Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 301 sampled Steam reviews (286 positive / 15 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Bugs & crashes10% mention it
- Story & writing9% mention it
- Multiplayer & servers6% mention it
- World & exploration5% mention it
- Progression & loot4% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Grind & repetition33% mention it
- Story & writing27% mention it
- Difficulty & balance27% mention it
- Bugs & crashes20% mention it
- Performance20% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
88%
17 reviews
5-15h
95%
44 reviews
15-40h
94%
62 reviews
40-100h
95%
92 reviews
100h+
98%
86 reviews
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 82 | 59 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 84 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 82 | 125 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Apr 17, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 12590 total reviews in window · weighted 247.2 up / 16.5 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (57)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“Grounded indeed doesn't bring anything new to the table, except for its creative concept, which is original and well thought out. The mediocre story complements the otherwise challenging grind and makes it far more bearable than we would forgive another game. Fortunately, if you play Grounded in multiplayer - you'll have a great time.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Grounded is a fantastic survival game, a colourful, unique, and original slice of joyful adventuring that everyone should play if they have the opportunity. It nails the Honey, I Shrunk The Kids vibe, its core gameplay loops are moreish, and its setting and enemies are often breathtaking in how they reframe the mundane. However, and as usual for these big efforts on Switch, this port has plenty of issues. They've had to tank the visuals, the all-important online co-op is flaky, the frame rate is fine until you start going big on bases - just all the stuff we've come to expect at this stage, really. If you can handle the issues, or if Switch is your only way to play, this game can still deliver the goods and the quality shines through. However, if you have another way to play it, we'd definitely recommend you do that instead.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Grounded's quirky concept and adventurous personality will win over survival genre fans, but certain design and launch-window issues shrink my enthusiasm.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Grounded is the perfect survival game to jump into with friends. It tests you constantly, but isn't too hard to the point that you want to turn it off. Now that the game has come to PlayStation in addition to other platforms, it's more approachable than ever and a high recommendation for anyone looking for a different kind of experience than the usual.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Grounded has great ideas and delivers a truly entertaining experience. It is one of those games that are made for you to start a game and get lost for hours while you get resources, improve your tools and build the best base of all together with your friends. What started as a small and crazy idea evolved into an exceptional survival that shines with great strength.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“I feel that Grounded was able to take advantage of its long trial period to provide the content that was missing in its initial version. The changes in the quality of life, the fact that the swimming mechanics have been added, having a whole new biome with new enemies, improvements in construction, among other things, contributed to enrich the survival side of Grounded to make it one of the first options for fans of the genre. In addition, the narrative content of the game has enriched it in such a way that now you have an interesting story that you discover the more you explore and a real mission: to return to your natural state, escaping the limitations of measuring an inch. Visually the game stands out for its art, graphics and lighting. Sonically it doesn't disappoint either.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Grounded on Switch is what it needs to be, a stellar survival sandbox with a uniquely crafted world and visual style. Added features like quests help to guide players new to the genre and those who have played these types of games before, but want a more quest focused experience, closer to an Obsidian-style game. What Grounded really seems to nail the most is it’s uniqueness in a space that is filled with similarly functioning games. Obsidian has found a way to take a tried and true formula and make it work in a new way that fits within the story and world that they have created. It also fits nicely on Switch, despite the fact that the long loading screens make it a drag at times, but this can be avoided by sticking to the respawn system instead of loading saves.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Grounded is an unusual take on the survival/crafting genre, with a clever premise and a decent sense of style. Tedious gameplay drags the experience down, though.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Grounded changed the ordinary backyard into an intense place where you can't see what's coming next by simply adding a concept of shrunk kids. The sandbox game with survival and variety of crafting elements is always fun whether you are playing alone or with friends.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Ultimately, how much you enjoy Grounded is going to depend on how you play and if you choose to enable any of the customization options. In the default state, if you're looking to adventure through the story, you'll have a fun time, but Grounded is at its best when played as a survival sim. Focus on exploring the world, and let the story happen in the background. It may be a slower pace, but it's also more rewarding.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Featuring a fun and slightly silly setting for this genre, Grounded comfortably provides the basics that allow it to create an engrossing and at times horrifying survival experience. Add a good amount of worldbuilding and a narrative that compliments the gameplay nicely and you have a cooperative experience well worth your time, even if a few bugs (and not the good kind!) have stuck around throughout its pre-release period.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Grounded's charming, Honey I Shrunk the Kids premise is elevated by its uniquely welcoming approach to wonder.”
read full review ↗
INDIANTVCZ
Nintendo Life
VGChartz
Push Square
LevelUp
SomosXbox
Nintendojo
Tom's Guide
INVEN
Worth Playing
Checkpoint Gaming
Eurogamer…and 45 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Hotfix 1.4.7.4815 is Now Available!May 12, 2025
- Patch 1.4.7 Has Been ReleasedApr 17, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix 1.4.6 is now available!Oct 28, 2024
- Patch 1.4.5 has released!Sep 30, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.4.3 is AvailableJun 18, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.4.2 Has Been ReleasedMay 9, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.4.1 is ready for you!Apr 29, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Grounded's 'Fully Yoked' Update 1.4Apr 16, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Get Ready to Flex in 'Grounded' with the Upcoming 'Fully Yoked' 1.4 UpdateApr 5, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- More Gadgets and Gizmos Aplenty 1.3.4!Dec 11, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- New Week, New Patch for you! 1.3.3 Is Ready to Check Out!Dec 4, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Update 1.3.2 is now AvailableNov 21, 2023
- Patch 1.3.1 is Now Available!Nov 16, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Get Ready to Make It and Break It with Grounded's 1.3 Update!Nov 13, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.2.6 is ready for downloading!Sep 21, 2023
- GET YOUR 1.2.5 PATCH HERE!Jul 12, 2023
- Patch 1.2.3 is Releasing Now!May 10, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Surprise! Get ready to check out the new content in patch 1.2.2!May 3, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Grounded’s Newest Super Duper Update is Ready to Play!Apr 25, 2023significant · resets scoring window
- Here’s a teaser for Update 1.2!Apr 5, 2023
- Here comes Patch 1.1.2Dec 14, 2022
- Hotfix 1.1.1 is now available!Dec 13, 2022
- A Holiday Treat Just For YOU!Dec 8, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Ready for a tease to update 1.1?Nov 16, 2022
- Patch 1.0.5 is here!Oct 28, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.0.3Oct 17, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- It's Been One Week And We Bring You Goodies, Like the 1.0.1 Patch!Oct 5, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Grounded 1.0 is HERE!Sep 27, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Grounded 1.0 Release ScheduleSep 21, 2022
- Patch 0.14.1 Hotfix is LiveAug 31, 2022
- The Home Stretch Update is Available Now!Aug 25, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix Patch 0.13.4Jun 10, 2022
- Hotfix Patch 0.13.3Jun 8, 2022
- Hotfix Patch 0.13.2May 20, 2022
- Hotfix Patch 0.13.1May 18, 2022
- The Bugs Strike Back Update Update Out Now!May 10, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Into the Wood Update Out Now!Feb 1, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix Patch 0.11.4Nov 8, 2021
…and 21 earlier patch announcements.