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Back to the Dawn

You were framed and incarcerated. Learn to survive in prison. Explore every inch and exploit any weakness. Manipulate and scheme. Make friends (or foes) with fellow inmates and with their help, break out of prison.

Recent Reviews:

Overwhelmingly Positive (104) - 96% of the 104 user reviews in the last 30 days are positive.

All Reviews:

Very Positive (4,535) - 92% of the 4,535 user reviews for this game are positive.

Release Date:

Nov 2, 2023

Developer:

Metal Head Games

Publisher:

Spiral Up Games

	Interface	Subtitles
English	✔	✔
Simplified Chinese	✔	✔
Japanese	✔	✔
Traditional Chinese	✔	✔

Early Access Game

Get instant access and start playing; get involved with this game as it develops.

Note: Games in Early Access are not complete and may or may not change further. If you are not excited to play this game in its current state, then you should wait to see if the game progresses further in development. Learn more

What the developers have to say:

Why Early Access?

“Our initial plan was to include the storylines of 2 characters - Thomas the Fox and Bob the Black Panther. However, the time invested in the full storyline development of Thomas took more time than expected as we wanted to make his story as compelling as possible. To have both characters' stories completed, it would take a much longer time on development, hence our decision to launch in Early Access first so everyone can enjoy the complete storyline of Thomas and already-rich content in the game!”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We're aiming for at least one year — this gives us enough time to incorporate your feedback and make sure the Black Panther's storyline meets the standard we've set with Thomas!”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“We plan to add the other protagonist, the Black Panther, at the full release. Same as Thomas the Fox, we plan to develop the full storyline and distinct scenes unique to him.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Since launching in Early Access, we've been hard at work expanding the game with new content and gameplay mechanics. The current build now features the complete storyline for Thomas the Fox, offering over 20+ hours for a first playthrough, and more than 80 hours for those aiming to unlock every achievement! With over 500,000 words of immersive narrative, 8 escape routes, 10+ distinct endings, 48 prisoners to meet, dozens of NPCs, and more than 100 quests to complete, there’s a huge amount of depth to explore. We're getting closer to our vision of the full game, but we're continuing to optimize based on your feedback—so keep it coming!”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“Yes, the full version's price at official launch will be higher than the Early Access version. The increase reflects the addition of the planned Black Panther content, enriching the game and your experience within it.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“You can provide feedback via the Steam community and other social media channels. All kinds of feedback, be it suggestions or bug reports, are more than welcome.

We hope that everyone would enjoy this gripping prison break adventure!”

Check out the entire Spiral Up Games collection on Steam

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Reviews

“This is one of the best prison games I have ever played.”
Call Me Kevin

“It's remarkably in depth, and I'm invested in how I'm going to get out of here (prison).”
Drae

Awards

About This Game

A gripping prison escape RPG woven with crime, corruption, and hidden agendas. Step into a maximum-security facility where every inmate has a past—and a plan. You'll have to fight to survive, investigate, and ultimately break free before the time runs out.

Uncover a scheme that threatens more than just your life—it could bring down the entire city. In this thrilling adventure, choices matter, and escape is your only salvation!

Choose between two protagonists — Thomas, a reporter caught in a web of lies, or Bob, an undercover agent sent deep into the prison system. Each storyline delivers over 20 hours of engrossing mystery, where your every choice matters. Navigate a prison ruled by three powerful gangs, interact with 48 uniquely crafted inmates, and uncover layers of intrigue through dozens of memorable NPCs.

With over 100 handcrafted quests, multiple escape routes—each with its own risks and rewards—several possible endings, and more than 500,000 words of gripping narrative, Back to the Dawn delivers a deeply replayable RPG unlike anything you've experienced.

Thomas the Fox is a journalist caught up in a dark conspiracy and who got thrown into a maximum-security prison for not playing ball. Working with your attorney friend on the outside, you must collect evidence to save yourself and the city from grave danger!

This is an enormous prison with lots to do and many places to explore, but make sure you follow the rules, or at least try not to get caught!

You’ll encounter all kinds of challenges as you explore your new environment. But will you be a model prisoner and just try to keep your head down, or will you leave a trail of chaos and destruction in your wake? It’s all up to you.

Meet a colorful cast of inmates in your prison, each with an interesting story to tell. You can either make them your friends or fight, bully and rob them into submission. Will you be part of a gang or a cunning lone wolf? Pick a side!

Are you a tough guy who lets his fists do the talking, a thief who hides in the shadows, or perhaps a smooth talker who manipulates the scene? Develop your skills, craft tools to suit your style, and climb your way from “new fish” to “top dog.”

In a place built to break you, your sharpest weapon is your creativity and cunning. Every inch of Boulderton Prison might hold the key to your escape, from your prison cell to the infirmary, to the sewers and even the rooftops. Can you break free?

Mature Content Description

The developers describe the content like this:

This Game may contain content not appropriate for all ages, or may not be appropriate for viewing at work: Some Nudity or Sexual Content, General Mature Content