Grounded
Grounded is a PlayStation 5 adventure game developed by Obsidian Entertainment. It centers on combat encounters, area and route exploration, and objective or clue progression, with controls and information arranged around the DualSense twin sticks, triggers, directional pad, and face buttons, with touchpad, motion input, adaptive triggers, and detailed haptics where the game uses them.
- AI score · out of 10
- 8.2 / 10
About this game
Grounded is a PlayStation 5 adventure game centered on combat encounters, area and route exploration, and objective or clue progression. Locations, objectives, and clues gradually open the main chapters, with progress divided into stages, tasks, matches, or growth milestones that make immediate goals understandable. Its value depends on whether these rules continue to create judgment and room for mastery rather than on length, sales, or series recognition. Short campaigns are judged by repeat-challenge value, while longer ones are judged by variety, pacing, and recovery after failure. Theme, character expression, and environmental clues need to support exploration together, while SSD streaming, 4K and HDR output, 3D audio, performance or quality modes, and high-density interfaces need to preserve feedback and information clarity together. The genre-specific limitation is that guidance, objective triggers, camera behavior, or dense text can create search and comprehension costs. Platform conditions also include install size, SSD space, patch version, DualSense battery life, visual mode and frame rate, online dependencies, PS VR2 requirements, and cross-generation version differences affect the current release. This description covers only this platform release and does not import features or conveniences from remasters, emulators, or other console editions.
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PlayStation 5
AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
Rich backyard survival and building reward patience through a steep opening.
Grounded: Insects, material gathering and shelter placement interact meaningfully. A site that seems safe by day can be exposed to a spider at night, making preparation and location choice consequential. Hidden laboratories give exploration a narrative purpose, while tougher insects prompt equipment upgrades. Hunger, thirst and construction demands are dense at the start, so the learning curve can feel harsh before the loop clicks. Grass, a pond and insects become huge terrain and threats at ant scale. The colorful style keeps the space readable, while the change of scale makes an ordinary backyard a memorable world to explore. The PS5 test documents extensive customization of insect behavior, food spoilage and difficulty. These options lower practical barriers to learning; they do not establish current crossplay or server quality.
Strengths
- Building and preparation carry consequences.
- The miniature world has strong identity.
Weaknesses
- The opening survival learning curve is demanding.
Who it is for: Players who like exploration, construction and gradual survival mastery.
Play notes: Based on the 2024 PS5 build; present crossplay conditions need separate checking.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension Hidden laboratories give exploration a narrative purpose, while tougher insects prompt equipment upgrades. Hunger, thirst and construction demands are dense at the start, so the learning curve can feel harsh before the loop clicks. | Reviewed | 7.9 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Insects, material gathering and shelter placement interact meaningfully. A site that seems safe by day can be exposed to a spider at night, making preparation and location choice consequential. | Reviewed | 8.2 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Grass, a pond and insects become huge terrain and threats at ant scale. The colorful style keeps the space readable, while the change of scale makes an ordinary backyard a memorable world to explore. | Reviewed | 8.7 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension The PS5 test documents extensive customization of insect behavior, food spoilage and difficulty. These options lower practical barriers to learning; they do not establish current crossplay or server quality. | Reviewed | 8.0 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Developer
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher
- Xbox Game Studios
- Release date
- Apr 16, 2024
- Platforms
- PlayStation 5
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- Not provided
- Offline minimum players
- Not provided
- Offline maximum players
- Not provided
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Categories
- Survival · Primary genre
- Tags
- Solo-friendlyMain Story 10–20 HoursReal-time CombatStory-drivenThird PersonSlow BurnLinear LevelsPuzzle SolvingPlayer versus PlayerInvestigation3D GraphicsExploration
- Supported game languages
- Not provided
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- Not provided
- Play modes
- Single playerCo-opMultiplayer
- Perspectives
- Third personFirst person
Release editions
- PlayStation 5WorldwideApr 16, 2024
- Nintendo SwitchWorldwideApr 16, 2024
Game gallery
Sources
- ec.nintendo.com