Obsidian Entertainment’s Grounded 2 has arrived in Early Access, launching players from the familiar suburban lawn into the sprawling, wild expanse of Brookhollow Park. With its July 2025 release, this survival sequel raises the stakes with smarter systems, deadly new biomes, and critters that make wolf spiders look tame. But with only a fraction of the game currently available, is it worth diving in now—or should you wait for the full release?
Let’s shrink down and explore the highs, lows, and future of Grounded 2 in its early form.
🗺 A Whole New World: Brookhollow Park
Brookhollow Park makes the original backyard feel like a tutorial zone. This massive new setting is about 3x larger, and it’s teeming with layered environments:
-
❄️ Frozen Wastelands – Navigate slippery terrain near abandoned ice cream trucks
-
🧱 Cobblestone Labyrinths – Dodge danger in cracked pathways and forgotten build sites
-
💧 Sewage Tunnels – Dark, damp, and filled with things you don’t want to touch
-
🌿 Overgrown Gardens – Climb sky-high on stalks and stems to reach hidden loot
The visual upgrade is clear: light refracting through morning dew, improved material textures, and shadows that actually impact stealth. But these lush visuals can strain even high-end PCs, especially in dense areas—performance optimization is still a work-in-progress.
🔧 New Mechanics That Change Everything
🐜 Tame and Ride Buggies
-
Ants: Pack mules for hauling
-
Spiders: Mobile tanks for offense
-
(Leaked) Dragonflies: May introduce flying traversal later on
These aren’t just mounts—they integrate with combat, gathering, and co-op dynamics.
🛠️ The Omni-Tool
No more hotbar micromanagement. The Omni-Tool combines all basic tools into a single device, streamlining inventory and making resource grinding far less tedious.
🧬 Class System for Deeper Builds
Choose your path:
-
Brute – Tank up and smash through enemies
-
Summoner – Command bugs for backup
-
Ranger – Precision, stealth, and traps
Each class gains unique gear, mutations (passive perks), and playstyle synergies, especially in co-op.
🎙 Yes, There’s an Actual Story Now
Gone are the cryptic logs and vague clues—Grounded 2 features a voiced narrative with NPCs, cutscenes, and clear progression.
Your corporate handler, Sloane Beaumont, guides you through survival with suspiciously friendly advice. Her “Growtek Initiative” may be more sinister than it seems, and finding the truth means exploring every inch of the park.
Environmental storytelling is still strong, with audio logs, science stations, and research notes filling in the mystery behind your tiny predicament.
⚠️ The Reality of Early Access (July 2025)
🚧 Limited Content (For Now)
Only about one-third of Brookhollow Park is currently accessible—but it already matches the original Grounded’s map in size. Many enemies are reused from the first game, though new threats like ice-breathing butterflies and scorpions have been added.
🐞 Bugs and Performance Woes
Players report:
-
FPS drops in dense areas
-
Base-building placement glitches
-
Random crashes and clipping
-
Visual stutters during bug-riding sequences
While not game-breaking for most, these issues will frustrate perfectionists.
🔮 The Roadmap Ahead
Obsidian has committed to regular updates. Expected additions include:
-
New biomes: Underwater zones, toxic bogs
-
Mounts: Aquatic bugs and possibly gliding insects
-
More story content and full narrative closure
-
UI/UX polish and advanced building systems
-
Crossplay enhancements and performance fixes
✅ Should You Play Grounded 2 Now?
| Player Type | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Fans of the Series | Yes – Enough content and quality to enjoy now, especially in co-op |
| Survival Game Lovers | Maybe – Great systems, but story-light at this stage |
| Bug-Sensitive Players | No (For Now) – Wait for version 1.0 to avoid technical hiccups |
🧠 Final Thoughts
Grounded 2 Early Access is like a metamorphosing caterpillar—you can already tell it’s going to be a beautiful butterfly (or dragonfly). What’s here is some of the most creative survival gameplay around: bug mounts, class builds, and one of the coolest settings in the genre.
It’s not perfect, but it’s promising—and if you’re ready to brave some performance dips and growing pains, Brookhollow Park is already an adventure worth taking.
Comments
Post a Comment