Grounded 2 has gorgeous lighting — the atmosphere pulls me in even more than the first game

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For about two weeks now, I’ve been deeply engrossed in Grounded 2, examining the various areas that gamers can discover during the second round of Xbox Game Studios’ miniature backyard expedition.

Among many noteworthy aspects in this sequel by Obsidian Entertainment and Eidos-Montréal, there’s one idea that consistently stands out to me as I delve deeper before its early access debut: a persistent thought that keeps surfacing.

Grounded 2 is gorgeous.

In a nutshell, the initial version of Grounded didn’t lack aesthetically pleasing design in any way, but the developers wisely prioritized certain aspects, opting to sacrifice high-definition graphics for a cohesive artistic vision instead.

As an analyst, I’m thrilled to observe that the art direction from the original has been meticulously preserved for the sequel, and it shines brighter than ever due to some exquisite warm lighting effects. Furthermore, there are enhancements in texture quality across various areas, but the improvements pale in comparison to the radiance of that invigorating morning sun.

A higher baseline means more room for better visuals

It turns out that Grounded 2 won’t be available on Xbox One, which was useful information from Obsidian Entertainment as it allows for the inclusion of ‘Buggys’, a feature where players can now domesticate specific insects and travel around on the back of a Fire Ant Soldier or Orb-Weaver Spider.

Switching to newer hardware, justified by the updated game mechanics, additionally opens up opportunities for the game to present improved graphics due to its increased capabilities.

To put it simply, Grounded 2 boasts improvements across multiple aspects compared to its original version, yet the enhanced lighting is particularly noteworthy and sets it apart from all others.

Better lighting makes the time of day and each dawn even more important

In this game I’m playing, known as Grounded 2, time seems to move at an accelerated pace. A single minute in the game advances approximately every two seconds, creating a realistic day-and-night cycle.

Just as in the original Grounded, it’s even riskier when it’s dark out. Powerful adversaries are on the move, and the surroundings become incredibly hard to maneuver due to their pitch-blackness, a fact that Zachary and I discovered all too painfully during our unsuccessful expedition, which we now call “The Great Egg Theft.

Due to this daily cycle, it’s essential to start searching, scavenging, and moving stealthily through the vegetation as early as morning allows. As the sun began to rise more frequently, I found myself eagerly anticipating the first light of day, the gentle warmth of the sunlight filtering through the grass seeming to whisper, “Here’s another opportunity for you.

Better lighting means a better base

Indeed, the enhanced brightness isn’t only about enhancing the aesthetics of daylight, but also encompassing all types of illumination sources in total.

After Zachary and I invested numerous hours constructing our base (they deserve a significant share of the praise for the planning and foundation work, while I mainly concentrated on procuring the necessary materials), I was taken aback by its appearance from the outside as night descended.

The torchlight, shining through the thatch walls and roof, creates a striking contrast against the night, remaining vivid despite the constant glow from the human-sized lantern that remains lit.

In Grounded 2, the ambiance produced by the lighting truly captivates me among many other things I find appealing. While I enjoyed the original game, it’s the allure of the sequel that has me drawn in much more deeply. The stunning graphics play a significant role in this immersion.

I think I’ll go take some more pictures now.

At the moment, Grounded 2 can be played early on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC (via Steam, Xbox PC, and Game Pass). Conveniently, it’s also part of both Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscriptions, and can be streamed using Xbox Cloud.

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2025-07-29 17:14