Dynopunk Is An Indie Gem About Looking To The Future
Dynopunk is both a visual novel and management sim. It’s set in a world where dinosaurs are still around, but T-rexes are endangered. Players will take on the role of Chris as he runs his repair shop. In the process he discovers the schematics for a time machine. He hatches a plan to not only save his species, but his childhood sweetheart. At the core of this story is Chris potentially moving on from guilt he’s carried for years.
The sim part of gameplay is surprisingly in-depth. To make repairs the chips must be manually cut out. This can be messed up, which results in a low grade. Clients pay based on this grading scale, so it’s possible to walk away with nothing. Which can set back progress on saving up for machine parts. The game can be forgiving though, so the shape can be close if not exact.

Dialogue choices are a good mix of internal and impactful on the world. Chris can form friendships with his clients while helping with their own drama. At the end of the game players see how their decisions have affected others. Will Chris help one client turn their life around or another start a new relationship? Or will he have the opposite effect? On top of client interactions, Chris is a part of a time travel forum that he checks when the day is over. It helps the world feel alive despite not being able to walk around.
Dynopunk is a heartfelt narrative with quirky characters that are also endearing. There are a few mini games, but players will spend the majority of their time reading. There could be more interactivity. It’s still an enjoyable story with a soundtrack that’s also a mashup of different inspirations. Dynopunk is a good choice for those looking for a more hopeful cyberpunk story.