Skip To...
The next installment of the Grounded series (yes, it is now a series), Grounded 2, is right around the corner, and it has some evident differences from its predecessor. While it still has a group of teenagers fighting for their lives in an insect-riddled land, the gameplay has changed considerably, and there are a lot of new mechanics coming, even during the Game Preview launch. Here, we’ve made a list of the 10 most notable ones so that you can get hyped ahead of this sequel’s arrival.
1. A Bigger Map, Obviously
Many might not be aware of this, especially since Grounded 2 is launching on Game Preview, but the map is going to be much larger than that of its predecessor. According to recent information, the final size will be three times larger than Grounded. However, that won’t happen until the sequel reaches its 1.0 version. Yet, that’s not a reason to be disappointed because the map coming on Game Preview launch will be the size of the finished map of Grounded. Overall, it will be a large place to explore.
2. Hatch and Ride Bugs
Monster Hunter Stories fans might get a kick out of this, but you’ll now be able to ride bugs. We’ve all seen the trailers with the teenagers using spiders and ants in combat. However, it seems there’s a whole process before having your rideable Buggy. In the story trailer, we see the characters stealing an egg before taking it to a machine inside their base. This might mean that we need to hatch the Buggies first before riding them, which sounds pretty cool.
3. Bigger and More Dangerous Bugs
It might go without saying, but like any proper sequel, Grounded 2 is bringing bigger and more dangerous creatures for us to fight. We’ve already seen variations to existing insects and some with scarier details, like Wolf Spiders. However, there are a couple of new ones like the Praying Mantis, which just seems like it will obliterate us and our base in seconds. It’s bound to be fun.
4. Older Teenagers
It might not be the biggest difference in Grounded 2, but it is important for lore aficionados. As you know, the first game’s story wrapped up sometime in 1990. The sequel takes place two years later, in 1992, meaning our teenagers will be a bit older. It may not seem like the most relevant thing, but as you may or may not remember, being a teenager had story implications as they were immune to the effects of shrinking. Will the teenagers being older cause trouble? It is uncertain, but we can’t wait to find out.
5. No Ziplines at Launch
One of the most iconic features of Grounded, the ziplines, isn’t coming to the sequel at launch. However, that doesn’t mean it will be gone forever. The studio has already confirmed that ziplines are coming in future updates, but for now, it wants us to experience all the new features, especially the rideable Buggies. This is a great approach, as it will let us familiarize ourselves with the map without ziplining from one place to another.
6. New Gear and Combat Mechanics
We’ve only seen a glimpse of how combat and gear will work, but it’s been enough to hype us. You can already see that combat, in first and third person, looks much better. Plus, there are new moves like backstab attacks that will certainly let us clear the park of some pesky enemies. And, as you may know, new insects mean new gear, so we’ll likely have a lot of new armor sets to collect.
7. Tool Changes
While it is a survival crafting staple, having a different tool to harvest one specific material is a thing of the past. After a while, these tools only clutter your inventory. Fortunately, one of the biggest differences of Grounded 2 is that it places all tools into one conveniently called Omnitool. Long gone are the days of having to scroll between your hatchet, pickaxe, and other tools.
8. More Building Pieces
For those who love decorating their base, Grounded 2 brings a lot of new pieces for players to create their best-looking mini-hideout. We haven’t seen that many, but there are a few new roofs, walls, and other decorations that will bring life to this insect-riddled park. Plus, it seems the amazing building system of Grounded is coming back, so that’s a huge plus.
9. A Bigger Story During Game Preview
Contrary to Grounded, Grounded 2 will feature a bigger story during the Game Preview launch. That doesn’t mean it will be the final version, but at least we’ll be able to get more lore out of it before waiting for another patch. It is uncertain how long it will take us to see everything, but assuming it is like the first game, it will be a while, even with the game not fully launched yet.
10. Focus on Class-like Gameplay
Last but not least, Obsidian is emphasizing a more archetype-like approach to character builds. We all know that Grounded already featured an excellent combat system, but not a lot of players used all of the weapons and builds in the game. For the sequel, the studio will focus more on that archetype feel, meaning you’ll likely be able to feel like a warrior, rogue, or something else.
