Is a gentle, survival life simulation game set on an island inspired by the Australian outback. You start with little more than basic equipment and a campsite, then gradually turn the wilderness into a thriving town.
The game combines farming, fishing, bug catching, mining, hunting, gathering, crafting, exploration and town building. You can play at your own pace, either developing your island into a carefully planned settlement or spending your days exploring and collecting resources. Dinkum can be played solo or with up to four players online.
Key Features
Build a town from scratch
Your starting campsite can eventually become a fully developed town with shops, homes, public spaces and decorative features. You decide where buildings go and how the settlement develops, while attracting new residents and businesses to the island.
Farm and raise animals
Grow crops, care for farm animals and build up your agricultural operation. Seasons and weather affect crop growth, adding some planning to the otherwise relaxed farming system.
Explore the Australian-inspired wilderness
Dinkum’s island includes red deserts, forests, waterways and underground mines. You can explore for resources, hunt wildlife, catch fish and bugs, mine for ores and discover new areas. The wildlife isn’t entirely harmless, so survival elements remain part of the experience.
Craft and customise
Gathered materials can be turned into tools, furniture, decorations and other useful items. You can reshape parts of the island and customise both your home and your character, giving you considerable freedom over how your settlement looks.
Play with friends
Dinkum supports multiplayer for up to four players. Friends can work together on farming, gathering, exploration and building their shared island.
Continuing updates
Dinkum has continued to receive substantial updates following its full release. Recent additions include the Animal Tracks update, which introduced a train, railway tracks and changes to the farm-animal system. The Nintendo Switch 2 edition also launched in April 2026 with improved graphics and performance.
Who is Dinkum for?
Dinkum will appeal to players who enjoy:
Farming and life sims
Town-building games
Open-world exploration
Survival crafting
Fishing and bug catching
Decorating and customisation
Multiplayer sandbox games
It is particularly suited to players who like having several different activities available rather than being pushed towards a single progression path.
Platforms
PC Steam
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch 2
The Switch 2 version is an enhanced edition with improved resolution, frame rate and visual quality.
Final Thoughts
Dinkum’s strength is the amount of freedom it gives you. Farming, town building, exploration, crafting and survival all feed into one another without requiring you to follow a rigid routine.
The Australian setting also gives it a distinctive identity compared with the more familiar rural and fantasy settings used by many life sims. It can be peaceful and cosy one minute and involve dealing with dangerous wildlife or exploring a mine the next.
For players who enjoy creating their own goals and gradually transforming a wilderness into a personalised community, Dinkum offers a substantial sandbox with plenty to do.
A little housekeeping: this site is just for fun and games (literally). No payment, no sponsorships, no affiliate links (though you might spot a Steam link, purely because I’m helpful like that). Sometimes I am gifted a game, demo, or playtest spot, and I’ll always flag it when that’s the case. But gifted or not, I only write about games I genuinely enjoyed. If it’s not for me, it just quietly doesn’t get a post. No negativity here, only good vibes and cosy recommendations. One last thing: prices, features, and availability can shift after I post, so it’s always worth to double-check before you buy.