Does your ideal weekend involve watching adorable furry critters building cozy settlements? Then this crafting game might be worth adding to your Steam wishlist. Announced during the June 2026 Wholesome Direct, the upcoming colony sim Tinkernest from Swedish two-person developer team, afterwalk, puts you on a colorful island inhabited by fluffy hamster-like creatures. The studio describes Tinkernest as a crafting colony sim that feels like ‘coming home,’ aiming to re-capture that simple excitement of mashing two items together just to see what comes out.
Fans of relaxed, wholesome gathering, crafting, and automation games such as Stardew Valley, Forager, and Satisfactory may find plenty to like here. Especially with Tinkernest‘s focus on at-your-own-pace progression and discovery rather than high-pressure survival. Starting from a humble campfire, together with other island residents, you will gather resources, experiment with crafting combinations, and gradually expand your settlement into a thriving village.
While building the perfect settlement for the furry inhabitants is a major part of the experience, Tinkernest also encourages its players to leave their comfort zone once in a while. Hidden beneath the island are ancient tunnel networks packed with mysteries from a long-forgotten past. Who knows what exactly is buried down there, but it’s definitely an enticing enough incentive to put down the hammer and grab some spelunking gear. Better yet, you can bring friends along for the adventure as Tinkernest supports co-op play — although the maximum number of players hasn’t been revealed yet.
Tinkernest marks the debut project from afterwalk. Interestingly, one of the developers previously worked on the charming 3D-rendered pixel art style seen in the cleaning simulator Spilled!, and that aesthetic definitely carried over here. Currently, the studio has not announced a release window; however, Tinkernest is available to wishlist on Steam. Stay tuned to GameObserver for more news on crafting and cozy games. For other news from this year’s Wholesome Direct, click here!
