In a delightful surprise for Grounded fans, Obsidian took center stage at the Xbox Games Showcase last weekend to unveil an unexpected sequel simply titled Grounded 2.
Obsidian has confirmed that Grounded 2 will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor by launching into early access and evolving over time with continued support and feedback from the community. And the wait won’t be long—the early access launch is scheduled for next month. I had the chance to get a sneak peek at what players will be shrinking into at the Xbox Games Showcase in Los Angeles over the weekend. And my overall impression—utterly positive—is that yes, this is Grounded, only a little bigger.
It’s admittedly difficult to go into detail about how Grounded 2 diverges from the original based on the short demo I played. I was offered the chance to jump into a later section of the game, but I opted instead to start with the tutorial to refresh my Grounded skills—skills that have admittedly gotten a bit rusty since my last playthrough.
What I experienced through the tutorial was a comforting sense of familiarity. It’s the same group of kids—now two years older—shrunk down to ant size thanks to the shady antics of a mysterious company called Ominent. After being shrunk, they suffer from a bit of amnesia, leaving them confused about their current predicament. However, they do retain a general memory of their previous tiny backyard adventure, even if they must relearn many of the skills they once mastered. Crafting remains a core mechanic—you’ll analyze items, learn new recipes, and build armor, weapons, and tools to survive. You’ll scavenge early areas for food like mushrooms and dewdrops to keep your energy up. Or you might find yourself cautiously poking at bugs with a makeshift spear. All the essentials from the first game remain intact, offering a warm, nostalgic return for fans.
One of the more surprising omissions in the original game was a dodge mechanic—something Grounded 2 now adds with seamless integration. I didn’t get to dive too deep into all the new features, but I did get a taste. A new Omni-tool, for instance, consolidates all your tools into one compact device, saving valuable inventory space. I used it briefly to hack away at tall grass in place of an axe. Another new addition is the dodge button in combat, which felt so natural I momentarily forgot it wasn’t in the first game. These may be small quality-of-life improvements, but they’re the kind that can significantly enhance the overall gameplay experience.
The most substantial new feature I got to experience hands-on was the Buggy system—essentially, rideable mounts. I had the opportunity to ride a large ant with surprising ease. It was...kind of awesome? It's undeniably fun to ride a giant bug through the world. Beyond the thrill of galloping around on my ant steed, the Buggy system offers several useful mechanics. You can sprint at high speeds, switch to a slower gathering mode that automatically collects nearby resources, or even have your mount fight enemies or chop down grass as you move through the environment. At one point, I rode through a nest of mites, torch in hand, while my ant mount devoured every foe that came near.
In a follow-up interview after the preview session, I learned that the Buggy mounts were one of the key reasons Grounded 2 became a standalone sequel, among other factors. The original Grounded was never built with mounts in mind, and the map was simply too small to accommodate the speed and mobility of rideable bugs. To properly implement Buggies as a meaningful feature, Obsidian needed to expand the world significantly—hence, a new game.
That expansion is evident in the game’s new setting: Brookhollow Park. Obsidian describes the park as roughly three times the size of the original backyard from the first game. While I only explored what appeared to be the smallest, most beginner-friendly corner of the map, it was clear that this new space is designed to ease both new and returning players into the world before sending them off on larger adventures.
I still have questions about what Grounded 2 brings to the table that fully justifies a new title rather than a major expansion. Mechanically speaking, rideable bugs alone may not be enough to convince everyone. However, Grounded has always been a story-driven experience, and Grounded 2 opens the door to a brand-new narrative. It allows Obsidian to age up its characters, continue Ominent’s sinister experiments, and expand the lore and world in meaningful ways.
Ultimately, the first Grounded was already incredibly fun, and if this sequel is simply more of that—with a few smart additions like mounts and a larger world—then count me in. I’m ready to shrink down again and ride into the unknown.
[tttp]
