ICYMI is GAMINGbible's simple way of highlighting a game that's not quite brand new, maybe as much as a few months old, but that we've been playing and loving, and we really want to tell you about it.
You've somehow been shrunk down to the size of an ant and find yourself exploring, crafting and surviving to discover the many mysteries of your back garden. However, now that you're only a few centimetres tall, everything is a challenge.
Grounded is a game from Obsidian Entertainment, makers of The Outer Worlds and Fallout: New Vegas. It's still in development, but is available in early access on PC and Xbox Game Pass right now, with frequent updates being added.
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From making your base to taking on 'giant' spiders, a lot of what makes Grounded fun is similar to what makes a single-player Minecraft world so great, too. You can do whatever you want, whenever you want, though there is an overarching story with a quest line that you can follow, which is genuinely pretty interesting. I want to find out why I'm the size of an insect at all costs - unravelling the truth is compelling. Grounded is full of life and the beautiful, charming environment will fulfil your lust for adventure in a survival world.
You'll probably come across a few bugs and may hit the end of the story content relatively quickly, perhaps after only a few hours of gameplay. But remember, this is in early access, and if Supergiant Games' Hades is anything to go by, the changes Obsidian will make as a result of player feedback will be invaluable.
I expect the full release of Grounded to be a super-polished experience when Obsidian are finished with it. Its latest update introduces koi carp into the pond area - and you can imagine how terrifying it is seeing a gargantuan fish swimming towards you, thinking you're its next meal. Nightmare fuel stuff really, unless you're stood at the side and it's your friend swimming for their life. Then, it's funny.
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And bringing friends into Grounded is certainly an option: you can play with up to three others, which like many other games, can make for some hilarious moments. If you're looking for some new multiplayer fun, you seriously need to try this out - even if it's just for one or two evenings.
Grounded also has an Arachnophobia Mode for those who really don't like our eight-legged-friends, turning any spiders you encounter into odd, blob-like things. When you think about accessibility, you don't initially think about irrational fears, but I think it's really cool that this mode exists.
Anyway, if you go and play Grounded now you'll have a lot of fun, even though it can be a little daunting at first with your classic survival game crafting recipes - trying to figure out how to craft a stone tool while being chased by a giant spider certainly isn't easy! Though if you're waiting for the full release of the game, I can't really blame you. But no matter when you play Grounded, just make sure you do at some point... or I'll shrink you down to the size of an ant and put you in a visually gorgeous survival experience.
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Topics: Xbox One, Obsidian Entertainment, PC