The newest game from Obsidian Entertainment is very different from their usual offerings, but does share some basic elements with other games in the survival genre. Still, the developers wanted to put their own unique twist on things, and succeeded in making even the early access version of the game stand out among the other popular games in the same space. That means you may have a general idea of what you're in for when booting up Grounded, but the truth is you'll find yourself in pretty bad shape if you don't prepare yourself. The enemies may just be insects, but ܫas a shrunken down kid running around in the suddenly massive yard, survival is in no way guaranteed. We've got the tips you need to avoid an early death.
Analyze Everything
Almost right off the bat in Grounded, you'll be introduced to a Field Station you can use to analyze basically anything and everything you pick up in the world. This is your main way of progressing๊ because the only way to learn new recipes for new to꧟ols, weapons, armor, and everything else is to stick in different ingredients to be analyzed. You're only able to analyze three things when you first reach the Field Station, though, and what you pick is key.
The most useful three items to analyze first would be a Pebblet, Sap, and Plant Fiber. These are all very common items and should be no trouble to collect in the nearby area. These three will allow you to make a Pebblet Axe, Workbench, and Woven Fiber. You'll need the Woven Fiber to make the Axe, so having one without the other isn't worth much, and the Pebblet Axe is going to basically be your🅷 best friend for most of the early game. The Workbench will mostly come in handy later. Beyond that, just remember to analyze everything you can as often as you can. You'll only get a maximum of three charges right now, so if you go out on a long trek and come back with more than that to analyze you're going to have to wait it out.
Starting Tools
We already went over the Axe a little, but that and the Hammer are the two most valuable tools you'll have in Grounded. Both are needed for collecting new materials you can't just pic🦄k up by hand. The Axe alone can cut grass, weeds, and dandelions, plus isn't a half bad weapon if you get into trouble. The Hammer will let you collect Pebblets out of boulders, quartzite, sap, and a ton of other goodies. A Repair Tool is another nice one to have on hand just in case, but isn't as essential.
Build A Base
As soon as you've got your tool situation handled, building a base becomes priority one for your first day in Grounded. Find a good space near a landmark to make a basic🌳 Lean-To first so you can set your spawn point. No need to get crazy building a massive fort with grass plank walls just yet, since you can skip the night by sleeping in your Lean-To and avoid the dangers that creep out at night. Near your Lean-To should be your Workbench and a Roasting Spit for cooking food so you can take care of all your business in one place.
Stay Alive
Some basic weapons and armor are going to make your trips out into the wildernesꦿs much more successful, especially once you start encountering some🦄 of the bigger foes like Ladybugs. Armor can be crafted by first analyzing drops from weaker enemies like ants and grubs, which you should be able to take on with little trouble.
Finally, managing your food and water mete🌳rs may seem like an endless struggle, and to some extent it is. You'll always want to make sure you have a food and water source with you whenever possible, but running out isn't actually a death sentence. When either meter runs dry, you'll start to lose health, but won't actually ever die from lack of food or water. Sure, a single hit from even a lowly gnat can take you down if you let it, but o🌄therwise there's no need to be overly cautious about hunger or thirst.
And, if worst comes to worst and you do end up perishing on an expedition, don't worry about anything you had taken with you. Nothing is lost upon death, so just head back out to wher🍨e you dropped, which is marked by a handy icon on your map, and collect your supplies.