I Hate Running Backwards Reviews

I Hate Running Backwards is ranked in the 37th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8 / 10.0
Jun 29, 2018

I Hate Running Backwards is a fairly good game, but I can also understand people's mixed feelings about it.  The game is basically a thirty minute top-down shooter (if you can survive that long), but the further you progress, the more difficult you can make it if you wish.  Add in a dozen characters to choose from across Digital Devolver's games and there are plenty of ways to have fun taking down Mental's minions.

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CGMagazine
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
May 22, 2018

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.

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80%
May 24, 2018

Despite its issues, it's easy to love I Hate Running Backwards.

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80%
Jul 31, 2018

I Hate Running Backwards is a fun action-packed release on PlayStation 4 with several cameo characters that is a blast to play. Running backwards as you try to stay alive and in one piece feels great, and the challenging enemies and bosses will keep you coming back for more. And don't feel bad if you end up playing in Baby Mode since it's there for a reason.

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8 / 10.0
Jul 27, 2018

I Hate Running Backwards is a fine example of a developer taking on board criticism and using that to make a better game. Day one, the game was really hard, very inconsistent, a bit too brutal, and very unforgiving. A few patches later and we have a great take on the shoot ’em up genre with roguelike elements thrown into the mix. Personally, I would say single player is a better experience than the co-op mode due to the way it works, but both modes are a lot of fun to play and very entertaining. The sheer amount of destruction, pickups, enemies and character unlocks are very welcome and really help make this game stand out in a market of ‘similar’ titles.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 19, 2018

Though I initially struggled with it, wanting it to be a twin-stick shooter, once I got into the unique rhythm of I Hate Running Backwards I became a big fan...

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70 / 100
May 31, 2018

Its rogue-lite style and punishing toughness will also be an acquired taste – if adrenaline is your drug of choice and your frustration tolerance is high, pick up a weapon and give your leg muscles a workout with I Hate Running Backwards.

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7 / 10
Jul 23, 2018

I Hate Running Backwards is a correct proposition that stays true to the sources of video games : everything is based on gameplay with simple but proven principles. The result is a game without pretension, but that will occupy you for hours with friends or solo. Too bad it has not been polished a little more with other game modes, including classics online modes (in coop for instance).

Review in French | Read full review

7 / 10.0
May 27, 2018

I Hate Running Backwards is hideous endless runner with great gameplay. The difficulty level is high enough to take several hours to master the game.

Review in Polish | Read full review

7 / 10
Jun 25, 2018

I was sad that my time spent with I Hate Running Backwards wasn't as fun as what I expected it to be. I really love the Serious Sam franchise, but this time, taking things into a shoot 'em up gameplay, and cranking up the difficulty to eleven… well, this game is definitely not for everyone. I Hate Running Backwards looks great and there's a ton of content to play… if you manage to survive that long!

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Cubed3
Top Critic
7 / 10
Jul 14, 2018

Ultimately, I Hate Running Backwards is a fun, worthwhile experience. At the same time, though, it is largely a fleeting sort of fun. For some reason, it feels eerily reminiscent of those mobile games that people play in brief spurts while waiting for something better to do. It is that same kind of hectic, fast-paced fun that sadly doesn't really last and is forgotten about almost as soon as it gets turned off. It is sort of the videogame equivalent of being chased by a bear. Heart pounding, thrilling, but once you get away, you are just sort of glad it is over. This is just a couple steps shy of greatness, and even with its failings it is probably worth checking out for fans of shmups.

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7 / 10.0
May 29, 2018

I Hate Running Backwards features fun core gameplay but its high degree of difficulty and roguelike structure make it far less accessible than it should be.

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6.5 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2018

Intended to be a fast and frisky, the game falls in almost all its goals. With a protagonist who is supposed to be charismatic, its Minecraft style graphics makes you feel that every character is the same. Luck has more incidence in the game than your skill, and that makes you feel that doesnt matter what you do, will always depend on the world you are in.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

6.1 / 10.0
Nov 8, 2018

There is a good time to be had here, just don't expect to be going back to it again after you're done

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ZTGD
Top Critic
6 / 10.0
Jun 6, 2018

This game is the definition of okay. It's not boring, there's definitely enjoyment to be had, but what enjoyment there is is hindered by poor decisions.

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6 / 10.0
Mar 19, 2017

I Hate Running Backwards is a challenging shoot 'em up with roguelike elements that will keep you up late into the night with it's "one more round" gameplay. 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.

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6 / 10.0
Oct 26, 2018

The design of I Hate Running Backwards is funny and it definitely has a lot of potential, but it didn't really hit home for me. Co-op mode makes it an easier sell, because it is definitely fun to face challenges with friends, but it is still pretty difficult. Die-hard fans of the genre might enjoy the challenge of making it through this game, but for the casual player there are probably more casual options.

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6 / 10.0
Jun 28, 2018

I Hate Running Backwards is an interesting take on endless runners. You need to fun away from hordes of enemies, but also survive. You run backwards while annihilating enemies trying to chase you. The gameplay is interrupted by various minigames, graphics are simplistic but nicely implemented, and you can even bring a friend to help you out.

Review in Polish | Read full review

5.5 / 10.0
May 31, 2018

I Hate Running Backwards had some great potential, it's fun to play yet it feels basic and tiring.

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5 / 10.0
May 22, 2018

The game has potential and is loaded with a bunch of memorable characters, but it has general design flaws that are tough to overlook.

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