I Hate Running Backwards

I Hate Running Backwards is a much needed and refreshing tribute to the classic arcade shoot ‘em up, that, in spite of a few odd difficulty spikes, is highly addictive and absolutely worth the time spent—and at times lost—to it.

77%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

grinding, story

77% User Score Based on 146 reviews

Critic Score 69%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $1.50

Buy NowGet on Steam$14.99

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About

"I Hate Running Backwards" is a chaotic endless runner mixed with a shoot-em-up game. You must fight off hordes of enemies while moving backwards on procedurally generated levels. The game offers a wide variety of weapons and enemies to keep the action fresh, along with leaderboards to compete with other players. This latest update adds new weapons, reworks animations, and makes various adjustments for improved gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 146 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and addictive gameplay experience with a fun twist on the traditional shooter mechanics, allowing players to run backwards while shooting.
It features a variety of characters and weapons from popular games, providing high replayability and a chaotic, fast-paced action that keeps players engaged.
The local co-op mode enhances the fun, making it a great game to play with friends, and the vibrant graphics and soundtrack add to the overall enjoyment.

The game suffers from frustrating difficulty spikes, with some players finding it overly punishing and unbalanced, leading to a high level of frustration.
Technical issues and design flaws, such as unclear health indicators and limited ammo, detract from the overall experience and can make gameplay feel tedious.
The lack of online co-op and the repetitive nature of the gameplay can lead to a feeling of monotony after a few runs, making it less appealing for long-term play.

gameplay
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
64%
8%
The gameplay is characterized by a tight loop and unique mechanics that offer fun and replayability, particularly through its action shooter rogue-like elements and diverse character options. However, many players note a lack of content and variety, leading to a sense of repetitiveness after several runs, with some expressing frustration over difficulty spikes and the restart mechanic. Overall, while the gameplay is engaging and challenging, it may not sustain long-term interest for all players.
- “Discussing the positives, the gameplay is quite unique, bringing fun on every run with some mini-games as you advance in the game.”
- “The gameplay shines in its simplicity: kill and break stuff for XP.”
- “This game has a solid and challenging gameplay with a refreshing graphic style and epic soundtrack.”
- “That said, I can understand why, as the gameplay is... lacking to say the least.”
- “Good enough for the first several runs, but soon you'll notice that there is very little variety in gameplay.”
- “Personally, I'll try to invest some more hours into the game, will try to unlock the last bits of content... but probably delete it soon, since in gameplay value - the game kinda drained out on me.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
22%
17%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many users appreciating the retro and vibrant art style, despite some noting blocky characters and occasional glitches. The visuals are described as solid and pleasant, complemented by a fun soundtrack, though opinions on the art style vary. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the gameplay experience, making it enjoyable and engaging.
- “The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same.”
- “A fun soundtrack, impressive visuals with fully destructive levels and countless little particle effects, solid performance too.”
- “This game has a solid and challenging gameplay with a refreshing graphic style and epic soundtrack.”
- “All of this will be accompanied by Minecraft-like graphics, music from SS2 and SS3 which are not really bad; in fact, it's kinda cute.”
- “The game's chosen art style's first impression does not do it justice.”
- “The name itself is hilarious, with the graphics similar to Minecraft and arcade mechanics making it a tempting product for those gamers that like a score-beating challenge.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
12%
18%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising it as fantastic and fitting well with the game's theme, particularly for fans of the Serious Sam series. Others find it forgettable or lacking in the chiptune quality they expected. Overall, while there are standout tracks that enhance the gameplay experience, opinions vary on its overall impact.
- “A good Serious Sam indie game with high replayability, many characters to play as, lots of weapons, and good music.”
- “It's got great music; if you liked what was on offer in Serious Sam, it fits the nature of the game really well.”
- “This game has a solid and challenging gameplay with a refreshing graphic style and an epic soundtrack.”
- “Besides the unpleasant gameplay, the music kinda sucks.”
- “Sounds and music:”
- “Actually, most of the game is based upon the Serious Sam series, taking weapons, enemies, sounds, music, theme, and locations from these games, mixing it with new and original content.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
60%
The game offers high replayability due to its diverse characters, each with unique pros and cons, as well as a variety of weapons and abilities that create varied gameplay experiences. Players can enjoy different runs with changing environments and unlockable content, including characters from other games, further enhancing the replay value. Additionally, the inclusion of couch co-op adds to the fun and encourages repeated playthroughs.
- “A good Serious Sam indie game with high replayability, many characters to play as, lots of weapons, and good music.”
- “Good replay value as each run is slightly different with ability options, weapons, and environments to make it less predictable and more varied.”
- “Each character has their own pros and cons, so replayability is at its finest.”
- “Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying feel pointless.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its clever character introductions from popular titles, a comedic name, and amusing graphics reminiscent of Minecraft. Players appreciate the blend of skill-based gameplay with random, funny elements that elicit laughter and excitement, enhanced by the quirky names and styles of the characters. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with engaging arcade mechanics, appealing to those who enjoy a challenging experience.
- “The name itself is hilarious, with the graphics similar to Minecraft and arcade mechanics making it a tempting product for those gamers that like a score-beating challenge.”
- “The game repeats itself from the beginning, but the gist is skill, random funny things that make you laugh and yell.”
- “All with their hilarious names and style to add to the experience.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
Overall, players have mixed experiences with optimization; while some report smooth gameplay and solid performance, others experience lag and lower frame rates, particularly on less powerful hardware. Despite these issues, many still find the game enjoyable and visually impressive.
- “I had no issues with gameplay or optimization; played in coop and it was very fun.”
- “Probably not so well optimized, yet no problems whatsoever and a good experience.”
- “A fun soundtrack, impressive visuals with fully destructive levels and countless little particle effects, solid performance too.”
- “Game not optimized, lagging at 45fps (940mx).”
- “The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the emotional impact of sudden, unexpected deaths caused by collision issues, particularly with formidable enemies like the werebull and the final boss. This can lead to feelings of unfairness and disappointment, detracting from the overall experience.
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often requiring significant time investment to progress, which can feel overwhelming and repetitive.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Tedious.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a significant story, with users noting that there is essentially no narrative to engage with.
- “The game lacks any meaningful story, leaving players feeling disconnected.”
- “There is virtually no narrative to engage with, making the experience feel hollow.”
- “The storyline is poorly developed and fails to capture any interest.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
While the game features vibrant graphics and colors, players have reported occasional glitches that affect overall stability.
- “The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
- “I frequently experience crashes that disrupt my gameplay, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
- “The game is plagued by constant lag and freezing, which severely impacts the overall experience.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere in the game is enhanced by a dedicated streamer mode, which fosters a lively and engaging party vibe in chatrooms, making it particularly appealing for Twitch streamers.