Grounded is a superb survival recreation that’s completely deserving of a sequel – it is simply that I, and lots of others, did not count on it to get one so quickly. Slowed down already this 12 months with Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, I used to be shocked when Obsidian introduced Grounded 2 a few months again, and was much more stunned to see a July 29 early entry launch date too. Nicely, at this time’s the day, and regardless of Grounded 2’s inclusion in Sport Cross, it is performing very effectively on Steam – so effectively, in reality, that it is already blasted previous its predecessor’s all-time participant peak on Valve’s platform.
Provided that the unique Grounded – a worthy inclusion on our record of the very best survival video games – solely dropped in 2022 and was nonetheless being recurrently up to date and performed, Grounded 2 remains to be a moderately sudden sequel. It follows the identical 4 protagonists (albeit a few years on from the occasions of the primary recreation) and nonetheless revolves round a really acquainted gameplay loop of exploring, base constructing, bug battling, and finally uncovering the secrets and techniques of your shrinking.
Nonetheless, Grounded 2 does make some improvements – might they’ve been huge upgrades to the unique recreation? Maybe. However collectively, these modifications will make for a sequel that feels noticeably totally different.
The brand new world of Brookhollow Park is greater than the earlier recreation’s and incorporates extra biome selection. Dashing has been added as a brand new motion and fight mechanic, each for you and your insectile foes. Bugs can now be captured and changed into rideable mounts. The UI has been refreshed. It is all aiming to convey the beloved gameplay of the unique as much as new heights, and though it is launching at this time in an early entry state, it is proving very fashionable.
On Steam, Grounded 2’s debut has resulted in a peak concurrent participant rely of slightly below 50,000. That is spectacular, given it is instantly out there at no additional value for hundreds of thousands of Sport Cross subscribers. That peak participant rely can be effectively above the unique Grounded’s all-time report, which sits at round 32,000.
Whereas the participant counts look wholesome, it is value noting that on Steam its early consumer critiques sit on a 64% optimistic ‘blended’ rating. Most unfavourable critiques are calling out its PC efficiency, however given it is hours previous and is in an early entry state, Obsidian will possible get issues working rather a lot smoother for everybody very quickly in any respect. I might be stunned if, over time, that assessment rating did not enhance by a big margin.
If you’d like in, Grounded 2 is out there proper now on Steam and Home windows Retailer for $29.99 / £24.99 or as a part of your Xbox or PC Sport Cross subscription.
If Grounded 2 is tempting you into choosing up a sub, take a look at what else you’ll play with our record of the very best Sport Cross video games. If you’ll this new world in miniature, we have a great deal of guides that can assist you out, comparable to this one on the Grounded 2 briefcase mixtures.
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