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Back to the Dawn

Zootopia meets Orange is the New Black in this oddball prison RPG.
Back to the Dawn Game Cover
90%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
95% User Score Based on 1,192 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

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Back to the Dawn Game Cover

About

Back to the Dawn is a single player role playing game with a mystery theme. It was developed by Metal Head Games and was released on July 17, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Back to the Dawn" is a prison escape game where you play as a framed journalist. Explore the maximum-security prison, gather evidence, and form alliances with inmates to plan your escape. With various challenges and a vast environment, survive and collect evidence to save yourself and the city from danger.

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95%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,192 reviews
story226 positive mentions
grinding30 negative mentions
  • Incredibly fleshed out even in early access, with a captivating story and engaging characters.
  • Every choice matters, leading to multiple endings and high replayability.
  • The art style is beautiful, and the gameplay mechanics are fun and immersive.
  • The 21-day time limit can feel restrictive and may lead to frustration for players trying to explore all options.
  • Some mini-games can be tedious and may disrupt the flow of gameplay.
  • Combat mechanics can be punishing, especially for players who choose a non-combat approach.
  • story
    624 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is highly praised for its depth, engaging characters, and multiple narrative routes, making it a standout feature that enhances replayability. Players appreciate the blend of humor and serious themes, as well as the intricate relationships and backstories of the characters, which contribute to a rich narrative experience. However, some players find the 21-day time limit stressful and suggest that it can hinder exploration and character development, while others express a desire for more freedom in gameplay without the constraints of the main story.

    • “The game's narrative is rich and engaging, pulling you into a beautifully crafted world filled with memorable characters and intriguing plot twists.”
    • “I really enjoyed interacting and getting to know more and more about the story and characters and I am looking forward to future updates to see how it expands. The multiple routes really keep things entertaining.”
    • “A surprisingly engaging game with a well-written story, fleshed out characters and multiple mysteries to solve.”
    • “The main one is not being able to progress the story until you have maxed out your character over several playthroughs just to have a chance at the end.”
    • “Once you've completed the main storyline, there's little incentive to revisit the game due to the lack of alternative paths or endings.”
    • “It kind of sucked because you put so many hours into following the main quest but there are some stiff requirements at that late in the game.”
  • gameplay
    212 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is praised for its rich mechanics, addictive loop, and strategic depth, offering a variety of activities and multiple pathways to explore within a prison escape narrative. Players appreciate the engaging resource management and decision-making elements, though some find the time limit and complexity of mechanics can be overwhelming for newcomers. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy immersive, narrative-driven experiences with replayability and diverse character interactions.

    • “Chock full of content, gorgeous visuals, a diverse cast of characters, and gameplay that encourages planning ahead and out-of-the-box thinking.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are smooth and intuitive, offering a perfect balance of challenge and enjoyment.”
    • “The gameplay loop is immensely addictive and you will find yourself saying 'just one more day' over and over.”
    • “While there are lots of tutorials, some features and core mechanics seem to have been left out or insufficiently explained, so you will feel like you're getting thrown immediately into the deep end of the pool.”
    • “The gameplay progresses slowly, with minor mistakes leading to substantial setbacks, and the scarcity of resources restricting players from exploring alternative routes.”
    • “This becomes tedious after the first 4 hours of gameplay and is very frustrating while you are in the main building.”
  • graphics
    130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style, vibrant visuals, and attention to detail that enhances the immersive experience. Players appreciate the charming character designs and the unique aesthetic that effectively conveys the game's dark comedic themes. However, some critiques mention that while the pixel graphics are impressive, certain medium-level visuals can feel lackluster, and the game's graphical demands may be higher than typical for pixel art games.

    • “The graphics are stunning, with attention to detail that makes every scene feel alive and vibrant.”
    • “Absolutely amazing visuals for being in a pixel style; nice to sit back and play.”
    • “The pixel art graphics are a standout feature, adding a nostalgic charm to the game and effectively conveying the dark and oppressive atmosphere of the prison setting.”
    • “Additionally, while the pixel graphics are well-done, the medium-level visuals in between can sometimes feel lackluster, and the overall graphics quality could have been better optimized.”
    • “My only issue in the game is it's a lot more graphically demanding than most pixel art games.”
    • “No real complaints but my new laptop couldn't handle the intense 3D graphics of the tape evidence cutscene and keeps freezing up on me despite having it on the lowest resolution.”
  • replayability
    68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts high replayability due to its multiple escape routes, diverse character interactions, and various narrative outcomes, encouraging players to explore different strategies and endings. While many users praise its depth and immersive experience, some express concerns about limited novelty in subsequent playthroughs, suggesting that future updates could enhance replay value further. Overall, the potential for replayability is strong, especially with the introduction of new characters and storylines.

    • “The various avenues you can take to escape lead to a lot of replay value.”
    • “It has a cool original storyline, interesting characters, and a lot of replayability.”
    • “The game offers multiple pathways to explore, ample choices that encourage diversity and replayability.”
    • “One of the major drawbacks of the game is its limited replayability.”
    • “This is a missed opportunity, as a more dynamic narrative structure could have added significant replay value to the game.”
    • “The second playthrough I discovered there basically is no true replayability; dialogue encounters are exactly the same and occur at the same times, no mix-ups with choices, so again you know exactly what to do and when to do it, and you just sort of meta-game your way to victory rather than roleplaying.”
  • humor
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its rich and varied humor, featuring funny dialogues, unique characters, and dark comedic elements that enhance the immersive prison setting. Players enjoy the clever references and easter eggs, which add layers of humor to the narrative, making it both entertaining and engaging. Overall, the humor stands out as a significant highlight, contributing to a memorable gaming experience.

    • “The humor really stands out - it is a truly funny game.”
    • “There are so many hilarious situations and lines of dialogue that had me laughing, as well as countless easter eggs and references.”
    • “The dialogues and overarching story are well-written, exciting, and infused with humor.”
  • music
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchiness and ability to enhance the overall experience. Players highlighted the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as "fantastic," "amazing," and even "a banger," with specific mentions of memorable tracks like the final boss music. Overall, the music complements the game's art and storytelling, creating an engaging atmosphere that players appreciate.

    • “The final boss music was goated, loved it.”
    • “Your choices definitely matter, the characters each one of them feels unique and the music is just perfect. Every time I booted the game up, I just sat for a minute or two and just listened to the music.”
    • “No major bugs; the only bug I had was the music not playing at some point and one of the prisoners' animations was bugged in a loop.”
    • “Please publish the soundtrack to Steam or Spotify... please.”
    • “I was enchanted from the moment I heard the music on the main menu!”
  • grinding
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is often described as tedious, particularly after the initial hours of gameplay, with some players finding it frustrating due to long cutscenes and repetitive mechanics. While there are features like mini-game skipping and a new game plus mode that alleviate some grind, many still feel that the overall experience leans more towards tedium than challenge. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the game's fun elements and its unique take on the genre.

    • “Not too grindy.”
    • “One of the best indie games on Steam without a doubt; fun, but terribly grindy.”
    • “I understand the game is supposed to be challenging, but it feels more tedious than challenging.”
    • “Anyway, no, I don't recommend the game; it's far too tedious to be entirely enjoyable.”
  • emotional
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players experiencing a range of feelings from heartbreak to humor, often leading to moments of deep emotional engagement and even tears. The relatable and heartfelt character storylines, combined with the game's choices and multiple endings, create a compelling narrative that resonates with players, making them genuinely care about the characters and their fates. Overall, the game successfully evokes strong emotions, leaving players feeling drained yet fulfilled by their experiences.

    • “Some of their stories are heartbreaking, some are horrible, some are just plain bad luck - but they are all completely understandable and relatable.”
    • “The best term I'd use for it is 'heartfelt' or 'earnest', as many of the character storylines have a degree of grounded truth to them that make you care about and feel something for the people present and their wellbeing.”
    • “After all that I had to go through in such a race to the finish, I cried a little at the end because I did it.”
  • atmosphere
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of "Back to the Dawn" is characterized by its intriguing prison setting, enhanced by charming pixel art that evokes nostalgia while effectively conveying a dark and oppressive mood. Reviewers appreciate the contrast between the gritty themes and a lighthearted, cartoonish style, creating a unique and engaging experience. Overall, the game's attention to detail and compelling storyline contribute to a captivating atmosphere that invites exploration.

    • “Back to the Dawn is a hidden gem that caught me off guard with its intriguing concept and atmospheric prison setting.”
    • “My advice: watch Prison Break while playing to improve the atmosphere.”
    • “The pixel art graphics are a standout feature, adding a nostalgic charm to the game and effectively conveying the dark and oppressive atmosphere of the prison setting.”
    • “A wonderful game with an outstanding storyline, which pleases with attention to details, style, and atmosphere.”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is generally stable with only a few minor glitches reported by users. While some players noted occasional bugs, they still recommend the game.

    • “It could be a little buggy at times, but overall I'd recommend this game for anyone!”
    • “Only a few minor glitches.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization has received criticism, particularly regarding significant stuttering and lag during specific tasks, which can render parts of the game unplayable. While the pixel graphics are praised, the medium-level visuals are seen as lacking, indicating that the overall graphics quality could benefit from better optimization.

    • “Additionally, while the pixel graphics are well-done, the medium-level visuals in between can sometimes feel lackluster, and the overall graphics quality could have been better optimized.”
    • “Really enjoyed the game, but the optimization on the rooftop job makes it unplayable. There is massive stuttering and significant input lag, especially when trying the bucket job, making the game unplayable for me.”
    • “Really enjoyed the game, but the optimization on the rooftop job makes it unplayable. There is massive stuttering and significant input lag, especially when trying the bucket job, making the game unplayable for me.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game excels in character development, offering rich backstories and engaging dialogue for every inmate, which enhances the overall narrative experience. Players appreciate the polished presentation, including pixel art and music, that complements the RPG mechanics and immersive prison setting. This depth in character design significantly contributes to the game's appeal and replayability.

    • “Great pixel art, great music, dialogue, and character development for literally every inmate - this game just oozes polish.”
    • “The RPG mechanics, the character design, the world in this pixel art style, the story of the game, and its characters, along with the things to do in the prison, make me even more eager to start the next day.”
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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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14h Median play time
13h Average play time
4-23h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 18 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Back to the Dawn is a role playing game with mystery theme.

Back to the Dawn is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 13 hours playing Back to the Dawn.

Back to the Dawn was released on July 17, 2025.

Back to the Dawn was developed by Metal Head Games.

Back to the Dawn has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Back to the Dawn is a single player game.

Similar games include Sultan's Game, Roadwarden, Vagrus: The Riven Realms, Kynseed, Wandering Sword and others.