Dawn of Man

Dawn of Man

Released Mar 2019

Command a settlement of ancient humans, guide them through the ages in their struggle for survival. Hunt, gather, craft tools, fight, research new techs and face the challenges the environment will throw at you.

86% positive · 18K reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence

Where to buy

Steam $24.99
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Evaluation

Dawn of Man launched on March 1, 2019 and received a strong run of post-launch content updates. Four major free updates shipped between launch and November 2020: Version 1.2 (combat overhaul, July 2019), Version 1.3 (Fauna/Nomad Mode, September 2019), Version 1.4 (Solstice/Burials, December 2019), Version 1.6 (Armor Update, July 2020), and Version 1.7 (Cheese Update, November 17, 2020). After November 2020, no further major content updates have been released. In October 2023, Madruga Works shipped Version 1.8.0 — a technical update to upgrade the game's Unity engine version, with visual improvements to grass rendering and terrain shadows, but no new gameplay content. A note in that post acknowledged it was released while the studio was working on a new project (The Mobius Machine). In October 2025, a further maintenance patch (Version 1.8.4) fixed a Unity security vulnerability, again explicitly described as a quick maintenance update released while the team was focused on Planetbase 2. On March 18, 2025, Madruga Works announced they had begun work on Planetbase 2, describing it as Dawn of Man's spiritual successor. A June 6, 2026 update showcased Planetbase 2 features in detail. These posts make clear the studio's development focus has fully shifted to their next game. No new content for Dawn of Man has been announced or teased at any point since November 2020, and there is no unreleased DLC on the store. The last substantive content update was Version 1.7 on November 17, 2020. The game has been in a maintenance-only state since then, with the studio now publicly committed to Planetbase 2 as their primary project. Dawn of Man launched as a complete, self-contained game and delivered multiple rounds of free post-launch content before that content cycle ended.
Evidence
Developer published a detailed Planetbase 2 feature showcase, confirming active development of that title and borrowing heavily from Dawn of Man's design. No mention of any future Dawn of Man content.
news post · Jun 6, 2026 source development ending
high
Madruga Works announced Planetbase 2, describing it as Dawn of Man's spiritual successor. Studio focus has shifted fully to this new game.
news post · Mar 18, 2025 source development ending
high

Media

Details

Developer
Publisher
Madruga Works
Achievements
24
Platform
Windows, macOS
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player

About this game

Take control of a settlement of the first modern humans, guide them through the ages in their struggle for survival.

Dawn of Man is a survival/city-builder from the creators of Planetbase.

The game starts in the Stone Age, and takes you up to the Iron Age, spanning more than 10,000 years of human prehistory.

You will have to get your people to survive, expand and evolve, just like our ancestors, facing the challenges that the environment will throw at you.

Hunt

Animals were a vital source of food and resources for ancient humans. Use their meat to feed your people and their skin and bones to make clothing and craft the tools you will need to stay alive.

Confront Mammoths, Woolly Rhinos, Ancient Bison, Megaloceros, Cave Lions and other species that roamed the earth at the time.

Gather

Collect a variety resources from the environment: fruit, berries, water, wood, flint, stone, ores. Use them to prepare food, to make tools and to build structures in your settlement.

Plan for harsh times

Fish is more abundant in spring, berries and fruit can be collected in summer and animals are easier to come by when it's warm.

When winter comes, make sure to have enough non-perishable food and warm clothing in order to survive.

Expand and fortify your settlement

Build more homes and facilities for your people, in order to expand your population.

Construct fortifications and craft weapons, so you are ready for when the inevitable conflict comes.

Research Technologies

Each new discovery will make it easier for your settlement to be able to support larger populations, but will also bring new challenges: increased food demand, morale issues and more frequent raider attacks.

Build Megalithic Structures

Our ancestors were capable of incredible engineering feats: mine massive rocks from the environment, transport them using sledges and construct colossal stone structures.

Control Nature

Unlock farming technologies to grow your own vegetables, so you can feed large amounts of people. Domesticate animals to produce food, resources and provide increased muscle power.

Last evaluated Jun 27, 2026
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