One of the most promising early access games we've played.
Disclosure: Xbox and Obsidian provided early access copies for review.
Grounded 2 was announced out of nowhere at the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2025 and landed in Game Preview and Steam Early Access just weeks later. That’s hustle. Even better, it’s a massive glow-up from the first game, and this is one of the most promising early access games we’ve played.
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Grounded 2 Early Access Review: Bigger Is BetterWant to play it? Grab it on the Xbox Store or see Where to buy.
Story
Grounded 2 is set two years after the first game. Pete, Max, Willow and Hoops are shrunk down to bug size again, this time in Brookhollow Park, a sprawling, ’90s suburban park. Something has gone wrong, and you’re unraveling why you’re tiny again and what the shady Ominent corporation is up to, exploring Dr. Tully’s scattered labs and recovering memory chips for BURG.L. The early access build gives you the first chapter, and it hooks you faster and feels more polished than the original’s early access did. Some twists shake things up, and the story blends with the survival loop so you discover lore while you scavenge, build and fight. The full story isn’t here yet, and Obsidian plans to expand it.
Gameplay
It’s survival action with Obsidian’s RPG flair: scavenge, craft weapons and armor from bug parts, and build bases across a huge park with biomes like toxic zones choked in green fog and icy areas around a spilled ice cream cart. The Omni-Tool is a game-changer. One tool replaces the old axe, shovel and hammer juggling, saving tons of inventory space, though each function still needs upgrading. Combat got an overhaul with a dodge, light and heavy attacks, and perfect blocks that absorb all damage if timed right.
The biggest addition is Buggies, rideable insects that change everything. My red soldier ant made travel faster, climbed steeper hills, auto-collected resources in gathering mode and hauled loads of grass, which made base building a breeze. They fight with you too, and if one takes too much damage you get a short window to revive it. You can’t ride them into toxic or icy areas or labs yet, and they can’t break rocks or acorns. Co-op supports up to four players, though we stuck to solo, and you can switch between first and third person anytime.
Early access shows in places. Placing objects is clunky, needing a level-three Omni-Tool to break a snail shell is too steep, and a backpack can spawn somewhere you can’t reach after you die. All fixable, but annoying for now. And make no mistake, this game is tough.
Visuals
The move to Unreal Engine 5 shows. The world is massive and meticulously detailed, god rays pour out when you leave a cave, and the draw distance lets you see the whole park from a high point, which makes you feel tiny. The bugs are disgusting in the best way, and light filtering through a grass-built house changes its hue dynamically. There are some hiccups, like flickering lights in labs and grass houses, grass stems poking through your builds, and no dirt or footprints on your character.
Sound
The bug noises will make your skin crawl. Those screeches and chitters are almost too real. The voice cast nails the ’90s teen vibe, the period-perfect music ramps up when an enemy spots you, and rustling leaves and the sway of grass warning of a big bug tie it all together.
Verdict
Grounded 2 is bigger, smarter and more fun than the original, with stunning visuals, a story that hooks you and Buggies that make everything better. A few early access quirks don’t overshadow the fun. It’s on Game Pass, and it’s a survival game with heart.
Image: Obsidian Entertainment / Xbox Game Studios
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The verdict: Amazing (Early Access Review)
One of the most promising early access games we've played.
Pros
- Buggies transform travel, building and combat
- The Omni-Tool is a huge quality-of-life upgrade
- Gorgeous, massive Brookhollow Park
- Overhauled combat with dodges and perfect blocks
- Story hooks you faster than the original
Cons
- Early access bugs, including clunky placement and clipping grass
- Some steep requirements, like breaking snail shells
- Buggies are limited in hazard zones and labs
Platform played: Xbox (Game Preview)
