Dinkum (2025)

Dinkum ain’t the most innovative or impressive life simulation out in the market, but it has just enough elements to make it feel more than just an Animal Crossing knockoff. Even if it’s a really slow-paced game, which requires a painful amount of patience from its players, it is also incredibly rewarding to see your little Australian-esque archipelago grow from a bunch of sand with kangaroos into a charming village full of friendly characters.

"Exceptional Freedom in Settlement Building" Dinkum offers a rich simulation and survival experience, with a focus on long-term development and building a fully integrated community with considerable freedom. The game provides a sense of personal achievement and strategic planning, with mild control challenges and a slow start, but it's an excellent choice for fans of patient simulation and free-flowing creativity.

On paper, Dinkum sounded like my ideal kind of game. I had anticipated that it would be a bit rough around the edges and that the blocky visuals wouldn’t appeal to me, but with the right kind of simulation gameplay, that would be fine. After playing it, it’s clear this is an impressive game, especially considering it’s made by a solo developer. However, Dinkum didn’t grip me like I had hoped it would. I felt the controls were annoying and the quality of life seriously lacking. And though it may sound silly, it didn’t help that I would regularly see dingos or a crocodile hunt down and kill a kangaroo. I’m a fan of cozy games, hence my verdict. But if you are okay with a less polished sim-survival game, I think you can sink many, many hours into building your town in the wilds.