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.

73%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

grinding, story

77% User Score Based on 292 reviews

Critic Score 69%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

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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 292 reviews

gameplay23 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Unique gameplay that combines running backwards with chaotic shooting mechanics, providing a fresh take on the genre.
Highly addictive with a variety of unlockable characters, weapons, and power-ups that enhance replayability.
Fun to play with friends in local co-op mode, making it a great choice for casual gaming sessions.

Frustrating difficulty spikes and punishing mechanics that can lead to a steep learning curve and frequent restarts.
Technical issues and a lack of online co-op options detract from the overall experience, making it feel less polished.
Repetitive gameplay that can become dull after a few runs, with limited depth and variety in challenges.

gameplay
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
The gameplay is characterized by a tight loop and a mix of unique mechanics, offering a fun and challenging experience, especially in cooperative play. However, many players note a lack of content and variety, leading to a sense of repetitiveness after several runs. While the game features simple and accessible mechanics with a refreshing art style, some find it can become frustrating due to its difficulty and limited health pickups.
- “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.”
- “Despite the positives, I've found some cons, mainly that the game doesn't have too much content to offer, so it does not give too many hours of gameplay.”
- “Good enough for the first several runs, but soon you'll notice that there is very little variety in gameplay.”
graphics
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
31%
8%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, featuring a charming retro aesthetic reminiscent of Minecraft, with vibrant colors and solid performance. While some players appreciate the art style and find it cute, others note minor glitches and express mixed feelings about the blocky, cartoonish design. Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the gameplay experience, complemented by an engaging soundtrack.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
20%
9%
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 disappointing, especially in the context of a chiptune style they expected. Overall, while there are standout tracks that enhance the experience, opinions vary significantly on its quality.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Sounds and music:”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
18%
9%
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse characters, each with unique pros and cons, and a wide array of weapons and abilities that create varied gameplay experiences. Players appreciate the inclusion of unlockable content and couch co-op, which further enhances replay value. However, some reviewers suggest that improvements to the special weapons and perk system could make each run feel even more distinct.
- “Good replay value as each run is slightly different with abilities options, weapons, and environment to make it less predictable and varied.”
- “There's so many weapons and characters from other Devolver games to unlock, plus there is couch co-op, so there's a very great replayability here.”
- “The perks and power-ups are fun, as is the fast pace and replayability.”
- “Although the game is fun, there could be several changes to the special weapons and perk system to make each round feel more unique and enhance the replayability.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, featuring amusing character names and a comedic premise that resonates with players. Its blend of skill-based gameplay and random funny moments elicits laughter and excitement, while the quirky graphics and arcade mechanics enhance the overall comedic experience. The inclusion of characters from popular games adds an extra layer of charm and nostalgia.
- “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.”
- “All with their hilarious names and style to add to the experience.”
- “The game repeats itself from the beginning, but the gist is skill, random funny things that make you laugh and yell.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
Overall, player experiences with optimization are mixed; while some report solid performance and enjoyable gameplay without issues, others experience lag and lower frame rates, particularly on less powerful hardware. Despite these discrepancies, many still find the game fun 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)”
- “Game not optimized, lagging at 45fps (940mx)”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the emotional impact of unfair deaths caused by collision detection issues, particularly with powerful enemies like the werebull and the final boss. This can lead to feelings of helplessness and disappointment, detracting from the overall experience.
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress. Many feel that it detracts from the overall enjoyment, suggesting that it may demand more time than they are willing to invest.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Tedious.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a story, with multiple users noting the absence of any narrative elements.
- “No story.”
- “No story.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features vibrant graphics and colors, but users have reported occasional glitches that detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the visuals remain enjoyable.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere in the game is enhanced by the streamer mode, which fosters a lively and engaging party-like environment in chatrooms, making it particularly appealing for Twitch streamers.

69%Critics’ scoreBased on 13 critic reviews

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