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.

72%Game Brain Score

gameplay, music

grinding, story

75% User Score Based on 150 reviews

Critic Score 69%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

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About

I Hate Running Backwards is a multiplayer arcade shooter game. It was developed by Binx Games and was released on May 22, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"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.

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75%

Audience ScoreBased on 150 reviews

gameplay12 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and chaotic gameplay experience, combining elements of shoot 'em ups and roguelikes with familiar characters from the Serious Sam universe.
It features a variety of weapons, characters, and unlockables, providing a fun and addictive gameplay loop that encourages replayability.
The graphics and music are vibrant and engaging, enhancing the overall experience and making it enjoyable to play, especially in local co-op mode.

The game suffers from punishing difficulty spikes and can feel repetitive after a while, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment.
There are significant design flaws, such as unclear mechanics, lack of online co-op, and a frustrating restart system that can detract from the overall experience.
Some players find the controls and gameplay mechanics awkward, particularly the backward running mechanic, which can make aiming and dodging challenging.

gameplay
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
65%
7%
The gameplay of "I Hate Running Backwards" is described as a mix of fun and frustration, featuring a unique blend of action shooter and roguelike elements that can be engaging for a few runs but may lack long-term variety and depth. While the mechanics are simple and accessible, allowing for quick understanding and enjoyment, players have noted issues with content scarcity and a punishing restart mechanic that can detract from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game offers a solid challenge and enjoyable arcade-style gameplay, appealing to fans of the genre.
- “The gameplay shines in its simplicity: kill and break stuff for XP.”
- “The gameplay is fluid and fun, but challenging.”
- “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.”
music
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
21%
16%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising it as fitting and enjoyable, particularly for fans of the Serious Sam series, while others find it forgettable or disappointing. Many players appreciate the energetic and fun soundtrack, which complements the gameplay, though a few express a desire for more engaging chiptunes. Overall, the music is generally seen as a positive aspect, enhancing the game's atmosphere despite some criticisms.
- “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.”
- “All of this will be accompanied by Minecraft-like graphics, music from Serious Sam 2 and Serious Sam 3 which are not really bad; in fact, it's kinda cute.”
- “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.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
22%
17%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, featuring a retro, Minecraft-like aesthetic that many find charming and vibrant, despite some minor glitches. While the art style may not appeal to everyone, it is complemented by solid performance and a fun soundtrack, making the visuals enjoyable overall. Players appreciate the unique character designs and the game's ability to create a visually engaging experience amidst its simple mechanics.
- “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 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's chosen art style's first impression does not do it justice.”
- “While not perfect, IRHB and its nice visuals and hectic action can be quite addicting.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game offers high replayability due to its diverse characters, each with unique pros and cons, and a variety 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 environments 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.”
- “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.”
- “Each character has their own pros and cons, so yeah, replayability at its finest.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its clever character introductions from popular titles and a comedic premise that encourages skillful play amidst random funny moments. The game's amusing name, along with its Minecraft-like graphics and arcade mechanics, enhances the overall experience, appealing to gamers who enjoy a humorous yet challenging environment.
- “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, player experiences with optimization are mixed; while some report smooth gameplay and enjoyable co-op sessions, others experience lag and lower frame rates, particularly on less powerful hardware. Despite these issues, many still find the game visually impressive and fun to play.
- “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.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often requiring significant time investment to progress. Many feel that it detracts from the overall enjoyment, as it can become a chore rather than a rewarding experience.
- “From the second side, it's a bit tedious and requires a lot of repeating.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Tedious.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
- “There is virtually no narrative to engage with.”
- “The storyline is underdeveloped and fails to captivate.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere in the game is enhanced by the streamer mode, which fosters a lively and engaging party vibe in chatrooms, making it particularly appealing for Twitch streamers and their audiences.
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world with stunning visuals and haunting sound design.”
- “Every corner of the environment feels alive, creating a rich and engaging atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
- “The combination of ambient sounds and detailed graphics creates a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall gaming experience.”
emotional
2 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.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features vibrant graphics, but users have reported occasional glitches that affect stability. Overall, while the visuals are enjoyable, the presence of these issues detracts from the experience.
- “The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”

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69%Critics’ scoreBased on 13 critic reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions

I Hate Running Backwards is a arcade shooter game.

I Hate Running Backwards is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4 and others.

I Hate Running Backwards was released on May 22, 2018.

I Hate Running Backwards was developed by Binx Games.

I Hate Running Backwards has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

I Hate Running Backwards is a multiplayer game with local co-op support.

Similar games include Assault Android Cactus, Nuclear Throne, Nex Machina, Juicy Realm, Neon Chrome and others.

I Hate Running Backwards

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