Back to the Dawn - Tips

Surviving Boulderton Prison in Back to the Dawn is not simply about winning fights or finding a way through a locked door. You need to understand the daily routine, build relationships, manage your physical and mental condition and make progress before your time runs out.

Whether you choose Thomas the journalist or Bob the undercover detective, these Back to the Dawn beginner tips will help you make smarter decisions, avoid unnecessary trouble and prepare for your eventual escape.

Learn the Prison Schedule Before Making Big Plans

Time is one of your most valuable resources. Prison activities follow a schedule, and missing important events can cause trouble.

Morning headcount takes place at 8 AM, lunch runs from noon until 1 PM, and recreation begins at 1 PM. Dinner is scheduled for 5:30 PM, while inmates must return to their cells for the 10 PM lockdown.

Plan longer activities around these events. If a task requires travel, searching or crafting, make sure you have enough time to finish and return before the next mandatory routine.

Choose a Background That Fits Your Playstyle

At the beginning of a new game, you select your protagonist's background. Each background provides useful advantages alongside a drawback.

Thomas can begin with a background focused on Charisma, Agility or Strength. Bob has different options, including experience as a SWAT officer, detective or beat cop.

Read both the positive and negative effects before choosing. A useful bonus may come with a limitation that changes how you manage everyday prison life.

Protect Your Body and Mind

Poor physical and mental condition can make an already difficult prison sentence much harder. Pay attention to hunger, fatigue, injuries and your character's emotional state.

Eating, sleeping and taking care of your basic needs are not wasted time. They help keep you ready for skill challenges, work and unexpected confrontations.

Try not to begin a dangerous activity when your condition is already deteriorating.

Make Friends Before You Need Favors

Other inmates can become valuable allies. Building Rapport and strengthening relationships may open up useful opportunities, information and special skills.

Talk to prisoners regularly, learn their interests and pay attention to their requests. Some characters can help with particular activities or provide benefits that are difficult to obtain alone.

Relationships take time to develop, so do not wait until the final days to start building them.

Use Focus Points Carefully During Dice Challenges

Many important decisions involve dice rolls. Before attempting a challenge, check the success chance and consider the consequences of failure.

Focus Points can provide another attempt after certain failed rolls, but spending them on every minor action can leave you without help when an important challenge appears.

Improving the relevant attribute or learning a useful skill may be a better long term solution than repeatedly relying on luck.

Read Books and Watch Television for Useful Skills

Books and television programs are more than ways to pass time. Some unlock skills that improve your effectiveness in combat, negotiation, crafting and other prison activities.

For example, certain skills improve your chances during specific challenges, while others provide benefits tied to your attributes or relationships.

Check what you can learn from available entertainment and choose activities that support your preferred escape strategy.

Keep Your Inventory Organized

Carrying too many unnecessary items can become a problem when you find something important. Keep track of what you need for current quests, crafting and daily survival.

Think carefully before carrying suspicious objects into situations where you may be searched. Valuable supplies are not much help if you lose them before they can be used.

Take Prison Jobs Seriously

Work provides opportunities to earn money, develop useful abilities and access parts of prison life that might otherwise be difficult to explore.

Different jobs involve different activities and challenges. Pay attention to the rules of each task and consider how the job fits into your larger plan.

A steady source of income can make it easier to obtain supplies without relying entirely on risky methods.

Use Memory Recall When Available

Memory Recall allows players on New Eden and Central District difficulty to save before attempting risky actions. This is particularly helpful when you are learning how the game's challenge system works.

Skidroad difficulty removes this option, making your decisions and failures more consequential.

If this is your first playthrough, Central District is the recommended difficulty. New Eden offers a more forgiving experience for players who want to focus on the story.

Do Not Rush Into Fights

Combat is only one way to deal with problems in Back to the Dawn. Sometimes negotiation, preparation or avoiding a confrontation is the better choice.

If a fight is unavoidable, check your equipment, health and available combat actions first. Entering a battle while exhausted or poorly prepared can make even an ordinary opponent dangerous.

Work Toward an Escape Plan Every Day

Both protagonists have stories that place pressure on their available time. Thomas has 21 days to pursue the truth behind his imprisonment and the conspiracy surrounding it.

Try to make at least a little progress toward your main objective each day. Investigate promising leads, gather necessary items and strengthen relationships that might become useful later.

It is easy to spend an entire day on small activities, so keep your larger goal in mind whenever you decide how to use your free time.

Back to the Dawn Beginner FAQ

Can you play as Thomas and Bob?

Yes. The game features separate stories for Thomas the fox and Bob the panther, with different backgrounds and approaches to prison life.

How long does Thomas have to complete his story?

Thomas has 21 days to pursue his investigation and attempt to clear his name.

What is the best difficulty for beginners?

Central District is the recommended standard difficulty. New Eden is more forgiving, while Skidroad is intended for players who want greater consequences.

Can you avoid combat?

Many situations offer alternatives through dialogue, relationships and planning, although some confrontations may still be difficult to avoid.

What should you prioritize first?

Learn the prison schedule, maintain your condition, establish relationships and begin working toward your main objective without wasting too many days.