
I Hate Running Backwards is a never-ending adrenaline packed shoot'em down roguelite that puts the emphasis on destruction and fighting never ending waves of enemies while time traveling through procedurally generated worlds!
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All-time low is the lowest price we've recorded for this game since we started tracking it.
Languages: English*, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese - Brazil, Russian, Simplified Chinese*languages with full audio support
Engagement
Hours played at review time, across 40 reviews with recorded playtime.
Reviews
Themes across 40 recent reviews and how positive each mention is. A keyword signal, not full sentiment analysis.
positive critical· bar length = how often the theme comes up
Reviews
I hate this game.
Awesome
kein Roguelite. :/
Lo compre por curiosidad muy barato y el juego es demasiado repetitivo y se torna aburrido demasiado rápido. Esta distribuido de tal modo que la progresión no se siente y con lo fácil que hubiese sido hacer un twin-stick shooter decente se han marcado una aberración . No pagaría más de un par de euros por el.
Very lazy console port. Tutorial refers to a key board layout that make zero sense (expecting you to use the WASD keys *and* the arrow keys???), and does not tell you about mouse-only options (like using the mousewheel to change weapons, rather than the left arrow key). There is also no key binding or control menu, so god help you if you come back to this game in a few months and can't remember which arrow key does what, or want to customize your layout. It's 2025 and I expect more from experienced devs working with a major publisher. Gameplay was... alright, but I have a of games competing for my attention and this one didn't do anything special that made me want to play it over all of the other options.
harder than life
[h1]I Hate Running Backwards: La Corredera sin Sentido Que no Sabías Que Necesitabas[/h1] [h2]Resumen[/h2] ¿Te gustan los juegos donde básicamente haces lo mismo siempre pero sigue siendo divertido? ¡Pues bienvenido a \I Hate Running Backwards\! Un juego donde, sorpresa, odias correr hacia atrás pero lo vas a hacer de todas maneras. ¿Quién necesita avanzar cuando puedes vivir constantemente en retroceso, verdad? [h2]Aspectos importantes e interesantes[/h2] Primero, ¡explosiones por todas partes! Si eres de los que disfrutan viendo cosas volar por los aires mientras huyes de ellas, este es tu juego. Además, la selección de personajes es bastante aceptable, y todos vienen preparados para la destrucción masiva. Puedes elegir entre varios héros y cada uno trae su propio arsenal para hacer frente a las infinitas hordas de enemigos que, honestamente, parecen tener una mejor planificación de ruta que tú. [h2]Aspectos por mejorar[/h2] La variedad de escenarios podría ser mejor. Después de algunas horas, podrías empezar a preguntarte si este correr hacia atrás es más un loop existencial que un desafío de juego. Además, los bosses podrían usar una pizca más de creatividad. A veces sientes que estás luchando contra la misma masa gigante de pixels solo que con sombreros diferentes. [h3]Evaluación del Juego[/h3] [table] [tr][th]Categoría[/th][th]Puntuación[/th][th]Comentarios[/th][/tr] [tr][td]Jugabilidad[/td][td]8[/td][td]Divertido, adictivo pero repetitivo.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Dificultad / IA[/td][td]7[/td][td]Desafiante al principio, luego solo corre y dispara.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Contenido[/td][td]6[/td][td]Bastante bueno pero necesita más variedad.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Vídeo / Gráficos[/td][td]7[/td][td]Explosiones bien hechas, pero el resto estándar.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Historia[/td][td]5[/td][td]¿Historia? ¿Cuál historia?[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Ambientación[/td][td]7[/td][td]Buena pero repetitiva después de unas horas.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Efectos[/td][td]8[/td][td]Explosiones y destrozos por doquier.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Música[/td][td]6[/td][td]Aceptable pero olvidable.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Voces[/td][td]7[/td][td]Adecuadas pero nada que destaque mucho.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Diversidad[/td][td]7[/td][td]Buen range de personajes y armas.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Total Puntuaciones[/td][td]68[/td][td]Un giro interesante pero no revoluciona.[/td][/tr] [/table] [h2]¿Vale la pena tu dinero?[/h2] [b]Cómpralo con descuento[/b] – \I Hate Running Backwards\ es el tipo de juego que te hace pensar \¡Hey! Esto es bastante entretenido\ y luego \Bueno, eso fue bastante\. No es revolucionario, pero te dará unas buenas horas de diversión explosiva, especialmente si consigues un buen descuento. Ponlo en tu lista de deseos y atrápalo cuando esté a la venta. ¡Feliz retroceso!
I Hate Running Backwards is a deliberately chaotic arcade shooter that builds its entire identity around a simple but clever inversion: instead of pushing forward through levels, you are constantly retreating while enemies flood toward you. Developed by Binx Games in collaboration with Croteam and released under Devolver Digital, the game feels like a collision between classic twin-stick shooters and modern roguelike design, wrapped in a fast, noisy, and often overwhelming gameplay loop. It immediately stands out because of how it reframes movement, turning what would normally be a forward-driving power fantasy into a constant fight for space and survival. The core mechanic—automatically moving upward while shooting downward—creates a persistent sense of pressure that rarely lets up. You are always giving ground, always reacting, and always trying to maintain control of the shrinking space between you and the incoming swarm. This simple twist has a surprisingly strong impact on how the game feels. It forces players to think differently about positioning, as holding your ground can be just as important as retreating. The destructible environments add another layer to this dynamic, allowing you to carve temporary paths or clear obstacles, but also contributing to the overall chaos as the battlefield constantly shifts. Combat is where the game finds most of its depth. Each character is equipped with a set of tools that go beyond basic shooting, including melee attacks that can deflect incoming projectiles and powerful abilities that can clear large groups of enemies. The variety of weapons and power-ups scattered throughout each run introduces a constant element of adaptation, as players must work with whatever they find. Some runs may lean heavily into explosive crowd control, while others focus on precision or survivability. This variability helps keep the gameplay engaging, especially in the early hours, as no two runs feel exactly the same. The roster of playable characters is another highlight, drawing from various properties associated with Devolver Digital and Croteam. Each character comes with distinct stats and abilities, subtly changing how the game is approached. Some are faster and more fragile, while others are slower but more durable, encouraging experimentation and replayability. Unlocking new characters becomes a motivating factor, though the process can feel somewhat unclear at times, which may lead to confusion for players trying to access specific content. The procedural structure of the game ensures that levels are different each time, with varying layouts, enemy compositions, and environmental hazards. This randomness contributes to the game’s replay value, but it also introduces a degree of inconsistency. Some runs feel balanced and rewarding, while others can become overwhelming due to unlucky combinations of enemies or limited access to useful upgrades. This unpredictability is part of the roguelike appeal, but it can also make progress feel uneven, especially when failure comes quickly and sends you back to the beginning. Difficulty is a central aspect of the experience, and it leans toward the unforgiving side. Enemy waves escalate quickly, and the constant backward movement limits your ability to recover from mistakes. The game demands quick reactions and a strong understanding of its systems, but it can also feel punishing when the odds stack against you. Cooperative play adds another layer of intensity, but it can also amplify the chaos to a point where maintaining control becomes even more challenging. Visually, the game adopts a voxel-based style that complements its arcade nature. The bright colors and blocky designs make it easy to distinguish enemies and projectiles, which is crucial given how busy the screen can become. However, the aesthetic can start to feel repetitive over time, as environments and visual elements lack significant variation. The audio design supports the action with energetic effects and music that match the pace of gameplay, though it doesn’t leave a particularly lasting impression. Over time, the game’s biggest limitation becomes apparent in its lack of evolution. While the variety of characters, weapons, and procedural elements provides initial excitement, the core gameplay loop remains largely unchanged. Survive, shoot, collect upgrades, repeat—this cycle is engaging in short sessions but can begin to feel repetitive during longer play. The absence of deeper progression systems or meaningful changes to the formula limits its long-term appeal. Despite this, I Hate Running Backwards succeeds in delivering a focused and energetic experience that knows exactly what it wants to be. It doesn’t attempt to add unnecessary complexity, instead refining a single idea and pushing it to its limits. The result is a game that is immediately engaging, occasionally frustrating, and consistently chaotic in a way that feels intentional. For players who enjoy fast-paced shooters, roguelike unpredictability, and score-driven gameplay, it offers plenty of reasons to keep coming back, even if only for short bursts. Its unique movement mechanic and relentless pacing give it a distinct identity, even if it doesn’t fully sustain its momentum over extended play. Rating: 7/10
If you enjoy Serious Sam like me, but are a casual player also like me, I'd advise you to avoid this game. This game requires perfect skill in order to beat it all the way through. If you don't like it when games put you in your place like that, stay away and play one of the better spinoffs.
Simple addictive fun. ♥♥♥♥ the minecart minigame though, and all the cheap instakill BS in general
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Trends
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Momentum
Pace estimated from the game's recent review growth (our daily snapshots) at its own sales-per-review ratio — a momentum signal, not booked sales.
Audience
Estimated from the language of this game's reviews — a proxy for where players are, not official Steam demographics.
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