In the role-playing game “Back to the Dawn” on Steam, you are transported as a fox into a high-security prison and must escape. The game is well-received by many gamers and receives positive reviews.
What kind of game is this? Back to the Dawn is a story-driven RPG with stealth, puzzle, and point-and-click elements, in which you take on the role of an unjustly imprisoned animal journalist or a secret agent. The two are represented by an anthropomorphic fox and a panther. The other inmates are also inspired by animals.
The RPG is set in a high-security prison from which you want to escape. Your task is to find evidence of your innocence, build relationships with fellow inmates, pit factions against each other, and ultimately find a way to freedom, be it through escape, influence, or violence.
The title launched on November 3, 2023, in Early Access and celebrated its full release on July 18, 2025. Since then, around 9,162 players have joined the adventure simultaneously (see SteamDB, as of July 21, 2025, 11:00 AM). Until July 31, 2025, you can purchase it at a discounted price of €16.57, after which it will increase to the regular €19.50.
The gameplay resembles classic RPGs, focusing on sometimes consequential decisions. How you proceed, who you ally with, and which skills you develop greatly influence the course of the story. Whether through stealth, manipulation, or brute force, any means is fair as long as it brings you closer to the truth.
A concept that obviously resonates well not only with critics but has also sneaked into the hearts of many players.
You can get a first impression in the launch trailer:
“This game is the best RPG I’ve played in the last few years, except maybe Baldur’s Gate 3”
How is the game received? Even during its time in Early Access, Back to the Dawn was able to gain many positive voices. It won the Steam Silver Award in 2023 as the top Early Access title of the year (see Steam). It has also received several awards, nominations, and finalist positions in the indie sector.
The reviews on Steam come with stellar ratings. Around 92% of all reviews (currently about 4,825, as of July 21, 2025, 11:15 AM) are positive, giving the game an overall rating of “very positive.” The critical focal point is often the time management feature, which some find stressful. Others see it as an incentive to replay the game more frequently:
- The Hungry Werewolf writes, for example: “The time limit isn’t scary; it just means that you can do different things on repeat playthroughs, and I think that’s great. And otherwise? Yes, the game is really fun.”
- shaosc3 praises: “This game is the best RPG I’ve played in the last few years, except maybe Baldur’s Gate 3.”
- Ironbound describes: “I stumbled upon this gem by chance and can’t recommend it enough. Imagine Prison Architect crossed with Disco Elysium and a touch of Zootopia. It’s packed with deep RPG mechanics, a great story, and solid gameplay. Ridiculously cheap for what you get. I absolutely love it.”
- SoulessBlade criticizes: “The game is really good so far, but the time limit ruins all the tension for me.”
- grubby justin makes you think: “I appreciate the work and quality of the game, but I’m not a big fan of the time management aspect. The rest of the game seems great, but this element just makes it too stressful and takes the fun away for me. However, if you don’t mind the time management, I can recommend the game 100%.”
Also, there are currently some indie gems on Steam that you can purchase at a lower price and have a lot of fun with if you like the premise and gameplay. There is also a survival hit currently on sale, which recently received a successful new expansion: Complex survival game on Steam is 97% positive, has a big discount just in time for the new expansion
