The gritty prison simulator RPG Back to the Dawn has become an overnight sensation on Steam, amassing thousands of player reviews within days of launch while riding high on a recent award nomination. Developed by indie studio TBD, the game casts players as an animal inmate navigating the brutal politics, survival challenges, and dark secrets of a maximum-security penitentiary.
Critics praised its blend of Papers, Please-style resource management and Disco Elysium-inspired narrative depth during its Early Access phase. This momentum culminated in a surprise "Best Indie Game" nomination at last month's Golden Joystick Awards – a rare feat for an unreleased title. Now fully launched, players are flooding Steam with stories of tense escape attempts, morally fraught alliances, and emergent chaos.
"The sheer depth of choices blew me away," writes one reviewer with 40+ hours logged. "Will you bribe guards, tunnel through the cafeteria, or start a riot? Every decision feels consequential."
Curious about the hype? Dive into the player discussions yourself:
Explore Reviews & Game Details on Steam
Track Live Stats & Discount History
The buzz isn't just about storytelling. Players highlight the game's systemic design – smuggling contraband affects guard patrols, while neglected hygiene can trigger deadly inmate conflicts. With six distinct endings and procedurally generated events, no two playthroughs feel alike.
Launching with a 15% discount ($16.99, down from $19.99), the game targets both RPG veterans and narrative experimenters. For those preferring physical editions:
Collector's Box Pre-orders (Amazon)
TBD’s lead developer, Ming Zhang, credits the community: "Early Access players shaped everything from balance to endings. This launch celebrates their faith in our vision." With over 8,500 reviews sitting at "Very Positive," that faith appears well-placed.
Back to the Dawn is available now on Windows PC via Steam. Will you survive the sentence?
Post a Comment