Grounded 2 Will Include Arachnophobia Mode, Even for Rideable Spiders

Man, let me tell you about this time I was at Summer Game Fest 2025. I got my hands on Grounded 2 for a bit – and I couldn’t help but think, “What am I doing with my life?” But there I was, spear in hand. This thing made of twigs, pebbles, and some twine. Felt like a DIY warrior going up against these creepy multi-legged critters. They weren’t spiders, exactly, but still pretty unnerving. If spiders give you the heebie-jeebies, I can see how you’d be squirming.

Oh, and for those of you who can’t deal with spiders – here’s some good news: Grounded 2 has you covered with an arachnophobia mode. Talked to Chris Parker, the game director, and he said the first game’s team tackled this — you know, they made spiders look like those goofy balloon animals. Made me chuckle just thinking about it.

But there’s this twist now – rideable bugs are in the mix for Grounded 2. Picture this: a big red ant you can hop on and ride around. I tried it out myself in the demo. Parker dropped another bombshell: you’ll be able to ride a spider too. Now that’s wild. They’ve got to make sure even that’s covered by the arachnophobia mode. They’re tackling the whole, uh, making-the-spider-cute problem by sticking bubbles where creepy parts used to be. Sorta genius, right? Or maybe just a bit weird. But, hey, if it works, it works.

Some folks, Parker says, just don’t want to turn the spider freak-out mode on – they want a little thrill, I guess. It’s a balance, scary yet fun, because let’s face it, the game’s family-friendly. Characters have grown up a bit since the first game — like actual players have, which is kinda poetic or something. So, how creepy is too creepy, you ask?

Parker mentioned debates – passionate ones, apparently. Push it too far, and it’s like, “Whoa, better dial it down!” But sometimes they test it with players to see what sticks. Early access is their phase now, starting July 29. Windows PC, Xbox Series X, Game Pass – take your pick. And if it’s too much? Seems like Obsidian wants to hear all about it.