Become a Backyard Detective: Find All Grounded 2 Collectibles

Introduction: Your Backyard Detective Mission Begins

Imagine shrinking down to ant size, flashlight in hand, as the backyard transforms into a web of labs, anthills, and hidden chambers. In Grounded 2, your mission is to uncover 85 scattered data fragments—audio tapes, Stranger files, and optical disks—that piece together an urgent, mysterious story. Every find not only deepens the Stranger’s narrative but also unlocks powerful crafting blueprints, from Antlion Blades to Quick Read mods.

Ready to dive into the miniature world? Here’s your complete detective dossier.

Why Every Collectible Matters

Each tape, file, and disk you recover reveals snippets of mission briefings, emergency logs, and personal journals. Beyond fleshing out the lore, most of these data items award crafting schematics that give you a tactical edge against soldier ants, scorpions, and minibosses. And if 100% completion is your goal, these collectibles unlock exclusive rewards—and solid bragging rights.

Getting Ready: Essential Gear & Prep

• Recommended Level: 10+. Higher levels help you survive labs and anthill bosses.
• Primary Weapons: Tier 2 blades (Antlion Blades or sturdy spears) for melee; bow or slingshot for ranged grabs.
• Light Sources: Carry two torches or headlamps. Lab corridors plunge to pitch-dark in seconds.
• Consumables: Stock bandages, healing salves, paralyzing bombs, and ant bait to distract patrols.
• Route Markers: Drop cobblestones or glow sticks at every fork to avoid endless backtracking.
• Co-op Strategy: Assign one partner to scout and mark collectible sites while the other keeps watch for enemies.

Pro Tip: Ranger Outposts auto-refill basic supplies after cooldown. Swing by before tackling “corpse zones” to restock healing items and torches.

Collectible Locations Overview

We’ve divided the backyard into five major areas. Follow these paths, watch for environmental cues, and inspect every nook and cranny:

1. Onboarding Facility
2. Snack Bar Anthill
3. Hatchery Anthill & Deep Lab
4. Network Center Lore Hub
5. Early Disks to Prioritize

1. Onboarding Facility

This tutorial complex holds six intercom logs you must trigger in sequence to avoid retracing your steps:

• Ms. Beaumont’s Reminder: Left corridor next to a flickering light panel—listen for a soft hum.
• Ms. Beaumont’s Warning: Right hallway, just before a reinforced security door.
• Inspiring Words: Opposite the “Employee of the Month” plaque, near the maintenance hatch.
• Sense of Dread: On the bench past the elevator shaft—crouch low to spot it.
• Evacuation Woes: First room after the tutorial skirmish; sift debris under the desk.
• Situation Update: Locker room—open every locker fully to reveal the log tape.

Collect all six to unlock the keycards needed for deeper lab access.

2. Snack Bar Anthill

Winding tunnels and patrolling soldier ants make this area tricky. Use ant bait to slip past enemies and scan dark corners for hidden alcoves:

• Subterranean Subterfuge: At the first fork, hug the left wall to find a side chamber containing a Stranger file.
• Omni-Tool Shovel Upgrade: Under a fallen log near the central junction—you’ll need your basic shovel to dig it out.
• Turbo Optical Disk: On an ant corpse just past the shovel spot; lightly dig around to uncover it.
• Stolen Optical Disk: Enter the scorpion tunnel behind “Dead Roots.” Apply Fire Ant Salve to clear the entrance.

Efficiency Hack: Craft Ant Bait at an Antlion Altar to lure ants away from choke points, giving you a clear path to collectibles.

3. Hatchery Anthill & Deep Lab

The Hatchery Anthill funnels into a sealed Deep Lab, full of tighter corridors, egg-laying chambers, and acid drips. Keep your wits about you:

• Egg Credit: Smash a giant soldier-ant egg in the central chamber to reveal a hidden compartment with a Stranger file.
• Taming Program Update: At a crossroad marked with yellow flickering stripes—scan the walls for glitching light sources.

Navigation Hack: Drop glow sticks at each junction. In the Deep Lab, follow ceiling vents—they double as shortcut markers to lead you back to the hatchery.

4. Network Center Lore Hub

This five-story office complex mixes labs, meeting rooms, and research stations. Avoid endless elevator loops by alternating between stairwells and lifts:

• Level 1: Emergency Evacuation (floor tape), Security Update (monitor).
• Level 2: “Clean Your Darn Bunk!” (bench), Orientation (office), Meeting Minutes (side office).
• Level 3: Monitoring Station (floor), Formal Reminder & Confused Note (desks), Secret Science files (trolley).
• Level 5: Confidential Report (bench), Away Message (floor), Turbo Optical Disk (desk drawer).

Pro Tip: Unlock the Quick Read mod as soon as you find it—skim logs on the move and bookmark them for return visits.

5. Early Disks to Prioritize

Mid-game foes hit hard. Grab these disks early for powerful mods and vital Stranger research insights:

• Toxic Anthill Disk: In a sealed Dead Roots cave—use Fire Ant Salve, then squeeze through the gap.
• Ice Cream Cart Disk: Near ground-level spider nests; paralyze or outrun spiders for a quick grab.
• Spider Den Disk: Enter at night when fewer spiders spawn; lure them away with glowing bait.

Gameplay Tips for Efficient Runs

• Always carry two torches and a stack of glow sticks—lab corridors go pitch-dark fast.
• Hack the Quick Read mod early to annotate logs instantly and flag them on your HUD.
• Set up forward camps near the Network Center and Deep Lab for repeatable quick runs.
• Use the in-game data tracker (Data → Audio Logs / Field Reports) after each area to cross off found collectibles.

Platform-Specific Advice

• PC: Assign torches and bait to quick-assign slots for on-the-fly drops.
• Console: Tweak aim-assist settings for precise melee strikes in tight corridors.
• Co-Op Sync: Host a local session to slash loading times when revisiting cleared zones.

Overcoming Common Challenges

• Maze-Like Labs: Climb onto ceiling vents or crates for a bird’s-eye view if you get lost.
• Hostile Patrols: Smoke bombs or churned-up dirt scatter ants and mute alarms.
• Missing Blueprints: Reopen the data index menu and search by exact log name to ensure you’ve triggered every entry.

Advanced Strategies for 100% Completion

• Always carry extra glow sticks—never risk a blind corridor sprint.
• Upgrade the Quick Read mod to level 2 for auto-bookmarking and faster log scans.
• Build micro-camps with small stash boxes near major labs for safe restocking.
• After each run, recheck your data tracker to spot any missed entries before logging off.

Summary & Final Tips

Tracking down all 85 collectibles in Grounded 2 is a thrilling backyard detective quest. Gear up with torches, bait, and Tier 2 weapons; follow our step-by-step paths; and use route markers to avoid getting lost. Unlock the Quick Read mod early, set up forward camps, and always cross-check your data tracker. With these strategies in hand, you’ll uncover every secret chamber, piece together the Stranger’s story, and craft every powerful blueprint. Now, shrink down and let the backyard mystery unfold!