Comparison

Don't Look Back vs HopBound

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Don't Look Back

Experience a critically acclaimed retro-style game that challenges players to confront their past. This short, narrative-driven experience explores themes of morality and personal growth through its unique gameplay mechanics.

Highlights
  • Retro graphics
  • Narrative-driven gameplay
  • Moral exploration
  • Short game experience
  • Critically acclaimed
Features
Read full description

Don't Look Back is a short game I made in 2009. Some reviews of the original version: "A perfect example of doing more with less" - The Escapist "Every game with a lead character necessarily has a moral. Every single one. It's just rare that the moral is so uplifting." - Jayisgames "It may be a pop song, but it´s like a Smashing Pumpkins single or something, from a concept album." - PlayThisThing

About

HopBound

Embark on a surreal journey through a retro-style psychological horror game. Explore unsettling 16-bit platformer stages and endless runner levels as a recluse confronting her past. Experience a haunting narrative with spine-chilling audio and evolving monsters.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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.

Screenshots

Don't Look Back4 screens
HopBound4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Don't Look Back at none against HopBound's 1. Don't Look Back also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (6.0 vs 12.0). HopBound's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 23 months). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. HopBound sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Don't Look Back asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

HopBound holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 186 and 139 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 85% of Don't Look Back's written reviews are positive against 81% of HopBound's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Don't Look Back ships an update every 23 months, HopBound every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Don't Look Back versus HopBound: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDon't Look BackHopBound
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (186 ratings)4.7 (139 ratings) — better
Positive reviews85.0% of reviews — better80.6% of reviews
Number of ratings186 — better139
Update frequencyEvery 23 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS6.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB97 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperDistractionware LimitedDarius Immanuel Guerrero

Customer experience

Don't Look Back

All ratings186 ratings
Positive88.7%
Neutral1.6%
Negative9.7%
Written reviews692 reviews
Positive85.0%
Neutral6.4%
Negative8.7%

HopBound

All ratings139 ratings
Positive92.8%
Neutral2.2%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews93 reviews
Positive80.6%
Neutral8.6%
Negative10.8%

Bugs and requests

Don't Look Back

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Inconsistent boss behavior
  • Graphical glitches on some devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • Additional levels or a sequel
  • Controller support
  • Save/checkpoint system

HopBound

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Don't Look Back

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

HopBound

One-time1
  • Remove Ads for HopBound$1.99

Questions

Is Don't Look Back free?
Don't Look Back is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HopBound free?
HopBound is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Don't Look Back or HopBound?
HopBound is rated higher. Don't Look Back averages 4.5 out of 5 from 186 ratings, while HopBound averages 4.7 from 139 ratings.
Do Don't Look Back or HopBound have ads?
HopBound shows ads; Don't Look Back does not.
Which is updated more often, Don't Look Back or HopBound?
Don't Look Back ships an update every 23 months, and HopBound every 3 days. Most recently, Don't Look Back was updated on October 20, 2026 and HopBound on October 24, 2026.

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