Everything new in the free Grounded 2 winter update

The big Grounded 2 winter update is just around the corner, and Obsidian gave an in-depth look at what to expect during a recent interview with YouTuber Jake Lucky. There’s a whole new region to get to grips with in the upcoming, free update (which Obsidian hasn’t announced a release date for yet), along with a wheelbarrow-full of new enemies and, of course, plenty of gear to craft from their sad, dead remains. And there’s also brand-new buggy to help cart you around and deal with all those threats.

Here’s what to expect from the Grounded 2 winter update when it goes live.

Welcome to the Garden

The big new addition in Grounded 2‘s winter update is a new region in the park — the Garden. Obsidian called the Garden the start of Grounded 2 and said the Picnic area, which is the starting zone, more of a tutorial meant to ease folks into the sequel by blending elements of the original Grounded. The Garden, however, they say is wholly unique, so expect more of a challenge from the bugs you find there, beyond even the praying mantis in the first zone.

A giant greenhouse seems to be the Garden’s centerpiece, complete with rows of exotic-looking plants and, probably, resources galore. It looks like the exterior is also going to play an important role. Obsidian said verticality is the guiding principle behind the Garden area, and if you look closely at the greenhouse from outside, you’ll see one of the roof panels is open, creating a conveniently horizontal platform for tiny humans to walk on.

In keeping with the garden theme, you’ll find vegetables popping up out of the ground, including carrots and potatoes, but also pumpkins. Obsidian said you can go inside pumpkins to collect resources, but while pumpkin seeds and the stringy insides seem like very Grounded-themed possibilities, the team didn’t say what those resources are or what you’ll use them for.

There’s also a scarecrow with a conspicuously placed power switch on its shoulder, so you can probably expect more trash-can style climbing there, too.

Fresh enemies, weapons, and armor

Image: Obsidian Entertainment via Gaming Interviews

New territory means new foes to contend with, and there’s a lot of ’em roaming around Grounded 2‘s Garden. Some are totally new, a few, like the earwig, were cut from the original Grounded, and a handful return from the first game:

• Earwig (ranged and melee)
• Black Soldier Ant and Black Worker Ant
• Wasp Drone and Wasp
• Wooly Aphid
• Cricket
• Firefly
• Rust Beetle
• Potato Bug

Obsidian said the goal with these new enemies is to lean into patterns of attack unique to the bug in question. So, instead of generic thrusts and bites you face down from ants and larva in the Picnic area, you can expect unique battle strategies, such as the cricket relying on high-powered kicks and blocking projectiles with its legs.

Each new bug drops parts you can craft armor with, along with some new weapons. There’s also a set of weapons and armor that don’t seem tied to specific bug types:

• Earwig armor and Earwig dual daggers
• Black Ant sword, shield, and armor
• Sour Mage armor and staff
• Potato Bug armor
• Wasp armor
• Cricket armor and Cricket greatbow

Introducing the Ladybuggy

Image: Obsidian Entertainment via Gaming Interviews

The winter update includes a new buggy, the Ladybuggy, so you can finally trot around the park on the back of one of these docile spotted tanks. Acquiring a Ladybuggy means getting an egg first, like with Grounded 2‘s other buggies, but Obsidian didn’t outline just what that quest will entail. Once you do have one, you’ll get the benefit of its bulk in a crushing charge attack, along with a water cannon to target airborne enemies.