In a year where Obsidian released a pair of RPGs, its best game was an early access survival romp

It turns out a small community garden can offer more compelling adventures than a magical island or a satirical capitalist nightmare. In a year where Obsidian released multiple RPGs, its most memorable experience ended up being something entirely different: Grounded 2, an early access survival game that finds wonder in the mundane.

Obsidian has long been one of the most respected RPG studios in the industry. From Knights of the Old Republic 2 through Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, and Tyranny, its output between 2004 and 2018 defined an era of PC role-playing games. Many of those titles still deserve a place in any RPG fan’s library.

In more recent years, however, that spark has dimmed. Games like The Outer Worlds, its sequel, and Avowed reviewed well and found their audiences, but they lacked the sharp writing, bold risks, and unforgettable quests that once defined the studio. With Microsoft’s backing, Obsidian feels safer—sometimes too safe.

Ironically, Obsidian’s most inspired recent work isn’t an RPG at all. Grounded 2, much like its predecessor, is a co-op survival game that transforms an ordinary space—a community park—into a place of constant discovery. Picnic tables become mountains, overturned carts become frozen wastelands, and discarded objects take on mythic scale.

Combat, too, feels more engaging than in Obsidian’s modern RPGs. It’s simpler, but every encounter matters. Early on, fighting through an ant hill to escape with an egg that will later become a mount feels genuinely tense. Enemies aren’t just XP dispensers; they’re creatures with behaviors that can be learned and exploited.

Progression is deeply satisfying because every victory feeds directly back into your survival. Defeated creatures unlock new armor sets, weapons, building materials, and tools. Exploration and combat are always tied to tangible growth, whether that’s improving your gear or expanding your base.

Each expedition feels like a true adventure: long treks across the map, desperate fights with spiders and scorpions, and vertigo-inducing climbs that reward you with powerful upgrades. The world feels alive, hostile, and full of possibility.

Even companions shine here. A pet ant might not have dialogue trees, but it’s far more useful than many recent RPG party members. It can summon allies, help with construction, and serve as a mount—turning traversal itself into part of the fun.

Grounded 2 doesn’t feel like a traditional Obsidian game. Writing and quest design aren’t the headline features. But it replaces them with something just as powerful: a clever setting and a living ecosystem that constantly challenges you to adapt. Obsidian may not be making the kind of RPGs it once did—but it’s quietly become exceptional at survival games.