I play this game excessively (for a parent...) on Steam Deck and they are a match made in heaven.

It runs so well on Steam Deck and the controls work great, its just perfect for it.

The Gameplay is the perfect mix of cozy and not too easy. Decoration but enough to do, that its not only decorating and talking to the Villagers every day. Farming, but the right amount of QoL so it does not get tedious. Its the least stressfull game I ever played. Even Stardew Valley is more stress. But it has yet to get boring.

I am playing with a few QoL mods (auto pickup, light in the mines) and it works like a charm even on Steam Deck.

I still have to see the end of things to do and build and I am actually getting into decorating which is normally not my thing.

Its just a really great game for me to play on my Deck.

I love this game. Been playing since early access and the game just keeps getting better. It's very relaxing and you can loose track of time while playing. There's lots of things to do like farming, taking care of animals, mining, terraforming and building, collecting, etc. The developer really makes an effort to add new content and keeps things interesting. I believe the multiplayer aspect needs more work. But overall the game experience is great.

Dinkum is a cozy, charming blend of Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley, and it pulls off the combo really well. It’s got the laid-back life sim vibes of AC with the farming and crafting depth you'd expect from Stardew, plus a bit of light combat thrown in. The world is super satisfying to progress through, and I really appreciate how long the days are — unlike Stardew, you’re not constantly racing the clock, which makes it easier to enjoy each season.

Villagers each have distinct personalities that feel straight out of Animal Crossing, and it’s genuinely fun interacting with them. Combat isn’t the main focus, but it adds a little extra spice — especially when you're up against the Alpha animals (basically mini-bosses that’ll definitely knock you out if you’re not prepared).

I do have some issues, though. The digging system is super annoying — you have to dig up a square of dirt, then place it somewhere else before you can dig again. It’s tedious, and honestly, I just want to get on with it. The deep mines could use more variety, and I wish there were more house customization options (like extra rooms). Oh, and no romance?! That’s a bummer. I really miss having romance options to spice things up.

Despite those annoyances, Dinkum is a fun, cozy grind — especially if you’ve got friends to play with. If you're into life sims but miss the romance, it’s still worth checking out.