Xbox Game Pass has added Back to the Dawn, a pixel-art prison escape RPG with “Very Positive” reviews on Steam. Developed by the indie studio Metal Head Games, Back to the Dawn originally launched in early access on PC in 2023. However, it only recently released the full 1.0 version and hit Xbox Series X/S alongside its debut on Xbox Game Pass.
Subscribers already knew that several exciting and highly anticipated games are coming to Game Pass in July. Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, for example, was confirmed as a day-one title slated for release on July 24. Meanwhile, the long-awaited Grounded 2 is set to enter early access on July 29, giving subscribers another reason to look forward to the month’s Game Pass lineup.
Xbox Game Pass Only Has 2 Games Confirmed for August 2025 So Far
To date, there are only two games confirmed to be coming to the Xbox Game Pass subscription service in August 2025.
As of July 18, Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play Back to the Dawn, a story-driven, detective-style RPG. The campaign centers on escaping a prison within 21 in-game days. Players must plan their escape while surviving the harsh conditions of a maximum-security facility. That includes making money, recruiting allies, joining prison gangs, handling prison labor, and staying out of trouble. Back to the Dawn's addition to Xbox Game Pass as a day-one console release also marks the addition of multiple improvements and a brand-new storyline to the game.
Xbox Game Pass for the Second Half of July 2025
- High on Life (available now)
- RoboCop: Rogue City (available now)
- My Friendly Neighborhood (available now)
- Back to the Dawn (available now)
- Abiotic Factor (July 22)
- Wheel World (July 23)
- Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (July 24)
- Grounded 2 Game Preview (July 29)
Back to the Dawn is the fourth game in Xbox Game Pass' Wave 2 July lineup. Before this acclaimed indie title, My Friendly Neighborhood, RoboCop: Rogue City, and High on Life had already been added to the subscription service.
What makes Back to the Dawn a particularly unique game among recent Game Pass titles is its incredibly high replayability. With mechanics like dice-roll RNG and buildcrafting, each playthrough can feel different, uncovering new gameplay angles and bits of lore. The game also features a variety of interesting mini-games that reflect everyday prison life, adding to the story's immersion.
Back to the Dawn version 1.0 includes the addition of a secondary protagonist, and players can now pick between two distinct characters: a wrongfully convicted fox named Thomas and a criminal called Bob the Panther, who is caught before his final job. Both characters are trying to escape prison while navigating life among their cellmates, but each offers a unique perspective on prison life with different interactions worth exploring. Fans of prison-break games or pixel-art RPGs with deep mechanics and rich lore are encouraged to check out Back to the Dawn before it leaves Game Pass.
