Grounded offers players a novel, whimsical adventure where even ‘secure’ places just like the backyard are fraught with danger. Life in miniature is thrilling, and it’s even higher with friends. The difficulty is, when you’ve beaten Grounded, what else is there? Fear not. Let me show you the ten best games like Grounded.
The highest 10 best games like Grounded
These titles are in no particular order, but each offers something that Grounded fans will find familiar.
Valheim
Let’s start this list hot with a game that ought to need no introduction. Valheim is a third-person, open-world survival game that will be enjoyed solo or with friends.
While there’s obvious Viking inspiration, Valheim isn’t afraid to throw mythical creatures into the combination. There are decent base-building mechanics, and the procedurally generated worlds beg to be explored.
A word of warning; Valheim takes the ‘survival’ a part of the genre literally, and also you will probably be fighting in your life until you master combat. Fighting is intuitive but will take some time to get used to. When you’re after a more relaxed experience, other titles, like the following one on this list, perhaps more suitable.
Raft
Raft is my personal favorite game on this list and cements itself as a solid survival crafting game with an overarching mystery to unravel.
You begin on a tiny square of floating wood with nothing but water so far as you possibly can see. Fortunately, there are many resources within the sea, like driftwood, and you possibly can start constructing a floating home before you recognize it.
While Raft is a relentless battle for survival (food and water management is critical), there’s plenty to explore and a formidable variety of constructing options.
Certainly one of Raft’s best strengths is it doesn’t overwhelm you with complicated menus and systems. Like Grounded, Raft is beautifully accessible. When you’re joyful to trade garden horrors for sharks, you’ll find rather a lot to enjoy here.
No Man’s Sky
Few games can boast a redemption arc quite like No Man’s Sky. Hello Games’s space exploration masterpiece is a shocking sandbox stuffed with incredible planets to explore. There’s a lot to do, from trading spaceships to base constructing and an overarching goal you possibly can pursue in your individual time.
No Man’s Sky offers a formidable amount of content, but nothing compares to the seamless transition from space to the planet’s surface. I hate using over-the-top words like ‘breathtaking,’ but that’s the most effective option to describe it. I’ve never seen space exploration done so well, even in much newer space-faring titles.
No Man’s sky begs to be explored, and while there may be an overarching goal, you possibly can pursue it at your individual pace.
Subnautica
While Subnautica isn’t co-op without mods (try our guide on how one can set it up), it ticks so many boxes for players seeking to scratch that Grounded itch.
Like most games on this list, there’s an honest story holding the whole lot together, but you’re not pressed with any form of timeframe. When you’re used to Subnautica’s mechanics, you possibly can explore the ocean and even construct a house base.
There are light survival elements, like hunger management, nevertheless it’s very manageable. Subnautica can also be one among the few games on this list to have a sequel. Below Zero is a unbelievable follow-up to the unique, although I like to recommend trying Subnautica first.
While it’s not marketed as such, Subnautica is typically pretty scary. The fear of the unknown could be very real, and it’s unnerving to never know what’s lurking under the water’s glassy surface.
Stardew Valley
Putting Stardew Valley on the list looks like a stretch, however the titles have much in common.
There are light survival mechanics in Stardew Valley and even some basic combat for good measure. When you’re into base constructing, you possibly can make the farm of your dreams, and there’s a lot optional content to explore you’ll be busy for tons of of hours.
Relationship constructing, exploring, fishing, fighting; Stardew Valley has all of it. There’s also an exceptional modding community.
Stardew Valley is well the ‘coziest’ game on this list, nevertheless it’s an almost perfect co-op experience where you dictate the pace. A stupendous story unfolds as you turn out to be a resident of Stardew Valley, and there may be plenty to explore alongside your farm duties.
Palworld
I debated putting Palworld on this list, nevertheless it ticks many boxes. Palworld is a shocking open world inhabited by creatures called Pals. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve likely seen all of the comparisons to Pokemon, but Palworld leans way more heavily into survival and crafting.
You’ll be able to construct impressive bases in Palworld and even have your Pals complete tasks in your settlement.
There are multiple biomes, each with unique hazards and inhabitants, and while you possibly can catch whatever you see, you don’t must.
Unlike Grounded, Palworld barely has an end goal or story beyond just a few suggested objectives, and it’s pretty rough around the perimeters. That said, there’s a reason Palworld set records across the industry, and it’s a ‘must play’ within the survival genre.
Terraria
Terraria actually doesn’t look the part for a Grounded-like title, nevertheless it has more gameplay similarities than it’s possible you’ll think.
Re-Logic’s Terraria is a 2D survival crafting game with mountains of content. There’s a lot to explore across dozens of biomes, each with unique hazards and ecosystems. While there’s not much of a story, there’s a transparent progression system as you usually search for the following boss to defeat.
When you’re into base constructing, you’re in for a treat as Terraria tasks you with constructing a whole village! Vendors will stay in your town should you meet their requirements and also you’re only limited by your creativity. Terraria isn’t a brand new game, but there’s a reason it commands an incredible player count to at the present time.
Don’t Starve
Survival is a giant a part of every game on this list, but few make you value your life quite like Don’t Starve. While this title began as a single-player adventure, it could actually be enjoyed with friends within the standalone multiplayer expansion, Don’t Starve Together.
In Don’t Starve, you explore an unforgiving wilderness stuffed with unique creatures and biomes. Because the name implies, you’ll must work out a food supply should you don’t wish to succumb to an empty stomach. There’s also a day and night cycle where you’ll quickly learn the way unforgiving the twilight hours will be.
While I even have a soft spot for the atmosphere and art variety of Don’t Starve, it is a difficult game and will be a little bit frustrating. This title punishes latest players, and that’s no different for group play. When you enjoy the fun of exploring the unknown and don’t want your hand-held, Don’t Starve may provide the stroll through the woods you’re after.
Smalland – Survive the Wilds
When you’re in search of a game that feels eerily just like Grounded, Smalland – Survive the Wilds is for you.
Smalland looks like a cross between Grounded and Fern Gully. There’s more of a fantasy twist, but many things you recognize and love about Grounded are here. Crafting is accessible, you possibly can make a base, there’s a mysterious world ripe for exploring, and there’s multiplayer.
Many players like their survival crafting games stuffed with crafting options to tune their creations to their liking. In comparison with many popular games within the genre, Smalland has fairly basic crafting options. I don’t think it is a detriment, but should you’re a genre veteran, it’s possible you’ll prefer other titles on this list.
Nightingale
When you’re open to early access titles, it’s possible you’ll benefit from the final entry on this list. Nightingale is a survival crafting adventure game set within the Fae Realms.
The Fae Realms are stunning, and every area has a definite theme. Survival is your top priority, but there’s loads of room for base constructing, and you possibly can construct some outstanding structures afterward.
Nightingale is in early access on the time of writing, so expect bugs and balancing issues. Crafting, particularly, has several unnecessary steps that stop the method from feeling smooth. While this will deter the common player, I find it an actual treat to explore games like this of their rawest form, knowing that anything can change in future patches.
Grounded offers a novel, accessible survival crafting experience, and while nothing on this list looks like a ‘Grounded 2,’ they share many similarities.
When you’re into first-person shooters, make certain you try our list of the most effective games like Bioshock.
