Choose I Hate Running Backwards
Choose I Hate Running Backwards if you want the Steam Leaderboards side of the pairing. On Steam, it's Steam Deck Verified, so handheld play works out of the box. I Hate Running Backwards launched in 2018.
I Hate Running Backwards vs Rocket!
I Hate Running Backwards and Rocket! 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. I Hate Running Backwards (2018) is 6 years older than Rocket! (2024). Rocket! is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than I Hate Running Backwards (9.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD). 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 Rocket!
Choose Rocket! if you want a Strategy game with Shared/Split Screen, Online PvP, and Online Co-op. On Steam, it's currently about 33% cheaper on the Steam Store. Rocket! launched in 2024.
Both I Hate Running Backwards and Rocket! sit in Action and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen PvP, 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
 I Hate Running Backwards |  Rocket! | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2024 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Unrated |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 70.8% positive (113 reviews) | 8 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op |
| Developers | Binx Games, Croteam Incubator, Croteam | ZeNfA Productions |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- I Hate Running Backwards (2018) is 6 years older than Rocket! (2024).
- Rocket! is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than I Hate Running Backwards (9.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- I Hate Running Backwards is Deck Verified on Steam Deck; Rocket! has no Deck rating yet.
I Hate Running Backwards vs Rocket! — FAQ
- Should I play I Hate Running Backwards or Rocket! first?
- If you want chronology, I Hate Running Backwards (2018) came out before Rocket! (2024). 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 I Hate Running Backwards and Rocket! 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 I Hate Running Backwards and Rocket! have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: I Hate Running Backwards ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op; Rocket! ships Online Co-op, Shared/Split Screen Co-op.
- Does I Hate Running Backwards run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — I Hate Running Backwards is rated Deck Verified by Valve. Rocket! doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.