The first day
Grounded is about scale. A spider is a boss and a blade of grass is cover. Your first goal is simple: do not die, and learn the yard near the starting Lab.
The creature database lists all 160 bugs with their aggression. Skim it before you wander so nothing surprises you.
Eat, then build
Hunger and thirst fall fast at your size. Grab aphids and plant fiber early. A small grass wall and a workbench turn a panic into a plan.
Sample tools to aim for: Club of the Mother Demon, Tingle Tongue, Salt Chipper, Frosted Flake, Black Ox Crossbow, Slime Lantern.
The night
Darkness brings tougher bugs. Be home behind walls when the sun drops, or fight from a defensible spot you already know.
Mutations and growth
You earn mutations by acting a certain way, such as blocking a lot or exploring far. They stack into a build, so pick a direction and commit to it.
Use the databases
Do not hold 160 creatures and 24 tools in your head. The creature database and tool database are the plan before every fight.
Pace your runs
Two short safe trips beat one overloaded dash. You keep your stamina and your life, and you learn the yard in pieces.