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Grounded

Review · Adventure · Xbox Series S/X · PC · PlayStation 5

Grounded

Reviewed: 08 May 2026

Xbox Series S/X · PC · PlayStation 5 · Xbox One

Obsidian Entertainment · 2022

Ludograph rating

A

Recommended

79 /100

Automated review

Grounded is a cooperative survival adventure that builds problem-solving and strategic thinking as players overcome environmental challenges.

06010030Benefit →Low risk →B 79 · R 22
The Ludograph reading, plotted from the published benefit and risk sub-scores.

Growth (BDS)

79

Risk (RIS)

22

Daily limit

120min

Age guidance

13+

Developmental benefits

B1Cognitive
0.88
B2Social-emotional
0.73
B3Motor
0.65

Grounded offers a rich cooperative survival experience that fosters problem-solving, strategic thinking, and creativity as players work together to build bases, craft tools, and overcome environmental challenges. Its emphasis on teamwork and communication makes it an excellent platform for developing social-emotional skills in a shared adventure.

Design risks

R1Compulsion-loop pressure
0.37
R2Monetization
0.08
R3Social risk
0.11

While primarily cooperative, the survival loop and progression systems in Grounded can encourage extended play sessions. The presence of microtransactions, though likely for cosmetic or convenience items, introduces a potential for spending. The game's T-rating means it contains moderate fantasy violence against insects and some potentially frightening elements due to the giant insect enemies.

Content (not in risk score)

R4.1Violence Level
0.67
R4.2Sexual Content
0.00
R4.3Language
0.33
R4.4Substance References
0.00
R4.5Fear / Horror
0.67

Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.

Heads up

  • Monthly spendTypical real-money spend by engaged players: $0 – $20/mo.

Regulatory design checks · DSA — Not yet assessed·GDPR-K — Assessed: meets criteria·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria

  • DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.
  • GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.: Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
  • ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.

These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.

Avg playtime~6 hReviewedMay 2026Report a data error →How scores are calculated →

Parents ask…

Is Grounded safe for kids?

Ludograph gives Grounded a rating of 79/100, recommended for ages 13 and up. It scores well on developmental benefits with manageable risks.

What age is Grounded appropriate for?

Ludograph's rubric recommends a minimum age of 13+ for Grounded, based on benefits, risks, and content review.

How long should kids play Grounded?

Our session recommendation for Grounded is up to 120 minutes per day. It is derived from the game's own structure (natural stopping points, compulsion-loop design, monetization pressure, and social dynamics), not from a universal screen-time dose.

Session recommendations are design-based heuristics. Evidence linking specific daily durations to child outcomes is limited, and context matters as much as time; treat this as a starting point for household rules, not a clinical threshold.

What are the main risks of Grounded?

While primarily cooperative, the survival loop and progression systems in Grounded can encourage extended play sessions. The presence of microtransactions, though likely for cosmetic or convenience items, introduces a potential for spending. The game's T-rating means it contains moderate fantasy violence against insects and some potentially frightening elements due to the giant insect enemies.