Survival and building · Obsidian Entertainment · 2022
Grounded
Shrunk to the size of an ant in a suburban back garden. Survival, building and a proper story, all at ankle height.
4.5Crew score out of 5Easy-going
What you do
Four teenagers wake up tiny in a garden. Build bases out of grass and clover, craft armour from insects, and slowly uncover why you are small. The garden is full of bugs that are friendly, curious or very much not.
Who it suits
Groups who want survival with a clear story and a bit of humour. The arachnophobia setting makes it fine for players who hate spiders.
Arachnophobia mode
A slider in the settings turns spiders into harmless shapes. Several of our testers would not have played without it.
A story to follow
Unlike many survival games, Grounded has a story with clear goals. It gives groups a reason to keep going together rather than drifting apart.
Building in the grass
Bases can be built anywhere, from the roots of a tree to the top of a picnic table. Your crew will spend a long time on their first proper home.
On deck
- Crossplay on every platform
- Story gives the group a direction
- Arachnophobia setting
Below deck
- Combat can get frustrating
- No voice chat built in
Verdict
The most welcoming survival game for a mixed group, especially one with a story fan.
Tested with crews and updated on 27 October 2026. Prices, platforms and features change with updates; the official page has the latest.