Back to the Dawn

23 Narrative games like Back to the Dawn that you should try

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Ranking compiled by Lluis Enric Mayans, Founder & Head of ContentUpdated May 19, 2026How this is calculatedOrdered by an attribute-similarity model, not editorial opinion.

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We filtered the 37 games similar to Back to the Dawn down to the 23 that fit the “Narrative” category. Caves of Qud, Keep Driving and Willy-Nilly Knight top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Back to the Dawn.

iRank89/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

Tags

NarrativeSolo

Year 2025Dev Metal Head Games

Stores

Steam ↗Xbox ↗Nintendo ↗

Quick answer

Within the “Narrative” category, the closest game to Back to the Dawn is Caves of Qud — scoring 87/100 on our similarity scale. Keep Driving and Willy-Nilly Knight follow close behind.

#1Caves of Qud87 #2Keep Driving84 #3Willy-Nilly Knight78 #4Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten (DX edition)76 #5Loop Hero76

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The best narrative games like Back to the Dawn

23 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Back to the Dawn. Each one has been evaluated across 10 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

#1Caves of QudClosest overall match

87

Caves of Qud

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativeIsometricPixel Art

Steam👍 95%· 12KRAWG👍 83%· 46IGDB94· 1OC90· 11

Year 2015Dev Freehold Games · Kitfox GamesPlaytime ~2hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are turn-based CRPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and adventure storytelling

≠ Its own twist: roguelike runs, survival mechanics and punishing difficulty, while skipping early access

Caves of Qud is a science fantasy roguelike epic steeped in retrofuturism, deep simulation, and swathes of sentient plants. Come inhabit an exotic world and chisel through layers of thousand-year-old civilizations. Decide: is it a dying earth, or is it on the verge of rebirth?Who are you?

It predates Back to the Dawn by 10 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals100Tone61

84

Keep Driving

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativePixel ArtCasual

Steam👍 94%· 6.0KIGDB90· 1OC89· 22

Year 2025Dev YCJY GamesPlaytime ~4hOn PC

✓ Same family of turn-based CRPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and deep simulation

≠ Stands apart with roguelike runs, vibe casual and open world exploration, while skipping visual isometric

It’s the early 2000’s, and you’ve just bought your first car. A long, slow summer lies ahead. Hearing about a festival on the other side of the country, you fire up your engine, plot a course on your map, and hit the road. How, if you get there at all, is up to you.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone64Visuals64

#3Willy-Nilly KnightClosest on tone

78

Willy-Nilly Knight

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativeIsometricEarly Access

Steam👍 74%· 301

Year 2017Dev Double Dice GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Both are turn-based CRPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Stands apart with fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

Do you ever dream of being a real hero from a fairy-tale about dragons, sorcerers and knights? If the answer is yes, then you're in luck. Because you are in a fairy-tale right now! Moreover, you are the Knight by yourself! You are fearless, you have sharp sword and your destiny awaits you.

Where it drifts furthest from Back to the Dawn: visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Back to the Dawn.

It predates Back to the Dawn by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals42

#4Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten (DX edition)

76

Defender's Quest: Valley of the Forgotten (DX edition)

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativeIsometricPixel Art

Steam👍 95%· 3.5KRAWG👍 82%· 34

Year 2012Dev Level Up LabsOn PC · PS · Xbox

✓ Same family of turn-based CRPGs: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with tower defense planning, dark, oppressive atmosphere and fantasy world, while skipping deep simulation

Defender's Quest is a Tower-Defense/RPG Hybrid that focuses on tactical depth, customization, and story. That means no random encounters, no spikey-haired emo kids, no forced time sinks, and no tedious, repetitive battles.

It predates Back to the Dawn by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals85Tone67

76

Loop Hero

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativePixel ArtIsometric

Steam👍 93%· 36KIGDB85· 7OC84· 85

Year 2021Dev Four Quarters · Devolver DigitalOn Xbox · Linux · Android

✓ Both are turn-based CRPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and adventure storytelling

≠ Where it differs: brings roguelike runs, card game strategy and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping deep simulation

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Visuals84Tone67

#6Tactical Breach Wizards

75

Tactical Breach Wizards

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativeIsometricFantasy

Steam👍 98%· 12KIGDB84· 3OC87· 21

Dev Suspicious DevelopmentsPlaytime ~6hOn PC

✓ Same family of turn-based CRPGs: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and adventure storytelling

≠ Stands apart with puzzle design, fantasy world and historical setting, while skipping deep simulation

Tactical Breach Wizards is a small-scale, turn-based tactics game where you play a team of wizards in modern-day tactical gear, breaching and clearing rooms full of terrorists, drug dealers, corrupt cops, and worse. It's still in early development, so everything about it might change!

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals55

#7Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

75

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativeIsometricOpen World

Steam👍 88%· 20KIGDB85· 14OC89· 88

Year 2018Dev Obsidian Entertainment · Versus EvilOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of turn-based CRPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Stands apart with open world exploration, fantasy world and skill tree progression, while skipping deep simulation

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals55

#8The Banner Saga 3

75

The Banner Saga 3

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativeIsometricFantasy

Steam👍 79%· 3.0KIGDB87· 9OC84· 70

Year 2018Dev Stoic · Versus EvilOn PS4 · Android · PC

✓ Same family of turn-based CRPGs: deep RPG systems, turn-based strategy and deep simulation

≠ Its own twist: fantasy world, historical setting and setting medieval, while skipping adventure storytelling

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Back to the Dawn.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals54

#9Torment: Tides of Numenera

75

Torment: Tides of Numenera

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativeIsometricFantasy

Steam👍 70%· 4.4KIGDB82· 22OC80· 110

Year 2017Dev inXile Entertainment · TechlandOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Both are turn-based CRPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Its own twist: fantasy world and setting scifi, while skipping deep simulation

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Back to the Dawn.

It predates Back to the Dawn by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals55

#10Pathfinder: Kingmaker

75

Pathfinder: Kingmaker

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativeIsometricOpen World

Steam👍 78%· 35KIGDB66· 3OC72· 36

Year 2018Dev Owlcat Games · Deep SilverOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Fits the turn-based CRPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Where it differs: brings open world exploration, fantasy world and setting medieval, while skipping deep simulation

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Back to the Dawn.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals55

#11Final Fantasy VII

75

Final Fantasy VII

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativeIsometricFantasy

IGDB85· 4OC81· 25

Year 1997Dev Square Product Development Division 1 · Square EnixOn PlayStation 3

✓ Both are turn-based CRPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Stands apart with fantasy world, setting scifi and setting cyberpunk, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Back to the Dawn: visuals.

It predates Back to the Dawn by 28 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals44

71

Persona 5

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativeFantasyCrafting

IGDB94· 21OC94· 138

Year 2016Dev AtlusOn PlayStation 3 · PS4

✓ Fits the turn-based CRPGs cluster, with deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Stands apart with fantasy world, crafting mechanics and visual third person, while skipping deep simulation

Where it drifts furthest from Back to the Dawn: visuals.

It predates Back to the Dawn by 9 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals0

#13Shadows Over Loathing

71

Shadows Over Loathing

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativeOpen WorldSkill Tree

Steam👍 96%· 3.3KOC81· 10

Year 2022Dev AsymmetricPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Apple Macintosh

✓ Both are turn-based CRPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Its own twist: puzzle design, open world exploration and skill tree progression, while skipping deep simulation

Shadows over Loathing — a slapstick-figure comedy adventure-RPG full of mobsters, monsters, and mysteries.

Where it drifts furthest from Back to the Dawn: visuals.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone100Visuals0

70

Wasteland 2

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativeIsometricStealth

Steam👍 83%· 8.1KIGDB78· 10OC81· 42

Year 2014Dev inXile Entertainment · Deep SilverOn PS4 · Linux · PC

✓ Same family of turn-based CRPGs: deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Its own twist: survival mechanics, open world exploration and stealth mechanics, while skipping deep simulation

It predates Back to the Dawn by 11 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100Visuals55Combat50

#15Derelict Star

70

GenreRPGSubgenreCRPGSub-subgenreTurn-Based CRPG

SoloTacticalNarrativeDarkProcedural

Steam👍 74%· 2.9KRAWG👍 44%· 62

Year 2018Dev Snowhound Games · 1C CompanyPlaytime ~3hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux

✓ Both are turn-based CRPGs — sharing deep RPG systems, adventure storytelling and turn-based strategy

≠ Where it differs: brings card game strategy, roguelike runs and dark, oppressive atmosphere, while skipping deep simulation

In a grim dystopian future, where mankind has scattered across the galaxy and the human society has split into two distinct classes, you are a poor stateless outcast forced to live off scraps from derelict alien stations and ships in the outer space, yet you dream of becoming a privileged citizen…

Where it drifts furthest from Back to the Dawn: visuals.

On reception: its Steam reviews are mostly positive, against very positive for Back to the Dawn.

Genre100Combat100Game mode100Tone82Visuals0

Complete list of narrative games like Back to the Dawn

The full catalog of games sharing gameplay DNA with Back to the Dawn, ordered from highest to lowest similarity score. Use the filters above to narrow down by genre, setting or game mode and find the alternative that best fits your playstyle.

Darkest Dungeon II

Darkest Dungeon II

RPG · Turn-Based Strat

West of Loathing

West of Loathing

RPG · Adventure

Darkest Dungeon®

Darkest Dungeon®

RPG · Turn-Based Strat

Shadowhand: RPG Card Game

Shadowhand: RPG Card Game

RPG · Deck Builder

Etherlords II

Etherlords II

RPG · Deck Builder

Persona 3 Portable

Persona 3 Portable

RPG · Puzzle

Xenogears

Xenogears

RPG · Turn-Based Strat

Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne

Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne

RPG · Turn-Based Strat

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