The best games like Dinkum are Coral Island, My Time at Sandrock and Palia: big life sims with a town to grow, fishing and bug catching, and friends to play with. For co-op with no combat, pick Roots of Pacha. For a huge sandbox, play Dragon Quest Builders 2. Below are 10 games, grouped by what you loved most, with honest notes. We checked every game on October 31, 2026.
At a glance
| Game | Best for | Length | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coral Island | Players who want Dinkum's island life with a bigger cast | About 56.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, PS5, Xbox Series X |
| My Time at Sandrock | Players who loved seeing the town grow because of them | About 92.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox |
| Ooblets | Players who want silly creatures and a town that never takes itself seriously | About 28 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X |
| Hello Kitty Island Adventure | Sanrio fans, families and players who want only gentle days | Open-ended | PC, Switch, PS5, Apple Arcade |
| Fields of Mistria | Players who want a pixel-art farm town with a full museum to fill | About 55 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Linux |
| Palia | Players who want a free game with fishing and bugs, shared with others | Open-ended | PC, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X |
| A Short Sail | Dinkum fans who want the island home and the fishing, without farming or mining | Not shared yet | PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck |
| Roots of Pacha | Friends who want to share a farm with no fighting at all | About 31.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox |
| Luma Island | A group of one to four players who want a bright 3D island | About 31 hours (HowLongToBeat) | PC |
| Dragon Quest Builders 2 | Players who loved reshaping Dinkum's island to their own plan | About 55 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One |
| Len's Island | A group of friends who want a big, open world with more danger | About 15 hours (main story), 23 hours with extras | PC, Mac |
What makes Dinkum special
In Dinkum, you move to an island inspired by the Australian outback with little more than a campfire and a sleeping bag. You farm, fish, catch bugs, mine, chop trees and hunt, and slowly a tent camp becomes a town with shops, neighbours and a museum. Crocodiles lurk in the rivers, the critters are Aussie, and so are the jokes. You can do all of it alone or with friends online. Dinkum has an 89.9% rating on SteamDB, from about 29,000 Steam reviews (October 31, 2026).
Developer: James Bendon | Year: 2025 (early access from 2022) | Platforms: PC, Switch | Length: about 31.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
People often call it “Animal Crossing on PC”, but it is bigger and wilder than that. So we grouped this list by the part you loved most: growing a town, the critters and the jokes, fishing and bug catching, playing with friends, or the huge sandbox. If Animal Crossing itself is what you miss, see our list of games like Animal Crossing on PC.
The best games like Dinkum
- Closest to Dinkum: Coral Island
- Best town to grow: My Time at Sandrock
- Best for cute critters: Ooblets
- Best for fishing and bugs: Fields of Mistria
- Best free pick: Palia
- Best co-op with no combat: Roots of Pacha
- Best sandbox: Dragon Quest Builders 2
- Our own game: A Short Sail (island friends and fishing, but no farming or building; not ranked)
If you loved growing a town
Coral Island
Who it is for: players who want Dinkum’s island life with a bigger cast.
Coral Island is a big 3D farming and island life game. You move to a tropical island town and help it get back on its feet. You farm, raise animals, fish, catch bugs, mine and dive to clean up the reef. Many islanders live there, each with a daily routine. You can fill a museum with your finds and play online with friends. It is the closest match on this list.
The downside: it is long and busy, and the mines have creatures to fight.
Developer: Stairway Games | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S | Length: about 56.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
My Time at Sandrock
Who it is for: players who loved seeing the town grow because of them.
My Time at Sandrock is a life sim about building up a town. You are the new builder in Sandrock, a dusty frontier town in the desert. Townsfolk send you orders, and you build machines, bridges and whole buildings that change the town for good. The cast is large and very funny, a bit like Dinkum’s mix of characters. An online mode lets you play with friends.
The downside: it is very long, and there are monsters and dungeons to fight through.
Developer: Pathea Games | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox | Length: about 92.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
If you loved the critters and the jokes
Ooblets
Who it is for: players who want silly creatures and a town that never takes itself seriously.
Ooblets is a goofy farming and creature game. You move to Badgetown and raise ooblets: tiny, odd creatures that follow you around. When a rival turns up, you have a dance-off with cards instead of a fight. You also run a small farm, decorate your house and help the town. The writing is goofy and very sweet.
The downside: the daily chores are busy, and there is no co-op.
Developer: Glumberland | Year: 2022 (on Steam in 2023) | Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S | Length: about 28 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Hello Kitty Island Adventure
Who it is for: Sanrio fans, families and players who want only gentle days.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure is a cute island adventure with Sanrio characters. You arrive on an island, befriend Hello Kitty and her friends, give gifts, craft, cook and explore. There are light puzzles, cute critters to meet and no combat at all. It started on Apple Arcade and came to Steam in January 2025. One friend can visit your island online.
The downside: most quests are made for one player, and it is much softer than Dinkum’s outback.
Developer: Sunblink | Year: 2023 (2025 on Steam) | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS5, Apple Arcade | Length: open-ended | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
If you loved fishing and bug catching
Fields of Mistria
Who it is for: players who want a pixel-art farm town with a full museum to fill.
Fields of Mistria is a pixel-art farming game. You come to the small town of Mistria after an earthquake and help it rebuild. You farm, fish, catch bugs, mine, cook and make friends. The museum takes your fish, bugs and finds, much like Dinkum’s. It left Early Access in 2026. More like it in games like Stardew Valley.
The downside: it is single-player only, and the mines have monsters.
Developer: NPC Studio | Year: 2026 (1.0; early access from 2024) | Platforms: PC, Linux | Length: about 55 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Palia
Who it is for: players who want a free game with fishing and bugs, shared with others.
Palia is a free-to-play online life sim. You build a home on your own plot, fish, catch bugs, cook, garden and make friends with the villagers. Other players are around you in the world, so it feels lively. For more games in this style, see our games like Palia.
The downside: it is always online, it has an optional shop, and some areas have creatures you can hunt.
Developer: Singularity 6 | Year: 2024 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S | Length: open-ended | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
A Short Sail
Who it is for: Dinkum fans who want the island home and the fishing, without farming or mining.
A Short Sail is a cozy sailing game where you are a little tabby cat with a sailboat. Like Dinkum, it has an island home, fishing by day and by night, and friends across the islands. You deliver letters and parcels, build your home island, dig up treasure, and bring beach finds to a little museum. You can also sail online with friends.
But it is a different kind of game. There is no farming, no mining, no chopping trees and no crafting, and you do not build a town. There are no timers, no fighting on foot, and only gentle sea battles against storms and living waves. The full game also plays in a web browser. It comes out in Q1 2027, and you can play the free demo at play.ashortsail.com.
Developer: Yos Riady | Platforms: PC (Windows), Mac, Web, Steam Deck | Length: not shared yet | Free demo at play.ashortsail.com | Play the demo
If you loved playing with friends
Roots of Pacha
Who it is for: friends who want to share a farm with no fighting at all.
Roots of Pacha is a co-op farming game set in the Stone Age. You join a clan and help it grow. You gather, farm, fish, tame animals and discover new ideas that change how the clan lives. Up to four friends can play together online. There is no combat, which makes it calmer than Dinkum.
The downside: early days are slow, and the pixel art may look plain next to Dinkum’s 3D island.
Developer: Soda Den | Year: 2023 | Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PlayStation, Xbox | Length: about 31.5 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
Luma Island
Who it is for: a group of one to four players who want a bright 3D island.
Luma Island is a co-op farming and adventure game. You buy an old farm and a caravan on the island. You farm, fish, mine, craft, pick professions, explore old temples and collect magical creatures called Lumas. There are no stamina bars and no inventory limits, and you can pick a Cozy mode. Up to three friends can drop in online.
The downside: you grow a farm, not a whole town, and it is on PC only for now.
Developer: Feel Free Games | Year: 2024 | Platforms: PC | Length: about 31 hours (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Verified | Steam page
If you loved the huge sandbox
Dragon Quest Builders 2
Who it is for: players who loved reshaping Dinkum’s island to their own plan.
Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a block-building game with a story. You are an apprentice builder who washes up on an empty island. Block by block, you build homes, farms and towns, and help their people. The story takes you to other islands, and the sandbox island is yours to shape. Up to four players can build together online.
The downside: there is real combat with monsters, and it is not supported on Steam Deck.
Developer: Square Enix, Koei Tecmo | Year: 2019 | Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One | Length: about 55 hours for the main story (HowLongToBeat) | Steam Deck: Unsupported | Steam page
Len’s Island
Who it is for: a group of friends who want a big, open world with more danger.
Len’s Island is a building and survival game. You start a new life on an archipelago of islands. You build a home, farm, craft and sail to explore, and you can play with up to seven friends online. You can pick a peaceful difficulty, but the game is built around dungeons and bosses too.
The downside: it is a survival game with a lot of fighting, so it is not very cozy.
Developer: Flow Studio | Year: 2025 (1.0; Early Access in 2021) | Platforms: PC, Mac | Length: about 15 hours (main story), 23 hours with extras | Steam Deck: Playable | Steam page
Related guides
- Games like Palia
- Games like Stardew Valley
- Games like Animal Crossing on PC
- Cozy island games
- Cozy multiplayer games
- Cozy collecting games
Questions
What is the closest game to Dinkum?
Coral Island is the closest game to Dinkum. It is a big 3D island life sim with farming, fishing, bug catching, mining, a museum and a large town to get to know, and you can play it online with friends.
Is there a game like Dinkum with no combat?
Yes: Roots of Pacha and Hello Kitty Island Adventure have no fighting at all, and Ooblets settles its contests with dance-offs. Dinkum itself has dangerous animals and hunting.
What games like Dinkum have co-op?
Coral Island, Palia, Roots of Pacha, Luma Island, Dragon Quest Builders 2 and Len's Island all let you play online with friends. Fields of Mistria and Ooblets are single-player.
Is Dinkum like Animal Crossing?
Dinkum is like Animal Crossing in some ways. You move to an island, build a town, catch fish and bugs, and fill a museum. But Dinkum adds farming, mining, hunting and dangerous animals, so it is wilder. Animal Crossing is not on PC.
Is Dinkum on Steam Deck or Mac?
Dinkum is Playable on Steam Deck, not Verified, because some text is small. There is no Mac version on Steam: it runs on Windows, and it is also on Nintendo Switch.
How long is Dinkum?
Dinkum takes about 31.5 hours for the main story, according to HowLongToBeat. Many players keep building their town long after that, since there is no set end.
