Grounded went through years of early access, adding new content bit by bit until its eventual grand release on Xbox and PC. With the game running for so long, many people have tried out the game, playing as its bite-sized protagonists as they venture through the large open world crawling with danger.
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The game’s official release adds plenty of content worth coming back for, from additional enemies and craftable items to whole new (and complete) story beats. With many players likely to return, or jump in for the first time, having a list of useful tips can be very helpful, especially for a game as daunting as Grounded.
10Build A Lean-To
The first major hurdle players will face in Grounded is surviving the night. This can be scary on a first playthrough, but it’s an easy obstacle to overcome. There are a few different options when it comes to sleeping through the night.
Later in the game, it is nice to invest in some heftier sleeping arrangements, but for the first night, it is pivotal that players speedrun to a lean-to. The lean-to allows players to sleep through the night and also sets their spawn point in case of an untimely death. It is cheap enough to build that players don’t have to worry about plopping it down at a permanent base; they can always build another one later on.
9Find A Good Spot For A Base
Building a base is the ultimate form of safety in Grounded. Bugs and insects will still give you trouble from time to time, but having walls around you allows for more concentrated progression and crafting without having to worry about your safety as much. Finding a good spot to build a permanent base is important. Finding a place near a steady food and water source will save lots of headaches in the future.
Having flat land to build on is also great since it allows players to fully build the base of their dreams. Another important feature that players should keep in mind is whether or not insects and bugs can easily reach the base. Building on a high platform is a great idea as it keeps enemies at bay.
8Get The High Ground
As mentioned in the previous entry, having the high ground is important in Grounded. This is true on most levels but is especially important in combat. Standing above dangerous enemies like spiders and stink bugs can give players a lot of leverage during the fight.
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Getting high ground is also important in exploration. Many points of interest in the backyard can be found high up, and players can use the vantage point to spot other interesting locales. When stumped on what to do next, it’s usually a good idea to find the highest unexplored place in view and head there.
7Search For Field Stations
Field Stations are some of the most important features dotted around the backyard. Players can find these in various locations, some blatant and others hidden and hard to reach. Finding these will not only help players progress the story but also gives them other advantages.
Field Stations usually contain Analyzers or other useful machines that players can exploit to their advantage. In some of the larger complexes found in the backyard, players can also find Raw Science or clues to further advance the narrative. Players should be careful, however, as many Field Stations are guarded by fearsome enemies.
6Analyze Everything
Analyzing items is vital in Grounded. This is how players can gain Raw Science and unlock new crafting recipes. Many recipes in the game will be locked and hidden until one of its key components is analyzed at one of the many Analyzers found in the backyard.
Analyzers are found most frequently in Field Stations, but each machine only has a set number of actions that it can take per day. Players can analyze up to three items per day, so it’s a great idea to keep the location of a few different Analyzers in mind to quickly unlock new recipes.
5Raw Science Is Important
Raw Science is very important in Grounded and serves as the primary form of currency in the game. Raw Science should be sought out rather than collected as you go. It unlocks new recipes and other helpful items when interacting with the BURG.L Unit in the Oak Tree Lab.
Raw Science can be obtained by analyzing crafting items in the Analyzers found around the map. It can also be found in larger quantities in hidden or difficult-to-reach locations. These hidden Raw Sciences are usually located near a story-driven location like Labs or other important areas.
4Make Use Of The Map
Grounded gives players a unique perspective, putting them on the same visual level as bugs and insects. Everything in Grounded is larger than life, and this can make traversal confusing and difficult to grasp at first. The best way to overcome this is to make pointed use of the Map in the game’s menu.
The Map will help players keep track of notable points of interest and gives the ability to set personal waypoints that are shared with other teammates playing in the same world. This is very useful for communication and coordination but also helps when playing alone as remembering locations becomes increasingly difficult as you explore.
3Keep An Eye On Food And Water
Grounded touts a heavy emphasis on survival mechanics. Players should keep a close eye on their food and water levels as the depletion of these two stats can lead to some devastating effects. Water and food levels will go down as players perform manual labor or do a lot of exploring, making it important to always know where to find nearby sources of nourishment.
A great way to stay on top of food and water is to build Dew Collectors and Farms to place at your base or even at important locations that are frequented around the map. Both of these craftable items provide their respective resource on a regular basis, so they’re nice to have around in a pinch.
2Avoid Spiders
Avoiding enemies is a good idea, but this is especially important when it comes to the many species of spiders that roam the backyard. Even in the later game, when players are tooled up with powerful weapons and armor, spiders can still give them a run for their money. Staying away from them is usually the best policy.
This isn’t always possible since spiders usually guard some of the most important locations in the game, but when players are able to sneak and scurry around them, they should. If spiders are presenting an impassable block, they can usually be taken down most effectively with ranged weapons.
1Ranged Weapons Are Useful
Ranged weapons are some of the best in the game, not just for their damage output, but also because they allow players to attack enemies from a safe distance. For most major fights in the game, taking a direct hit at point-blank range from any large foe can seal a player’s fate.
Using a ranged weapon lets players stay agile and avoid most of the heavier attacks thrown at them. Ranged weapons, especially good ones, won’t be available right from the start of the game, but they are nice to keep in mind for when they become craftable.
