Summary
- Cozy indie game Dinkum left Steam Early Access in late April 2025.
- Dinkum offers a combination of life sim and survival mechanics that should appeal to Stardew Valley and Minecraft fans.
- Dinkum console versions may finally be in the works now that the game left early access on PC.
A cozy-looking game called Dinkum has been released on Steam following years of early access development. Between its elaborate survival mechanics and plentiful life sim elements, Dinkum appears reminiscent of both Minecraft and Stardew Valley.
Made by indie developer James Bendon, Dinkum originally debuted as a Steam Early Access title back in July 2022. While neither survival games nor life sims are exactly scarce on Valve's storefront, Dinkum managed to stand out from the competition in several ways, including its unique setting inspired by the harshest parts of the Australian outback. Shortly following its launch, the game peaked at nearly 13,500 concurrent Steam players—a highly respectable figure for an indie title.
10 Beginner Tips For Dinkum
Dinkum is a blend of exploration, survival, and town-building with various mechanics that can be challenging for beginners to the genre.
Dinkum received a full-fledged Steam release on April 23, nearly three years after first debuting in early access. While it's common for indie games to see price hikes after leaving early access, Dinkum is still retailing at its original price of $19.99. That said, picking it up for even less shouldn't be overly difficult, as the game has averaged a sale every six weeks over the past three years, dropping to as low as $13.99.
Dinkum May Soon Be Coming to Consoles
For the time being, Dinkum is still a PC exclusive, though that might not be the case for much longer. Back in 2022, Bendon said console versions of his survival life sim were planned after the early access period. It's unclear whether that's still true three years later. The closest fans can currently get to a console experience is playing Dinkum on the Steam Deck. While it lacks the optimal "Steam Deck Verified" certification, Dinkum is classified as "Playable" on Valve's popular handheld.
Dinkum's gameplay loop combines resource gathering, building and socializing. Players can engage in farming, fishing, mining, and hunting, and take part in other resource-gathering activities to earn materials and money—or "Dinks," in the game's jargon—needed for upgrading their town. Similar to Stardew Valley, Dinkum features realistic seasons that influence which flora can be grown and which fauna can be encountered.
Another similarity to Stardew Valley is the design of Dinkum's mining system, which requires players to navigate underground caves in search of precious minerals. The game's art direction somewhat resembles the style of Animal Crossing. Along with single-player, Dinkum supports co-op multiplayer for up to six players. Its minimum PC system requirements are fairly accessible, with the game being playable on any rig sporting at least 8GB of RAM and the GPU equivalent of the aging GTX 1650.
- Released
- April 23, 2025
- ESRB
- Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- James Bendon
- Publisher(s)
- Krafton
- Engine
- Unity
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WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Life Simulation, Survival, Crafting, Farming
