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What Is Grounded? A Survival Game with a Honey, I Shrunk the Kids-Style Premise

Obsidian’s Grounded turns a backyard into a survival adventure, pairing a Honey, I Shrunk the Kids-style scale premise with crafting, base-building and co-op.
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Grounded is a survival adventure about people shrunk to ant size and stranded in a backyard. Its oversized grass, household objects and insects make the premise feel like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids; the game then builds on that setup with exploration, crafting, combat, base-building and cooperative play.

What is Grounded?

Developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios, Grounded turns a familiar backyard into a dangerous open-air survival setting. Players have been reduced to the size of an ant and must find ways to live among giant plants, insects and other environmental hazards. Obsidian describes the world as “a vast, beautiful, and dangerous place, especially when you have been shrunken to the size of an ant.” Obsidian Entertainment’s official game page

The game’s premise is a scale fantasy: blades of grass loom overhead, everyday places become terrain to explore, and insects can pose a serious threat. The backyard is not simply a miniature setting for sightseeing; it is the environment players must learn to navigate and survive.

Is Grounded like Honey, I Shrunk the Kids?

Yes, in its central setup. Both bring the fun and danger of a familiar world seen from the perspective of people shrunk to tiny proportions. The comparison is about that shared scale-and-backyard premise. The official game sources identify Grounded as an Obsidian Entertainment game; they do not establish a licensing or franchise relationship with Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.

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#1 Best Overall
Grounded | Standard - Xbox & Windows [Digital Code]
  • Explore this immersive and persistent world, where the insect life reacts to your actions.
  • Shelter and tools are critical to your survival. Build epic bases to protect you and your stuff from the insects and the elements. Craft weapons, tools, and armor, allowing you to better fight, explore, and survive.
  • You can face the backyard alone or together, online, with up to three friends—it is your choice (online console multiplayer requires Xbox Live Gold or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, subscriptions sold separately).
  • Uncover the secrets lurking in the shadows of Grounded as you freely explore the backyard and progress through its mysterious story.
  • Optimized for Xbox Series X|S: Games optimized for Xbox Series X|S will showcase unparalleled load times, heightened visuals, and frame rates up to 120 FPS.

Grounded is also a survival game, not just a story about being small. Its play centers on exploring the yard, gathering what is needed, crafting gear, building shelter and facing the creatures and environmental dangers encountered along the way.

What do you do in the game?

The core loop combines exploration and preparation: venture into the backyard, make tools and equipment, establish shelter, and take on threats. Obsidian says that “Shelter and tools are critical to your survival.” The official game overview describes base building, crafting weapons, tools and armor, and dealing with insect and environmental hazards.

  • Explore: Travel through a backyard whose ordinary spaces and creatures become imposing at miniature scale.
  • Craft: Make weapons, tools and armor to support survival and exploration.
  • Build: Create bases and shelter as places to prepare and regroup.
  • Survive: Respond to insect threats and dangers in the environment.

Can you play Grounded solo or with friends?

Grounded supports solo play and online co-op with up to three friends. Its shared-world option lets players keep progressing in a world even when the player who originally hosted it is offline, according to the Steam store listing. That makes cooperative play less dependent on everyone joining the same host’s session each time.

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When did Grounded release, and what platforms is it on?

Steam lists Grounded’s full release date as September 27, 2022. Obsidian lists the game for Windows, Steam, PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. Platform availability and store listings can vary by region; check the relevant platform’s listing for the edition currently offered.

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Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Grounded | Standard - Xbox & Windows [Digital Code]
Grounded | Standard - Xbox & Windows [Digital Code]
Explore this immersive and persistent world, where the insect life reacts to your actions.
$39.99
Rank #3
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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