update · November 23, 2023

Back to the Dawn First Major Update Adds Difficulty Selection and New Game Plus

Back to the Dawn's first major update introduces three difficulty modes, New Game Plus, and conversation skipping. The patch also adjusts combat skills and resolves numerous quest and inventory bugs.

Spiral Up Games has released the first major update for Back to the Dawn, introducing a suite of requested features, system optimizations, and bug fixes to Boulderton Prison.

Difficulty and New Game Plus

Players can now select from three difficulty modes at the start of a run, ranging from relaxed storytelling to zero memory recall options. New Game Plus allows players to retain their hard-earned inmate relationships, specialties, and skills on a fresh run.

Feature Optimizations

Conversation and cutscene skipping are now available by long-pressing the right mouse button or using confirmation pop-ups. Thomas can now auto-complete repetitive work tasks after a set number of manual completions. The Chaplain's visit frequency is increased during the third week, appearing daily between days 15 and 21.

Skill Adjustments

Rumination+ now extends duration by 100%. Ambush stacks up to five layers, triggering Total Hibernation for a guaranteed hit on the next attack. Tiger Combo calculates per attack rather than at the end of the turn, and subsequent combos ignore single-use buff consumption. Pincer Smash gains a guaranteed 100% hit rate, and Geek grants plus two intelligence and minus one agility.

Bug Fixes

Resolves an issue where skipping Angelo's main storyline visit blocked Reed's second visit. Controller users can now properly select add skill points after acquiring more than 24 skills. The brass knuckles item now correctly applies its plus four buff to unarmed attacks, and handheld game consoles no longer function while the player is in segregation.

Why this patch matters

This major update modernizes Back to the Dawn with essential quality-of-life features like New Game Plus and dialogue skipping, while smoothing out combat math and prison mechanics.