Grounded 2 (PS5) Early Access Review: Second Time's (Still) The Charm

As someone who prefers to play a game in its entirety before putting it down and moving onto another one, it probably doesn’t come as a surprise that I let Obsidian’s Grounded pass me by when it launched in early access all the way back in 2020. In the years since, it received a proper 1.0 launch, as well as ports to PlayStation 4 and 5, but by then, I had all but forgotten about it. Thankfully, my chance at redemption is at hand with Grounded 2, which is making its debut on PlayStation 5 this month.

Now, to be clear, this follow-up is still in early access, but unlike the original, a lot of the scaffolding and foundation for a fully formed game has already been established. The story follows the same band of teenage heroes from the first Grounded, who find themselves in a very similar predicament after they’ve been shrunk down (yes, again) to the size of insects.

Thankfully, the tall grass of Brookhaven Park provides an entirely new landscape to explore and survive in, and this time around, our intrepid heroes have a few new tricks up their sleeve. Rather than having to juggle multiple items (like a shovel for digging and an axe for cutting), you now have access to the Omni-Tool, an all-in-one gadget that can be used for just about everything, eliminating the need to constantly switch back and forth between different tools. Better yet, unlike the tools in the first Grounded, the Omni-Tool can’t break or be dropped/misplaced, so you never need to worry about replacing or repairing it, which is a nice touch.

Also new to Grounded 2 are rideable animals, dubbed buggies, which make traversal much speedier. These friendly insects also make exploring a much safer endeavor, since they will shield you from any incoming damage, though they do have their own limits. They might seem like a minor inclusion, but being able to zip around the environment cuts down on some of the monotony, and it’s a welcome addition in a game that emphasizes resource gathering and exploration.

It’s worth mentioning – while Grounded 2 can be played solo, it’s clearly a game that’s designed to be played with friends, given the range of weapon types, the swarms of enemies you need to fend off, and the importance placed on tracking down and gathering resources. It’s by no means impossible to go it alone, but it certainly feels like a different experience without some backup by your side.

Grounded 2 (PS5) Early Access Review: Not-So-Final Verdict

With the addition of rideable buggies, the streamlining of its tool system, and the sheer amount of content to work through, Grounded 2 is a no-brainer for those who bought into the series’ unique take on the survival genre. We’ll have to see how the game progresses as it inches its way out of early access, but so far, things seem rather bright in Brookhaven Park.