One of the most recently popular games similar to Stardew Valley has finally exited Early Access on Steam after two years of development, and it comes along with a significant update.
Dinkum initially stepped into Early Access in July 2022, nearing three years since its debut on Steam. Since that time, the game has amassed close to 20,000 reviews, achieving a notable “Very Positive” rating, illustrating that the demand for life simulators in the vein of Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley remains robust. Throughout this time, solo developer James Bendon has also implemented a number of updates leading up to this month’s full launch.
A prominent update is slated to be released together with version 1.0 on April 23, which will bring significant enhancements to the multiplayer system, the introduction of airborne vehicles, new crafting recipes, and additional features. Most intriguingly, other patches are planned to follow Dinkum’s complete release, as Bendon shares that he’s “only getting started” with the full version. More information is expected soon, and patch notes should detail more “as we draw closer” to the launch.
As an enthusiastic fan of this genre and a dedicated player of Dinkum, I am eagerly anticipating these updates and would recommend the game to anyone interested in more laid-back titles—especially since Animal Crossing: New Horizons is no longer getting updates and Nintendo has yet to announce a new release. If you enjoy activities like bug catching, construction, crafting, decoration, exploration, fishing, or any other life-sim essentials, version 1.0 presents an excellent opportunity to dive into Dinkum.