Grounded shines as a micro-survival adventure on Steam and Xbox, with Game Pass at launch
Grounded is a compact survival game that drops players into a world where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. Available on Steam and Xbox consoles, the title launches with Game Pass as a day one benefit, giving subscribers immediate access to the full experience. A note for players outside of certain markets is that Grounded may not appear on every regional storefront, such as Russian Steam, which has affected how some fans in that region can begin their journey.
The development team behind Grounded is Obsidian Entertainment, a studio known for bold storytelling and deep worldbuilding. In the lead up to release, the creators released a trailer that offers a glimpse of the insect enemies and the various locales players will explore. Grounded has been in early access since July 2020, a long but purposeful period that allowed the team to refine systems like crafting, base building, and the tense, resource-driven combat that defines the game. The public response during this period helped shape a product that strives to be both accessible for newcomers and rich enough for veterans seeking challenge.
Critics and players have greeted Grounded with strong enthusiasm. Metacritic and OpenCritic scores reflect broad appreciation for its fresh approach to survival gaming, with Metacritic reporting a score around the mid-eighties and OpenCritic showing a similarly favorable reception. Reviews have highlighted the game’s compact scale as a strength rather than a limitation, noting how the smaller, more focused playgrounds can deliver tight, high-stakes moments that feel intense and personal. The combination of cooperative play, detailed habitats, and the constant danger of tiny predators keeps the pace brisk and the stakes clear for anyone venturing outdoors in a world built from the perspective of a child-sized explorer.
The narrative centers on a group of children who have shrunk down to the size of insects, forced to adapt to a world that suddenly feels enormous and unpredictable. Survival hinges on improvisation, teamwork, and a careful balance of risk and discovery. Players must scrounge for resources, craft tools, and construct shelters that can keep them safe from both environmental hazards and the unpredictable inhabitants of this miniature ecosystem. Grounded invites players to rethink ordinary elements of life, turning a household yard into a vast frontier filled with hidden dangers, pockets of shelter, and surprising opportunities for exploration.
Beyond its core survival loop, the game offers a rich layer of exploration, puzzle-solving, and micro-adventure. Players may uncover secret areas under leaves, inside soil crevices, or within the roots of a towering fern, each location offering its own set of challenges and rewards. The world feels tangible and lived-in, with weather patterns, day-night cycles, and the constant pressure to remain undetected by larger animals that dominate the microcosm. This sense of scale is what gives Grounded its distinct charm and replayability, encouraging players to experiment with different survival strategies and cooperative roles among teammates.
Grounded has continued to evolve since its debut in early access, with updates that expand biomes, add fresh enemies, and refine base-building mechanics. The game’s ongoing development reflects a responsive approach to player feedback, delivering meaningful additions that keep the core loop feeling fresh while preserving the game’s original spirit. For fans of cooperative play, Grounded offers a collaborative experience where teamwork is essential to progress, whether acquiring rare resources, defending a shared shelter, or coordinating expeditions to uncover the world’s many micro-units of discovery. The overall pacing, the tactile crafting system, and the charm of its characters all contribute to a memorable survival journey that resonates across audiences in North America and beyond.
All screenshots and visual summaries of Grounded provide a window into the look and feel of this compact but vibrant survival world. The art direction emphasizes a bright, tactile aesthetic that makes the miniature setting feel inviting rather than grim, which helps broaden its appeal to players who might be drawn to exploration and creativity as much as danger. The game’s visual presentation, combined with its accessible yet meaningful mechanics, positions Grounded as a standout option for co-op play and a compelling entry point for newcomers to the survival genre. The experience is designed to be shared, with friends guiding one another through uncertain environments and making decisions that impact the entire group’s chances of thriving under miniature skies.
In summary, Grounded offers a unique spin on survival gaming by shrinking its players and turning a seemingly ordinary backyard into a grand, peril-filled expedition. Its affordable availability through Game Pass on day one, the support from Obsidian Entertainment, and the positive critical reception all contribute to a strong case for players seeking cooperative action, discovery, and a bold reimagining of what it means to survive in a world that feels larger than life. The game continues to attract attention from audiences who crave creative mechanics, thoughtful world-building, and a sense of wonder that comes with seeing familiar landscapes from an entirely new, life-sized perspective.
♂️ First trailer for The Last of Us
Source: VG Times