Old acquaintances and new challenges in Grounded 2

Well, who is looking forward to a Reunion with the shrinking super-teens Hoops, Max, Willow and Pete? The four intrepid mini-humans are back in the game and are once again cut down to ant size. As if that wasn't enough chaos, we can also look forward to the wondrous brain convolutions of Dr. Tully and the indispensable robot friend BURGL. Incidentally, all of this takes place in the legendary year 1992, in Brookhollow Park, where the grass is taller than any skyscraper and a tipped-over popsicle becomes a deadly avalanche.

The start card from Grounded 2 is gigantic - about as big as the entire map of the first part. There is also a new snow biome with frosty surprises in store. If you want to survive here, you need more than just courage: warm clothing is a must, because even a strawberry ice disaster area can turn into an icy grave.

Buggies and bugs: On crawling animals into adventure

An absolute highlight are the new buggies - rideable insects that revolutionize traversing the world. Already a dream of the community in the first part, they are now becoming reality. So that the little Mounts the level design has been completely revised. This means new areas, more shortcuts, other sources of danger and of course: speed!

There are also some changes on the enemy side. The familiar insects from Part 1 have become more intelligent, develop new tactics and sometimes attack in groups. We also come across new creatures such as green caterpillars, scorpions and other nasty crawlers that make it difficult for us to survive. Thanks to a new multifunctional tool that combines a shovel, hammer and wrench, we save space in our inventory and are still prepared for any situation.

Co-op, archetypes and community decisions

Grounded 2 remains true to itself: it is planned from the outset as a game preview in which the community is actively involved in development. As with its predecessor, the story is not set in stone, but will be significantly shaped by you, the community. Your wishes and feedback are worth their weight in gold and have a significant influence on the development - that's quite an announcement!

New archetypes with individual abilities offer players the opportunity to define their own play style - whether solo or in co-op. The challenges of the gigantic world can be mastered much better in a team. Together you can build bases, forge weapons, breed insect friends and even ride them. The beetle-like companions can not only support you in battle, but also carry materials or help build structures. This is how Grounded 2 a tactical, social and creative adventure at the same time.

A shadow in the thicket: suspense right down to the last root

Behind the colorful backdrop and the adventurous Playgrounds however, there is a constant threat lurking. A dark shadow is watching you, learning and waiting for the right moment to strike. What exactly is following you remains a mystery for the time being - but one thing is clear: every decision, every exploration brings you closer to the truth. The narrative depth, according to Obsidian increase significantly and adapt closely to your progress and playing style.

Survive, build, grow together in Grounded 2

As a human the size of an ant, once familiar places are transformed into an unexplored Miniature kingdom. It's not just about bare survival, but also about adapting and evolving. With individual archetypes that focus on precision, strength or cunning, each player can develop their own style. And because you are stronger together, the focus is once again on co-op mode: build, fight and survive together - that's the motto.

Ride, fight, collect: Insects are your new best friends

They crawl, they fly - and now they carry you through the world. The so-called beetles can not only be ridden, but can also be used as helpers for transporting materials or building bases. In combination with new biomes and smarter enemy AI, this creates a system that cleverly combines strategy and fun.

Release date, platforms and price

Grounded 2 will be released on July 29, 2025 as a Game Preview on Xbox Series X|S, PC and via Xbox Cloud Gaming. The price is 29.99 euros - for Game Pass subscribers, the game is available directly from launch. Thanks to Xbox Play Anywhere you can switch seamlessly between console and PC.

Small, clever, cooperative - Grounded 2 his survival story mix to the next level

Grounded 2 is a new interpretation of the Shrink genres with a clear vision, clever design and an extra portion of heart and soul. Obsidian has deliberately decided against expanding the first part and instead created a game that aims to set new standards in terms of technology and gameplay. With new biomes, improved enemy AI, mounts, co-op functions and community integration Grounded 2 a must-play for fans of survival, crafting and co-op adventures.

The post I've shrunk the kids again! - Grounded 2 takes you on a huge new map with mounts first appeared on SPIELECHECK | English.

Instead of being transported to the vastness of space or a deserted island, Grounded takes you to a backyard at home. You slip into the role of people who have been shrunk to the size of ants and are confronted with all kinds of dangers in Grounded. The Struggle for survival from both the third and first-person perspective.

A safe haven in Grounded: Your own base

Your base is the hub of your adventures, which you can customize with numerous walls, floor coverings and other extras. But as secure as your base is, you will be forced to upgrade your base at regular intervals. Shelter and set off in search of resources. The focus is of course on the search for Food and water to prevent your character from losing life energy due to hunger or dehydration.

But it's not just food and water that you have to look for. At the same time, you can explore the backyard or Garden either alone or in multiplayer with other players to collect raw materials. These can then be used to create weapons such as axes, bows or swords, which can be of crucial importance in the fight against the aggressive insects.

You can also produce traps, items for your base or tools that speed up the extraction of resources.

All kinds of insects: The inhabitants of the game world

As mentioned at the beginning, your heroes are limited to a size of just a few millimetres. shrunk the insects that inhabit the garden can quickly become a deadly danger. Spiders, bees and aggressive ants in particular will hunt you down. Other insects, on the other hand, can become valuable allies. While aphids, for example, can be caught and cooked to be eaten as food, ladybugs will lead you to aphids and other resources.

With increasing playing time and the associated progress, the threats and the level of difficulty are constantly increasing. Especially in the night the Insects are more aggressive and hunt your characters mercilessly. This means that, in addition to skill in battle, a clever strategic approach is also required. And to the arachnophobes among you: If necessary, it is possible to completely remove the spiders from the game at the touch of a button.

Especially in multiplayer, Grounded since the launch It has been a great success and has already attracted one or two imitators. Among them Smallandwhich treads similar paths both visually and in terms of gameplay and Merge Games is created.

The post Grounded - Little heroes make it big on tour first appeared on SPIELECHECK | English.