Somewhere between the red dirt, the eucalyptus trees, and a giant wombat waddling across your freshly laid path, it hits you that Dinkum is doing something genuinely special. It’s a life sim set in the Australian outback, and it carries that setting with so much warmth and personality that calling it “Animal Crossing with crocs” feels like doing it a disservice, even if it’s not entirely wrong.
Dinkum was developed solo by James Bendon, a Queensland-based graphic designer who quit his job, moved interstate, and taught himself 3D modelling and programming from scratch to build the game he wanted to play. It took him eight years. His wife supported him the whole way through, heading off to work while he stayed home making what he once called his “silly little game.” It’s out now on PC and Nintendo Switch, published by KRAFTON, and it’s the kind of game that makes you quietly root for the person who made it.
Life in the Outback
The loop is familiar in the best way. You arrive on an undeveloped island, set up camp, and slowly build a town by gathering resources, attracting townsfolk, and unlocking new activities as you go. Farming, fishing, mining, foraging, and crafting all feed into each other, and the seasons and weather shift things just enough to keep every day feeling a little different. One afternoon you’re tending crops, the next you’re sprinting away from a crocodile you absolutely underestimated. Dinkum never forces a pace on you, and that freedom is a big part of why it’s so easy to lose track of time in it.
What separates it from the rest of the genre is how deeply Australian it all feels, and not in a superficial “slap a kangaroo in there” kind of way. The wildlife is inspired by real fauna, the landscapes shift between tropical forests, scorching deserts, and billabongs, and even the name itself is pulled from the Aussie phrase “fair dinkum,” meaning something genuine and authentic. It feels like Bendon built the game with a very specific place in his heart, and that specificity is exactly what makes it charming rather than generic. You can even dress your character in an Akubra hat and sunnies, which honestly should have been a selling point on the Steam page.
Up to four players can explore and build together online, so if you’ve got friends who are into cozy games, this is an easy one to drag them into. And if you’re the solo type, the world is more than rich enough to keep you occupied on your own. Dinkum is available now on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch, and if you’re a fan of life sims that actually have a personality to them, it’s absolutely worth your time.
Follow Blooing on Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok for more Indie Game news and reviews.
Leave a comment