Walking through the lush, oversized backyard of Grounded 2 in Creative mode, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment wash over me. As someone who has spent over 200 hours building elaborate bases in survival games, I was genuinely excited to see what Obsidian Entertainment had cooked up for their highly anticipated sequel. The promotional materials promised deeper systems, more building options, and enhanced environmental interactions. Yet here I was, staring at what should have been a beautiful aquatic centerpiece for my daughter's and my dream base, only to find mere muddy puddles where I'd envisioned crystal-clear depths teaming with life. The map's frustrating lack of any substantial water features immediately stood out as a significant limitation for creative builders like myself.
I remember the first Grounded game had that magnificent koi pond—a proper water biome that was both terrifying and mesmerizing. The way sunlight filtered through the water's surface, illuminating the murky depths where who-knows-what lurked, created this incredible atmosphere that blended beauty with danger perfectly. My daughter and I had spent countless hours building an elaborate treehouse base overlooking that very pond, carefully positioning our structure to maximize both the view and defensive advantages. We'd watch the menacing koi swim beneath the surface while planning our next architectural marvel, the aquatic environment serving as both inspiration and potential threat. That combination of creative potential and environmental challenge was precisely what made the original so special for builder-focused players.
Now, in Grounded 2's current early access state, I find myself wandering through the expanded backyard searching for that same aquatic magic. The development team has clearly prioritized other aspects of the game first, which I understand from a production standpoint—water physics and underwater ecosystems are notoriously difficult to implement properly. Still, the absence hits harder than I expected. Without substantial water features, the environment feels somewhat incomplete, like a painting missing its central subject. My daughter asked if we could recreate our iconic pond-side base, and I had to explain that the water gameplay simply isn't there yet. We settled for building near one of those muddy puddles instead, but it lacks the grandeur and environmental storytelling that made our original base so memorable.
The creative mode's current limitations extend beyond just water features, of course. I've noticed several missing decor items and construction recipes that were available in the first game's final version. About 15% of the building options I'd grown accustomed to appear to be temporarily unavailable, presumably waiting for future updates. This makes sense from a development perspective—rolling out features gradually during early access helps the team manage feedback and prioritize improvements. Yet for players like me who primarily engage with these games as creative sandboxes, these omissions significantly impact the experience. It transforms what could be an immediate must-buy into a "wait and see" situation, at least for the builder community.
That said, I should emphasize that what Grounded 2 does offer in its current state is genuinely impressive. The new building materials have beautiful textures, the terrain manipulation feels more refined, and the expanded backyard offers approximately 40% more buildable space according to my rough measurements. The structural integrity system appears more sophisticated too, requiring proper support for elaborate constructions—a welcome challenge for veteran builders. My daughter and I have already constructed a quite lovely treehouse complex, even without our beloved water feature. The foundation is clearly there for an exceptional creative experience once all the pieces fall into place.
From an industry perspective, Obsidian's approach to Grounded 2's early access rollout follows what's becoming a standard practice for complex survival games. Phasing in features allows for more focused testing and prevents overwhelming players with incomplete systems. I've seen similar strategies employed by other major studios, with varying degrees of success. The key differentiator tends to be communication—how clearly developers outline their roadmap and how consistently they deliver on promised features. Based on Obsidian's track record with the first Grounded, I'm optimistic they'll follow through, but the waiting game can test players' patience, especially when foundational elements like water gameplay are involved.
What surprises me most is how much I miss the aquatic elements, considering they weren't necessarily the central focus of the original game. Their absence highlights how interconnected these environmental systems are to the creative experience. Water isn't just another biome—it's a source of inspiration, a design challenge, a narrative element, and a gameplay mechanic all rolled into one. Without it, the creative sandbox feels less dynamic, less alive. My building projects currently lack that element of environmental interaction that made construction in the first game so engaging. I find myself building structures that look impressive but feel somewhat disconnected from their surroundings.
I've decided to continue playing Grounded 2 in its current state, treating it more as a preview than a complete experience. My daughter and I are documenting our builds with the understanding that we'll likely need to relocate or redesign once proper water features arrive. There's something exciting about growing alongside the game's development, watching new features emerge and adapting our creative approaches accordingly. Still, I can't honestly recommend the game yet to players who, like me, prioritize creative building above all else. The potential is undeniable, but the current feature set doesn't quite justify immediate purchase for that specific audience.
The situation reminds me of other early access titles I've followed throughout their development cycles. Typically, it takes about 6-8 months for major systems like water gameplay to properly materialize based on my experience with similar games. If Obsidian sticks to that timeline, we could see substantial improvements by early next year. Until then, creative-focused players might want to hold off or temper their expectations. The foundation is solid, the vision appears strong, but the complete creative toolkit simply isn't all here yet. When the water does finally flow and the decorative options expand, I have little doubt Grounded 2 will become the ultimate creative sandbox I hoped it would be. For now, though, I'll continue building, imagining the aquatic wonders that will hopefully soon transform these muddy puddles into the deep, dangerous, and beautiful water features this backyard deserves.