Choose I Hate Running Backwards
Choose I Hate Running Backwards if you want the Shared/Split Screen PvP and PvP side of the pairing. I Hate Running Backwards launched in 2018.
I Hate Running Backwards vs Serious Sam: Tormental
I Hate Running Backwards and Serious Sam: Tormental 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 4 years older than Serious Sam: Tormental (2022). Serious Sam: Tormental scores higher on Steam reviews (75.5% 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 Serious Sam: Tormental
Choose Serious Sam: Tormental if you want the Shared/Split Screen side of the pairing. On Steam, it's currently about 20% cheaper on the Steam Store. Serious Sam: Tormental launched in 2022.
Both I Hate Running Backwards and Serious Sam: Tormental 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
 I Hate Running Backwards |  Serious Sam: Tormental | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2018 | 2022 |
| Genres | Action, Indie | Action, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Verified | Deck Verified |
| Price | 14.99 USD | 11.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 70.8% positive (113 reviews) | 75.5% positive (94 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op | Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op |
| Developers | Binx Games, Croteam Incubator, Croteam | Gungrounds (Macanga Games j.d.o.o.), Croteam |
Side by side
- Both share Action, Indie on Steam.
- I Hate Running Backwards (2018) is 4 years older than Serious Sam: Tormental (2022).
- Serious Sam: Tormental scores higher on Steam reviews (75.5% positive) than I Hate Running Backwards (70.8% positive).
- Serious Sam: Tormental is currently ~20% cheaper on Steam than I Hate Running Backwards (11.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Both support cooperative play.
- Both are Deck Verified.
I Hate Running Backwards vs Serious Sam: Tormental — FAQ
- Should I play I Hate Running Backwards or Serious Sam: Tormental first?
- If you want chronology, I Hate Running Backwards (2018) came out before Serious Sam: Tormental (2022). 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 Serious Sam: Tormental 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 Serious Sam: Tormental 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; Serious Sam: Tormental ships Shared/Split Screen Co-op, Co-op.
- Do I Hate Running Backwards and Serious Sam: Tormental 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.