The Binding of Isaac

 PC
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1122 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 898 out of 1122
  2. Mixed: 148 out of 1122
  3. Negative: 76 out of 1122

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  1. QcChopper
    Sep 30, 2011
    10
    I love this game, it does everything it promises just like I expected it and after following it's development since it was announced, I am not disappointed, If you like the main concept of this game you shouldn't pass it at this price. The unique concept, ambiance and endless re-playability makes this a rare gem, I highly recommend it.
  2. Monkeycat
    Oct 1, 2011
    9
    The Binding of Isaac is a fun game, but at first I was disappointed when I saw the length of the game. But when I dived into the game, I found the same satisfaction of playing, like I did with Demon's Souls on Playstation 3. You will die a lot, but that slow progression, and the satisfaction from defeating a boss for the first time is great.
    The soundtrack get's a little repetitive after a    The Binding of Isaac is a fun game, but at first I was disappointed when I saw the length of the game. But when I dived into the game, I found the same satisfaction of playing, like I did with Demon's Souls on Playstation 3. You will die a lot, but that slow progression, and the satisfaction from defeating a boss for the first time is great.
    The soundtrack get's a little repetitive after a while, although it is a short and good soundtrack.
    For being a fairly short game, it still has a great system where it lays every new level map randomly + different bosses for each playthrough + all the loot.
    Even though the game is depressing in many ways and there is an awful lot of blood and tears, there is a twisted and hilarious sense of humor in the game, and I found myself laughing at different bosses and loot I got.

    So all in all this is a fun game, and definitely a must-buy if you are a fan of the roguelike genre, and since it is so dirt cheap I also strongly recommend it for newcomers and computer gamers alike.    … Expand
  3. Kluge
    Oct 7, 2011
    9
    This game is just about perfect. It's priced on its length -- I don't think you can criticize a 3-6 hour time of gameplay with a $5 price tag. This game is definitely not short on content within those few hours, however, and it's never tedious. NPCs are diverse, but never "too" difficult (not that you probably won't die a few times completing the game the first time). Each play-through isThis game is just about perfect. It's priced on its length -- I don't think you can criticize a 3-6 hour time of gameplay with a $5 price tag. This game is definitely not short on content within those few hours, however, and it's never tedious. NPCs are diverse, but never "too" difficult (not that you probably won't die a few times completing the game the first time). Each play-through is different, and each time, you learn new mechanics, new items, and new secrets - which is much the same draw as Nethack. There's never a shortage of novelty - you don't get into a "groove" of hitting the same buttons under the same conditions -- there's NO grinding because after entering one semi-randomly-generated room, the shooting mechanic could dramatically change. The review faulting it for "cartoon gore" and being depressing is a bit obscene. It's so cartoonish and absurd, the idea that you can fault its liberalism with gore compared to the gore in a game as Modern Warfare, where you're shooting at representations of much more lifelike people, is silly. The story is witty, and surprisingly well-done considering how short and non-linear the game is. Most important about this game is its achievement of creating a non-linear roguelike which FLOWS. Everything flows very well -- nothing feels clunky, and having power-ups affect how your character looks (often in ways you wouldn't expect) is a great addition. Addicting, mysterious, and an enjoyable diversion, the game is well-worth the low price tag, and an experience I won't soon be forgetting (something I can't say for the $50+ generic brown FPS games I've played).

    I'm deducting a point for the vagina-anus monster, however. That was just wrong on all levels.    … Expand
  4. Tashy497
    Oct 2, 2011
    10
    If Edmund McMillen had a time machine and went back to the 80s-90s he'd be the most prized game designer [bold statement I know].... he doesn't just create killer 2D games that make you remember the good ol' days, he creates classic-style games with originality that I've never seen. The way you can feel about a cult movie or punk rock music is what he has infused into his games. His gamesIf Edmund McMillen had a time machine and went back to the 80s-90s he'd be the most prized game designer [bold statement I know].... he doesn't just create killer 2D games that make you remember the good ol' days, he creates classic-style games with originality that I've never seen. The way you can feel about a cult movie or punk rock music is what he has infused into his games. His games seems like they were created on Psilocybin.

    This game is always mentioned with it's price, and I assume that bolsters a more lenient rating... I find that unfortunate because this game has more personality and "balls" then most games have the funding to allow. The Binding of Isaac will take a few play-throughs to get the gist of how it operates, afterwards you'll find yourself craving more and more. At first I didn't like that you couldn't save, and the idea of a self-generating dungeon didn't sound that cool... until I played this gem. I don't feel that is its selling point, the power-ups are that selling point. Each dungeon has a gold room in which you obtain a power-up... and you'll scramble immediately to find this room to see what hidden treasure awaits. The power-ups are fantastic; for example, you can join a demon cult, have a tag-a-long dead baby (brother or sister), spit pee (instead of tears as you start with) amongst many others that I have yet to discover. Each dungeon and each play will give you something new, and not only that you can couple and stack your power-ups. Power-ups affect your appearance, your ammo, and your special attacks. Some complain about keyboard controls, me being a console-only gamer after about 5 games the control setup became a breeze. Don't let this game pass you up if you grew up appreciating any 2D games. The replay value is the highest I've encountered. Add that it's about religion and how ridiculous that is... well... I'm sold.    … Expand
  5. Exogenesis
    Oct 1, 2011
    10
    It's like Zelda 1, crossed with super meat boy, its hard to imagine this not being absolutely amazing. I suggest you buy the album version, as the music is epic
  6. Jaunty
    Sep 30, 2011
    10
    This game is awesome, awesome, and more awesome. Obviously the previous guy who rated this a 2 just doesn't "get" the appeal of this kind of game. It's based on an old model of PC gaming (called roguelike) where you die once and the game is over--completely. There are no saves, no continue spots--you're dead and you have to start all over. But that's exactly what makes this game soThis game is awesome, awesome, and more awesome. Obviously the previous guy who rated this a 2 just doesn't "get" the appeal of this kind of game. It's based on an old model of PC gaming (called roguelike) where you die once and the game is over--completely. There are no saves, no continue spots--you're dead and you have to start all over. But that's exactly what makes this game so damn addictive! I have the Battlefield 3 beta on my computer and I've barely played it because The Binding of Isaac is sucking up all of my time. Because every playthrough is completely randomly generated and you'll never play the same levels twice, dying is not a big deal. Death feels the same way it feels in Super Meat Boy; you die, and die, and die again--but you get better each time, and it makes you want to start the game right back up again. Like SMB it's a throwback to a time long ago when you needed actual skill and quick reflexes to complete a game, and it's precisely that which makes it so appealing to me. Oh...that and the absolutely awesome and hilarious abilities and powerups, which I definitely wouldn't want to spoil here. The game is full of surprises and has a very dark tone about it, feeling like a mix between The Legend of Zelda and Splatterhouse. The fact that it's only 5 bucks doesn't hurt either, but it shouldn't give you any indication of the quality of the game. I've paid 50-60 bucks for games that weren't nearly as fun as this. Just buy it, play it, and enjoy some excellent old-meets-new gaming for less than the cost of a sandwich.… Expand
  7. ThoughtWolf
    Nov 8, 2011
    10
    Binding of Issac is the perfect game for me, it has that little dash of it's own humor that every game needs to stand on it's own, and I find the story a fun idea to wrestle with. What starts out as a simple top-down "shooter" becomes a quest to unlock and secret your way through various dungeons on a quest for completion. I would recommend this game even if it cost 15$ because it is just so fun.
  8. cam155
    Nov 1, 2011
    10
    this game is actually really fun i thought that it was just going to be some crappy internet game but i was surprised about how much stuff is actually in this game. every time you play it is different because the engine randomizes each level. at first it is hard but then you get used to the controls and it gets a lot easier. everybody who is ratting on the game never really gave it a trythis game is actually really fun i thought that it was just going to be some crappy internet game but i was surprised about how much stuff is actually in this game. every time you play it is different because the engine randomizes each level. at first it is hard but then you get used to the controls and it gets a lot easier. everybody who is ratting on the game never really gave it a try long enough to get the controls. it's a dark creepy cute and scary game… Expand
  9. Rubius
    Sep 29, 2011
    8
    A nice depressing Rogue-like/Adventure/Shoot Em Up game about a kid who never got anything good in his life, trying to escape his mother and other monsters. You get power ups in the form of piece of your mom clothing or other monstrosity. I recommend this.
  10. djfp
    Oct 2, 2011
    10
    This game is absolutely phenomenal! It starts out with a very dour story regarding a fanatical mother who hears the voice of god commanding her to sacrifice her son Isaac, who then flees into the basement to escape her wrath (only to encounter a variety of demonic creatures). After the opening cinema, the player starts the game and is introduced to all of the necessary keyboard commandsThis game is absolutely phenomenal! It starts out with a very dour story regarding a fanatical mother who hears the voice of god commanding her to sacrifice her son Isaac, who then flees into the basement to escape her wrath (only to encounter a variety of demonic creatures). After the opening cinema, the player starts the game and is introduced to all of the necessary keyboard commands via a series of cave paintings in the first dungeon room. From there, trial and error will teach you the rest that you need to know. The rouge-like style game consists of a random series of procedurally created dungeon rooms, monsters, secrets, item drops, and treasure chests. The monsters and bosses are hideously gruesome things that display Edmund McMillen's fantastic diabolic art style. There are countless homages to past classics such as The Legend of Zelda and Robotron: 2084, however TBOI's treatment feels very original and fresh this day in age. As a fan of Edmund McMillen and Team Meat, I would have been prepared to pay at least $10.00 for this gem. The fact that it sells on Steam for $5.00 is just icing on the cake! If you are a fan of A) Team Meat, B) Zelda, C) gruesome artwork, D) fiendishly difficult game play, or E) all of the above, you owe it to yourself to give The Binding of Isaac a try. The esoteric messages… Expand
  11. Isaac_adhd
    Jul 27, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A little game with some really good working dark humor. It's very difficult but that's what makes it lasts for soo long. Very addictive game with a high replay rate.… Expand
  12. Rewe
    Dec 11, 2011
    10
    This is an excellent game. It's nothing much, but for what it is, it is top notch. A lot of the negative reviewers are A) Hate it because it was developped in part by Edmund McMillan (a creator of Super Meat Boy) or B) don't quite seem to understand that Edmund wasn't TRYING to make a blockbuster game, just a fun, little time waster. Seriously, I've stacked many hours on this game, notThis is an excellent game. It's nothing much, but for what it is, it is top notch. A lot of the negative reviewers are A) Hate it because it was developped in part by Edmund McMillan (a creator of Super Meat Boy) or B) don't quite seem to understand that Edmund wasn't TRYING to make a blockbuster game, just a fun, little time waster. Seriously, I've stacked many hours on this game, not because it was some epic, ultra-game, but because it was fun. Take it at face value, people. It's a 5 dollar game made to chew up just a little bit of your time when you're bored, not meant to consume your entire day. Anyways, as for the game itself, it's a roguelike, top-down dungeon crawler that follows Isaac, a young boy escaping his religious mother in a basement full of monsters. You must then try and survive and, ultimately, destroy your mother. The game generates a new set of dungeons and assigns new unlockables each time you play, so your experience will always differ. It is also worth noting that the soundtrack is top-notch, and the soundtrack version should be purchased, especially when it's only 89 cents.… Expand
  13. derOlifant
    Oct 9, 2011
    10
    This is a brilliant game. Do not listen to the reviewer who claims that a small game like this should not get as high a rating as a full-priced mainstream game. This is ridiculous and incredibly unfair to all ambitious and imaginative independent developers who create games which are so much more than the boring games you can only play on high-end pcs. Of course, you won't get a game likeThis is a brilliant game. Do not listen to the reviewer who claims that a small game like this should not get as high a rating as a full-priced mainstream game. This is ridiculous and incredibly unfair to all ambitious and imaginative independent developers who create games which are so much more than the boring games you can only play on high-end pcs. Of course, you won't get a game like "Rage" for $5. The Binding of Isaac may be a "small" game, but it has an immense replay value and I've already invested more time in it than in the mainstream ego-shooter priced ten times higher.
    Also, do not listen to the reviewer who claims that The Binding of Isaac is immature. Despite its simplicity (narrating and gameplay-wise), it vibrates with subtle humour and intelligence that many more complex games aspire to but seldom succeed.    … Expand
  14. HappyHeadcrab
    Oct 3, 2011
    10
    This game is a great game and I suggest you buy it. it is about 5 dollars and it is amazing. This game was made by team meat and they are known for making hard games. (Super Meat Boy) There are only a few difficulties to me which was like stuff like when you died you did not come back and no saving but that is what made the game difficult and fun. Once you play this it is veryThis game is a great game and I suggest you buy it. it is about 5 dollars and it is amazing. This game was made by team meat and they are known for making hard games. (Super Meat Boy) There are only a few difficulties to me which was like stuff like when you died you did not come back and no saving but that is what made the game difficult and fun. Once you play this it is very addictive and can consume you til you beat it. The randomly generated dungeons give it a new feel every time and the rpg aspect makes you want to keep customizing Isaac but not get to attached to it because you die quite a lot. It has a lot of fun equipment to defeat bosses and enemies so if you get the right items you can beat it easier. this game is definitely worth the 5 dollar price and was really fun.… Expand
  15. Creeper19
    Oct 6, 2011
    10
    This Game Is Amazing.Randomly Generated Rooms,Bosses,Mini-Bosses,And An Incredible Amount Of Items,And Almost The Best Music I've Heard In A Game.An Instant 10/10
  16. LazArcoVega
    Oct 9, 2011
    10
    Excellent game for those who like to immediately get into the action. Interesting learning curve, challenging, replayable, fast paced rouge, Zelda, Robotron mash-up. Worth 5 dollars easily.
  17. JRainbowfist
    Jan 11, 2013
    9
    A fine game with a lot of replayability in this game. Tons of items to collect. I would recommend buying the DLC: Wraith of Lamb. It extends the game by a lot. The game takes only a bit to master and adjust to the controls. The story can and has been interpreted many different ways. I find it very entertaining.
  18. Kaylan85
    Oct 8, 2011
    9
    As one of the few games I've been able to stomach, in this day of bland AAA games with absolutly no other plus than copying some previously exhausted idea. I loved The Binding of Isaac, although it brings nothing new to the table game wise. It is still enjoyable. The people that have been negative about this probably couldn't get past the 3rd level. Having said that, neither could I.

    But    As one of the few games I've been able to stomach, in this day of bland AAA games with absolutly no other plus than copying some previously exhausted idea. I loved The Binding of Isaac, although it brings nothing new to the table game wise. It is still enjoyable. The people that have been negative about this probably couldn't get past the 3rd level. Having said that, neither could I.

    But it's tough, everytime you think you are upgraded out the ass and are able to **** everything up, you'll find some enemy that kicks you in the balls like the girl you teased in 3rd grade. Even though there's some slight annoyance in not knowing what some items do, that is easily overcome by the nice dark demeanor. After 3 or 4 playthroughs you'll have a good idea of what does what.

    For the 5 bucks I payed for it (not even) I have enjoyed this more than Dead Island, which bored me to **** after 4 hours.    … Expand
  19. Richeh
    Dec 1, 2011
    7
    Realtime lightweight roguelike? How's that work then?

    Rogue, for those not blessed with the beard of brian, is a turnbased RPG of such profound depth that it's basically impossible to finish. Each game is procedurally generated, and each turn has so many possible actions that they take an entire keyboard of hotkeys to interact. So how does that translate to the twitch-gaming we've come    Realtime lightweight roguelike? How's that work then?

    Rogue, for those not blessed with the beard of brian, is a turnbased RPG of such profound depth that it's basically impossible to finish. Each game is procedurally generated, and each turn has so many possible actions that they take an entire keyboard of hotkeys to interact. So how does that translate to the twitch-gaming we've come to expect from the creator of Super Meatboy?

    The answer is that it doesn't. While Binding of Isaac does share familial resemblance to Rogue, it isn't in the depth of options available. At any point, it's still Smash TV-esque run and shoot. Where it is like Rogue is that you will collect many things, and you will die. A lot. And it won't always be your fault, but you'll still start one more game just to see what kind of hellish abomination of death and destruction you'll become this time, before once again you meet a bigger one. It's a game to be played, not a game to be won.

    It's not without flaws, the controls do feel like they should be tighter, and to be honest you generally feel like your weapons are just pissing up the wall - occasionally literally. It's not a game that will dominate your life, but it is probably a game that you'll still be coming back to in six months' time.    … Expand
  20. drelor
    Oct 4, 2011
    10
    Dead Island only gave me about 8 hours before i was bored. Been playing this none stop ever since it came out. want to see updates, additions and dlc. worth my 5 dollars. Great old school retro classic.
  21. Nile3
    Oct 12, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Fantastic little game. Cheap and tons of hours of game play. I like the graphics, the crazy no-holds barred humor and the challenge of doing everything. I play little flash games like this while listening to audio books or youtube all the time, I cannot keep my concentration only listening while doing nothing, I get overly bored. After you beat the game, there is new features, new challenges, new characters, bosses, items, rooms, enemies, bonuses, secrets, and all those new challenges, new characters, bosses, items, rooms, enemies, bonuses, secrets can unlock new challenges, new characters, bosses, items, rooms, enemies, bonuses and secrets.

    You get the point. I can copy and paste quite a bit to fulfill my 5000 character obligation, but I won't, cuz I have sum games waiting. Ciao!    … Expand
  22. Aaragon
    Oct 13, 2011
    10
    So many people will play this game not knowing the Rogue model of a game and be frustrated by dying to this game and calling it " bad Programming" or " unattainable " But in fact that is exactly what the game is supposed to be. The randomly generated rooms and doors you will pass through are not only what defines this game, but is what will keep you exploring even if you beat the levelSo many people will play this game not knowing the Rogue model of a game and be frustrated by dying to this game and calling it " bad Programming" or " unattainable " But in fact that is exactly what the game is supposed to be. The randomly generated rooms and doors you will pass through are not only what defines this game, but is what will keep you exploring even if you beat the level and have more to explore. absolutely this is at par or above with retro gaming, also making it a " Super Hard mode " like what super meat boy did to the Mario genre. By far for 5 dollars i would have bought the soundtrack alone in this game for how amazing of a job was done on it. absolutely this game will give you over 20+ hours to beat the main line with all the unlockable players, but will give you more than triple than that by beating the game multiple times for new endings. The Binding of Isaac is by far the most fun you will get for $5 and will leave you wishing it cost more.… Expand
  23. Bolter
    Oct 9, 2011
    8
    This isnt meant to be a massive game that grabs your attention and keeps you hooked but more of a game to keep you entertained for 5 minutes. I love most rogue type games as I like the challenge and that the gameplay changes every game. This is quite a funny little game which random story and evil bad guys tat make you look twice. The game can be very much the same when attacking theThis isnt meant to be a massive game that grabs your attention and keeps you hooked but more of a game to keep you entertained for 5 minutes. I love most rogue type games as I like the challenge and that the gameplay changes every game. This is quite a funny little game which random story and evil bad guys tat make you look twice. The game can be very much the same when attacking the enemy's as not much changes but hey as I said its just there to keep you entertained for 5 mins. I liked it ^^… Expand
  24. SwiftBrutalDeth
    Oct 9, 2011
    8
    Currently there is an overabundance of very easy games. Constant auto saves and replays make games easy. This is not a part of that scene so it has a learning curve. I've enjoyed it so far. It's $5 and for that price you will get your moneys worth. Polished graphics, music and sound. Unique game-play.
  25. babylonsean
    Oct 18, 2011
    10
    This game took me by complete surprise. It has been a long time since a game pulled all of the right strings with my like "Isaac" does. The game is very difficult, but not in a way that is frustrating, as even with failed attempts at beating it, one can unlock many types of items, new bosses, and discover other interesting things the developer has placed within the game's dungeons. EachThis game took me by complete surprise. It has been a long time since a game pulled all of the right strings with my like "Isaac" does. The game is very difficult, but not in a way that is frustrating, as even with failed attempts at beating it, one can unlock many types of items, new bosses, and discover other interesting things the developer has placed within the game's dungeons. Each playthrough is different, and at over 35 hours logged in playtime on Steam, I am still finding myself smiling at new items or boss battles that appear for the first time. Do yourself a favor and buy this game. At $5 this game is more than worth it.… Expand
  26. t0xin
    Oct 28, 2011
    10
    What can I say about The Binding Of Isaac.This is by far the best indie game of 2011. Old school NES Fans, you will not be disappointed . This game has a somewhat resemblance to The Legend of Zelda's dungeons. Even Newer gamers will appreciate this addicting, simple yet complex Rogue-Shooter. Coming from the makers of super meat boy, this is a sad comedic gore fest full of surprises. NoteWhat can I say about The Binding Of Isaac.This is by far the best indie game of 2011. Old school NES Fans, you will not be disappointed . This game has a somewhat resemblance to The Legend of Zelda's dungeons. Even Newer gamers will appreciate this addicting, simple yet complex Rogue-Shooter. Coming from the makers of super meat boy, this is a sad comedic gore fest full of surprises. Note that You will die a lot at first but as you keep playing, there are a lot of things to unlock and discover. This game's price value is also a must get for your steam game collection. At 5$ you can't go wrong no matter what. Dungeons filled with disgusting and gory, yet funny and sad enemies, will leave you wanting more and more. I found myself a lot of times putting other games aside to go play this game. I will end this review short and simple. To end this review, I suggest every gamer to go and buy it.… Expand
  27. Mykwon
    Dec 30, 2012
    8
    Surprisingly addictive as the game looks completely outdated and a very pale copy of a Zelda-like. However, the cleverness resides in the rogue approach and the tons of items and upgrades that make each game very different and the replay value humongous. You get yourself caught playing game after game after game and each experience is truly unique. Warning though: this game is not forSurprisingly addictive as the game looks completely outdated and a very pale copy of a Zelda-like. However, the cleverness resides in the rogue approach and the tons of items and upgrades that make each game very different and the replay value humongous. You get yourself caught playing game after game after game and each experience is truly unique. Warning though: this game is not for everyone. You better have a good dose of black humor because the background is very sordid.… Expand
  28. Fr0s7y
    Nov 18, 2011
    10
    I've logged about 22 hours in Binding of Isaac in a little over a week, and I can safely say that not only is this game incredibly fun it's also very addicting. The replay value is endless, and even after having completed it a few times the randomized nature of every game makes it so that it's not boring in the slightest to play through again (plus, new rewards unlocked for each subsequentI've logged about 22 hours in Binding of Isaac in a little over a week, and I can safely say that not only is this game incredibly fun it's also very addicting. The replay value is endless, and even after having completed it a few times the randomized nature of every game makes it so that it's not boring in the slightest to play through again (plus, new rewards unlocked for each subsequent completion). Highly recommended to anyone interested in this type of game.… Expand
  29. not_good
    Nov 2, 2011
    8
    Pretty good game for $5. Simple and easy to get the hang of, but really hard! It's worth looking into if you want a shooter rpg type of game with a unique atmosphere.
  30. Geovas77
    Oct 4, 2011
    8
    I absolutely love this game, its simple concept make it a breeze to play through but sharp controls and an amazing collection of items as well as the random dungeons you end up with on each playthrough make this ultimately replayable. The fact that it only costs a fiver is just icing on the cake, there's not many games out there that provide such huge playtimes with so little a cost. Buy this !
  31. nitemaremaggott
    Nov 5, 2011
    10
    I love this game. It's awesome with a few beers and a partner to turnsies with and to spot collectibles for you on the Isaac wiki (http://bindingofisaac.wikia.com/wiki/The_Binding_of_Isaac_Wiki). Love the music, the loop is not annoying at all. The art design is so flippin cute and evil. Don't take the story to seriously, this isn't a $100 game you've been waiting 5 years to play. It's allI love this game. It's awesome with a few beers and a partner to turnsies with and to spot collectibles for you on the Isaac wiki (http://bindingofisaac.wikia.com/wiki/The_Binding_of_Isaac_Wiki). Love the music, the loop is not annoying at all. The art design is so flippin cute and evil. Don't take the story to seriously, this isn't a $100 game you've been waiting 5 years to play. It's all about gameplay and style with the binding of isacc. Anyone giving lower than 8 doesn't understand it's purpose.… Expand
  32. SupremeSkill
    Oct 17, 2011
    9
    Game with a nice phase of action and difficulty. Retro like game with RPG and Exploration elements. Can be played for hours and again and again because of the multiple endings, different characters, every time different levels (random generated), different items and different enemies.
  33. ObsidianEagle
    Jun 8, 2012
    10
    I bought this game as it was made by the co-creator of Super Meat Boy, a game I enjoyed a lot, but I wasn't expecting much. 40 hours of gameplay later, here I am, still loving it. This crappy little flash game with abysmal graphics options is so addictive, fun, and difficult that I play it whenever I have any spare time.

    The sound is decent, the graphics are pretty bad but have a    I bought this game as it was made by the co-creator of Super Meat Boy, a game I enjoyed a lot, but I wasn't expecting much. 40 hours of gameplay later, here I am, still loving it. This crappy little flash game with abysmal graphics options is so addictive, fun, and difficult that I play it whenever I have any spare time.

    The sound is decent, the graphics are pretty bad but have a distinctive style that you don't get bored of, and very fun rogue-like gameplay.    … Expand
  34. daemonstool
    Oct 1, 2011
    9
    Edmund McMillen has done a wonderful job creating The Binding of Isaac as hardcore rogue-like game. Just as Super Meat Boy this game excels in its level of difficulty and with the random generated floors combined with the amount of items you can achieve in the game, every playthrough feels different. BUT... since the game uses algorithms to generate the random dungeons, it can create veryEdmund McMillen has done a wonderful job creating The Binding of Isaac as hardcore rogue-like game. Just as Super Meat Boy this game excels in its level of difficulty and with the random generated floors combined with the amount of items you can achieve in the game, every playthrough feels different. BUT... since the game uses algorithms to generate the random dungeons, it can create very challenging floors, which are .. nearly impossible. I hope they patch it, or give you the opportunity to select a certain difficulty.… Expand
  35. carnage92
    Nov 9, 2011
    10
    The Binding of Isaac is nothing short of perfect. Having played Super Meat Boy and loving it i then saw The Binding of Isaac was by one of the same makers so i gave it a chance, at such a low price it was worth the gamble. At first i didn't think it would be that good especially with only having 4 chapters to complete (now 5 after the halloween update) which i thought i would haveThe Binding of Isaac is nothing short of perfect. Having played Super Meat Boy and loving it i then saw The Binding of Isaac was by one of the same makers so i gave it a chance, at such a low price it was worth the gamble. At first i didn't think it would be that good especially with only having 4 chapters to complete (now 5 after the halloween update) which i thought i would have completed by the end of the day, how wrong i was, each chapter is split into 2 levels and can be easy or very hard depending of how your rooms have randomly generated, because of random generation this game allows for an unending amount of replayability with the same amount of fun if not more each time you play. So many different enemy each being able to show in multiple colours with a different effect for each one, over 100 items to collect that you wont collect in just a few playthroughs, each item when used with other items can lead to amazing or not so good combinations. Bosses that will get you on the edge of your seat not to mention the addition of alternate bosses, mini bosses, the four horseman and Satan. If you don't like this game then i would say it's the genre you don't like, but if you love this genre of game then prepare for days and days (not hours) of endless and rewards gaming.… Expand
  36. someguy279
    May 19, 2012
    10
    This game is nothing short of greatness. At first glance I marked it off as a stupid zelda clone but the more I played it the more addicted I became. The visual style is extremely pleasing and while seeming almost cartoony, manages to fit in with the dark humor and creepy setting of the game. Now as for the difficulty, the game is hard when you first start without a doubt. You will die.This game is nothing short of greatness. At first glance I marked it off as a stupid zelda clone but the more I played it the more addicted I became. The visual style is extremely pleasing and while seeming almost cartoony, manages to fit in with the dark humor and creepy setting of the game. Now as for the difficulty, the game is hard when you first start without a doubt. You will die. Often. But as you progress you will unlock better items that can spawn in the various rooms of the game and your skills will grow. Making it to the final boss and beating the game for the first time was one of the most rewarding feelings playing a video game has ever given me due to simply how many attempts it took and the time that was put into it. The music in this game is amazing, and is bound to get stuck in your head for weeks. Over all I loved this game and would recommend it to just about anybody. Cant wait for the new expansion coming out latter this month!… Expand
  37. Glic2003
    Oct 12, 2011
    8
    A couple of weeks after the release of The Binding of Isaac, it has become the game I love to hate. It's clunky, ugly and annoying, but there's something so irrisistible about it, I can't seem to stop playing. I really enjoy it, but I don't always understand why. Isaac is a very random game. That must be said right from the start. There will be times when you're struggling through roomA couple of weeks after the release of The Binding of Isaac, it has become the game I love to hate. It's clunky, ugly and annoying, but there's something so irrisistible about it, I can't seem to stop playing. I really enjoy it, but I don't always understand why. Isaac is a very random game. That must be said right from the start. There will be times when you're struggling through room after room on your very last hit point, and then a sudden change of luck will allow you to progress straight on through the final boss. This same randomness that makes the game compelling can also be its most annoying characteristic. You'll have games when you luck into dozens of coins, and have nothing to spend them on. You'll have games in which you discover room after room of hearts you can't pick up, and nary a bomb or key in sight. The binding of Isaac is nicely balanced, however, and as long as you're willing to keep plugging away, you can be fairly certain your luck will eventually change. Battling through room after room of monsters can grow a bit tedious, and the controls don't exactly help in this regard. Isaac is a "dual-stick" shooter...without the sticks. You can use the keyboard or mouse for shooting, but movement requires the keyboard. It didn't bother me too much, as it apparently justified the hours I spent playing Robotron with a keyboard via MAME, but I could see this being a huge turn off to some players. Simply put, the lack of gamepad support is a bit baffling. The game's use of Flash as a development platform is also a bit odd, and results in regular slowdown, even with just a few enemies and objects on screen. Other technical issues plagued the game at launch, but thankfully those seemed to have been smoothed out, and the developers are even promising new (free) content in the near future.

    The Binding of Isaac's style is unique, to say the least. It's gross, cute, creepy and funny, and frankly, it did take me a while to warm up to it. There's just something so ...squishy...about all of it. But that same ugliness makes the game all the more satisfying to beat. It's like an ugly bug that you love stomping on...over and over again. It's addictiveness should not be underestimated. Despite a few minor issues, The Binding of Isaac is a fast, unique and strangely compelling game.    … Expand
  38. shadow0418
    Feb 1, 2012
    10
    fantastic game overall. simple controls, classical gameplay with a legend of Zelda dungeon feel to it. Tons of randomness with the items and characters leads to hours of play for such a small price. truly excellent
  39. julius98
    Nov 27, 2012
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I really don't get the low scores for this game. People saying this game is repetitive and has boring gameplay are so wrong. This is a very challenging game, yes, but if you rely on your items, you are surely a very lazy gamer, and one that has missed the entire point of this game. Binding of Isaac is an absolutely amazing game. I was so frustrated with this game when I first played it, and I actually felt like just stop playing it after the first hour or so. But when I first got used to the enemies, bosses and trololol bombs, I really began enjoying it. The bosses are fun and varied, most of the mini-bosses are really entertaining and rewarding. Rewarding is the word for this game. Instead of going with the flow like every other game out there, this game actually rewards you when you should be rewarded. When you complete the game for the first time, you find out that the boss isn't really the real final boss, and you have to fight even harder to complete it. In this game you really feel like you are rewarded for what you do. Over a hundred items are available in this game, and there are a ton of combinations for these. No save points in this game! This ups the game difficulty to a level at which most gamers are not able to cope with. If you are a soft-core gamer, do not play this game. If you are up for a challenge. Thumbs up!… Expand
  40. Techenz
    May 28, 2012
    10
    This game is meant to be frustrating/hard/unexplained, because of these this game makes you feel like you achieved something when you do it right. I'm close to 100%ing the game with 44 hours under my belt, it has by far the best game I've bought for $1.50
  41. CulturalFiend
    Jun 8, 2012
    10
    If you are a fan of Zelda and twisted, black humor, than this is THE game for you. While the game can seem repetitive from a distance, it actually holds an immense amount of replayability. There are dozens of items and many bosses that you won't see on just one play through. In order to see everything that "Isaac" has to offer, you would have to play it at least sixty times due to theIf you are a fan of Zelda and twisted, black humor, than this is THE game for you. While the game can seem repetitive from a distance, it actually holds an immense amount of replayability. There are dozens of items and many bosses that you won't see on just one play through. In order to see everything that "Isaac" has to offer, you would have to play it at least sixty times due to the game's rogue-like aspect. When you die, you cannot just reload back to the beginning of the level. You have to start over. But that's the beauty of this game. The game's length is balanced perfectly, so that even if you die when you were so close to beating it, you'll still want to start over and not have a care in the world. Sure the game has a lot of biblical references and it doesn't necessarily treat those references with respect, but if you can get past the bucket-loads of poop, tears and blood and actually see the humor in it all, you're good to go. My only problem is that the game suffers from bad fps on some computers. My other computer AND my friend's computer are both high-end pieces of hardware, yet "Isaac" runs terribly. Not sure why this is, but it's still playable (sometimes...) and it's a steal for only five bucks. Thanks for reading, Signed: Culture F.… Expand
  42. IanHeres
    Nov 14, 2011
    10
    Fun, but really, really grim. Also somewhat difficult when you first start.

    So it's a roguelike in that the dungeons are randomly generated, and typically if you die you have to start over. The game's somewhat short, so not being able to save isn't a big deal. Now while the game is short, it has a lot of replay value. The more things you do, the more items you unlock so they have a    Fun, but really, really grim. Also somewhat difficult when you first start.

    So it's a roguelike in that the dungeons are randomly generated, and typically if you die you have to start over. The game's somewhat short, so not being able to save isn't a big deal.

    Now while the game is short, it has a lot of replay value. The more things you do, the more items you unlock so they have a chance of spawning in future playthroughs. Also more monsters, and new characters to play. There's also another two floors that appear after you "win" once, and then another even harder floor after that.

    All in all, I don't really have any complaints. I just wish there was more content, since I think I've unlocked most of it. But Steam says I've played for 20 hours, so I think I got my $5 worth.    … Expand
  43. Howrus
    Jan 21, 2012
    10
    This is a game from older generation. There is no saves, no hints, no help. You must remember that gives each piece and how it interacts with others. Plus, it's very random, one game may be simple, the other incredibly difficult. But precisely this is the charm of the game. Challenge the player to deal with all its complexities.
    This is very good and captivating game. I will continue to    This is a game from older generation. There is no saves, no hints, no help. You must remember that gives each piece and how it interacts with others. Plus, it's very random, one game may be simple, the other incredibly difficult. But precisely this is the charm of the game. Challenge the player to deal with all its complexities.
    This is very good and captivating game. I will continue to ply it until I collect all items)    … Expand
  44. cmlabianca
    Nov 2, 2011
    8
    From initially reading about The Binding of Isaac, I was fascinated by the style and obvious heavy-influence from the original Legend of Zelda. Binding is an especially dark and twisted game that incorporates elements of adventure, shoot-em up, and RPG-style gaming. The dungeons are randomly generated as well as the power-ups, enemies and bosses you will encounter along the way. CombineFrom initially reading about The Binding of Isaac, I was fascinated by the style and obvious heavy-influence from the original Legend of Zelda. Binding is an especially dark and twisted game that incorporates elements of adventure, shoot-em up, and RPG-style gaming. The dungeons are randomly generated as well as the power-ups, enemies and bosses you will encounter along the way. Combine this gameplay with dirty and vulgar Flash-inspired visuals, religious themes, and a great soundtrack and you have a title that is priced surprisingly at only $5.00.

    Binding places you in the role of a naked young boy, Isaac, who is trying to escape his Mother who has been charged by God to kill him to prove her devotion and unwavering loyalty. Dark enough? Isaac escapes into a labyrinth-like basement and must survive several floors of bloody and deformed horrors, each floor culminating in a boss fight. The game is difficult and definitely not forgiving. There are no save points and when you die, you will start at the beginning. However, you'll find that every playthrough will be a different experience and that the game is surprisingly addictive. Most gamers that get hooked will want to play this game all the way to 100% completion.

    If you're not turned away by the style or tone of this game, definitely give it a shot. Binding has considerable replay value and at a price tag of $5.00, I think most gamers will not be disappointed.    … Expand
  45. saffers
    Jan 19, 2012
    10
    I am actually surprised by how good this game is, it did not look that good at the begggining but after a few hours I noticed how great the game is, it is random and fun.
  46. DukeVonDalek
    Nov 8, 2011
    10
    It's pathetic that not many people seem understanding this game very well...well not that I am accusing their intellegent faculty, but The Binding of Issac does have a relatively steep learning curve and understanding curve, a few may be too arrogant to be preched. My experience from nearly 100 times attemps with a K/D ratio of 0.4 tells me the game that the game itself is far more deepIt's pathetic that not many people seem understanding this game very well...well not that I am accusing their intellegent faculty, but The Binding of Issac does have a relatively steep learning curve and understanding curve, a few may be too arrogant to be preched. My experience from nearly 100 times attemps with a K/D ratio of 0.4 tells me the game that the game itself is far more deep and sophisticated than my expectation would be-- Edmund's art and sense of humour did convince me to continuously look into those about the cultural, biblical, anecdotal, satanical references. Its a shame that those who cannot play but also read(observe) beyond the lines are criticizing this game here.
    The Binding of Issac does have some programming issues, bugs are reported constantly yet they are fixed allegedly on the day after. They are the only downfall of this game I believe, but I admire the developer's spirit of correcting them, unlike Techland and any other irresponsible producers.
    People talked about the inventory management and its mimicry towards Zelda and smashTV etc, I have played every single titles they talked about yet I am feeling the oringinality here, simply because of the depth of the story (which some of them dont get at all), references, and neatly designed "1-life-playthrough" concept; sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you dont, just like Dungeons of Dredmor and authentic "rogue-like" games, yet whoever says the combat and drops is just about mashing keyboards, you are insulting the time and enjoyment I input in this game.    … Expand
  47. GBMan
    Nov 21, 2011
    10
    I'm totally fond off this game. She's dangerously addictive ! Yes, it's very hard. Yes you will die and losse... often.
    But it's fun, it's rich, it's various. The music is amazing, the graphisms are lovely horrible.
    The game play is fantastic. You learn at each party something on the game, a new item, a new tips, a new mob and his I.A.
    Its a real pleasure... and I'm impatient to play it again.
  48. Mushe
    Jan 17, 2012
    9
    This game is really striking, visually strange, "disgusting" and impressive. The sound effects are very rare, making a spectacular audiovisual setting, including some really good soundtracks. It's very addictive and is one of the games more replay value there (Over 10 endings, items, monsters, powers, and many other things unlockable in each game), adding secrets / accomplishments andThis game is really striking, visually strange, "disgusting" and impressive. The sound effects are very rare, making a spectacular audiovisual setting, including some really good soundtracks. It's very addictive and is one of the games more replay value there (Over 10 endings, items, monsters, powers, and many other things unlockable in each game), adding secrets / accomplishments and updates on the way. It is based in the "Roguelike", ie when they die or leave the game you have to start again, but keep all records obtained things logically. It's really a strange jewel addictive and absolutely worth a try.… Expand
  49. sbruess
    Jan 4, 2012
    10
    This game is amazing. But i will warn you it is not for the faint of heart. This game will punish you for all of your mistakes with death and suffering. However, the satisfaction you will gain from besting a ridiculously hard room or boss will make up for it in full. The games controls are simple. And i would like to point out to other reviews that complain about having to click the mouseThis game is amazing. But i will warn you it is not for the faint of heart. This game will punish you for all of your mistakes with death and suffering. However, the satisfaction you will gain from besting a ridiculously hard room or boss will make up for it in full. The games controls are simple. And i would like to point out to other reviews that complain about having to click the mouse to shoot (which is repetitive). The controls at the very beginning of the game tell you to hold down the arrows keys to shoot, which makes things much easier. This game is full of different items, tarot cards, and pills that will keep you guessing on what they are going to do. This game is a challenge at its finest and will keep you on your toes all the way through. I highly recommend this game to any one looking for a challenge or to anyone who is smart enough to not give this game a zero just because they can't read directions.… Expand
  50. spacecog
    Jan 10, 2012
    10
    What a weird, wonderful game. Extremely creative - imagination is the main ingredient here; I've logged more hours in this than my recently purchased Arkham City (which is amazing in it's own right) -- but the nature of this game is easy to pick up, hard to put down. The difficulty spikes rapidly, and even though you die a lot there are constant unlocks and madness to be discovered byWhat a weird, wonderful game. Extremely creative - imagination is the main ingredient here; I've logged more hours in this than my recently purchased Arkham City (which is amazing in it's own right) -- but the nature of this game is easy to pick up, hard to put down. The difficulty spikes rapidly, and even though you die a lot there are constant unlocks and madness to be discovered by repeat play. Every so often you'll get the perfect storm of items that will vindicate the often punishing difficulty. Ironically, when I finally beat the game, it was with a mediocre character build - which goes to show that you can never get too comfortable, as my over-powered creations quickly died when I got too ****

    Not much can be said that hasn't been said by other users that enjoyed it - it's a zelda-style dungeon (think SNES link to the past) mixed with a 2d shooter, with heavy rogue-like elements (procedurally generated maps, randomized bosses, and a ton of items that drastically switch up the game play, making each game a unique **** of destruction and depravity!) Highly recommend!    … Expand
  51. buzzyrecky
    Feb 9, 2012
    10
    This game is amazing. Most of the people complaining probably just sucked at it. At first, I did too, but I was hooked. The story is much deeper than it seems (you need to think about it, especially the 11th ending) and the gameplay itself is wonderful. I do admit that it's frustrating when you find items you'd rather not put up with, but nothing feels better than showing up to the finalThis game is amazing. Most of the people complaining probably just sucked at it. At first, I did too, but I was hooked. The story is much deeper than it seems (you need to think about it, especially the 11th ending) and the gameplay itself is wonderful. I do admit that it's frustrating when you find items you'd rather not put up with, but nothing feels better than showing up to the final boss room way overpowered and unlocking new items before starting again.

    I have 80 hours put in so far... and for $5 that's not a bad deal at all.    … Expand
  52. Shuff264
    Jun 3, 2012
    10
    The Binding Of Isaac is truly an addictive and fun experience that offers hours of fun. The premise for the game may seem simple but the almost unlimited replay value from random rooms, bosses and enemies keeps to playing for hours. The game also has a random item system that makes every play through different, the recent dlc Wrath Of The Lamb only made this game better!
  53. SympathyChan
    Jan 7, 2013
    10
    This is one of the best games I have ever played. Period. You just go around, shot some tears, kill monsters. Simple as cutting of the ginger's nipple. The game is short, you finish it in about 30-45 minutes and every single time it's different. The game is awesome untill it gives you JEBENE USRANE
  54. JaydenPickens
    May 22, 2019
    4
    My friend recommended this game to me and It's just not my kind of thing. Did not enjoy the gameplay... guess I don't like roguelikes. I will be avoiding such games, so I won't waste my time on this kind of garbage. Pickens condemns.
  55. JonesR
    May 12, 2012
    7
    Isaac possesses charm wrapped in a very twisted story. Originally I thought it was a very primitive top view shooter, but after spending more time with it and understanding some simple tricks, I found it's actually quite complex offering a mild strategy that can be frustratingly addictive. Permadeath really adds an element of player alertness making you try harder not to take damage.Isaac possesses charm wrapped in a very twisted story. Originally I thought it was a very primitive top view shooter, but after spending more time with it and understanding some simple tricks, I found it's actually quite complex offering a mild strategy that can be frustratingly addictive. Permadeath really adds an element of player alertness making you try harder not to take damage.

    Although the game is extremely short, there is a surprising amount of replay value due to its randomly generated maps, monster combinations, and item drops. You really never know how you are going to fair on any given playthrough which keeps it from feeling repetitive. With practice and persistence, you will unlock new items that make the game somewhat easier, but also more fun. Experimenting with item combinations is a treat, plus it's hard not to break a smile from some of the crazy power ups as well.

    For a $1 game, Isaac holds priceless value.    … Expand
  56. Mikester7
    Nov 30, 2011
    8
    Horrifically morbid, depressing, sad, shocking, funny and hellishly enjoyable. This game is damn hard to get anywhere successfully showing it's rogue-like and Zelda elements. Incredibly budget, but it is a cheap indie game after all. Certainly worth picking up and giving ago, even if it is just to see how dark the game is.
  57. Rottencore
    Dec 27, 2011
    8
    If your age is below 25 then don't buy this game (unless you are a retro gamer). it is purely a blast from the past. This is one of the better retro games that I have played.
  58. badrain
    Nov 28, 2011
    8
    Utterly hard.. but how much fun! This is a kind of game in which you will die a lot. Mastering it will take some time, but it's also pretty enjoyable. Overall randomness makes it all very tempting... to try another time and see what you'll come up with. Random levels, random powerups, random bosses.. You can't beat this game unless you will be ready for EVERY outcome. There's no saves, noUtterly hard.. but how much fun! This is a kind of game in which you will die a lot. Mastering it will take some time, but it's also pretty enjoyable. Overall randomness makes it all very tempting... to try another time and see what you'll come up with. Random levels, random powerups, random bosses.. You can't beat this game unless you will be ready for EVERY outcome. There's no saves, no checkpoints. No easy ways. This is why it keeps you in front of your screen - it's really challenging;) .. And after you beat all 6 levels, there's at least two bonus ones. Not mention the unlockable characters. Only one complain - it's a flash game and flash games have their issues. Oh, well. Go play it.… Expand
  59. tech-noir
    Jan 12, 2012
    8
    The Binding of Isaac is an excellent implementation of the new age of roguelikes. The graphical style is simple and lacking in much detail, but it works perfectly with the narrative. The story is both fun and dark, without taking itself too seriously. The game's difficulty is something of a barrier, but not too detrimental to the gameplay. Dying so many times can get frustrating, butThe Binding of Isaac is an excellent implementation of the new age of roguelikes. The graphical style is simple and lacking in much detail, but it works perfectly with the narrative. The story is both fun and dark, without taking itself too seriously. The game's difficulty is something of a barrier, but not too detrimental to the gameplay. Dying so many times can get frustrating, but getting right back in it isn't too tough to accomplish. There are so many power-ups and items that you will be hard-pressed to collect them all. Also, there are many items that will change the visual appearance of your character, which is really fun. Unfortunately, many items are not provided with a description of their usage as you find them, which means that you may be negatively or positively surprised, depending on the outcome. The bosses and mini bosses are well done, and of adequate difficulty in comparison to the rest of your enemies throughout the game. The map system is excellent, and extremely helpful, especially to someone like me who has trouble with spatial directions and remembering locations. The game's performance is not good. There is plenty mentioned about this, by many people in the Steam forums if you are curious. At the highest quality and resolution, in rooms populated with many enemies, there will be severe slowdowns effecting the gameplay to the point of loss of health and deaths being blamed on this serious problem. The only way to remedy this is to set the detail quality and resolution lower, and then experiment with the changes. The keys are fixed, and you will not be able to rebind them. This is a problem for me, as I am not accustomed to using WASD to move. As you progress through the game each time, you will unlock different characters with specific statistics and abilities. The Binding of Isaac is hard, even given its roguelike characteristic. As I write this, I have played and died a total of 68 times, and only reached the final boss three times (dying in that battle as well). Needless to say, this is an incredibly difficult game, mostly because of its roguelike and retro nature. With that said, the genre is exemplified perfectly with The Binding of Isaac. It is a game that you keep installed for the long run, going back to it every so often in hopes that you will finally be able to beat it. Just like in the old days of the original roguelikes.… Expand
  60. Gamera
    Jun 29, 2012
    9
    I was curious what was the big fuss about this game so I purchased it. When you see the trailer it doesn't promise you much, basically you go through rooms and kill different type of monsters. This is only the surface. As you spend more and more time with Isaac, you start to feel that you are in a very deep game, which continues to surprise you even after 30+ hours. You have to go throughI was curious what was the big fuss about this game so I purchased it. When you see the trailer it doesn't promise you much, basically you go through rooms and kill different type of monsters. This is only the surface. As you spend more and more time with Isaac, you start to feel that you are in a very deep game, which continues to surprise you even after 30+ hours. You have to go through dungeons without dying and it's not an easy task. To complete the game you'll need to learn how to deal with the different monsters, how to preserve your resources and you'll also need to make a lot of strategic decisions. If you die, you start over. Luck also plays a heavy role which sometimes can be frustrating. It's possible to go through the game with weak items and powers, but a lot harder than with all the good stuff. So completion is not just the matter of skill in my opinion. I think the art style is great, it's simple but also very appealing if you can appreciate the bizarre and grotesque. It's not for everyone. Some may even feel disgusted. The only downside I can think of, is the time consuming nature of the game. It's hard to put it down if you get the hang of it.… Expand
  61. ToxicMonkey
    Feb 14, 2012
    9
    I really like this game. It hasn't got the best graphics or gameplay, but the atmosphere is epic. It's got a very dark sense of humor and every single enemy and item has some fun aspect about it. Don't let its looks deceive you. Try it, and stick with it for a while even though it's a bit hard at first. You'll find it's a lot of fun... probably. :)
  62. BeautifulLies
    Nov 5, 2011
    8
    The Binding of Isaac is a fun little Indie game, I had my doubts about this game at first because of the bland story line and the short length of the game but when I played it it was hard to stop. The game was Rogue-Like concept this makes the game much more challenging and addictive. The art of this game is quite simple yet also depressing, its not every day you would play a game with aThe Binding of Isaac is a fun little Indie game, I had my doubts about this game at first because of the bland story line and the short length of the game but when I played it it was hard to stop. The game was Rogue-Like concept this makes the game much more challenging and addictive. The art of this game is quite simple yet also depressing, its not every day you would play a game with a absurd amount of blood, tears and turds but this just portrays how unique and fun it is. The Binding of Isaac randomly spawns the structure of the dungeons, monsters, items, bosses and power-ups for each game play so each play through would bring new challenges. I could rant on about how good this game is, I highly recommend this to newbies or veterans who just want to reminisce.… Expand
  63. FakeLies
    Nov 9, 2011
    9
    The best deal (prize) i ever made ...i bouth it on steam for 5 euro and already played around 75 hours ! It´s charming and humourous,although the main reason to play this game on a nd on is testing the dozens of different randomly given items amd to chieve every damn achievemt in this game...it´s great...the story is thrown at you in a few sentences,the graphicsThe best deal (prize) i ever made ...i bouth it on steam for 5 euro and already played around 75 hours ! It´s charming and humourous,although the main reason to play this game on a nd on is testing the dozens of different randomly given items amd to chieve every damn achievemt in this game...it´s great...the story is thrown at you in a few sentences,the graphics are nothing phenomenal nor anything like that as you can see in screenshots,and the sound is nothing more than ok...but somehow the gameplay,even if its as simple as pressing for keys for walking,4 keys for shooting in different angles adn space for the use of items it always gets me back playing this game...… Expand
  64. James9075
    Nov 21, 2011
    10
    i will start by just saying this game is great. it will definitely be on my top ten list of the year. however when i first got this game i agreed with kazan. i was unclear on basically everything, though i slowly began to understand, but for those of you that enjoy dungeon crawlers this game just works. you start without power ups and slowly find better equipment. this is also ani will start by just saying this game is great. it will definitely be on my top ten list of the year. however when i first got this game i agreed with kazan. i was unclear on basically everything, though i slowly began to understand, but for those of you that enjoy dungeon crawlers this game just works. you start without power ups and slowly find better equipment. this is also an incredibly hard game. it's presentation does not lie, with a difficulty this high it must be a friend of satans.… Expand
  65. Gamebrain8505
    Nov 27, 2011
    9
    This is a great game, I found the story to be quite amusing and (unlike some others) I realised that it was almost completely satirical and that most of it shouldn't be taken too seriously.
    For a game made by just two people this is really great.
  66. Locras
    Nov 30, 2011
    8
    When I saw the trailer, I wasn't sure what to think of this game. On the one hand, the music captured my interest within 3 seconds, on the other hand, the actual game play footage looked to minimal. I've played games like Super Meat Boy and I really liked those, but in TBOI even the main character looked half finished.
    Still I bought it and I'm glad I did.
    TBOI is a satirical take on    When I saw the trailer, I wasn't sure what to think of this game. On the one hand, the music captured my interest within 3 seconds, on the other hand, the actual game play footage looked to minimal. I've played games like Super Meat Boy and I really liked those, but in TBOI even the main character looked half finished.
    Still I bought it and I'm glad I did.

    TBOI is a satirical take on the biblical story with the same name. one day, Isaacâ    … Expand
  67. ReubenIsAGod
    Feb 23, 2013
    9
    Fun, Hard, MAKES ME WANNA CUT MY BALLS OFF, GOD I LOVE THIS GAME WORTH ALL YOUR MONEYS,
  68. mrrgl
    Sep 12, 2013
    10
    I first played this for an hour or so and felt amazed at how silly and shallow it was. "why is this game so popular" I said to myself. Then I came back and found a little more, again and again. Eventually, after learning the ropes and getting deeper into the dungeon, I realized how rich and weird and *fun* this game is. Really a smashing success, a small success maybe, but tons of fun.I first played this for an hour or so and felt amazed at how silly and shallow it was. "why is this game so popular" I said to myself. Then I came back and found a little more, again and again. Eventually, after learning the ropes and getting deeper into the dungeon, I realized how rich and weird and *fun* this game is. Really a smashing success, a small success maybe, but tons of fun. Spent a couple of days in my office playing this on the sly, just couldn't put it down!… Expand
  69. RainbowDashie13
    Sep 6, 2012
    10
    The game is very well made, has a lot of pop culture references, you can see the inspiration in this game from other games like Legend of Zelda and overall it is very fun.
    The game is quite short but it has loads of replay value and it is very challenging.
    You have many many many upgrades that change your: Look, strength, speed and there is also a nice selection of characters. It's    The game is very well made, has a lot of pop culture references, you can see the inspiration in this game from other games like Legend of Zelda and overall it is very fun.
    The game is quite short but it has loads of replay value and it is very challenging.
    You have many many many upgrades that change your: Look, strength, speed and there is also a nice selection of characters.
    It's almost like a completely new game every time you play.
    It's a lot of fun and it's only $4.99.
    I personally recommend this game very much.
    Also, don't play before dinner.    … Expand
  70. BopCN
    May 3, 2013
    9
    街机闯关风格的迷宫探索游戏，6个关卡因为丰富的随机要素使得次次的游戏体验都会不同。适当的长度，并不刁钻的难度，丰富的搜集要素会令你沉迷好长一段时间。主角丰富的外观变化是个亮点。
  71. Violett
    Jan 4, 2015
    8
    Nevermind me, when I rated this game "zero" I was probably just in bad mood. Actually this game is awesome. Awesome and hard. For indie game this is masterpiece. Such games as this one and Super Meat Boy really ignites indie game industry.
  72. TVD
    May 12, 2013
    10
    Just epic and stupid at the same time. Creator is a genius! Never gets boring (I don't even understand why but it's a fact) and you can easily surpass the 50-100 h of gameplay.
  73. boxfriend
    Apr 12, 2013
    9
    Personally, I am a huge fan of Edmund McMillen’s work. I’ve enjoyed all of the games I’ve played that he has produced/developed, but The Binding of Isaac is by far my favorite one. His interesting art style, paired with Danny Baranowsky’s amazing musical talent make this a this game a wonderful piece of art.

    The game starts up with a background story cutscene before the title screen,    Personally, I am a huge fan of Edmund McMillen’s work. I’ve enjoyed all of the games I’ve played that he has produced/developed, but The Binding of Isaac is by far my favorite one. His interesting art style, paired with Danny Baranowsky’s amazing musical talent make this a this game a wonderful piece of art.

    The game starts up with a background story cutscene before the title screen, with the ability to skip past it. However, if you have not seen the cutscene, I highly advise that you do so. It gives a humorous take on the story of Abraham being ordered to kill his son Isaac in the bible. Isaac’s mother, a christian fundamentalist gets orders from God to purify her son and she does so by taking all of his belongings away to remove any chance of him sinning, but God is not pleased with that so she must kill him. However, Isaac escapes into a trap door in his bedroom that leads into the basement. This is where the game begins. The keys W,S,A and D are used to move the character and the arrow keys (or clicking the mouse) are used to shoot tears from your eyes at your enemies. You go around defeating these mutant creatures, like headless bodies that leap, floating heads that spit blood at you, maggots that charge at you, flies, spiders, and much more. The game is designed to get progressively harder as you get farther along, but this isn’t always the case. Occasionally you will run across a tough boss (such as Widow) on the first or second depth and you have a hard time winning (although this may be different for each player as the game is generally skill based). The enemies are mostly just annoying instead of difficult, and the bosses aren’t balanced very well. These aspects don’t detract from how addicting and fun this game is. It will piss you off from a cheap death, but you’ll just play again because it is just that good. When it comes to death, you will restart from the beginning no matter how far into the game you are which makes this game so difficult to beat, but that’s the point. You can die one thousand times and, unlike most games, you will have a different experience each time you play. The game is procedurally generated which means each level is generated at random every time. This gives the game its replayability. Every time you play, you get a different map layout and different items. Some times, you may get an item you’ve never seen, other times you’ll get one you’ve found plenty of times. With so many items in the game, you’ll play it with a different style each time. The way the items work is pretty cool too, the collectible items stack so you keep the abilities of the items you get until you die, then there are the activated items.You may only carry one activated item at a time, and after each use, you have to charge the item again by beating rooms. Then there are the pills and tarot cards which may only be used once after picked up. These items aren’t always helpful, and the pill effects change every time you play, so if you get a blue pill one time and it’s a health up, the next time you play, that blue pill might be something harmful like health down. There are also trinket items which work like the collectible items, but you may only have one at a time like the activated items. With all of the items, most of which give a cosmetic change to the character, by the end of the game you will have a up looking mutant baby, but you will be powerful. Even with your stats maxed out, though, the later levels are still very tough. After you beat Mom, you go into her womb and eventually fight her heart. Now that’s pretty up, but hey, it’s a game so who really cares? After beating Mom’s heart, you go to either the Sheol, or the Cathedral where you fight either Satan, or Isaac (respectively). That’s right, you can end up fighting yourself. The game is pretty up and weird, but that just makes it more interesting. Now personally, that’s about as far as I ever got, but I know there is still another level (the Chest). From what I read, the Chest is only accessible by taking the Polaroid trinket to the final boss room in the Cathedral and beating Issac. The Chest is filled with bosses and the final boss is and fights similar to Isaac.

    So all in all, the game is brutal, but very very fun, and very addicting. I recommend it to anyone who wants a good challenge that they can play over and over.    … Expand
  74. crubleigh
    Apr 16, 2013
    10
    tl:dr You can aim with your mouse

    It seems a lot of people are complaining about bad controls. The only reason they are bad with the controls is their own ignorance. If they played the game for more than 10 seconds they could of figured out that YOU CAN AIM WITH YOUR MOUSE. Literally the exact same controls for almost every PC game ever. WASD, aim with mouse. Pretty standard stuff.    tl:dr You can aim with your mouse

    It seems a lot of people are complaining about bad controls. The only reason they are bad with the controls is their own ignorance. If they played the game for more than 10 seconds they could of figured out that YOU CAN AIM WITH YOUR MOUSE. Literally the exact same controls for almost every PC game ever. WASD, aim with mouse. Pretty standard stuff. Some people have also been saying that "it's a keyboard mashing game." It's as much keyboard mashy as any other game. The only time you have to spam click is with the Chocolate milk item to get your full fire rate. Besides that, you can HOLD DOWN your mouse to fire at full speed. Like I said, pretty standard stuff here.It seems the other problems people were having all had to do with difficulty and interest, which are all very understandable, however, if you put just a little more effort into it, (and use your mouse to aim) it won't be so terribly difficult, and the farther you get, the more interesting and engaging it becomes. Others have complained about how there is no strategy. Sure, on the first to levels. After that you have to deal with patterns and dodging, strafing, circle strafing, arcade farming etc. There are also different characters you can chose from. Anyways, with all that out of the way, I think the game is great, ad get the DLC it's awesome too. Sorry if it's long.    … Expand
  75. Sparkles
    Jul 1, 2013
    10
    I can say that The Binding of Isaac is one of the most hard games that I've ever seen. Not only because of your luck in game, but also that lazy graphic and good game. And I always say: a simple graphic doesn't mean a bad game.
    It is very cheap due to the game (I think i spent $4 total including the DLC, but it was on steam sale), and you have to understand that this game can be horrible,    I can say that The Binding of Isaac is one of the most hard games that I've ever seen. Not only because of your luck in game, but also that lazy graphic and good game. And I always say: a simple graphic doesn't mean a bad game.
    It is very cheap due to the game (I think i spent $4 total including the DLC, but it was on steam sale), and you have to understand that this game can be horrible, yes. Santan, God relation, Devil stuff, pacts, but this game was a pretty creative one. Good soundtrack, good time to enjoy, good money spent, good graphic (yes, it is a good graphic. The game is so simple, so addicting, it doesn't have to have THAT graphic).
    People just have to be patient. Not always I get a good item, then, I die fast. So well, let's just play again and try to kill mom once, twice, until you have patience. However, you're not obliged to play it.    … Expand
  76. Truology
    Aug 10, 2013
    10
    The Binding of Isaac was my first real venture into indie games back in 2011 and to tell the truth, I didn't like it. However I was in a different state of mind with games, where I expected them to be this amazing playable experience immediately. Isaac is not one of those games. This game gets better with time, the more you play it the more you appreciate how well balanced the game is.The Binding of Isaac was my first real venture into indie games back in 2011 and to tell the truth, I didn't like it. However I was in a different state of mind with games, where I expected them to be this amazing playable experience immediately. Isaac is not one of those games. This game gets better with time, the more you play it the more you appreciate how well balanced the game is. Isaac is like playing super mario but every time you put the cartridge in you played the a totally different game but at the same time still following the same general experience as the first time you played.… Expand
  77. SquareBurrito
    Sep 15, 2013
    10
    OH MY GOD THIS GAME!!!!!!!!11
    This game is INCREDIBLE, with the amount of different item combinations, the overall difficulty level and replay value, the original gameplay and AWESOME music, make this game what it is. A masterpiece. The controls are amazing, the art is amazing, I can't give this game enough praise. It's $5 for he base game and $5 for the expansion pack. $10 for this    OH MY GOD THIS GAME!!!!!!!!11
    This game is INCREDIBLE, with the amount of different item combinations, the overall difficulty level and replay value, the original gameplay and AWESOME music, make this game what it is. A masterpiece. The controls are amazing, the art is amazing, I can't give this game enough praise. It's $5 for he base game and $5 for the expansion pack. $10 for this package of amazing. I think it is £3 each for both base, and expansion pack in Britain, spending a total of £6 on this game is an incredibly good deal. BUY THIS GAME.    … Expand
  78. DigitalMage
    Sep 20, 2013
    10
    I have played this for over 20 hours now.
    what good about this game?
    + intro movie
    + random dungeon and items
    + The music in this game is great :)
    + The enemies are awesome
    Whats bad about this game?
    - No cheat button or easy mode for my non-video gaming friends
  79. Idiocracy
    Sep 30, 2013
    10
    If you don't like fast paced roguelike games then just stay away. If you're expecting something similar to Zelda then..... idk actually look at the gamepage??? This game lives up to everything it displays, and goes over and beyond that. I went in expecting a little rogueish game i could play for a min then leave, but 2 hours later I had a very different opinion. Fun, fast, coqed up in theIf you don't like fast paced roguelike games then just stay away. If you're expecting something similar to Zelda then..... idk actually look at the gamepage??? This game lives up to everything it displays, and goes over and beyond that. I went in expecting a little rogueish game i could play for a min then leave, but 2 hours later I had a very different opinion. Fun, fast, coqed up in the head, and functional, and in terms of story? Its about a little kid whos messed up in the head, simple as can be.… Expand
  80. tytanxxl
    Oct 10, 2013
    9
    Im a Christian very much and i love this game. Many people tell me to stop playing this game but i wont because it doesnt offend me at all and its very playable even more the comercial games. So please Video game creator look at this game and learn how to make them.
  81. yk1989
    May 14, 2012
    10
    What can I say? i Love this game... But even if Im not a pro reviewer I must talk about some of the faults this game has... First of all the bad things

    The Speed stat is really overpowered. to the point sometimes using isaac is like racing in a ice track. The overall design some parts of this game have are really like a free flash game... The "use Joy2key" joke was not really kind. Being    What can I say? i Love this game... But even if Im not a pro reviewer I must talk about some of the faults this game has... First of all the bad things

    The Speed stat is really overpowered. to the point sometimes using isaac is like racing in a ice track.
    The overall design some parts of this game have are really like a free flash game... The "use Joy2key" joke was not really kind.

    Being a really random game, needs some extra bosses I tired fast of fighting the same boss over and over... Some bosses take a lot to come too... -Not enough bosses to feel random enough.
    -The menu looks really unfit
    -at fast speed Isaac is too fast to the point he slips too much
    -I found some references to internet Memes. And I will say I hated that... The game didn't need that and is just distracting from the main deal.

    The last one... The game needs some balance about what can you get in the way to the end. Sometimes you will be so unbuffed because a rock was always blocking the way to a key, you will miss some items. and crucial ones..

    Now the good things and there is a lot

    -The game really feels retro... Not like Fez (that looks pixelated but I didn't feel it retro) or terraria (the same deal) If you die is game over... You must start again. The game is nintendo Hard and as intense as those games from the 90's.
    -The random factor hides too well the fact there is not much content in the game. But that's not a bad thing. That really expands the gameplay.
    -The artistic job. I can't really describe this game... Sometimes I laugh hard And sometimes the game just creeps me out (I will not spoil when) I think a game that is capable of do two opposite things to the player IS JUST GREAT.
    - The religious references are cleverly put into game.
    - The music clearly fits with the levels and the progression... Every theme is more serious and dark than the last. to the point where the 4th area is just really depressing and horrifying compared with the cheesy 1st level music.

    I will rate it 8. Mainly because of the unecessary memes that are the only thing that really don't fit with the game.    … Expand
  82. whitespider999
    Feb 27, 2012
    6
    Little bits of genius infused with a purposeful hate for the player. It's fun messing around with, however completing the game multi-times, and proclaiming it the best game ever made. Says more about the player than the game.
  83. wafflewithsyrup
    Oct 4, 2011
    6
    The game is good, but it didn't really fit my tastes, nor my brother's. This game really has potential and is a good 5 dollar buy. Now, the enviroments were bland and the plot was not that good either. I expected more from this game, but I can't say that it wasn't a good buy, because trust me it was a GREAT buy.
  84. Lionmaruu
    Oct 9, 2011
    5
    Twin-Stick Shooter meets a rogue-like inspiration but not a rogue-like gameplay or inventory management. If there is something that can be said about this game is: It is a "Twin-Stick shooter" and not a rogue-like or any kind of RPG, in fact I had the biggest surprise when I got the game, I was hoping for a Zelda-like style game and came up with a Geometry Wars meets Meat boy(in graphicsTwin-Stick Shooter meets a rogue-like inspiration but not a rogue-like gameplay or inventory management. If there is something that can be said about this game is: It is a "Twin-Stick shooter" and not a rogue-like or any kind of RPG, in fact I had the biggest surprise when I got the game, I was hoping for a Zelda-like style game and came up with a Geometry Wars meets Meat boy(in graphics likeness).


    The game is not a rogue-like because don't have almost any of its elements, which is the opposite of the claims made by the developer.


    From the game's steam page:
    "The Binding of Isaac is a randomly generated action RPG shooter with heavy Rogue-like elements (...)."

    The random generated levels are not a rogue-like exclusive, and despite the character in fact receive some items, and there a map and a shop. Most of them feel like a power up of a shooter (Geometry wars/Asteroids) than one of a rogue-like (Angband/nethack/torchlight).


    Said that, the game is cool if you play it like a twin-stick shooter (which is SO MUCH BETTER PLAYED ON A CONTROLLER), but the game does not support gamepads, only via a joytokey-like software, which is exactly what you should expect from a Adobe Flash-game in a website, but not from a Five dollars PC game on Steam, it's feel lazy and like the whole game was hurried up to be sold, make some money so the life goes on and the joke is on the customer who could have been misled.


    The games is good, have true good music, weird but cool theme/story, and some fun power-ups, but is worth $5 at the maximum, maybe $2.5 would be more fair.


    If the game had been well-executed in the gameplay, it would be very good, but it lacks several amenities of a good game like the native controller support and better menu/general interface.



    The game feels looks and plays like a flash game, a good one, but a flash game nonetheless... If you are expecting a true rogue-like game, go play torchlight or others you will pay little more but will be WAY more pleased.


    IF you like twin-stick shooters, the game is very interesting and has good variety of gameplay, but, please! Play with a controller.


    You will like:
    Twin-shooter novelty;
    Cool Graphics and music;
    Lots of power ups, weapons and items;
    Random generated dungeons equal a lot of replay value;

    You will hate:
    NOT rogue-like;
    The stupid I.A.;
    No native controller support;
    Bad menus, can't control with the keyboard have to use mouse;
    Very difficult;
    No, seriously, VERY DIFFICULT.    … Expand
  85. Kackur
    Oct 31, 2011
    4
    If you enjoy mashing your keyboard or find poop and blood to be a refreshing stylistic feature you may briefly enjoy this game. However, if that's not the case I suggest you pass this game by. The gameplay is mindnumbingly uninteresting. The style of this game while somewhat unique is rather lame. Controls are horrible, you basically just mash the keyboard. The use of a gamepad isn'tIf you enjoy mashing your keyboard or find poop and blood to be a refreshing stylistic feature you may briefly enjoy this game. However, if that's not the case I suggest you pass this game by. The gameplay is mindnumbingly uninteresting. The style of this game while somewhat unique is rather lame. Controls are horrible, you basically just mash the keyboard. The use of a gamepad isn't support, the menu system itself points you towards using another peice of software to map your keyboard keys to a gamepad. Now that's just lazy programming. Don't let the high score fool you. People have a tendency to over compensate when rating inexpensive games. This game has only two things going for it in my opinion. First the introductory sequence is enjoyable, but only so much as anyother well done flash animation. Which makes sense since it is a flash animation. Second it is hard. Which is refreshing in this day and age of super easy hand holding games. However forcing you to reply the same boring game play over and over each time you die beings to quicly feal like torture. 0.99 would be a far better price as the content much more closly resembles a smartphone app priced at that level.… Expand
  86. Brumbek
    Jan 2, 2012
    3
    A few fun ideas but the lazy design ruins it. This should have been a free flash game because although it has a passing resemblance to Zelda, it's shallow and frustrating. There's barely any UI, no explanation for items (and some even kill you with no warning), no ability to save, and it is random to a fault. You have to keep playing it over and over to basically memorize how enemies fightA few fun ideas but the lazy design ruins it. This should have been a free flash game because although it has a passing resemblance to Zelda, it's shallow and frustrating. There's barely any UI, no explanation for items (and some even kill you with no warning), no ability to save, and it is random to a fault. You have to keep playing it over and over to basically memorize how enemies fight and what items do. This could have been great if it was fleshed out into a proper game. I get wanting a "hardcore" game, but this is just sloppy. As it is now, the creator opted for lazy, pathetic design not worthy of the $1.25 I paid for it.… Expand
  87. nighter-3d
    Oct 11, 2011
    6
    yes it is enjoyable,yes it is quite cheap,but i got one problem with this. the game is just a generic flash-game like you can find on newgrounds(there is even a smaller"demo" version on it) and i do not like the idea of having to pay money for a flash game! im now only hoping that this wont mark the beginning of an age where you have to pay for a simple little browser game. the game itselfyes it is enjoyable,yes it is quite cheap,but i got one problem with this. the game is just a generic flash-game like you can find on newgrounds(there is even a smaller"demo" version on it) and i do not like the idea of having to pay money for a flash game! im now only hoping that this wont mark the beginning of an age where you have to pay for a simple little browser game. the game itself is quite enjoyable however. the bosses are challenging,the random powerups make this a game of chance and the artwork is the kind we kinda expect from the game's creator. over-al it is nice game but it is just a flash game so don't get high expectations of it… Expand
  88. SoylentHolger
    Dec 1, 2011
    2
    I bought this game after masses of positive critics. To be honest, I was quite disappointed. The story is kinda cute, but this game does not motivate me to play longer than two or three hours.
  89. HarryWebbinger
    Nov 3, 2011
    2
    A flash game ,but nothing of it reminds me on super meat boy, which has an extraordinary control !
    the music and sounds are not very likeable. The idea is a strange story with strange figures.
    You can see hanged figures on rooms where to buy or upgrade. I don´t find it culty or very original. the controls is extremely rubbish espec. when more than 2 enemys are to fight... in    A flash game ,but nothing of it reminds me on super meat boy, which has an extraordinary control !
    the music and sounds are not very likeable. The idea is a strange story with strange figures.
    You can see hanged figures on rooms where to buy or upgrade. I don´t find it culty or very original.
    the controls is extremely rubbish espec. when more than 2 enemys are to fight... in the forum people mean it´s, because of flash programming...Sorry, but I don´t understand the hype of Isaak dying on & on    … Expand
  90. Greggor
    Dec 29, 2011
    4
    I gave this game an honest try for approximately two hours of uninterrupted gameplay, and I must say that I remain unimpressed. The exploration is reminiscent of old-school roguelike games (like ADOM or Nethack), and the combat is reminiscent of old-school Zelda games, only with shooting. The story is slightly interesting, but not anywhere detailed enough to call it a major aspect of theI gave this game an honest try for approximately two hours of uninterrupted gameplay, and I must say that I remain unimpressed. The exploration is reminiscent of old-school roguelike games (like ADOM or Nethack), and the combat is reminiscent of old-school Zelda games, only with shooting. The story is slightly interesting, but not anywhere detailed enough to call it a major aspect of the game. So what you get, in the end, is a mediocre shooter-game with some RPG elements. Unfortunately, as modern games evolved to become more gamer-friendly, this one didn't seem to get the message. It's extremely punishing and unforgiving of mistakes. You die, whatever the circumstances, and you start over from scratch. No continues, no extra lives, nothing. You don't even restart the same level; you restart the game. Add that to the fact that the game is completely and entirely random and you get some levels that are painfully easy and some that are painfully difficult, and it's a complete matter of luck as to whether or not you can finish the game. I didn't have the patience to keep trying because the game didn't lure me in. It's sad. I really wanted to like this game, but I cannot, in good conscience, recommend it to anyone.… Expand
  91. italianstal1ion
    Apr 21, 2012
    5
    It's an arcade style game, and you've got to play the same levels over and over, but you get different bonuses each time. You'd better love the gameplay, because you'll be doing the same thing over and over. It's a decent time killer, but after beating it 3 times, I don't think I could ever return to it.
  92. Tweed
    Oct 3, 2011
    2
    A poor marriage of Legend of Zelda, Nethack, and Smash TV that's sure to appeal to younger gamers with it's immature grotesque art style, "dark and edgy" plotline and atmosphere sure to offend mommy and daddy, and deceptive advertisement of randomly generated levels that all start to feel similar after about the third play through. The poor control design control makes it difficult to useA poor marriage of Legend of Zelda, Nethack, and Smash TV that's sure to appeal to younger gamers with it's immature grotesque art style, "dark and edgy" plotline and atmosphere sure to offend mommy and daddy, and deceptive advertisement of randomly generated levels that all start to feel similar after about the third play through. The poor control design control makes it difficult to use power ups on the fly, none of which are detailed at all which leaves the player guessing in the middle of combat about what each ones does, this wouldn't be such an issue except that there is no continue feature which makes for frustrating gameplay.

    The only real redeemable feature about the game is the soundtrack, otherwise this title should have simply been released directly to Newgrounds. If poop jokes, fecal filled dungeons, urine spewing bosses, fetus sidekicks, severed cat heads as well as dirty maxi pad powerups, item collecting and achievement hunting are your idea of the makings of a good game then you won't find better than this one, otherwise look elsewhere.    … Expand
  93. genoforprez
    Nov 2, 2011
    5
    This game, in a nutshell, involves controlling a character through a set of interlocked, randomly generated rooms, each of which is full of enemies and blocks in the style of an old school Zelda dungeon (aside from the fact that every room is the exact same size and shape). As you explore these interlocked rooms, you control your character with WASD and fire with the arrows. You can pickThis game, in a nutshell, involves controlling a character through a set of interlocked, randomly generated rooms, each of which is full of enemies and blocks in the style of an old school Zelda dungeon (aside from the fact that every room is the exact same size and shape). As you explore these interlocked rooms, you control your character with WASD and fire with the arrows. You can pick up various drops: coins, health, power up items, and equipment upgrades. As you progress, you encounter new enemies, bosses, and random mini-bosses. But that's about the extent of it. There's really not a lot going on here. There is no reason to call this a bad game. It is good at what it does, but it is an extremely minimal game. Some would praise the twisted story and artwork, whereas I am constantly torn between what I see as a hint of a twisted vision (i.e., art) and just a bunch of poop and gore in an experience that is barely a game. I am not surprised to find that the binding of isaac has good scores here, since like I said it's definitely not bad. But I am surprised that the vast majority of people consider this an 8 to 10 range game. It's a good game, but I don't think it is worth even $5. I can play more interesting games than this for free in my browser, and I wouldn't even lose much in quality. In short, this game certainly has style, but as a game, it is more of a Newgrounds sort of a game than a commercial game. Definitely try the demo before buying.… Expand
  94. Doubleas2380
    Nov 8, 2011
    7
    During my adventures with The Binding of Isaac, I had fun. It is a very hard game (a huge plus for me) and was very enjoyable. I will admit, I'm sick of seeing flash games you can find on Newgrounds being sold as stand alone pc games though.
  95. GhostROF1DooM
    Nov 8, 2011
    3
    Compared to other 'flash' games like Castle Crashers you see how boring this game really is. Unless you really love **** blood and dungeons, give this crap a miss
  96. hit925
    Nov 22, 2011
    4
    I loved Super Meat Boy but I hate this. The shooting is so generic. Super Meat Boy felt like a properly brilliant game despite essentially being a Flash game and I felt like it was worth my money. This feels so unoriginal in its gameplay that it doesn't deserve a price, it should just be an online free flash game. Not to mention the fact that it is just twisted and just weird.....I don'tI loved Super Meat Boy but I hate this. The shooting is so generic. Super Meat Boy felt like a properly brilliant game despite essentially being a Flash game and I felt like it was worth my money. This feels so unoriginal in its gameplay that it doesn't deserve a price, it should just be an online free flash game. Not to mention the fact that it is just twisted and just weird.....I don't mind the violence but just....the weirdness..… Expand
  97. wallcat
    Nov 25, 2011
    1
    The goal is not obvious or interesting enough to keep you wanting to play. The controls are not very fun to use, and I find at first it can be confusing with the walk controls being A, S, W and D and the arrows keys being used to fire (sort of like rubbing your belly and patting your head.) I am also not a fan of the music or grotesque art style which felt very immature and did my eyes in.The goal is not obvious or interesting enough to keep you wanting to play. The controls are not very fun to use, and I find at first it can be confusing with the walk controls being A, S, W and D and the arrows keys being used to fire (sort of like rubbing your belly and patting your head.) I am also not a fan of the music or grotesque art style which felt very immature and did my eyes in. Was recommended it by a friend, but the only perks selling this game seem to be the difficulty and randomly generated rooms, which in my opinion are also below par.… Expand
  98. BeckyJ
    Mar 17, 2012
    6
    Smash TV meets Legend of Zelda meets zero skill and 100% randomness. I tried to like this game but I can't. It has a lot of interesting features: dynamic, randomly generated rooms (to an extent), a ton of items that can mix and match for new and interesting powers, and an overall cutesy (yet disturbing) aesthetic. That's about all it has going for it, though. Completion of the gameSmash TV meets Legend of Zelda meets zero skill and 100% randomness. I tried to like this game but I can't. It has a lot of interesting features: dynamic, randomly generated rooms (to an extent), a ton of items that can mix and match for new and interesting powers, and an overall cutesy (yet disturbing) aesthetic. That's about all it has going for it, though. Completion of the game has little to do with skill and more to do with whether or not you got lucky with the randomly generated items. You are never given a description of what items do, so choosing and using them is a risk. For example, using a particular tarot card during a boss fight can teleport you out of the room, forcing you to go back and restart the fight with the boss now at full health. Little things like this kill the fun for me. Most characters are terrible, while Cain is comparatively broken. Even still, using him doesn't guarantee victory, as victory is only achieved through random luck. Even if you get very skilled at dodging monsters and avoiding hits, the game will often give you items and stats that don't scale your character's strength for the next level. Sometimes characters can be so weak a mini-boss takes 4-5 minutes to kill, while other times the same boss might die in 20 seconds. Considering an average playthrough can take upward of an hour+, only to (usually) die, it's hard for me to find enjoyment. I'm not against high difficulty and I dislike the coddling of players with today's games, but I also dislike games that are just plain unfair and don't reward skill. Binding of Isaac is one of these games. For $5 it's not a bad buy and it can kill time, but unless you want to spend hours playing a dressed up dice game, it might be best to avoid it.… Expand
  99. Geed
    Apr 12, 2012
    3
    This game plays frustrating and not in that good way that makes you want to keep playing. Controls are shoddy and unplayable when there are too many characters on screen and it has some of the worst randomizations I have ever seen in a game and I've played video games for 35 years. Even when you build up a decent offensive, inevitably the controls will screw up and cost you most of yourThis game plays frustrating and not in that good way that makes you want to keep playing. Controls are shoddy and unplayable when there are too many characters on screen and it has some of the worst randomizations I have ever seen in a game and I've played video games for 35 years. Even when you build up a decent offensive, inevitably the controls will screw up and cost you most of your hearts. It's also silly you have to remember what all the pills do and even then, you on occasion get a different effect than you thought that color combo did. Giving it a 3. Needs some major fixes in the controls.… Expand
  100. kuehnau
    Mar 24, 2013
    5
    You may have read people comparing The Binding of Isaac to classic games such as The Legend of Zelda or NetHack. While The Binding has some similar concepts, it is completely and totally inaccurate to describe this game as such. At it's most basic core, The Binding is nothing more then a very shallow, very simple, very basic roguelike. The entire game is completely randomized andYou may have read people comparing The Binding of Isaac to classic games such as The Legend of Zelda or NetHack. While The Binding has some similar concepts, it is completely and totally inaccurate to describe this game as such. At it's most basic core, The Binding is nothing more then a very shallow, very simple, very basic roguelike. The entire game is completely randomized and completely unforgiving. Due to the graphic and macob nature of the game, it tends to be very interesting, for the first few plays. After which, it is nothing more then aggravating and annoying. If you are a fan of wasting your time, then by all means, buy The Binding of Isaac, everyone else, avoid at all costs.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Best PC Game of 2011
25
#25 Most Discussed PC Game of 2011
21
#21 Most Shared PC Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. GamingXP
    Mar 19, 2012
    83
    The Binding of Isaac looks like an old school game like the original Zeldas, but with a dark scenario and dark humor. It has the typical difficulty of a McMillen game, which is not found anywhere else these days. This game will motivate you to try and try again in such a simple way – just brilliant. If you like the style and the old school gameplay of The Binding of Isaac, you'll have a lot of fun with it.
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  2. GameCritics
    Mar 10, 2012
    90
    One may play for an hour or two, but they're constantly tempted to go back in and uncover the scads of remaining secrets. It's a style of game that really intrigues me, and one I want to see more of
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  3. 4P.de
    Feb 28, 2012
    87
    Zelda meets Robotron: Isaac celebrates old school topdown action in randomly generated dungeons.
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