Back to the Dawn

Played on:

Time played:: 85 hours

Rating:: Loved

Back to the Dawn has easily become one of my favorite indie games that I've played in 2026. The core gameplay loop is actually very simple: work in the morning, socialize in the afternoon and evening, and try to find a way to escape at night. Rinse and repeat the next day. It sounds basic on paper, but it is so terribly addictive! It completely traps you in that "just one more day" mindset.

There are multiple ways of breaking out of the prison, and the game doesn't hold your hand at all. You truly need to figure it out all by yourself, and piecing together certain clues and escape routes can be quite difficult. It's incredibly rewarding when a plan actually comes together, though.

If I had one minor gripe, it's that some situations and events are kind of left unfinished, or at least I felt they should have been expanded on more. I won't give any specific examples because that would turn into spoilers, but it definitely left me wanting a bit more context. Perhaps they will be expanded on in future DLC?

Speaking of variety, the two currently playable characters play very differently, and their stories are totally separate. While it's cool that they feel so distinct, it would have been nice if there were more interwoven plots connecting the two of them.

A third playable character is coming in a future DLC, which is awesome. I really enjoyed my time playing this, and I can't wait to dive back in when the next character drops!

Screenshot of the title screen for the video game Back to the Dawn featuring five pixel-art anthropomorphic animal characters looking up at a tall prison wall topped with barbed wire under a cloudy sky.

Screenshot from Back to the Dawn showing a large group of anthropomorphic animal prisoners standing in rows during roll call. They are wearing color-coded jumpsuits (blue, orange, and red) and facing a large dog prison guard, with several other dog guards stationed around the room.

Screenshot from Back to the Dawn set in a prison cafeteria. Anthropomorphic animal prisoners are sitting at long green tables eating food trays, while others stand near the serving counters or sink area. The player controlled orange fox character is standing in the center aisle.

Screenshot from Back to the Dawn inside Cell Block B. Several anthropomorphic animal prisoners—including a large bear, a lion, a black panther, and a hyena—are standing outside a row of two-story concrete jail cells.