Obsidian’s Grounded 2 is here in early access, aiming to take the shrunken-survivor formula to new heights (or should that be “new blades of grass”?). If you enjoyed the original’s mix of miniature survival and big adventure, this sequel builds on that foundation with expanded maps, a stronger story backbone, and quality-of-life additions like vehicles and deeper crafting.

But, like the first game’s early access launch, this is a work in progress. The potential is huge, the fun is there, but so are the growing pains.

What’s New

Bigger, more vertical maps with new biomes and landmarks.

Improved questing with a main progression line that keeps you moving forward.

Vehicles like early-game buggies to make exploration faster.

Deeper crafting and base upgrades, adding more variety to your builds.

Gameplay

The core gameplay loop remains familiar: gather, craft, fight, survive. Combat is accessible but satisfying, with readable enemy attack patterns. Crafting is richer, with upgradeable gear and tiered progression that rewards exploration.

Co-op play is the highlight, cross-play between Xbox and PC, plus Xbox Play Anywhere cloud saves mean it’s easy to jump in with friends. It’s here that the game comes alive, with chaotic bug battles and moments leaving you all wondering why you did this or that.

Visuals & Audio

Grounded 2 is a visual treat: denser foliage, sharper textures, and better lighting on both PC and Series X. The world feels alive, with tiny dust motes in the air and detailed insect animations.

Audio is equally strong — ambient insect sounds, environmental effects, and occasional musical swells add atmosphere and tension.

Performance

Note: This is an early access build. Performance and optimisation are works in progress. The main issue I had was playing on PC through Steam, crashing when starting the game from new or loading seemed to instantly crash, and the only fix was by verifying game files through Steam and a restart.

Replayability

Even in early access, there’s a decent amount to do: the main questline, side quests, collectables, and base building all provide reasons to keep exploring. With regular updates planned, the long-term potential is strong.

Verdict

Grounded 2’s early access launch is a strong start. It’s bigger, better structured, and more ambitious than the first — but it’s also not finished. If you’re happy to play through some performance hiccups and occasional bugs, there’s already plenty of fun here, especially with friends. If you want the smoothest possible experience, it might be worth waiting for the full release.