Obsidian thrilled Grounded fans at the Xbox Games Showcase last weekend, announcing a surprise sequel, Grounded 2, set to deliver a larger, refined experience.
Obsidian revealed that Grounded 2 will follow its predecessor’s path, launching in early access next month and evolving with community input. I had the chance to play a brief segment at the Xbox Games Showcase in Los Angeles, and my takeaway? It’s a bolder, slightly bigger Grounded, and that’s a glowing compliment.
It’s tough to pinpoint exactly how Grounded 2 diverges from the original based on the short demo I played. I chose the tutorial to brush up on my rusty Grounded skills, skipping a later game section.
The tutorial felt familiar, offering more of Grounded’s core charm. The same teens, now two years older, are shrunk to ant size by the shady Ominent corporation. Amnesia clouds their pre-shrink memories, but they retain faint recollections of their prior tiny backyard escapades. Players will relearn skills like crafting, analyzing items to unlock recipes, and building armor, weapons, and tools to survive. You’ll scavenge for food (mushrooms, in my case) and water (dewdrops) to avoid starvation, or fend off bugs with a makeshift spear. The essence of Grounded remains intact, delivering the familiar thrill fans loved.
What's new was subtler in the early-game demo, but I noticed some updates. The Omni-tool, for example, consolidates all tools into one, freeing up inventory space. I used it to chop giant grass blades, no axe required. Combat now includes a dodge button, a seamless addition I briefly forgot wasn’t in the original. These quality-of-life tweaks smooth out rough edges, and it’s surprising the first Grounded lacked dodging until now!
The standout feature I explored was the Buggy system—rideable mounts. I rode a massive ant, which was undeniably fun. Beyond galloping, the Buggy offers utility: sprint for speed, switch to a slow gathering mode to auto-collect resources, or let it fight or chop down grass and items. I charged through a mite nest, wielding a glowing mushroom torch while my ant dispatched enemies with ease.
In a post-demo interview, Obsidian shared that Buggy mounts were a key reason for Grounded 2. The original game’s map was too small for mounts, as it wasn’t built for their speed. To make rideable bugs viable, Obsidian had to vastly expand the world.
Grounded 2 swaps the original backyard for Brookhollow Park, roughly three times larger. I only glimpsed a tiny, beginner-friendly corner of this expansive park, designed to ease new and returning players into the adventure before they ride off into uncharted territory.
Questions linger about whether Grounded 2 justifies a full sequel rather than expanding the original. Rideable bugs alone may not seal the deal, but Grounded’s story-driven focus suggests more. The sequel introduces a fresh narrative, ages up its characters, deepens Ominent’s shady schemes, and broadens the world. The original Grounded was a blast, so more of it—plus bug-riding flair—sounds enticing. Here’s to charging into the unknown, ant-style.
