Grounded 2 Review A Big Jump for Little People
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If you liked Grounded 1, you'll find Grounded 2 even better. It’s everything the first one was, but improved in all ways.
Grounded started with a cool idea: being tiny in a backyard jungle where bugs are huge and scary. Now, Grounded 2 takes us to a bigger place: a whole park. After playing for 8 hours in Early Access, I can say it's not just more of the same. It builds on, broadens, and betters the first in nearly every way, making a strong base for what will follow.
But should you play it now. For fans and newbies to survival games, it's a big yes. Let's look at why.
The World A Beautiful and Scary Park
Powered by Unreal Engine 5, Grounded 2 looks amazing. The light during the day, the way things look, and the detail makes the park feel real and alive. The true feel comes out in its realness. When the day turns to night, it happens fast. Darkness hits quick, and you'll need a torch for sure. This darkness, with new special effects in places like the Hedge, makes exploring truly tense and hard.
The sounds in the game are much better too. Beyond bug noises, you hear park sounds a far siren, a bike bell, a school bell that make it feel truly in-depth. A small thing that adds a lot.
Core Gameplay Smoother, Simpler, and More Fun
The Omni-Tool A Big Help
The best new thing might be the Omni-Tool. No more carrying a bunch of tools like axes or shovels that take up space. The Omni-Tool puts all these into one, and you make it better over time. This change makes gathering stuff easier, so you can look around and build more instead of sorting your stuff.
Combat Better and Stronger
The way you fight is all new. It's not just about hitting and blocking anymore. Enemies are smarter. They block you, so you need to hit hard to break their block. They might even trick you to mess up your timing. With a new way to dodge, fighting is more about skill and fun. Each type of weapon feels different, and the sounds when hitting like a club’s crunch or a knife’s slash make you feel the power.
Moving and Looking Around Ride Bugs
The map is big, as large as the last one from game one, and it’s getting larger. To move around this space, Grounded 2 brings in a much-talked-about feature: Buggies (Mounts). You can tame and ride critters like the Red Soldier Ant, which changes the game. Buggies let you move faster, carry things, and help in fights. This makes choosing where to build easier and cuts down boring walks.
But moving around isn’t perfect. Even with a buggy, the map can feel too big, and missing zip lines are a clear absence. Some places can seem dull or the same, filled with empty caves that have little to offer.
Base Raids and Upgrades
Faction raids are out. Now the game tells you: "Time to defend your base." You get a timer, so you can get ready for a tough fight. It's more fun and less hard this way.
Ease-of-use fixes are all over. Mutations now tell you how to unlock them (like, "Kill 30 mites"), and you can track this. Milk Molars can be used right from your Scabby menu, so no more running back to use them. These changes show the game respects your time more now.
All-Around Rating
Grounded 2 is an amazing and big step up that gets ahead of its first game in almost every way. Though it has room to get better, the base is very strong.
Rating : 7.5 / 10
Good Points
- Great looks and real feel in UE5.
- New Buggy/Mount system makes moving fun.
- The Omni-Tool gives big help in daily tasks.
- Fighting is deeper, needs more plan, which is good.
- New raid system pulls you in more and is fair.
Bad Points
- Moving across the big map can still be slow.
- Some parts of the map are empty or the same too much.
- No way to change UI colors is a move back.
- Special skins only for those who buy a Founder's Pack.
- Some small fight and buggy bugs are there.
Last Words A Well-Done Sequel
Grounded 2 is what a follow-up needs to be. It stays true to the loved setup of the first and adds smart, big changes. The Omni-Tool, the Buggies, and the new fight style are not just small fixes; they truly make the base game better.
If you liked the first game, this is a must-get. If you're new to Grounded but enjoy living in games, this is a great and easy start. The road ahead looks big and full of big adventures in this mini world.
