The sequel to the popular survival adventure Grounded entered Early Access in July 2025. Grounded 2 picks up right where the original left off, with the group of teenagers once again shrunk to insect size. This time, however, they find themselves in Brookhollow Park instead of the backyard, facing new biomes and unfamiliar enemies.

Grounded 2 builds on the core gameplay of its predecessor while adding a variety of new features. You’ll gather resources, build bases, craft gear, explore vast environments, face dangerous creatures and fight to survive in a world ruled by insects. One of the key additions is the ability to ride insects right from the start. The game also features updated combat mechanics, including sprinting and dodging, as well as improved crafting and progression systems. As in the first game, Grounded 2 supports both solo and co-op play for up to four players.

In its Early Access review, Grounded 2 earned an impressive score of 87 out of 100 from the German gaming magazine Game2gether. Testers praised the game’s detailed world and highlighted notable improvements in gameplay, particularly the mount system and the enhanced combat and crafting mechanics. The story also received positive feedback. However, the Early Access version wasn’t without flaws – performance proved inconsistent during testing, and the building system could be frustrating at times due to placement glitches and clipping bugs. Game2gether also pointed out a lack of new enemy types, which might not offer enough of a challenge for veteran players. On Steam, Grounded 2 currently has around 14,400 reviews, with 79% rated positive.

Free weekend on Steam

Grounded 2 is being developed by Obsidian Entertainment in collaboration with Eidos-Montréal, with Xbox Game Studios serving as the publisher. The Early Access version normally costs around $30 on Steam, but players can try it for free until October 13. According to Steam, the game is also playable on the Steam Deck (which currently sells for around $440 on Amazon).

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As a child in the 90s, my Gameboy was my steady companion. After school, the PlayStation was fired up. When I finally got my first PC, I was completely hooked. My passion for gaming has never waned since. For me, writing for Notebookcheck means reporting on topics that are really close to my heart – in addition to gaming, I also like to write about e-mobility, photovoltaics and innovative gadgets. When I’m not sitting at my computer, I’m probably on water rescue duty on the Baltic coast or trying to counteract the downsides of my geek life – namely sitting for long periods – at the local swimming pool.