’s one of those “just one more hour” games that can quietly steal an entire day, rewarding both creativity and persistence. Whether you’re discovering the series for the first time or returning as a seasoned shrunken kid, Grounded 2 is a sequel worth buzzing about.
