Back to the Dawn

“A productive early access period, a developer who listens to the players and knows what it wants to do, and a bunch of good ideas coming together have resulted in a successful outcome.”

“For a game set in a jail, Back to the Dawn offers an impressive amount of freedom. Coupled with a conspiracy-minded story, and more side-quests you can shake a shiv at, you'll be hooked.”

“Back to the Dawn is a fascinating game at first glance, due to its uncanny mix of prison, animals, and laid back music. But as you dive into its systems and figure out what your goals are, you run into a sort of identity issue.”

“Back to the Dawn is a rare example of a game that tackles the realities of incarceration with seriousness and respect. It offers a challenging, thoughtful RPG experience where every choice matters, and the consequences are tangible and often harsh. This is not a game for casual play or lighthearted escapism. Instead, it demands your full attention and empathy as it explores the complex human stories within prison walls. For gamers interested in deep narrative, strategic gameplay, and a sobering examination of justice and survival, Back to the Dawn on Xbox Series S is an essential experience.”

“With unforgettable characters, beautiful graphics, fun mechanics, and secrets to discover, Back to the Dawn is a fun and replayable RPG that gives the prison escape genre a refreshing twist.”

“"A unique escape experience" Back to the Dawn is one of the boldest indie RPGs of the year. It offers a complex mix of stealth, relationships, exploration, and time management within a prison teeming with life and danger. Its unique design and branching narrative give every decision real weight. Despite some complexities in the inventory system, the game remains a rich and rewarding experience.”

“Back to the Dawn is an engaging, reactive role-playing game that values repetition and danger. It rewards your curiosity, perseverance, and cunning while forcing you to learn by doing and failing. This game offers hours of rich content for those who enjoy organizing the ideal escape, forming alliances, and investigating every opportunity.”

“Back to the Dawn is truly surprising. Its scale is much more deep than its surface appearance gives off, and you can tell how much the development team invested into the creative storytelling process. It shows in every decision you make, every animation of every animal character, and every story beat you hit. Living within and trying to make your escape from out of the prison feels important and impactful, and you really find yourself caring about (some) of the people locked inside there with you, and the people trying to help you get out (literally and figuratively) of the conflicts you find yourself wrapped up in. If you start Back to the Dawn, don’t expect to put it down until you finish it…and then finish it again.”

“Back to the Dawn is one of the most unique indie RPGs I’ve played in recent memory—gritty, tense, mechanically rewarding, and full of well-developed characters who surprise you with their humanity, despite being cartoon animals. Its depiction of prison life is thoughtful and serious without relying on shock value, and the branching narrative gives your decisions real weight.”

“Overall, I found Back to the Dawn to be an incredibly fun and well-crafted game, especially for its budget cost. The excellent visuals and compelling gameplay systems make it one of the best prison escape games I've ever played, and I quickly wanted to hop back in and try a different run even after a successful prison escape. It's just a well-made game from start to finish, and I wanted to go back for more. If you're even slightly interested in the concept, Back to the Dawn is well worth playing and a great example of how indie RPGs can shine.”

“Back to the Dawn is a masterfully crafted RPG that pulls no punches—an unflinching dive into the grit and grind of prison life, where every decision carries weight and survival hinges on strategy. With a cast of brilliantly written anthropomorphic inmates, it delivers a raw, rewarding experience that lingers long after the final escape.”

“''Back to the Dawn'' is a deep and surprising prison RPG that blends mature storytelling, social simulation, and strategy. Beneath its pixel-art graphics lies a tough, never-relaxing experience where every choice truly matters. The story is the beating heart of the game: two campaigns (one still on the way), eight endings, and complex moral choices make each playthrough unique. The gameplay rewards planning, focus, and precision, with solid RPG mechanics and a coherent, living world. The combat system is minimal but functional, reflecting its secondary role. Perhaps the only real flaw in an otherwise memorable experience is the difficulty, which can be intimidating and frustrating. It's not a game for everyone, but those seeking challenge and narrative depth will find it genuinely worthwhile.”

“Back to the Dawn holds immense promise as a gripping prison break adventure, offering players a rich narrative, diverse gameplay, and the freedom to shape their experience. The decision to release the game in Early Access demonstrates the developers’ dedication to delivering a polished product, with ongoing community involvement ensuring that player feedback shapes the final release. Despite the minor flaws typical of Early Access titles, the potential for Back to the Dawn to evolve into a standout experience is evident, making it a title worth keeping an eye on as it progresses toward its full release.”