Grounded 2 has released its first major content update, titled The Toxic Tangle, introducing a new biome, gameplay systems, creatures, and quality-of-life improvements. My buddy and I will shrink down to investigate this in person later this week, but before that, let’s take a look at what’s new.

The central addition is the Garden biome, which expands Brookhollow Park with dense vegetation, vertical pathways, hidden crawlspaces, and large-scale structures such as greenhouses, pumpkin patches, and carrot fields. A major environmental change introduced in the update is Tang, a corrosive substance created by Ominent’s failed experiments. Tang contaminates soil and water, forms caustic lakes, and affects creatures and players. It functions as both a narrative element and a gameplay mechanic, adding new survival challenges and status effects.

The update also adds the Ladybug Buggy, a new, rideable mount. The buggy is equipped with a pressurized water cannon that can remove Tang buildup and target airborne enemies. It is capable of self-healing, has resistance to Tang, and can perform a ramming attack. A new sap bandage item has been added to allow players to heal their buggy.

The new enemies feature different behaviors, with some designed to act in coordinated groups. In addition, players can encounter the Snake Colossus, a large roaming boss located near the Croquet Court outside the Garden area. The Masked Stranger returns as a boss encounter, continuing her storyline after earlier appearances. The fight has been expanded, and players may face additional threats alongside her.

Mutations have been reworked in this update as well. They are now divided into active and passive types. Active mutations must still be equipped manually, while passive mutations activate automatically based on the player’s weapon loadout. This system is intended to reduce menu management and encourage hybrid builds. More passive mutations are planned for future updates.

Building and base customization have also received significant upgrades. New construction sets include the Pumpkin Set and Scale Roof Set. Older build kits have seen improvements to snapping and parity between sets, to make building more consistent. The Founder’s Pack has been expanded with additional cosmetic and decorative items.

The update introduces new wave-based challenges in the Garden area through MIX.R and O.R.C. events. These modes test players against large groups of enemies in controlled encounters. The Garden Patch also contains three new laboratories, expanding the game’s story and exploration content tied to Ominent’s operations.

Several quality-of-life and progression systems were added through Ominent’s in-game research framework. The PEEP.R 2K system upgrades scanning and tracking tools, allowing players to gather more detailed information on insects and materials. A new “Coziness” system rewards players for decorating bases and outposts, providing morale-based perks across multiple tiers.

Alongside the release of the Toxic Tangle update, developers confirmed that Playgrounds Mode will return in Public Test Beta in February. The mode will include tools for building custom challenges, arenas, and mini-games, similar to features from the first Grounded. This looks like yet another good reason to dive into Grounded 2.