Choose Nuclear Throne
Choose Nuclear Throne if you want a RPG game with Shared/Split Screen, Color Alternatives, and Camera Comfort. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 96.5% positive across 9,705 reviews.
Nuclear Throne vs I Hate Running Backwards
Nuclear Throne and I Hate Running Backwards both land in Action, Indie on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Action, Indie on Steam. Nuclear Throne (2015) is 3 years older than I Hate Running Backwards (2018). Nuclear Throne scores higher on Steam reviews (96.5% positive) than I Hate Running Backwards (70.8% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose I Hate Running Backwards
Choose I Hate Running Backwards if you want the Shared/Split Screen PvP and PvP side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 75% cheaper on the Steam Store. I Hate Running Backwards launched in 2018.
Both Nuclear Throne and I Hate Running Backwards sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Steam Leaderboards, and Shared/Split Screen Co-op, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Nuclear Throne |  I Hate Running Backwards | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2018 |
| Genres | Action, Indie, RPG | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 11.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.5% positive (9,705 reviews) | 70.8% positive (113 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Vlambeer | Binx Games, Croteam Incubator, Croteam |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- Nuclear Throne (2015) is 3 years older than I Hate Running Backwards (2018).
- Nuclear Throne scores higher on Steam reviews (96.5% positive) than I Hate Running Backwards (70.8% positive).
- I Hate Running Backwards is currently ~75% cheaper on Steam than Nuclear Throne (2.99 USD vs. 11.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Both are Deck Verified.
Nuclear Throne vs I Hate Running Backwards — FAQ
- Which is better, Nuclear Throne or I Hate Running Backwards?
- On Steam reviews Nuclear Throne scores higher (96.5% positive) than I Hate Running Backwards (70.8% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Nuclear Throne is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Nuclear Throne or I Hate Running Backwards first?
- If you want chronology, Nuclear Throne (2015) came out before I Hate Running Backwards (2018). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Nuclear Throne and I Hate Running Backwards similar?
- They overlap on Action, Indie on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Do both Nuclear Throne and I Hate Running Backwards have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Nuclear Throne ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; I Hate Running Backwards ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.
- Do Nuclear Throne and I Hate Running Backwards both run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — both are Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve confirms they run with full controller support, legible text, and default settings out of the box.