Grounded 2 Made Me Love Multiplayer Survival
▼ Summary
– The author, a PC Gamer team member, selected Grounded 2 as their personal favorite game of 2025 despite typically disliking multiplayer games.
– The author has historically preferred single-player games but found that Grounded 2, along with Peak and Split Fiction, made them actively enjoy multiplayer for the first time in nearly two decades.
– This enjoyment stemmed from playing these specific games cooperatively with family, which created a positive shared experience unlike other multiplayer titles they had tried.
– Grounded 2 is praised for its sense of adventure and flexible gameplay that accommodates both solo and team play without punishing either style.
– The game is currently in early access, with the full release expected around late 2026, and the author appreciates the periodic content updates that encourage returning to play.
Looking back at the year, one game managed to do the impossible: it made a lifelong solo player genuinely enjoy a multiplayer survival experience. Grounded 2 achieved this not through complex mechanics, but by fostering a shared sense of adventure that felt welcoming rather than punishing. This personal pick stands out not as the most-played game of the year, but as the most transformative, proving that the right cooperative environment can change even the most entrenched gaming habits.
I played thirty-two new releases this year. Some were brief performance tests, while others, like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, consumed over a hundred hours. Yet the title that left the deepest impression is the one I logically should have disliked. This seems contradictory, especially since I invested roughly one hundred and ten hours into the original Grounded. My extensive playtime in other titles might suggest a tolerance for grind, but my core preference has always been firmly against multiplayer in any form, co-op, MMO, or PvP. For me, gaming is a solitary refuge where I can proceed at my own pace without accommodating others.
The first Grounded began to chip away at that stance, but 2025 was the watershed year. For the first time in nearly twenty years, I actively sought out and enjoyed playing games with other people. Specifically, three titles made the cut: Grounded 2, Peak, and Split Fiction. The common thread wasn’t the gameplay style alone, but the fact that my partner and our families loved them, too. We’ve attempted other multiplayer games, but only these three truly clicked for us as a group. Grounded 2, alongside its predecessor, has been the most effective at creating that cohesive, enjoyable group dynamic.
A significant factor is the absence of direct player-versus-player conflict. These games are collaborative adventures, though moments in Peak, like hastily grabbing a health kit while a partner struggles, can certainly test that cooperative spirit. What sets Grounded 2 apart is its unwavering focus on fun and exploration. The game supports both team-based resource gathering and daring solo reconnaissance without heavily penalizing or over-rewarding either choice. Its goal is simple: to create memorable moments. Whether you’re sharing a laugh, a scare, or mutual astonishment at the size of a creature, the experience feels organic and engaging.
Like the first game, Grounded 2 is currently in early access, with a full release likely slated for late 2026 or beyond. This extended development cycle is something I appreciate. It means our group can periodically return for major content updates, diving back into exploration, crafting, and combat until the next shiny distraction arrives. It functions as a reliable, enjoyable social touchstone in our gaming rotations.
To be clear, Grounded 2 isn’t my official “best game of 2025.” It wasn’t my most-played, nor even my single most-enjoyed title. However, its achievement is profound: it made a dedicated solo player like me actually look forward to multiplayer sessions. That alone speaks volumes about its quality and design. If more games follow this blueprint, I might even consider myself converted. Then again, let’s be realistic, people can be challenging. I’ll probably remain a solo player at heart. But thanks to Grounded 2, I now have a cherished exception to that rule.
(Source: PC Gamer)
