Back to the Dawn Review – A Brilliantly Designed Pixel-Punk Prison RPG That Deserves the Spotlight

Back to the Dawn isn’t just another indie prison RPG. Developed by the small but impressively skilled team at Metal Head Games, this title blends immersive storytelling, emergent gameplay, strategic time management, and social sim mechanics into one of the most emotionally gripping and mechanically rich experiences we’ve seen from the genre in years. I never thought I would be this enthralled playing a game about being in prison, but this was a genuinely good time, and I could not put it down.

It’s a game that takes inspiration from the likes of Thief, The Escapists, and Disco Elysium, and merges it with a surprising amount of psychological depth, visual polish, and replay value. Let’s check it out.

Visuals & Audio: An Audiovisual Indie Triumph

From the first boot-up, the pixel art shines. The characters are anthropomorphic animals, but don’t let that fool you—the detailed animation, expressive pixel portraits, and richly crafted prison setting offer a dark but charming atmosphere. Every corner of Boulderton Prison tells a story, thanks to high-res sprite work and intricate environmental design. Every segment of the day can be met with character building, tense gang affairs, mini-games, or things like figuring out how to make money for the day. There really was never a dull moment in Back to the Dawn, and the daily timer might upset some, but it ended up being a tense mechanic that forces you to choose what to focus on for the day in order to progress and survive.

The soundtrack, while understated, supports the game effectively. It’s never intrusive and often strikes a good balance between ambient unease and situational tension. Criticisms of the music being underwhelming seem overstated—it blends seamlessly with the aesthetic.

Gameplay: High Stakes, Deep Systems, Meaningful Choice

At its core, Back to the Dawn is a social sim + RPG + immersive sandbox escape simulator. You take on the role of either Thomas (a framed journalist) or Bob (an undercover cop), and every day in the 21-day cycle is yours to shape. Both current characters have a deep background and are unique and exciting to play. I can’t wait for a third! The systems built around your time in prison make the playthroughs exciting and interesting.

• Time Pressure & Strategy: The 21-day deadline system is bold. Like Dead Rising or Pathologic, you are constantly making hard choices: Do you make money today? Build rapport? Search for escape tools? Train your stats? The pressure can be overwhelming—but it’s incredibly rewarding. I found someone digging a hole in the laundry room, for example, and I had to choose whether to focus on slowly digging out the wall with a crude tool like a spoon that ate up precious hours of time, or getting in closer with a gang for protection.
• Character Interactions: There are 46+ inmates, each with distinct personalities and backstories. From kleptomaniac pangolins to philosophical kangaroos, every inmate adds flavor to the world. The rapport system, gifts, and questlines form meaningful connections—this isn’t filler dialogue; it’s worldbuilding that matters. There are some hilarious conversations the prisoners have with each other that you can listen in on or partake in too. It keeps the game fresh and interesting so that you want to actively seek out every possible interaction within your daily timeframes.
• Skill & Attribute System: With Strength, Agility, Intelligence, and Charisma determining outcomes, the game uses a D&D-style dice mechanic for many actions. Success isn’t guaranteed, and planning your stats, background, and skill progression is key. Contextual actions level your abilities naturally—work out to build Strength, read books for Intelligence, etc.
• Mini-Games & QoL: From combat to crafting, training, and even phone call mechanics, Back to the Dawn is full of little activities that never feel like padding. Since Early Access, QoL improvements have made everything snappier and more intuitive. The “Memory Recall” autosave feature, which lets you rewind 24 in-game hours, is a masterstroke for those perfectionist runs. There’s danger too, like needing a crucial resource but having no time left to complete a crucial quest. I had to pick whether to try a 30% success rate pickpocket attempt that’s decided by a dice roll – failing immediately drops my reputation with that character and makes them angry with me.

Narrative: Two Stories, One Prison, Dozens of Outcomes

The dual protagonist system is more than a gimmick. Each has a distinct tone and objective:

• Thomas represents investigative tension. His story, framed around a conspiracy and freedom of the press, is reflective and narratively deeper.
• Bob is more kinetic and brutal. A physically adept character on a covert mission, his path feels more like an action thriller.

Both stories offer dramatically different routes, characters, and escape possibilities. NG+ is encouraged, and a single playthrough barely scratches the surface—especially with all the secrets, subplots, and alternate endings.

While the time mechanic is a brilliant layer of challenge, some players may find it punishing, especially during their first runs. New Game+ mitigates this well, but the learning curve is steep.

The most noticeable shortcoming is the underutilization of female characters. While some, like Beth and Maggie, exist within the narrative, they feel more like devices for romance or utility rather than fully realized individuals. There’s room for improvement in representation and depth.

Final Thoughts: A Hidden Gem that Needs More Eyes

Back to the Dawn has captivated us in a way few games have this year. It’s thoughtful, clever, packed with replay value, and offers a surprisingly moving narrative despite its quirky setting. With 50+ characters, deep RPG systems, and a well-executed theme of survival and morality behind bars, Metal Head Games deserves serious recognition. Back to the Dawn is a great indie title, and we recommend it – it’s ambitious, inspired, and unmistakably passionate.