Grounded. Games of July 2020

Release date: July 28, 2020 (Early Access)

What is Grounded?

The latest work of Obsidian Entertainment, the legendary developer behind such classics as Star Wars: KotORII, Neverwinter Nights 2 and Elon Musk's favorite game, Fallout: New Vegas. Creating Grounded, the team firmly stepped out of their comfort zone and instead of another cRPG prepared a survival simulator set in unusual realities. While playing, we enact a child who has been reduced to microscopic size and has to fight for survival in a garden full of deadly insects.

What's gameplay like in Grounded?

The mechanics are no different from what other survival simulators have accustomed us to. Our primary goal is to collect raw materials, create items and gradually develop the base. All this will provide the means to survive clashes with local fauna – for example, ants or spiders will stand in our way. The creators boast that the behavior of individual insects has been designed with realism. In addition to the typical survival battle, the game also features a campaign. The adventure will be experienced alone or in co-op for up to four players.

1. More about Grounded

OUR EXPECTATIONS

It would seem that the genre of survivals has a rigid framework. But it is good that developers are allowing themselves to play with the convention that gave us games such as Green Hell (an excellent clone of The Forest, but using fresh mechanics and abandoning the climate of dark horror in favor of gentle anxiety). Obsidian Entertainment made an even bolder move, creating a survival game about a shrunk teenager – evoking immediate associations with the TV series of the late 1980s. Baby, I Shrunk the Kids. And while these developers have an iconic role-playing game to their credit, it's cool that they're experimenting, stepping out of the comfort zone. On the other hand, the studio almost tripped over with The Outer Worlds – a game of arguable quality. But who knows, maybe they'll catch some breath and come back in style?

Michael Pajda