Back to the Dawn

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.

Overall, Back to the Dawn is fantastic. There's so much to do that you'll be kept busy for many, many hours. I found myself thinking about my in-game plans before real-life bed – it just gets in your head. The retro graphics, fun characters, and seemingly endless quests all add towards a game that's well worth your time.

While not always amazing, there is enough creative solutions and memorable moments to make this game the quintessential Prison RPG of your dreams.

I recommend Back to the Dawn, provided that complex systems, difficulty, and replayability seem like something worth giving a chance to, because I know the game won't let you down in those aspects; but if large volumes of reading and high-pressure decisions all the time aren't your kind of engaging adventure, then we have more accessible options with far fewer barriers to entry and demand than Back to the Dawn in the hall of ambitious modern indie RPGs.

Back to the Dawn is a great surprise for the Switch, having initially been released for PC in late 2025 and already gaining a strong fan base. Its intriguing story, charismatic and subversive characters, and complex yet interesting realistic mechanics create a unique and genuine personality for this prison odyssey. Foxes were usually seen as clever but petty, thieving, and mischievous animals. With representatives like Thomas, however, perhaps the reputation of these crimson friends can be rehabilitated, just as the truth about urban corruption may come to light.

Back to the Dawn is a rare mix of challenge, freedom, and depth of story for people who like strategy RPGs, immersive simulations, or games with a strong story. It doesn’t hold your hand or sugarcoat its rules or punishments, but it does reward people who take the time to learn how to play. By the end of one playthrough, you’ll have stories that are completely your own, with small wins, near misses, and discoveries that you made by carefully watching and trying things out.

A gritty, anthropomorphic cross between Zootopia and Prison Break, this simulation RPG thrives on high-stakes time management and branching player agency. While the cluttered UI and steep initial complexity may stall newcomers, the deep "dice-roll" mechanics and immense replayability make for a rewarding, sophisticated escape on the Switch 2.

A clearly ambitious mix of sandbox sim and RPG concepts with well-written characters, but you really need to invest in it fully to get the most out of it

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Will you manage to find a way to right so many wrongs?