Don't Look Back vs HopBound
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Retro graphics
- Narrative-driven gameplay
- Moral exploration
- Short game experience
- Critically acclaimed
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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
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. HopBound sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Don't Look Back asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Don't Look Back | HopBound |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (186 ratings) | 4.7 (139 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 85.0% of reviews — better | 80.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 186 — better | 139 |
| Update frequency | Every 23 months | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 6.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 97 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Distractionware Limited | Darius Immanuel Guerrero |
Customer experience
Don't Look Back
HopBound
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
Don't Look Back
No in-app purchases
HopBound
- Remove Ads for HopBound$1.99
Questions
Is Don't Look Back free?
Is HopBound free?
Which has better reviews, Don't Look Back or HopBound?
Do Don't Look Back or HopBound have ads?
Which is updated more often, Don't Look Back or HopBound?
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