Grounded 2 Has a 'Stronger Foundation For the Future', Even If It Feels Like a Very Early Access Game

Grounded 2 delivers a stronger starting point than the first game, with big changes like rideable bugs and a streamlined omni-tool making survival smoother. The world is brighter, exploration feels more dynamic, and the game’s whimsical tone remains intact. But its early access launch leaves Creative mode underwhelming, with missing recipes, decorations, and water areas. It’s a promising sequel, but clearly still in progress.

In Mark Delaney’s review for GameSpot, he notes that Grounded 2 makes it tough to return to the first game thanks to some great new systems, yet the sequel also lacks several core features that made the original complete. While the survival mode has received meaningful upgrades, Creative players will notice the gaps right away.

Our previous post covered another influencer review of Grounded 2, which also landed in a similar upper-moderate range of praise. Both perspectives suggest that Grounded 2 is more than fine — it’s a good game right now, just not yet the fully fleshed-out sequel it’s aiming to become.

The game starts fast, with the four teen protagonists — Max, Willow, Hoops, and Pete — shrunk down again and dumped into the oversized wilderness. They’re older now, a little more sarcastic, but still stuck fighting for survival among predatory insects. The story takes a cheeky “Oops, I did it again” approach, pushing players quickly into its mix of exploration, crafting, and survival. The tone keeps its playful edge, avoiding the dark and grim style common in survival titles. Instead, the sunlit Brookhaven Park offers a colorful playground dotted with hazards.

Also, you can check Grounded 2 reviews on Steam to reach the bigger picture, which helps you to decide worst buy it or not.

One of the most significant changes is the omni-tool. In the first game, players had to craft separate tools — shovels, axes, hammers — each with their own upgrade paths. The omni-tool combines all these into one device that changes function based on what you’re doing. Chop grass, dig grubs, repair traps — it’s all handled with the same tool. It never breaks, can’t be dropped, and upgrades are tied to specific tasks, which still require gathering rare materials. This streamlining removes a lot of the grind while keeping progression intact.

The other big upgrade is the introduction of buggies: tameable, rideable insects with unique abilities. Currently, there are two: the red soldier ant and the orb weaver spider. Acquiring one means stealing eggs from their nests, hatching them at your base, and raising them as mounts. The ant offers speed, resource gathering, and basic combat support, even rallying other ants to your side. The spider deals heavier damage, making it a better fighter for tougher enemies. Both can tank hits for the player, heal slowly over time, and be revived before permanent loss if knocked out. These mounts significantly reduce early-game tedium, making traversal and combat much more engaging.

Combat and exploration take cues from other games, but with a distinctive ‘90s Saturday morning adventure vibe. The tall grass becomes mountain ranges, picnic tables are vast plateaus, and trash cans feel like multi-level dungeons. Enemies range from mosquitoes and roaches to intimidating praying mantises, each requiring different strategies. For co-op groups, the fun multiplies — sharing buggies, tackling enemies, and scaling giant obstacles becomes a chaotic but rewarding team effort.

Visually, the game benefits from leaving the Xbox One behind. Grounded 2’s lighting, textures, and environmental detail surpass the original. Sunbeams filter realistically through leaves, nights are darker and more atmospheric, and the transition between day and night feels more natural. The world’s cartoony charm is preserved, but everything feels sharper and more alive.

The story, while lighthearted, is more present than in most survival games. A hacker manipulates both the teens and the insect world, creating uncertainty about allies and enemies. Dialogue reflects the characters’ slightly older ages, mixing safe-for-kids humor with occasional sharper jokes for older players. Narrative beats are supported by improved signposting — clearer mission markers and quest hints make it harder to get lost in what to do next.

Despite these improvements, Creative mode is where early access limitations show. Many armor sets, weapons, and furniture items from the first game are absent. Decoration options are thin, and water areas are reduced to small puddles rather than expansive zones like the koi pond from the original. For players who enjoyed building elaborate bases or themed interiors, the current toolset will feel stripped down. The roadmap promises the return of legacy items and new additions over time, but for now, Creative-focused players may find their interest tapering off.

The absence of deep-water zones also impacts exploration variety. In the original, diving into the pond revealed new enemies and hidden treasures. Without such spaces, the sequel’s map feels less layered. Still, its overall design offers new areas to discover, with environmental hazards and resource hotspots spread widely enough to encourage thorough exploration.

Performance is generally stable, at least on mid-range PCs. Some players report frame drops and slowdowns, but the more consistent complaint is enemies clipping through the environment. Large insects sometimes attack from inside rocks or walls, leaving only parts of their bodies visible — a bug-related bug that hopefully gets patched.

Overall, Grounded 2 builds on the first game’s strengths while cutting down on some of its most tedious elements. The omni-tool and buggies are not just nice extras — they reshape the gameplay loop, making survival more fluid and enjoyable. The humor, color, and nostalgic tone remain defining features, setting it apart from other survival-crafting titles.

The catch is that this is clearly an early access launch. Survival mode fans will find plenty to enjoy, but Creative mode players must accept that the game isn’t ready to match — let alone surpass — the first game in that regard. With promised updates, Grounded 2 has the potential to grow into a standout sequel, but right now it’s a very good work in progress, not a fully realized follow-up.

If Obsidian delivers on its roadmap — restoring missing recipes, expanding the map with deep-water areas, and adding more buggies — the game could move from “really fine” to “must-play” in the survival genre. Until then, it’s a sequel that nails its tone and core systems but leaves some of its most dedicated builders waiting for more.