Nginx config to make request from one server, then another (FE then BE)

Is there an easy way to configure nginx to proxy one server, and if that request fails (4xx or 5xx) try another server?

GET /index.html

-> try backend dev server -> 404 not found
-> try front-end dev server -> 200 ok!

Web apps have a front-end and back-end. I'm working with Quasar SPA front-end and a FeathersJS Node back-end.

In production, the back-end serves a built copy of the front-end.

In development, the front-end server is rebuilding and hot-loading separate from the back-end.

Is there an easy way to configure nginx to proxy one server, and if that request fails (4xx or 5xx) try another server?

Thanks!