Free weekend on Steam: “Addictive” farming sim now playable for free
If you enjoy Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, chances are you'll have fun with Dinkum too. But this farming game, developed by James Bendon and released by KRAFTON, Inc. in July 2022, is far from a simple clone. It takes its own path, starting with a unique setting inspired by the Australian outback – complete with kangaroos, crocodiles and eucalyptus forests.
In Dinkum, you arrive on an untouched island and start building a settlement from the ground up. What begins as a simple tent gradually grows into a thriving village with farms, shops, animal pens and workshops. While Animal Crossing locks much of its world in place and Stardew Valley limits customization to your farm, Dinkum gives players far greater freedom. You can reshape the landscape however you like – redirect rivers, flatten hills or raise land. The terraforming mechanics feel closer to Minecraft than a traditional life sim.
Another feature that sets Dinkum apart is its focus on hunting and survival. Unlike the mostly peaceful worlds of Stardew Valley (outside the mines) or Animal Crossing, Dinkum introduces real threats. Wild animals can attack, the heat can be dangerous without proper gear and food needs to be gathered regularly. This light survival aspect adds a layer of tension and keeps things interesting. The game also includes a robust crafting system. From campfires to windmills, almost everything is made from resources you gather yourself. And with online multiplayer, up to four players can shape their world together.
Reviews: Varied gameplay with addictive appeal
After spending 50 hours with Dinkum, the gaming website Spielecheck came away with a largely positive impression. Praising the game's relaxed yet varied gameplay, the reviewer highlighted its strong “just one more task” pull that keeps players engaged for hours. However, despite Dinkum’s deep crafting and survival systems, he felt it lacked truly new ideas. There was also criticism of the license and control systems. In-game, nearly every activity requires a license, which can start to feel like a chore over time. Still, it's not just Spielecheck that sees the game's appeal. Dinkum enjoys a glowing reception on Steam, where over 19,000 players have shared reviews – 93% of them positive.
Free weekend on Steam
Dinkum usually costs around $20 on Steam, but during the weekend from April 5 to 7, players can try it out for free. If you enjoy what you see, you can grab the full version at a 20% discount until April 10, bringing the price down to about $16.
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
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