As Microsoft continues to acquire studios, the repertoire of games available exclusively on the Xbox will inevitably grow. Thanks to its Activision Blizzard acquisition, Microsoft may soon have exclusive access to the dominant FPS franchise Call of Duty, and its recent purchase of Bethesda gives it control over a major RPG in the form of Starfield. These time-honored genres aren't the only ones with a notable presence on the Xbox, though. Grounded makes Xbox a surprisingly good platform for sandbox fans, as even while Obsidian Entertainment contributes to Microsoft's RPG craze, its work on Grounded goes a long way to diversify the console's lineup.
Grounded has another sandbox peer on the Xbox: Sea of Thieves, Rare's action-adventure pirate title. In the last few years, Sea of Thieves has managed to attract quite a few sandbox lovers. It's good to see that sandbox games like these are thriving, because one might think that they'd fallen by the wayside due to the current state of the games industry. Open-world games are all the rage nowadays, and one would think that open-world action-RPGs might sufficiently scratch the sandbox itch, but nevertheless some developers continue to produce creative sandbox titles.
Grounded and Sea of Thieves' Success
Grounded may still be a fairly young project from Obsidian, but it has seen some major success so far. By the time its Xbox Series X Early Access period began, Grounded had attracted some five million players, indicating a ton of interest in Obsidian's survival sandbox project. Since then, the developer has clearly been determined to capitalize on the game's success. Recent updates have added new enemies, dungeons, pet mechanics, and more for Grounded fans to enjoy. Its official release date draws near, but it wouldn't be surprising if Obsidian supported Grounded with more expansions long after it releases.
Meanwhile, Rare continues to thrive on the back of Sea of Thieves. The storied developer's pirate game is certainly something of a departure from the platformers and FPS series that made it famous, but nevertheless Sea of Thieves has proven to be highly fruitful for Rare. It's currently embarking on its sixth season of content, and from the looks of things there are more Sea of Thieves expansions to come. Sea of Thieves celebrates its fourth anniversary in March, so fans have good reason to reflect on all the missions, storylines, and modes that Rare has added to create an even richer experience.
The Sandbox Genre's Persistence
Grounded and Sea of Thieves are only two examples of the sandbox genre's ability to grow and change even as the industry favors other genres. Notably, Minecraft has seen a resurgence thanks in no small part to streamers. Ever since the game reached its official release, Mojang has launched tons of creative updates for Minecraft, and its future plans suggest that the classic sandbox title will persist for many more years. As a fellow Xbox Game Studios title, Minecraft is a wonderful companion to Grounded and Sea of Thieves.
While it's great to see major developers work on sandbox games in general, Grounded and Sea of Thieves are good omens for the sandbox genre because of their respective creative concepts. Sea of Thieves has a unique knack for encouraging players to take to the open sea and find their own adventures, while Grounded's use of a backyard as a survival environment gives it a compelling aesthetic. Hopefully indie developers and AAA studios alike will take inspiration from these sandbox titles and make games like them in the future. In the meantime, Grounded and Sea of Thieves will continue to keep the genre alive and well.
Grounded is available now in Early Access on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.