Dinkum is a perfect alternative to Animal Crossing

When Dinkum was released for early access in July 2022, it quickly caught the attention of the cozy gaming community due to its warm atmosphere and farming elements. Fortunately, popular games like Stardew Valley, Disney Dreamlight Valley, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons have already shown how successful these life simulations can be.

Although Animal Crossing could have incorporated some elements from Dinkum, Nintendo has already confirmed that there will be no further updates for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. This was extremely disappointing for avid players of the 2020 game. Fortunately, Dinkum is the perfect solution for those who still have the desire for an Animal Crossing experience in 2023.

Dinkum is Animal Crossing in the Australian Outback

Dinkum was created by a single developer, James Bendon, who grew up in Queensland, Australia. Although Bendon did not expect the game to be received so well when it debuted last year, it was a welcome surprise. Currently, the game has received over 15,000 "Very Positive" reviews on Steam. Dinkum shares many similarities with Animal Crossing but also builds upon the foundations of the Nintendo game to include more intense multiplayer options and activities. These include paragliding, combat, cave exploration, and jet skiing. There are also some recognizable activities such as insect catching, fishing, planting plants, finding fossils, and so on. At the beginning of the game, players start with a simple tent and a sleeping bag, which they can transform into a home over time.

Interestingly, the island that players receive in Dinkum is huge and has various explorable biomes like Minecraft. These include four different environments: the cold biome in the southwest, bushland in the east, desert in the center, and a tropical biome in the north. Of course, not all maps are the same, and while these biomes are most commonly found in those locations, they can appear anywhere. Animal Crossing offers different environments with its explorable mystery islands and seasonal changes, but it has not yet reached this level of diversity.

Furthermore, in the past, Nintendo's life simulation game has been criticized for its limited multiplayer options. While players cannot immediately start in multiplayer mode in Dinkum, they can interact more freely with items and NPC characters than is possible in Animal Crossing. Players can not only fish together but also compete against each other on race tracks and battle Australian wildlife. However, similar to Animal Crossing, visitors cannot move buildings or sell the host's animals.

Undoubtedly, one of the biggest draws of Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the variety of cute animal residents. Dinkum has its own residents, but they are clearly human. While they may appear less cuddly than the 488 animal villagers available in the Animal Crossing series, they have their own unique characteristics and speak in gibberish tones. Similar to Stardew Valley, it is advantageous to build relationships with NPCs as they can provide players with important items.

Like other games in this genre, the slow pace encourages players to relax as they develop their Australian paradise. On the other hand, those who enjoy grinding in cozy games may be pleased to hear that there are options that involve combat and resource gathering if they choose to explore the deep mine in Dinkum. Although Dinkum is still in early access, the game is definitely a satisfying alternative to Animal Crossing: New Horizons.

Dinkum is available through early access on PC.