Grounded PC Hardware Guide
Official requirements explained
Grounded lists an Intel Core i3-3225 CPU, an Nvidia GTX 650 Ti GPU, 4 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage as its minimum. Mapped to our tier ranking, the i3-3225 is roughly comparable to an older entry-level Core i3-2100 class processor, and the GTX 650 Ti sits in the same very old, entry-level GPU band as the GTX 650. In practical terms, the minimum is the threshold for the game to launch and run, and it belongs to legacy hardware.
The recommended tier asks for an Intel Core i7-7700K or Ryzen 5 1600, a GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or Radeon RX 470, 8 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage. The i7-7700K is roughly on par with an older mainstream Core i7-6700, and the Ryzen 5 1600 is a contemporary six-core mainstream part. The GTX 1060 6GB and RX 470 map to the Radeon R9 390 band, which is a clear step above the minimum GPU. Moving from minimum to recommended is roughly a generation's worth of GPU and CPU improvement, and RAM doubles from 4 GB to 8 GB.
The publisher does not require an SSD, so a mechanical hard drive is technically acceptable. An SSD still shortens load times noticeably, which is worth considering even though it is not mandatory. The publisher does not list any requirements above the recommended tier, so the builds below are our own suggestions rather than official figures.
Recommended builds for three budgets
The entry build suits players who want to keep spending low. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 is well above the recommended tier and leaves real headroom, paired with a Ryzen 3 3100, which meets the recommended CPU level. Aim for 16 GB of RAM so background programs have room alongside the game. This combination should run comfortably at the recommended settings and above.
The mainstream build is for players who want more freedom with resolution and graphics. The GTX 1660 Super or RTX 3050 8GB both sit well above the recommended GPU tier. For the processor, the Ryzen 5 4500 is a solid choice, and the Ryzen 5 3600 is well above the recommended CPU level with more margin. Again, 16 GB of RAM keeps things relaxed during longer sessions and higher-quality settings.
The high-end build is for players who want to play at higher resolution or with heavier visual options. Consider an RTX 2070 Super, RTX 3060 Ti or Radeon RX 7600, paired with a Ryzen 5 5600 or Ryzen 7 5700X. All of these are far beyond the recommended tier, so there is room to raise resolution or enable more demanding effects. 32 GB of RAM is an option, but 16 GB is plenty for this game.
Graphics settings with the biggest impact
In open-world action adventure games like this one, the settings that usually cost the most performance are shadow quality, volumetric lighting and fog, depth of field distance, and the density of crowds and simulated objects on screen. Shadows and volumetric effects tend to be among the most expensive calculations, so lowering them first is often the most effective change with the least visible loss.
View distance and detail level govern how much distant geometry the GPU must draw. With many insects and grass in view, reducing vegetation and detail distance eases the load on the graphics card. Try to keep anti-aliasing on, since clean edges on grass blades and fine lines help a lot with clarity in a game built around close-up views of the small world.
Upscaling technologies such as Nvidia DLSS, AMD FSR and Intel XeSS generally render at a lower internal resolution and scale the image up to the output resolution. The basic idea is trading fewer pixel calculations for smoother frame delivery, at the cost of slightly softer fine detail. If your GPU supports it, upscaling is usually an effective way to gain headroom, but the result depends on your hardware, so compare it on your own system before settling.
Laptops and handheld PCs
Laptop GPUs often share names with desktop cards, such as the GTX 1660 or RTX 3050, but mobile versions run under tighter power limits and cooling constraints, so their real performance is usually below the desktop version. When buying a laptop, check the suffix on the GPU name and the rated power range (TGP), and prefer models with good cooling. If the game runs unstably, switch to a high-performance power profile and make sure the vents are not blocked.
Handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck or ROG Ally are portable devices with much less performance than a desktop and tight limits on power and heat. As a general starting point, lower resolutions and low-to-medium presets are more realistic, and upscaling or a frame rate cap can help balance battery life and smoothness. We do not have handheld verification data for this game, so treat these as general guidelines and rely on each device's own settings.
Whether on a laptop or a handheld, the power source and battery mode affect performance, and plugging in usually gives more stable results.
Storage and memory
The official minimum for RAM is 4 GB and the recommended is 8 GB. In practice, once the operating system and background programs take their share, we suggest at least 16 GB, which is the baseline in every build above. Dual-channel memory generally helps overall performance more than a single large stick, so where possible install two matching modules.
The publisher lists 8 GB of storage, which is an estimate for the game itself. Leave extra room for updates and temporary files so that a full drive does not block patches. Since no SSD is required, a traditional hard drive will work, but an SSD noticeably shortens loading and fast-travel times, so it is a worthwhile upgrade if your budget allows.