8.5 /10 16

Grounded stands as one of 2024’s finest survival experiences, reimagining the genre through a miniaturized perspective inspired by Honey I Shrunk the Kids. Launching its Fully Yoked update on April 16, 2024, across PlayStation, Switch, and PC, the game attracted 20 million players with its welcoming approach to world-building, combat mechanics, and cooperative gameplay. This comprehensive review explores how Grounded balances progression systems, base construction, and exploration while introducing New Game+ content that extends playtime significantly. Whether playing solo or with up to three friends, Grounded delivers a polished survival experience that resonates across all platforms.

How to Play Grounded

Grounded guides players through a structured progression system where resource gathering feeds directly into crafting upgrades and base construction. The core loop involves exploration, combat encounters with insects, crafting improvements, and defensive building. Learning curve remains accessible with tutorials introducing mechanics gradually.

1. Controls – Controller and mouse-keyboard input both feel natural; aiming and platforming demand precision but remain forgiving during early gameplay
2. Progression – Research system unlocks new recipes; armor tiers gate progression; boss defeats advance the story narrative forward
3. Combat/Mechanics – Stamina management, blocking, and dodge timing matter more than button-mashing; creature types require different strategies and approaches
4. Tips – Build your base early near water sources; prioritize armor over weapons for survivability; explore marked quest objectives for story clarity

Who Should Play Grounded

Grounded attracts veterans of Subnautica and The Forest while remaining welcoming to survival genre newcomers. Cross-platform play and adjustable difficulty settings ensure accessibility across experience levels and play styles. The cooperative focus rewards coordinated teamwork.

• Cooperative Players – The 4-player online experience shines with friends handling different responsibilities; shared worlds remain accessible offline
• Survival Enthusiasts – Intricate crafting trees, base customization, and exploration systems deliver 20+ hours of meaningful progression and discovery
• Story-Driven Gamers – Narrative mysteries about shrinkage and escape provide motivation alongside sandbox building freedom
• Skip if – You dislike insects, grinding for resources, or demanding platforming sections; extreme arachnophobes may find this terrifying

Grounded Platform Performance

Grounded maintains strong technical stability across platforms through the Fully Yoked update. Performance varies significantly between PC high-end systems and Nintendo Switch, with console versions offering quality/performance mode toggles for player preference control.

Grounded System Requirements

PC minimum requirements remain modest from the 2020 early access launch; recommended specs from 2024 demand current-generation hardware for optimal 1440p/4K gaming. Storage needs 8GB available space on all platforms for installation and updates.

Similar Games to Grounded

The cooperative survival landscape includes compelling alternatives with different approaches to base-building, exploration, and progression systems. Each offers unique mechanics while maintaining the same core loop of resource gathering and threat management.

• Subnautica – Ocean-based survival with identical base-building depth; exploration drives narrative rather than combat encounters
• The Forest – Similar atmosphere and survival mechanics; heavier emphasis on horror and resource scarcity pressure
• No Man’s Sky – Procedural exploration at larger scale; base-building comparable but progression less linear
• Valheim – Norse-themed survival with superior crafting depth; less story-driven but community modding extends content indefinitely

Grounded vs Competitors

Grounded differentiates through its charming backyard setting, cross-platform accessibility, and narrative focus compared to procedurally-generated competitors. Metacritic positioning places it among elite survival titles, with critical consensus praising world design and cooperative implementation. Player investment hours vary significantly based on multiplayer engagement and completion goals.

Grounded Story and World

The narrative follows a group of teenagers shrunk to ant size within a residential backyard, forced to survive encounters with oversized insects while uncovering the mystery of their transformation. The story unfolds through environmental discoveries, character interactions, and quest objectives rather than exposition dumps. World-building emphasizes wonder alongside danger, with each new biome region revealing fresh creature types, resource gathering opportunities, and environmental hazards. The tone balances humor with genuine tension, creating moments where common household items become towering obstacles. Story conclusion feels earned through dedicated progression, with New Game+ mode extending narrative ambitions through alternate-dimension challenges and remixed creature encounters that preserve surprise and discovery throughout multiple playthroughs.

Grounded Multiplayer and Online

Cross-platform multiplayer connectivity defines Grounded’s online experience, allowing seamless play across Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Shared Worlds feature enables cloud-based progression persistence, meaning players can continue adventures even when hosts go offline. Voice chat integrates directly into the game client, though Discord and third-party services enhance communication options.

• Online Co-op – Up to 4 players total; hosts control world settings; friend lists organize session discovery efficiently
• Shared Worlds – Cloud-saved world data persists across all players; anyone with permission can host independently
• Playgrounds Mode – Creative sandbox mode allows custom map building and parkour course creation; workshop supports community content
• Cross-Play – Full support across all platforms; crossplay toggle available for preference control on PC via Steam

Grounded DLC and Expansions

The Fully Yoked 1.4 update represents the final major content drop, delivering New Game+ mechanics, additional boss encounters, weapon upgrades, and expanded inventory options at no additional cost to existing players. All post-launch major updates remain free, following player-first monetization philosophy aligned with Xbox Game Pass distribution strategy.

• Fully Yoked Update (Free) – New Game+ remixed yards, three additional Ant Queen bosses, 20+ new items, full Japanese voice acting, cross-platform compatibility across all systems
• New Game+ Content (Free) – Remixed dimensions with mutated creatures, exclusive trinkets, Yoking Station weapon upgrades requiring specialized materials
• Base Game – No battle pass, cosmetics, or pay-to-win mechanics; all essential content included at single purchase price
• Future Content – Grounded 2 entered early access July 29, 2025, as separate title; original game receives occasional balance patches

Grounded Community and Support

Obsidian maintains active developer engagement through official forums, patch notes commentary, and community showcase features spotlighting player-created Playgrounds content. Modding support remains limited on consoles but Steam Workshop integration enables PC customization. Discord communities organize multiplayer sessions; Reddit communities maintain active discussion regarding strategy guides and content updates.

• Official Support – Obsidian support portal handles technical issues; patch notes detail balance changes and bug fixes biweekly
• Community Spaces – Reddit’s r/GroundedGame hosts 40k+ members; Discord servers coordinate cooperative sessions across time zones
• Content Creation – Playgrounds workshop enables community-made maps; content creators receive promotion through official channels
• Update Frequency – Balance patches arrive monthly; major feature updates concluded with Fully Yoked; maintenance patches continue indefinitely