Grounded Review: A Backyard Survival Adventure Like No Other

Welcome, friends! How’s everyone doing? Alliana Jonus here, and I’m super excited to welcome you all back to my blog, Xbox Gaming. I know it’s been a little while since we’ve posted a new review — sorry about that! But today, I’ve got something great lined up. I’ll be diving into a review of a high-octane game that’s a must-try for all racing enthusiasts. You can even earn some rewards while playing! So without further delay, let’s jump right in!

Grounded Review: A Backyard Survival Adventure Like No Other

When it comes to survival games, Grounded by Obsidian Entertainment takes a wildly creative turn. Rather than pitting you against a post-apocalyptic wasteland or a zombie-filled city, Grounded shrinks you down to the size of an insect and throws you into a sprawling backyard where danger lurks at every blade of grass. Released in early access in July 2020 and officially launched on September 27, 2022, this game is a breath of fresh air in the survival genre and brings both thrill and charm to the table.

If you're someone who's into survival games or even just looking for something truly unique, Grounded the game is worth every minute of your time. Let’s break it down.

Setting and Story

The story of Grounded revolves around four kids who find themselves shrunken to the size of ants in a suburban backyard. What was once a normal environment has transformed into a perilous wilderness filled with towering plants, lurking predators, and various clues to uncover the mystery behind their miniaturization.

One of the most brilliant aspects of Grounded is how the developers turned a simple backyard into an alien-like world. The giant grass blades, dangerous insects, and human remnants scattered throughout give it a whimsical yet threatening atmosphere. Every corner feels like a new adventure, whether you’re climbing a clover leaf, evading a spider the size of a house, or scavenging for supplies.

The narrative of Grounded is slowly unveiled through environmental storytelling and interactions with NPCs like BURG.L, a charming robot who helps guide you through missions and quests to uncover why the kids were shrunk and how to return to normal size.

Gameplay and Mechanics

When it comes to gameplay, Grounded video game combines classic survival elements with a unique twist. You’ll find yourself gathering resources, crafting weapons and tools, building bases, and fending off hostile creatures. But the magic of Grounded lies in how these familiar survival mechanics have been adapted to fit the game's shrunken world.

Resource Gathering – Imagine using pebbles as weapons or building shelters out of grass and twigs. Everything around you is a potential tool, and crafting feels natural as you scavenge for materials like sap, acorn shells, and ant parts.

Combat – Combat in Grounded is where things get intense. You’ll face off against a range of insects, from relatively harmless ants to terrifying, massive spiders. Each enemy type has its own behaviors and weaknesses, which makes encounters feel fresh and strategic. Whether you're using spears, bows, or hammers, every fight is a challenge, especially if you’re taking on the game's boss-like creatures like the Broodmother spider.

Base Building – Crafting and building your base is a core aspect of Grounded. You can construct everything from simple lean-tos to elaborate fortresses to protect yourself from raids by insects. The ability to customize and upgrade your structures is deeply satisfying as your shelter evolves from a basic camp to a full-blown base.

Multiplayer – One of the best features of Grounded is its co-op multiplayer. You can team up with up to three friends and tackle the backyard together. This adds a whole new layer of fun as you share the burden of resource gathering, building, and combat. There’s nothing quite like working together to take down a giant spider or building a massive treehouse with your friends.

Visuals and Sound

Grounded has a distinct art style that combines realistic textures with a slightly cartoonish look, making the environment feel inviting but also dangerous. The lighting is beautiful, especially when the sun filters through the blades of grass, creating a magical sense of scale. The insects are both fascinating and terrifying, particularly the spiders, which are designed to be unnervingly lifelike.

Speaking of spiders, Grounded includes a thoughtful “arachnophobia mode,” which allows players to tone down the realism of the spiders. You can adjust how creepy they appear by changing their shape and size, making the game more accessible to those who are scared of spiders.

The sound design is equally immersive. From the rustling of grass to the distant chirping of insects, the game world feels alive. And when you hear the ominous sound of a spider approaching, your heart will race just as much as when you spot it looming over you.

Challenges and Replayability

Grounded Xbox offers a variety of challenges, from survival elements like hunger and thirst to defending your base from insect raids. Exploration plays a massive role as well, with hidden areas and valuable resources waiting to be discovered.

Replayability is another strong point. The game continues to evolve through regular updates, adding new content, biomes, and enemies. Whether you want to focus on crafting the perfect base, mastering combat, or uncovering the backyard’s secrets, there’s always something to come back to.

Grounded Game FAQ

1. What is Grounded?

Grounded is a survival action-adventure video game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. In the game, you are shrunk to the size of an insect and must survive in a suburban backyard teeming with danger. You’ll gather resources, craft weapons, build bases, and fend off giant bugs as you uncover the mystery behind your miniaturization.

2. When was Grounded released?

Grounded was first released in early access in July 2020 for Windows and Xbox One. The full version of the game launched on September 27, 2022.

3. What platforms is Grounded available on?

Grounded is available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows PC. It’s also included with Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.

4. Does Grounded support multiplayer?

Yes, Grounded offers both single-player and multiplayer modes. You can team up with up to three friends in co-op mode, allowing for shared exploration, resource gathering, and base-building.

5. How does combat work in Grounded?

Combat in Grounded involves crafting and using a variety of weapons like spears, bows, and clubs. You’ll face off against a wide range of hostile insects, such as spiders, ants, and ladybugs. Each creature has its own strengths and weaknesses, requiring strategic approaches to defeat them.

6. Is there a story or campaign in Grounded?

Yes, Grounded features a storyline that unravels as you explore the backyard. The central mystery revolves around why the characters were shrunk, and players can progress through quests and missions to uncover the truth. The game’s story is guided by NPCs like BURG.L, a helpful robot that provides missions.

7. What is the arachnophobia mode in Grounded?

The arachnophobia mode is a special accessibility feature that allows players to adjust how spiders appear in the game. If you're uncomfortable with the appearance of spiders, this mode lets you reduce their detail, making them less realistic and less intimidating.

8. What type of base-building can you do in Grounded?

In Grounded, players can build and customize their own bases to protect themselves from hostile insects. You can use grass, twigs, and other resources to construct walls, floors, and even advanced structures like multi-level towers or defensive fortifications. Base-building is essential for surviving raids from insects and storing valuable items.

9. How long is the game?

The length of Grounded depends on your play style. If you focus solely on the main storyline, it may take around 15-20 hours to complete. However, if you engage in base-building, exploration, and multiplayer, the game can offer dozens of hours of content.

10. Can you play Grounded on Xbox Game Pass?

Yes, Grounded is available on Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, allowing subscribers to play the game as part of their subscription.

11. Are there regular updates or expansions for Grounded?

Yes, Obsidian Entertainment regularly updates Grounded with new content, including new biomes, creatures, and gameplay features. These updates keep the game fresh and add more challenges and activities for players.

12. Is Grounded family-friendly?

While Grounded has a playful and cartoonish art style, it also features intense moments, especially when facing large, realistic insects like spiders. The game is rated T (Teen) by the ESRB for violence and mild language, so it's suitable for older kids and teens but may be too intense for younger children.

Final Thoughts

In the crowded survival game genre, Grounded video game stands out as something special. The concept of shrinking down to explore a backyard is not only fresh but also deeply engaging. The balance between exploration, crafting, and combat is well-executed, and the co-op multiplayer takes the experience to another level.

The game does have its tough moments, especially when it comes to combat against larger foes, but that adds to the thrill. Every victory feels hard-earned, and the sense of progression is incredibly rewarding.

If you're a fan of survival games or just looking for something new to sink your teeth into, Grounded is a must-play. Its creative premise, fantastic world design, and satisfying gameplay loop make it a standout title.

Outro:

Thanks for joining me on this ride, friends! If you enjoyed this review of Grounded the game, I’d love it if you could share it with fellow gamers and hit that follow button to stay updated with all the latest reviews. And if you’ve got thoughts on Grounded the game, drop a comment—I’d love to hear what you think about this wild adventure! Until next time, keep gaming and exploring!