# HopBound — Psychological Horror Game

> Story-driven psychological horror game with retro pixel art and a continuation of a previous narrative. (iPhone/iPad app by Darius Immanuel Guerrero.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hopbound/id1499147637 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Darius Immanuel Guerrero](https://appshunter.io/developer/1090694564)
- Category: Games, Action, Adventure
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 139 App Store ratings · 89 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 12+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 97 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2020-06-09
- Data updated: 2026-08-23
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hopbound/id1499147637/reviews.md

## What is HopBound?

HopBound is a story-driven psychological horror game that revolves around the surreal mind of Mayumi, a recluse who must journey through an unsettling retro game to come to terms with the ghosts of her past. Through 16-bit horror platformer stages and endless runner levels with gorgeous pixel art, she discovers that her sanity will be tested by something lurking behind the screen.

=====

NOSTALGIC VISUALS
Most of the game's stunning visuals use a palette of only four colors to evoke the charm of 90s handheld games.

SPINE-CHILLING AUDIO
Listen to unique ambient music that provides a sense of dream-like dread as you explore the game's sinister levels.

A STANDALONE CONTINUATION
Taking place two years after the events of the critically acclaimed DERE EVIL EXE, HopBound serves as a continuation of that story. However, users do not need to play DERE EVIL EXE to immerse themselves in HopBound's narrative experience.

HEART-POUNDING MONSTERS
Enemies from previous entries are brought back to life and have evolved into new incomprehensible forms.

MULTIPLE GAME MODES
Engage in frenzied platforming in story-rich levels and test your skills in infinite runner levels tailored for people who like competing for high scores on the Game Center leaderboard.

MEANINGFUL MACHINATIONS
Going against sequel conventions, HopBound doesn't go bigger and badder for the scale of its story. Instead, the game focuses inward, resulting in a haunting yet meaningful tale.

ADORABLE STICKERS
Now comes with an iMessage sticker pack featuring HopBound's adorable cast of characters!

=====

This game contains one optional in-app purchase to permanently disable ads. We recommend that users purchase this feature for a truly immersive experience.

## Key features

- Story-driven psychological horror
- 16-bit horror platformer stages
- Endless runner levels
- Nostalgic 4-color pixel art
- Spine-chilling ambient music
- Evolved monsters
- iMessage sticker pack

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads for HopBound | $1.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 89)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hopbound/id1499147637/reviews.md

### 4/5 — Didn’t expect the high quality

*2026-06-08*

This was spending. The intrigue, the cool art and level design all were phenomenal. Couldn’t ask for more in a free game.

### 1/5 — E bun jocul

*2025-11-20, version 4.4*

Mult prea bun dar iar exagerați cu nivelurile

### 5/5 — awesome sauce with a side of spooky

*2025-09-25*

i like the games story and difficulty, the bosses & levels outside of the main game are always tough but never impossible, and after all of that, im really content with the ending
the soundtrack is great too!!

### 5/5 — The greatest horror/story game on mobile you can find

*2025-09-07, version 4.4*

It’s insane how this game is this good yet so little people play it. Yeah it’s hard but when you get.p the hang of it it’s just great.

### 5/5 — This game is a absolute gem mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*2025-03-20, version 4.4*

I love 2D game and horror.And that’s why I like this game. This game always put me on edge of my seat. This games songs are good and the main plots is good. I will recommend anyone to try this game at least once. Thank you for making this game.

### 5/5 — One of the best psychological horrors on mobile

*2025-02-11, version 4.4*

I've been playing this game over and over for a while now, completing it and then leaving it for ages before playing it again. It doesn't compare to larger psychological horrors, say Mouthwashing or Omori. However for a mobile game, let alone a free one, it's brilliant. The art is good and the story is decent too. Of course, once again it could be better, but considering the fact that it's free I think it's really well put together.

### 3/5 — The hardness of the game ruins the horror aspect

*2024-12-29*

Ive beaten the game and the extra level you get at the end. Its a decent game but with the insane hard jumps, it makes the player more competitive than scared from the actual game.

### 5/5 — The whole franchise

*2024-11-24, version 4.4*

I REALLY LOVED THE FRANCHISE OF THE GAME AND SOME OF THE LEVELS WERE HARD BUT I NEVER GAVED UP AND TOOK BREAKS TO CALM MYSELF AND HOPBOUND WAS PROBABLY THE SCARIEST AND SADDEST GAME OF THE FRANCHISE AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS GAME❤️🧡💛💚💙💕❣️🖤💜💞💓💗💖💘💝

### 4/5 — My game was soft locked.

*2024-07-24, version 4.4*

I played this game three times. The in-game manual was a nice touch, and it helped me win the game in try #3. The twist was interesting, and the main loop of the runner and the platformer is novel.

In my first try, I, being an unknowing fool, double clicked at the all desktop photographs of Mayumi’s life.

To look at them. Y’know, what you do to photos.

It turns out that looking at the pictures causes them to vanish. 

They also generate a bridge that you MUST use to advance through the game.  You only find this bridge after going through multiple stages.

In #2 I looked at one. Then only that photo was removed.

This seems like a malicious feature. I had to replay repeatedly because of this.

Why did you do this? 
It seems to be an unkind feature that adds a game breaking impact to an innocuous activity, and gives no way to recover from something you did 1+ hours ago.

### 3/5 — Caverns too difficult

*2024-06-09, version 4.4*

The caverns are just not fun to play though and the part the the spiked cubes fall is way to 
Annoying to deal with

## Frequently asked questions about HopBound

### What kind of game is HopBound?

HopBound is a story-driven psychological horror game. It features unsettling retro 16-bit platformer stages and endless runner levels, all presented with gorgeous pixel art. The game focuses on a surreal narrative exploring the mind of its protagonist.

### What are the key gameplay features of HopBound?

Key features include nostalgic 4-color pixel art reminiscent of 90s handheld games, spine-chilling ambient music for a dream-like dread, and heart-pounding monsters that have evolved from previous entries. It offers both story-rich platforming levels and infinite runner levels for high score competition.

### Is HopBound a standalone game, or do I need to play DERE EVIL EXE first?

HopBound is a standalone continuation of the story from DERE EVIL EXE, taking place two years later. However, you do not need to have played the previous game to immerse yourself in HopBound's narrative experience.

### How is HopBound monetized?

The game is free to download and play and contains ads. There is an optional in-app purchase available to permanently disable ads, which is recommended for a more immersive experience.

### What platforms is HopBound available on?

Based on the description mentioning Game Center leaderboards and an iMessage sticker pack, HopBound is available on iOS devices. The description does not specify availability on other platforms.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 4.4 — 2023-12-15

- General gameplay and UI improvements
- Upgraded SDKs

### 4.3 — 2022-10-27

Fixed frame rate issue and upgraded SDKs

### 4.2 — 2021-04-09

- General gameplay UI improvements
- Changed graphics of ammo items in the Downtown level

### 4.0 — 2020-06-29

- Now comes with an iMessage sticker pack featuring HopBound's adorable cast of characters!
- Minor gameplay bug fixes

### 3.9 — 2020-06-26

Now built with iOS 13.5 SDK

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## More apps by Darius Immanuel Guerrero

- [The Last Yandere: Cursed Dark](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-last-yandere-cursed-dark/id1295159936)
- [DERE EXE: Rebirth of Horror](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dere-exe-rebirth-of-horror/id1343651115)
- [DERE EVIL EXE](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dere-evil-exe/id1382655034)
- [Puzzling Peaks EXE](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/puzzling-peaks-exe/id1536616702)
- [DERE Vengeance](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dere-vengeance/id6447456585)

All apps by Darius Immanuel Guerrero: https://appshunter.io/developer/1090694564

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-23.*