Grounded 2 Will Include Arachnophobia Mode, Even for Rideable Spiders

So, there I was at Summer Game Fest 2025, getting my hands on Grounded 2 and chatting with Chris Parker. You know, those mites in the game? Not spiders exactly, but still kind of unsettling. I ended up spearing them with a twig and pebble contraption I cobbled together – survival at its finest. And hey, good news if you’re not a fan of eight-legged critters: Grounded 2 has an arachnophobia mode.

Chris was like, “Yeah, those balloon animal-looking spiders in the first game? We’ve expanded on that foundation.” Which makes sense. I mean, who wants realistic spiders crawling around when you can have something more… balloon-y?

So, new stuff in this one: they’ve added rideable bugs. Picture this – I got to try riding an ant. Yes, a giant red ant. But then Chris drops this on me: you’ll be able to ride spiders too. Even with arachnophobia mode on. How’s that gonna work? “Cute-looking spheres,” Parker says. Whatever that means. They’ve somehow made it less creepy. Maybe?

Now, some folks are just a tad spooked by spiders but still want to see them in action. Finding that sweet spot between terrifying and fun is a juggling act. The game characters are older now – time flies, huh? – so they’re pushing the scare factor. But, how scary is too scary? Parker told me they debate this, tweaking things based on user feedback. They’re all about community input now that it’s in early access.

Oh, right – mark your calendars. Grounded 2 hits early access on July 29 for Windows PC and Xbox Series X. And they’re saying, if it’s too freaky, let them know. Speak up, because Obsidian Entertainment is listening.