PC Critic Reviews

If you can deal with its current optimization hiccups, Grounded 2 is an easy recommendation for those new to survival crafting sandbox. [Early Access Review]

Out of the early access gates, Grounded 2 is well on its way to becoming one of my favorite survival games ever, even in its very incomplete and fairly buggy state. The story, exploration, and RPG mechanics have all been enlarged in a big way, and the addition of mountable insect pets is exactly as much of a game changer as I hoped it would be. There’s certainly a lot of room for Grounded 2 to grow in early access, including enemy variety, some more memorable areas, a better base-building system, and especially technical performance. But as incomplete as it is, Obsidian already very clearly has something special on its hands and it promises to be the evolution of this small but mighty series that I was hoping for. [Early Access Score = 80]

With a major visual upgrade, improved gameplay quality, and a much better-paced story, this miniature adventure is everything we needed from Obsidian in a sequel that far surpasses its predecessor. Spiders, scorpions, cockroaches, and praying mantises may go unnoticed in everyday life, but when you're the size of a pill bug, they become the worst threats you could ever face. [Early Access Score = 90]

Grounded 2 is terrific fun, even if this is currently a slightly safe sequel to a true original. It's still a treat to play, with improved combat and a fantastic new park to explore. Let's hope the rideable buggy is just the beginning of lots more great new ideas to come in what's already a substantial early access release. [Early Access Review]

From building your base to fighting off an endless horde of ladybird larvae, Grounded 2 is very much more Grounded, and some will likely question why this is a sequel and not an expansion to the original. But if you look beyond the superficial similarities, you’ll see a sequel that’s far more confident in itself. This isn’t an experiment for Obsidian anymore, it’s a full-blown project that’s getting the care and attention it deserves, with a bigger story, bigger enemies, and a bigger world to explore. We may be small, but I have very big expectations for Grounded 2. [Early Access Review]

If you’re a fan of the original game, I’d say there’s nothing ground(ed) breaking here. In fact, it’s very easy to like Grounded 2 because in many ways, it’s the first game again, albeit at a much bigger scale, with new mysteries to solve and an entirely new map to explore and survive in. The core strengths of the original are here and intact, from the gorgeous world and solid survival mechanics, to another intriguing story to unpack, but I can’t help but feel there should have been more from the start that feels truly new. Still, it is a lot of fun, and as we begin another early access journey, this peblet and clay foundation is pretty solid – I can’t wait to see what else is in store. [Early Access Provisional Score = 70]

Quotation forthcoming. [Early Access Review]

Grounded 2 doesn't stray far from its predecessor, and in the crowded survival-crafting genre, it struggles to stand out. Still, for fans of the series, it offers just enough to be worth a look. [Early Access Provisional Score = 75]

I definitely recommend Grounded 2 — whether you enjoyed the first game or just love survival titles with deep crafting systems. Even if you're not usually into this kind of game, I believe it's well worth a try for its unique concept — unless, of course, you’re terrified of giant ladybugs. [Early Access Review]

Because of its stronger starting point, Grounded 2 should wind up the bigger, better, buggier-in-a-good-way survival game. Its best new toys make survival gameplay much smoother and more enjoyable; the adolescent spirit that truly makes Grounded stand out in a sea of survival games is still on full display here, too. It will take some time for Creative mode to catch up and eventually surpass what the first game did for those who like to play this game more like an interior decorator than a hunter-gatherer. All of that means Grounded 2 is a good early-access game that improves on its previous version in some big ways, while still earning the label of being an in-progress experience. [Early Access Score = 70]