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. darkside1510
    May 11, 2013
    10
    The best game ever! anyone who gave this less than a 7 does not know what they are talking about!
    The best game ever! anyone who gave this less than a 7 does not know what they are talking about!
  2. drSpockwa
    May 4, 2013
    3
    The introductory movie was interesting and entertaining, but that is about all I can put in the pros column. The game play is something you'd see 15 years ago. I know, nostalgia is becoming all the rage, but it feels like a cop out that indie developers are using to put out poor production value. I'm not slamming all indie work, there is quite a bit of good stuff out there. Next, thisThe introductory movie was interesting and entertaining, but that is about all I can put in the pros column. The game play is something you'd see 15 years ago. I know, nostalgia is becoming all the rage, but it feels like a cop out that indie developers are using to put out poor production value. I'm not slamming all indie work, there is quite a bit of good stuff out there. Next, this is a rougelike. Again, I know rougelikes are becoming popular. But I just don't find it fun to loose all progress and start over from the beginning with a randomized map. It makes me feel like I wasted my time. I got a bit intrigued about the various items and collectibles, but you apparently have to use them to find out what they do, and even then I wasn't sure what happened. You can't jump on the Apple bandwagon of providing no user assistance, when your user interface is not intuitive. There may have been an interesting story here, but I'm not going to punish myself to unfold it.… Expand
  3. 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。
  4. Fraz
    Apr 29, 2013
    10
    Binding of Isaac is a great game that you'll never get bored of and never have the same run twice! It looks simple but plays allot more complex. The Art style and Story is what you expect from Edmund McMillen, Creepy but simply amazing. Like Super Meat boy, this game is quite difficult for inexperienced players and may make you rage allot due to dying and restarting the game from theBinding of Isaac is a great game that you'll never get bored of and never have the same run twice! It looks simple but plays allot more complex. The Art style and Story is what you expect from Edmund McMillen, Creepy but simply amazing. Like Super Meat boy, this game is quite difficult for inexperienced players and may make you rage allot due to dying and restarting the game from the beginning.

    I have a load of games on my PC, but The Binding of Isaac is at the top for most time played. This game is really enjoyable and makes the player really want to finish the game! You can pick up this game on Steam for a couple of pounds and highly recommend picking it up.    … Expand
  5. iseeall
    Apr 26, 2013
    7
    This game has a great story and absolutely terrific artwork. The sense of humor of whoever wrote the in-game texts is excellent. The music is great as well. Unfortunately, the gameplay is pretty much mediocre, I mean it's just a 2D top-down view arcade game, and the fact that you can only shoot in horiz/vert direction and not just at the clicked spot makes it's pretty difficult to play andThis game has a great story and absolutely terrific artwork. The sense of humor of whoever wrote the in-game texts is excellent. The music is great as well. Unfortunately, the gameplay is pretty much mediocre, I mean it's just a 2D top-down view arcade game, and the fact that you can only shoot in horiz/vert direction and not just at the clicked spot makes it's pretty difficult to play and the fights too chaotic. Overall, this game is good for having a look, enjoying it for one evening and then dropping it, because in the long run the thing which could hold you in front of the screen (the gameplay) is missing. Art: 10!, Music: 10, Sounds: 10! Design: 4… Expand
  6. Lord_FibreMedic
    Apr 25, 2013
    10
    I bought this game on sale on Steam for $3, as well as the DLC for 2$ for a total of 5$ (you don't say). All i have to say is, best 5$ i ever spent. I have over 150 hours logged in The Binding of Isaac and I'm still FAR from completing the game and getting every achievement. Despite being a very unforgiving rogue-like game, it's just so smooth, fun, and with near perfect controls, everyI bought this game on sale on Steam for $3, as well as the DLC for 2$ for a total of 5$ (you don't say). All i have to say is, best 5$ i ever spent. I have over 150 hours logged in The Binding of Isaac and I'm still FAR from completing the game and getting every achievement. Despite being a very unforgiving rogue-like game, it's just so smooth, fun, and with near perfect controls, every time i died, it wasn't because the game had bad controls or unfair mechanics. It was my fault for my deaths, and when I finally beat the the final boss(es), it was one of the most rewarding things I have experienced.… Expand
  7. 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
  8. Herkkutatti
    Apr 16, 2013
    9
    Great fun, lots of items and replayability, Randomly generated rooms,nice musics,good variety of monsters,cheap DLC with good amount of new content And the best thing, it is cheap for that good indie game. Solid 9.
  9. Sidekick_Otto
    Apr 16, 2013
    8
    I'm a big fan of rouge-like games and The Binding of Isaac is probably one of the best game of it's kind I've ever played And I've played a few! It's addictive, and harder then hell. It's a buy!
  10. 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
  11. ST0rmbr3ak3r
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    The binding of Isaac is an awesome indie-game! I love it, that you have to play the game again and again to get better items and stuff, but also fight stronger bosses and mobs. To beat the final boss in the dlc wrath of the lamb and to get all the achievements you need to be very patient, you need a lot of luck and also skill! This is actually what an indie game should be!
  12. Herska
    Apr 2, 2013
    9
    With the wrath of the lamb, the 8€ cost of Isaac is still ridiculously cheap. I've played the game for ridiculously long, currently clocking at 84+ hours. Still, the game experience seems to be only enhancing as new items, bosses and areas are introduced. Through skill and tactics the player learns to master different floors, and the process is always swinging from tidious to extremelyWith the wrath of the lamb, the 8€ cost of Isaac is still ridiculously cheap. I've played the game for ridiculously long, currently clocking at 84+ hours. Still, the game experience seems to be only enhancing as new items, bosses and areas are introduced. Through skill and tactics the player learns to master different floors, and the process is always swinging from tidious to extremely enjoyable. The challenge is moderate and the controls are fluent enough, so there is no one to blame for your mistakes.

    The roguelike element can be pretty tiring at times, for a run can last almost a full hour. As long as you know what you are doing (or know how to google a item and/or floor guide) Isaac offers a really well balanced and nice retro-like rogue challenge. Its problems have not bothered me during my 84 playing hours, and I still return to it from time to time.    … Expand
  13. MisterNoodles
    Mar 31, 2013
    9
    The game is cheap at about $5 and it always seems to stay interesting when you find a new item or enter the next room. Though it does tend to get boring after awhile, but you will at least need to spend a good 32 hours before it gets boring. And I can't help coming back and playing it again time to time.
  14. 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
  15. pills
    Mar 22, 2013
    9
    A quite smashing game, i love how creepy it can be at points with all of the satanic influence throughout it. i thoroughly enjoyed wasting countless hours on this game when i should've been doing my work
  16. DogFacedGod
    Mar 16, 2013
    9
    A cheap ,dark zelda styled dungeon crawler mixed with rogue elements with very disturbing themes. Challenging with lots to discover. It can feel a bit unfair in the beginning but you will learn to love it. Lots of replay value, especially with the addon "Wrath of the Lamb"

    For fans of very dark humor and who look for a challenge. Not recommended for pious religious people. :p
  17. TeamBlueFox
    Mar 10, 2013
    10
  18. ReubenIsAGod
    Feb 23, 2013
    9
    Fun, Hard, MAKES ME WANNA CUT MY BALLS OFF, GOD I LOVE THIS GAME WORTH ALL YOUR MONEYS,
  19. ninja_dolphin
    Feb 5, 2013
    10
    This is one unique game, playing like the original zelda but in my opinion far better. This game requires hours upon hours to see everything. It took me 10 hours to beat the game due to it's brutal difficulty. However despite being challenging it rarely feels unfair and whenever you die it's never due to the controls. It does somewhat rely on luck due to you needing some good items toThis is one unique game, playing like the original zelda but in my opinion far better. This game requires hours upon hours to see everything. It took me 10 hours to beat the game due to it's brutal difficulty. However despite being challenging it rarely feels unfair and whenever you die it's never due to the controls. It does somewhat rely on luck due to you needing some good items to stand a chance on the later floors. The animation is fantastic and genuinely weird. The designs of the monsters are extremely unique and the items all have cool effects. This is a great game to just open up and play for half an hour if your bored or need a break from work. I can see why people don't enjoy this game but for me this is a near perfect game.… Expand
  20. doniell
    Feb 1, 2013
    6
    Though I generally like difficult games, I am not a fan of The Binding of Isaac. You do get better every time you play it, and it is very rewarding to beat the game and it's always fun to find new items. But I don't like the whole Everything-Is-Random concept. It makes chance a big part of the game. And you have to try again and again until you not only play well enough but also are luckyThough I generally like difficult games, I am not a fan of The Binding of Isaac. You do get better every time you play it, and it is very rewarding to beat the game and it's always fun to find new items. But I don't like the whole Everything-Is-Random concept. It makes chance a big part of the game. And you have to try again and again until you not only play well enough but also are lucky enough to beat the game. And trying so many times seems like such a waste of time to me.

    To me the weird look and setting was ok. I liked it, but it wasn't great. The soundtrack is great I really like Danny's work! But I don't understand why it is just mono and such a bad sound quality. Maybe there were limitations in the sound engine, because also there are short dropouts during playback probably when the loop starts over again. But still that's a shame.



    All in all it is a game worth playing, but not worth spending too much time on it.    … Expand
  21. Timber
    Jan 25, 2013
    6
    Looks like a flash game but its no reason to not play it. The concept is interesting with EVERY map and weapons being random but personaly i didnt find it that much satisfying.
  22. mckw
    Jan 22, 2013
    8
    Addictive. The game got me hooked for hours just playing and playing it through. Despite having some difficulty spikes, the game is still adorable, simple and you just can't stop playing it! Though, I feel the price does not justify the purchase of this game
  23. ColGamers
    Jan 20, 2013
    0
    As ColombiaGames said this game should be for a cell phone, the story makes no sense.

    for me 0 because you need to pay to 10 dollars for this game.0
  24. 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.
  25. AlanComek
    Jan 8, 2013
    9
    An absolutely brilliant and well-polished game with very nice core mechanics and a fantastic art style. Only problem: THE DIFFICULTY IS FREAKING ABNORMAL. Seriously, I have died so many times that the number of deaths I have equals the number of times I was sent to detention in school, meaning a lot. Psuedo-9.5/10
  26. 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
  27. LopsterPopster
    Jan 5, 2013
    10
    The most addicting game I've ever played. I can't put this game down. If you see me on my laptop, 9/10 times I'm playing this game. It's so wonderfully dark, creepy, and just plain amusing. For being a flash game, some of these monsters really do scare the hell out of me. The music for this game is absolutely wonderful as well. The replay value of this game is very high, the randomlyThe most addicting game I've ever played. I can't put this game down. If you see me on my laptop, 9/10 times I'm playing this game. It's so wonderfully dark, creepy, and just plain amusing. For being a flash game, some of these monsters really do scare the hell out of me. The music for this game is absolutely wonderful as well. The replay value of this game is very high, the randomly generated dungeons, items, and monsters are a blast to find. My only complaint is once I find a really nice item that gets me far in the game, after I've died I can almost never find it again. The best part about this game is that it's super cheap, and Steam has sales on it all the time. Sometimes you can get it for under a dollar. This is one of my favorite games there is.… Expand
  28. Faundleroy
    Jan 3, 2013
    2
    There is a trend emerging in the last years for loving games just for them being hard. Be it "Dark Souls" (which is a great game in itself without taking the difficulty into account) or McMillen's previous hit "Super Meat Boy" (which also is a great game DUE to its very rewarding level of difficulty), and apparently this is the reason why everyone hails "The Binding of Isaac" as much asThere is a trend emerging in the last years for loving games just for them being hard. Be it "Dark Souls" (which is a great game in itself without taking the difficulty into account) or McMillen's previous hit "Super Meat Boy" (which also is a great game DUE to its very rewarding level of difficulty), and apparently this is the reason why everyone hails "The Binding of Isaac" as much as they do. However, there is a major flaw that keeps the difficulty from beeing rewarding: It is the system of randomization. While beeing a great asset in theory because it may increase the replayability, it just doesn't work out with a rogue-like game of this difficulty and in these dimensions. Rogue-like is usually all about trying out different builds, improving your strategies and skill and thus doing better and better in every try. In "The Binding of Isaac" however the majority of your runs will end so early that you aren't able to become any better, and that is not necessarily your fault. If you just get bad items on the first levels (or close to none because no keys dropped) and pick some of the harder bosses for the first level then you are going to have a very bad time. Also there is no choice of character build which means you are even more reliant to good drops. Another major problems is that many of the items have disadvantages that you don't know of before picking them up, and there is no way I know of to unequip picked up gear. The trinkets introduced in the expansion "Wrath of the Lamb" are even more of a pain in the butt because their effects are passive and it is incredibly hard to find out some of them. Some other items render a majority of dropps useless because they change your form.
    The general tone of the game is very dark and straight out nasty. While that may appeal to some, for me it is mindlessly provocant. I don't get the point of crying on turds and using a used and rotten sanitary napkin as weapon.
    The enemy design is good mechanics-wise and all have different patterns to accustom to, but the bosses all look generic. They are all just huge hunks of meat and/or maggots with some blood splattered in. Some of the bosses also require specific gear or they are incredibly hard, which is unfair considering that its just pure luck if you have said gear or not.
    In summary, I guess the majority of people loving the game so much in their reviews never played the games which "The Binding of Isaac" considers itself a homage to, and think it makes them some kind of retro-god to have finished the game. I for my part will just stick to "Dungeons of Dredmor" when I want some modernized piece of rogue-like. Or I will just play one of those old games instead.
    2 points is all I can give.    … Expand
  29. 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
  30. G_Mackzy
    Dec 29, 2012
    5
    This game is comparable in depth of the gameplay to many flash games you'll find on the net, which is why I wouldn't pay anymore than the $1.25 I did during the most recent Steam sale. In saying this it is still a fun game that'll push you to keep playing til you beat it. The random elements of the game can make it unforgiving and incompletable on some runs however you will also haveThis game is comparable in depth of the gameplay to many flash games you'll find on the net, which is why I wouldn't pay anymore than the $1.25 I did during the most recent Steam sale. In saying this it is still a fun game that'll push you to keep playing til you beat it. The random elements of the game can make it unforgiving and incompletable on some runs however you will also have playthroughs that frequently reward you with good loot. This kind of variety means each time is different and you'll have to adjust your play style to suit your upgrades. Worth giving it a go if you're bored and have a few loose dollars to burn.… Expand
  31. PianoRepairman
    Dec 29, 2012
    10
    I have spent more time on this game than on any of the big blockbuster games on my PC. (Skyrim, Dishonored, Bioshock) And not just time, but quality time. This game has tremendous replay value, and for the negative reviews I've read saying that it's all about keyboard mashing and it's just too frustrating, I should point out that you're playing it wrong. Yes, you have to play for a littleI have spent more time on this game than on any of the big blockbuster games on my PC. (Skyrim, Dishonored, Bioshock) And not just time, but quality time. This game has tremendous replay value, and for the negative reviews I've read saying that it's all about keyboard mashing and it's just too frustrating, I should point out that you're playing it wrong. Yes, you have to play for a little bit before you pick it up, but that's not because it's poorly designed and frustrating, it's just very difficult and that's part of what makes it so fun!… Expand
  32. bloodnaught
    Dec 23, 2012
    10
    buy it now on the humble bundle you won't regret it
    (extra characters lololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololololol)
  33. upi
    Dec 19, 2012
    2
    If you are hoping to find a 21-century version of nethack, simply move on, there is nothing to see here. Nothing, that is, but ugly, uninspired graphics and badly designed mechanics. Some games are *good* because you are at the mercy of a Random Number God, but it takes good design and atmosphere to make that work.
  34. KonataGoTimotei
    Dec 15, 2012
    6
    This game is unique in the way that it brings a new, interesting art style, with many MANY different enemies, bosses, and power-ups to collect, and with its dark story. But what it accomplishes in some areas, it falls short in many others.
    The power-ups you collect don't change the game-play in any way, its always a boost to health, damage, or bullet type, there are almost no power-ups    This game is unique in the way that it brings a new, interesting art style, with many MANY different enemies, bosses, and power-ups to collect, and with its dark story. But what it accomplishes in some areas, it falls short in many others.
    The power-ups you collect don't change the game-play in any way, its always a boost to health, damage, or bullet type, there are almost no power-ups that actually dramatically change the way the game plays, its always the same "Walking around crying on turds". I can respect the attempt to create a different, dark, and gruesome art-style that this game tries to portray, but in terms of game-play it really isn't that enjoyable past your first couple play-throughs. Yes, there are many different items to collect, but even with the items, power-ups, and enemies, its still always the same boring, meme-filled garbage for every room and every floor.
    Really, all in all I can respect the premise and idea of the game, but the way it was executed was poor.    … Expand
  35. 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
  36. lahjaunelmia
    Nov 18, 2012
    9
    Awesome game. It's so addictive I mean it was until I got platinum god and that took like over 80 hours to get that. There are so many different items, every run is different, nice music and yeah. This game can be kinda tough at first but soon you'll learn all the tricks and controls can be hard too at first. Game is luck based but I think that's awesome. Great game overall and it's so cheap.
  37. Rolento
    Nov 7, 2012
    8
    Quite luck-based, I'll admit, and yet addicting, fun and definitely not a no-brainer as it might look. Gamers often complain about repetitiveness, non-replayability, preaching about dynamic gameplay and whatnot... if you are going to complain about this game as well, you might as well stop playing any game. It's giving you everything you ever wanted!
  38. KJFK
    Nov 5, 2012
    7
    The game is very fun and very addicting. You will likely find yourself playing over and over again just to see what wacky combinations of items you can beef up your character with. The game can be challenging at times, but for the wrong reasons. Dodging skill is required to really get anywhere in this game, but whether you win or lose is based almost entirely on randomly generated items.The game is very fun and very addicting. You will likely find yourself playing over and over again just to see what wacky combinations of items you can beef up your character with. The game can be challenging at times, but for the wrong reasons. Dodging skill is required to really get anywhere in this game, but whether you win or lose is based almost entirely on randomly generated items. Finding a few good item combos in the beginning almost ensures a win and getting a few bad ones means you are nearly hopeless regardless of skill. The story is also pretty weak, which gives it a very arcade-like feel. Overall the game's interesting gameplay and addictive nature is going to make it worth the price tag, but its over reliance on luck and story, or lack there of, is going to hurt its score.… Expand
  39. MrQaz
    Oct 23, 2012
    10
    Isaac is a roguelike-like, dolloped in the middle of a delicious Zelda/Smash TV sandwich. Zelda veterans will be met with a pleasantly familiar experience upon starting the game, as the game is predominantly based on it. The game has buckets of charm thanks to Ed McMillen's (Super Meat Boy, Gish) macabre/cutesy/gory art style and a haunting and epic soundtrack courtesy of Danny B (SuperIsaac is a roguelike-like, dolloped in the middle of a delicious Zelda/Smash TV sandwich. Zelda veterans will be met with a pleasantly familiar experience upon starting the game, as the game is predominantly based on it. The game has buckets of charm thanks to Ed McMillen's (Super Meat Boy, Gish) macabre/cutesy/gory art style and a haunting and epic soundtrack courtesy of Danny B (Super Meat Boy, Canabalt). A talented team of yay and most certainly woo. Projectile upgrades, useable powers and character stats (Power, Range, Speed, Luck) are all given through items which are given to you, selected at random. this forces you to play the game differently every time. The game rewards you on your accumulated knowledge, which is bestowed unto you after many upon many a death. You must experiment with items, make risks against stupidly unfair odds and die die die DIE DIE SO SO MUCH. Only after you start to recognize the usefulness or how to use a particular item or overall build, do you start to get better.
    ...and that's a great feeling!
    The beauty of it being a rogue-like-like, is that it's simultaneously a very accessible jump-in game and the biggest time-sink since that last RPG you developed insomnia over.
    I have clocked over 100 hours on Isaac, and i'm STILL finding new items I've never seen before and the game in general never stops popping up with little entertaining item combo surprises.
    It always feels fresh, there's loads to unlock and explore.
    Go buy it!
    It's also very cheap! :O
    You won't regret it c:    … Expand
  40. Viacota
    Oct 16, 2012
    7
    Lo bueno: Rápido y aditctivo. Dificultad aceptable, un gran número de objetos(si es que tienes el DLC wraith of the lambs), habitaciones, itemes y enemigos aleatorios.
    Lo Malo: Básicamente para pasarlo no dependes de tu habilidad sino de la suerte de que te salgan los buenos itemes. Enemigos muy parecidos en apariencia. Si vas con buena racha de itemes se te    Lo bueno: Rápido y aditctivo. Dificultad aceptable, un gran número de objetos(si es que tienes el DLC wraith of the lambs), habitaciones, itemes y enemigos aleatorios.
    Lo Malo: Básicamente para pasarlo no dependes de tu habilidad sino de la suerte de que te salgan los buenos itemes. Enemigos muy parecidos en apariencia. Si vas con buena racha de itemes se te hará muy corto el juego.    … Expand
  41. NDHCemployee
    Oct 8, 2012
    10
    People who complain about this game are those who play games like CoD, where "skill" is all that matters. Binding of Issac is not about skill. It's about manning up, taking what the game gives you, and shutting the **** up about it. This isn't a game where you can say "Give me the OP weapon" and expect it to give it to you. This is a game about blind luck. This is a game doesn't hesitatePeople who complain about this game are those who play games like CoD, where "skill" is all that matters. Binding of Issac is not about skill. It's about manning up, taking what the game gives you, and shutting the **** up about it. This isn't a game where you can say "Give me the OP weapon" and expect it to give it to you. This is a game about blind luck. This is a game doesn't hesitate to knock you down and kick you in the balls if you're **** or don't know anything about what you've been given. This is a game where the incompetent, weak, and unlucky and ruthlessly crushed, and only the quick, the adaptive, and the strong survive. And I love it to death for being such a bastard hard game.… Expand
  42. fhouse
    Oct 1, 2012
    1
    Very-very disappointed. Controls are bad. Shooting sucks with Joytokey either. The visuals are nice, but overall it's an unfair, almost completely luck based, cheap flash game. (Today I learned what "rouge like elements" mean.)
  43. Le_Moose
    Sep 7, 2012
    8
    Holy cow, I have played a few games in my time that have needlessly driven me over the brink of insanity, but The Binding of Isaac easily takes it's place in the top 10. No game has brought me more frustration than earning a great amount of items and then suddenly losing them in one fell swoop. But therein lies the beauty that is The Binding of Isaac. It teaches you to get out of yourHoly cow, I have played a few games in my time that have needlessly driven me over the brink of insanity, but The Binding of Isaac easily takes it's place in the top 10. No game has brought me more frustration than earning a great amount of items and then suddenly losing them in one fell swoop. But therein lies the beauty that is The Binding of Isaac. It teaches you to get out of your typical, "I've got lives to spare," gaming lifestyle and treasure those precious hearts at the top of the screen. This game truly requires you to play with precision and speed. In it's simplicity it becomes incredibly difficult! And that is why it's fun! Sure, frustration happens when you build up your hero to his highest stature and it all crumbles before your eyes, but the game restarts and a new adventure begins! If there ever was a game to teach you to learn self-control, the value of life, and how to truly make you a new dungeon experience on every playthrough, it was this game! Add it to your collection!… Expand
  44. 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
  45. brand_eins
    Sep 6, 2012
    10
    bought the game steam sale. The original "Binding" and the DLC "Wrath of the Lamb" for something about 3 bucks. Wow, what a game! I played more then 40 hours. There are still new sides to discover in that game. It's very highly re-playable. It's worth every penny, really.
  46. ThaEpicBunny
    Sep 3, 2012
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is one of the best games I've played, and I've played many. The thing that makes this game so awesome is the random elements, one time you could get a knife which freezes enemies and bosses. The second time you could get a item that makes your tears piss and you're going around looking for range up's and the third time you could get touched by a fly and die because you couldn't kill it in time because you're playing as Eve. The games is very luck based but you do actually need to have some skill, like knowing an enemy's patterns so you can successfully dodge it's attacks. Or being able to throw bombs from your face, because of a fetus, and actually hitting fast enemies with them. It's very fun and it's so cheap that your just silly for saying that you wasted your money on it. It's only five dollars.… Expand
  47. ComradePB
    Aug 28, 2012
    8
    The Binding of Isaac is an interesting case. If you are not a hardcore gamer, then this game is probably not for you, if you are, read on. One of the biggest drawing points to The Binding of Isaac is that fact that no two play throughs are the same, this is good for replayability which I cannot praise enough, it's always good to keep the game interesting so the player doesn't get bored.The Binding of Isaac is an interesting case. If you are not a hardcore gamer, then this game is probably not for you, if you are, read on. One of the biggest drawing points to The Binding of Isaac is that fact that no two play throughs are the same, this is good for replayability which I cannot praise enough, it's always good to keep the game interesting so the player doesn't get bored. This could be said for the multiple endings as well, that is, if they were done properly. Rather than going the traditional route of having your actons affect the outcome of your playthrough the game instead gives you a different ending everytime you complete the game. I feel like this takes away from the replayability because you're not really doing anything different, it's just another run through. Speaking of which there will no doubt be a lot of run throughs. The Binding of Isaac has no checkpoints, savepoints, or even extra lives. When you die you start all over losing all of your progress. At first it makes you just angry enough that you want to keep playing and you'll probably think to yourself "I can beat this!" but then 20 death later it may have you on the verge of rage quitting. That said it may help some players to hear that there are only 8 total levels in the whole game. Now before you start saying "that's too short", let me just clairify a few things. First of all, the amount of time you spend in a level is entirely up to you. You can choose to go straight to the boss or take a second to find any items you can before moving on. Second the levels are like mazes that gradually get more complicated and more difficult to traverse with every passing level so you probably won't notice. Also I should warn you that the game does tend to be rather...disturbing, but one thing that helps to balance things out is the game's cartoony style which is simple yet at times very detailed and I enjoy it. Finally I should point out that this game is being sold at the very low price of $4.99 on Steam, so it's very easy to pick up.… Expand
  48. Loku
    Aug 28, 2012
    9
    Funny, fast, hard. Hard. Hard. Hard. Funny. Funny. Funny. You'll lose days trying to get Isaac out of the dungeons. Really enjoiable game. Buy it! Now with a cheap dlc!
  49. Jfoxx64
    Aug 25, 2012
    6
    The game is a fun for a few runs if the gory interesting looking characters don't make you wonder why exactly you decided to get the game. The numerous upgrades and entirely random gathering of them with little explanation of what anything does makes it hard to find what exactly it is your looking for without researching elsewhere but what ultimately ruins this game is the low replayThe game is a fun for a few runs if the gory interesting looking characters don't make you wonder why exactly you decided to get the game. The numerous upgrades and entirely random gathering of them with little explanation of what anything does makes it hard to find what exactly it is your looking for without researching elsewhere but what ultimately ruins this game is the low replay value. Once you run through it once it really becomes a "collect the other objects" game and there are plenty of other games with better graphics and more interesting objects to collect.… Expand
  50. andrew77
    Aug 16, 2012
    10
    I just couldn't get enough. I played it and played it. the pseudo creepy characters were fun but tough. I loved the random mapping and I knew that I could always play through in about an hour. I made just over 100 full trips before the expansion came out. I had to do about 100 to get all the items. But I loved every one and my four year old daughter loved to watch and tell me what to do next, too!
  51. Kyo
    Aug 5, 2012
    8
    This is really a fun and amusing game. I usually don't like games like this that give you only one chance to get to the end, if you die in this game you die meaning you have to start all over again, but starting over will give you a different experience. With the 100+ different power ups you will have a new set of abilities each run. Everything is randomized, from the levels, to bosses andThis is really a fun and amusing game. I usually don't like games like this that give you only one chance to get to the end, if you die in this game you die meaning you have to start all over again, but starting over will give you a different experience. With the 100+ different power ups you will have a new set of abilities each run. Everything is randomized, from the levels, to bosses and the power up's with tons of unlockables for even more stuff. You feel a sense of accomplishment when you get to the end of the game, I literally cheered when I beat the last boss which turns out was only one of many end bosses. The first boss kill is only the beginning. Just to watch Isaac's transformation as you get deeper in the basement with all the power up's, can be a site of horror or humor depends on how you take it! :)… Expand
  52. camagun1
    Aug 3, 2012
    10
    dont listen to camagun aka micheal shave listen to scott c jones and victor lucas this is game of the year and micheal shaves pin to his debit is ****
  53. 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
  54. Stokedninja
    Jul 23, 2012
    7
    I found this game fun but really, hard. I could not get past the first level. but soon a bit of help from youtube and my friends got me to the next level. But after i died in the second level. Trust me this is a good game... for those who aren't noobs and know how to play. im a casual gamer. this game caught my attention and, my friends kept talking about it. i bought the game and enteredI found this game fun but really, hard. I could not get past the first level. but soon a bit of help from youtube and my friends got me to the next level. But after i died in the second level. Trust me this is a good game... for those who aren't noobs and know how to play. im a casual gamer. this game caught my attention and, my friends kept talking about it. i bought the game and entered a code on steam. Because of the story and the gameplay it had me coming back for more.… Expand
  55. KingVrox
    Jul 21, 2012
    9
    This is a highly difficult, but fun and addictive game. The game is short, but that fits the theme of the game, as there are no saves and you have to restart completely when you die, which happens a lot. Due to the dungeon's random loot and dungeons, your game play is very different each time, and never gets repetitive.

    The game presents you with some difficult choices as well. Do you    This is a highly difficult, but fun and addictive game. The game is short, but that fits the theme of the game, as there are no saves and you have to restart completely when you die, which happens a lot. Due to the dungeon's random loot and dungeons, your game play is very different each time, and never gets repetitive.

    The game presents you with some difficult choices as well. Do you want to spend 2 hearts of health for some mysterious new power to aid you in battle? Do you want to enter the room with a spiked door, which hurts you when you enter or leave? Do you use your last remaining key to enter the shop, which might not even have anything you want, but could have the health you desperately need, or do you save the key to open a treasure room to get an upgrade of some sort? The game isn't just a hack 'n slash game, there's a lot of choices you have to make as well.

    The graphics are fine for the style of the game, and the way your character's appearance changes when you get loot is great.

    The music gets repetitive, but you can easily just turn the music off and listen to your own music instead, just leaving the sound effects on.

    The only downside is that most of the details about the hundreds of different items in the game are not explained very well in-game. I wound up going to the game's wiki to check what the item I just got did very often.

    To sum up, its a great game worth buying, just be warned that it is a very, very difficult game.    … Expand
  56. sterlingwriter
    Jul 21, 2012
    7
    Great game for the price (especially if you get it for 75% off on Steam). It's very challenging, meaning that you probably won't beat it on your first, second, tenth, or even fiftieth play through. It takes a fair amount of skill and a bit of luck in finding good items to beat this game. When you first start, you will need to get used to the feel of the game -- like figuring out how theGreat game for the price (especially if you get it for 75% off on Steam). It's very challenging, meaning that you probably won't beat it on your first, second, tenth, or even fiftieth play through. It takes a fair amount of skill and a bit of luck in finding good items to beat this game. When you first start, you will need to get used to the feel of the game -- like figuring out how the enemies line up on the screen, and when to stop moving so your character doesn't accidentally go through a door, but once you get used to the controls, the awkwardness isn't as noticeable. I like the randomly generated levels and items, despite the fact that I sense it's trolling me at every opportunity (ie, having 54 coins for three levels and never finding one more coin I could pick up to get 55 and unlock Cain). If games make you rage, you might want to stay away from this one, because there are times you can have a near perfect run, and still lose due to the random nature of the game. A lot of the items are buggy as well, and it can be tough to play this one without a wiki at your side, since the game doesn't actually tell you what any of the items do (and I'm not usually one to like using wiki's for help at all, but it feels necessary in BoI). Overall though, not too shabby!… Expand
  57. GREW50ME
    Jul 15, 2012
    5
    I love the idea of the game. The story was wonderful. Unfortunately, the control and graphics options are anything but. When you first load the game, it goes into a windowed cinematic. That is where the problems begin. I don't know what size the windo is, but it looks as if it takes up less than 1/4 of my 32" screen. As another reviewer mentioned, the control scheme (think Smash TV)I love the idea of the game. The story was wonderful. Unfortunately, the control and graphics options are anything but. When you first load the game, it goes into a windowed cinematic. That is where the problems begin. I don't know what size the windo is, but it looks as if it takes up less than 1/4 of my 32" screen. As another reviewer mentioned, the control scheme (think Smash TV) really seems to fit a dual analog controller. So, what do they do about it? They tell you to Google it in the options. That's right. In order to control the game, you need to Google the settings. At least the program they suggest is designed for the game, right? WRONG! The program they suggested doesn't even have dual analog support. The very least they could have done was have a link in the options that links right to a program that actually has dual analog support. Total time played: 27 mins. Total time spent actually doing stuff in game: 5 mins. I am just too frustrated to spend any more time on this game. Too bad, because if the options worked, I would have given it a much higher score.… Expand
  58. gabriot
    Jul 14, 2012
    2
    This game will make you rage, and for all the wrong reasons. Where do I begin... The idea of randomly generated dungeons is a good one... but it ends about right there. The level design in this game is ATROCIOUS! You wanna know the difference between a good game like Link to the Past and an awful one like Binding of Isaac? Everything has purpose in the dungeon. Not in BoS though, hereThis game will make you rage, and for all the wrong reasons. Where do I begin... The idea of randomly generated dungeons is a good one... but it ends about right there. The level design in this game is ATROCIOUS! You wanna know the difference between a good game like Link to the Past and an awful one like Binding of Isaac? Everything has purpose in the dungeon. Not in BoS though, here you'll have COUNTLESS play-throughs where there will be items and areas that are just completely in-accessible because of the way the dungeon is "designed". For instance, if you don't give even one key or bomb in the entire first dungeon, why oh WHY would you have a bunch of locked chests, boulders that block areas off, and locked doors? That's **** AWFUL design, and it's a complete cop-out to call this level of randomness a "feature". It's just lazy, sloppy programming at its finest. On top of that the powerups and items are so imbalanced that on some playthroughs I will go so far as to say that it is literally IMPOSSIBLE to beat it with what's given you. For instance, there are enemies in later dugeons that are so fast that if you didn't get enough speed upgrades (or got screwed by pills or items that permanently slow you) you will have NO CHANCE of outrunning them, and thus cannot beat them without taking TONS of damage. Moreover, if you didn't get proper firepower upgrades randomly generated for you, there will be rooms with hordes of beasts that can't actually be beaten. That is **** INEXCUSABLE. That doesn't scream "feature" to me, it screams "MAJOR DESIGN FLAW" to me. Most enemies can fire diagonally, but you can't. Your best bet is to slightly angle your shots by running in the direction. It's just plain awful, and there are SO many god damn things that can screw you over in this game. For instance if you beat a boss and happen to be standing on the place where the "stairs" open up, you immediately get thrust into the next level BEFORE you ever get a chance to collect your much needed powerup. This is also **** awful design, horrible horrible horrible horrible. Put a **** delay in at least for christ's sakes. Overall this game is just plain ass. There are not many redeeming qualities, it really should be a free game because I already regret the 1 dollar I spent on this piece of **** and the 20 bucks I'll have to pay to buy a new god damn keyboard from slamming it in frustration. **** this game and **** the developers for knowingly releasing such a piece of trash. Didn't the release Super Meat Boy? How did they go from THAT to THIS??!! Makes no sense, maybe they bumped their head somewhere along the way and got brain damage.

    Avoid this game at all costs, I am convinced the people who enjoy it don't actually enjoy it, but are rather buying into the hype because it's made by the SMB developers. If they took one god damned second to critically look at this game they'd realize how **** awfully designed it is.    … Expand
  59. Sir_Callahan
    Jul 2, 2012
    9
    Great game, check it out when on steam specials. It can get repetative, as the no-save system means redoing levels frequently. However, levels are randomly generated, so this keeps things interesting. Definately best with it's expansion. The amount of items is great for such a small game. Well worth it, you could do a lot worse.
  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. Billick
    Jun 26, 2012
    9
    What do you get when you cross a roguelike with the original Legend of Zelda, and throw in the twisted style of Edmund McMillen? The Binding of Issac is the answer to this bizarre question, the result is a surprising satisfying experience. Each play through of the randomly generated dungeon will include a different combination of rooms, crazy loot and bosses. The game starts out veryWhat do you get when you cross a roguelike with the original Legend of Zelda, and throw in the twisted style of Edmund McMillen? The Binding of Issac is the answer to this bizarre question, the result is a surprising satisfying experience. Each play through of the randomly generated dungeon will include a different combination of rooms, crazy loot and bosses. The game starts out very easy in the early levels, but the difficulty ramps up quickly. The game is pretty short, but new items are unlocked by playing, giving it a lot of replay value. The music is excellent, although McMillen's art style is a bit of an acquired taste. Overall, it's a fun little game for a cheap price.… Expand
  62. SoCalCris
    Jun 22, 2012
    10
    Awesome game! This just throws you into the fray and lets you find out everything for yourself and has a lot of dark or funny items and references. Amazing replayability because you never get the same experience. Great game especially for 5$.Completely worth it.
  63. GratefulLoC
    Jun 21, 2012
    10
    Most replay value I've come across in a game in the past 10 years or so. I think this game is seriously underrated, the people giving it a low score clearly haven't progressed to the point that the item combos get incredibly interesting. Whole new play styles emerge past certain points, making it essentially a whole new game just after you think you've finally beat it. Tough game,Most replay value I've come across in a game in the past 10 years or so. I think this game is seriously underrated, the people giving it a low score clearly haven't progressed to the point that the item combos get incredibly interesting. Whole new play styles emerge past certain points, making it essentially a whole new game just after you think you've finally beat it. Tough game, incredibly rewarding and ultimately the best 5 dollars I've spent in a LONG time. I'd recommend it to anybody, in fact I've purchased 5 copies just to give to friends to ensure nobody misses out on this game.… Expand
  64. Xsonic
    Jun 16, 2012
    9
    good game for its value. This is probably one of the indie games that I spent most of the time playing due to its replayability. Everytime I start a new game, I always hope to find a new item. This game's level randomization plus a vast array of item upgrades makes you want to play over and over again.

    If you are not offended by the theme of the game and focus on Gameplay, well, this    good game for its value. This is probably one of the indie games that I spent most of the time playing due to its replayability. Everytime I start a new game, I always hope to find a new item. This game's level randomization plus a vast array of item upgrades makes you want to play over and over again.

    If you are not offended by the theme of the game and focus on Gameplay, well, this game might be for you.    … Expand
  65. whataruckus
    Jun 13, 2012
    10
    This game is maddeningly addictive. I can play it for a few minuets, or look up bleary eyed from a 4 hours session. Almost 100 hours into the game I am still discovering new things, playing with item combinations, and enjoying myself. Do yourself a favor and give this game a shot.
  66. a7quantum
    Jun 13, 2012
    10
    Definitely the best Indie game of 2011! At first I couldn't even realize what to do, but eventually I had just stuck to a monitor and tried, and, and tried... Finally I've completed my first time after 45 hours and... 170 attempts. Kinda creepy you think? Way noooo! Desirable design, action gaming, shivering secrets, awesome dialogs, perfect storyline, hidden truth and, finally, beautiful Isaac!
  67. Dakoda
    Jun 13, 2012
    9
    Great game at a $5 price. Cute little animated movies, creepy monsters, awesome power-ups and hours of playing. This is what some people call "rogue-like" which is just where you spawn into a world, try to get as far as you can and if you die; well, you have to start over from the beginning. I'm not that type of player, although I do challenge myself sometimes and play games that are likeGreat game at a $5 price. Cute little animated movies, creepy monsters, awesome power-ups and hours of playing. This is what some people call "rogue-like" which is just where you spawn into a world, try to get as far as you can and if you die; well, you have to start over from the beginning. I'm not that type of player, although I do challenge myself sometimes and play games that are like this. (like on Minecraft/Hardcore mode) Enjoyable game and a moderately-high playback, meaning you'll wanna keep playing this game over and over again.… Expand
  68. Withinmdot
    Jun 11, 2012
    10
    I believe this game is worth every penny I spent on it. It is full of fun. It is not a game for everyone though and can get frustrating for some. Not an easy game for most, but a breeze for others. For me, it was quite difficult at first and I died a ton. The controls were a little odd too but after a while I actually got used to them. You have to have interest in the game to keep playingI believe this game is worth every penny I spent on it. It is full of fun. It is not a game for everyone though and can get frustrating for some. Not an easy game for most, but a breeze for others. For me, it was quite difficult at first and I died a ton. The controls were a little odd too but after a while I actually got used to them. You have to have interest in the game to keep playing and that is how you'll get the most of the game. Once again, the game is not for everyone. Playing it the first few times won't do anything for you. The story is open for interpretation and it is a lot deeper than what is shown in the intro (at least that is how I interpret it). The artwork is adorable and that is why I can stand all the blood and cruel designs. The Binding of Isaac helps make those moments where you have nothing to do to go faster. I absolutely love this game and I would definitely (and already do) recommend to my friends. I'm always itching to play another game just to see how far I will get this time and what items I could obtain. Tip: There is a demo, try it first.… Expand
  69. Minja
    Jun 9, 2012
    9
    For only $9.99 (About 8 euros,) this game is a gem. When Isaac's mother hears the voice of God, telling her to murder her own son, Isaac hides in the basement, bracing the evils and terrors to come...
    TBOI is a randomly generated dungeon-crawler with a sense of humor. There's nothing like that adrenaline rushing through your veins when you defeat a boss. That tingling sensation when you    For only $9.99 (About 8 euros,) this game is a gem. When Isaac's mother hears the voice of God, telling her to murder her own son, Isaac hides in the basement, bracing the evils and terrors to come...
    TBOI is a randomly generated dungeon-crawler with a sense of humor. There's nothing like that adrenaline rushing through your veins when you defeat a boss. That tingling sensation when you come across a treasury. Very few games, especially indie, capture that feeling that TBOI does. As you delve deeper into the basement, the enemies get tougher, and your chances of survival slowly but surely narrow. My only problem is it's difficulty. TBOI is so damn hard, I wanted to throw my laptop at the window sometimes, usually when you're so close to beating it. In short, The Binding of Isaac is a hard-as-hell game that really can't be missed, whether you're a Zelda or Super Meat Boy fan.    … Expand
  70. asdf3011
    Jun 9, 2012
    10
    Great game I see my self play when listening to some or have no internet but it one of the best game to have a back round on.Plus I pay like because I not 100% in to it but it worth 8$ 5$+3$.And even more if you really like these this.Even if only 50% like it or maybe less buy it.It lots better than most thing and stay at the same level of fun and is long.And to shoot you only need toGreat game I see my self play when listening to some or have no internet but it one of the best game to have a back round on.Plus I pay like because I not 100% in to it but it worth 8$ 5$+3$.And even more if you really like these this.Even if only 50% like it or maybe less buy it.It lots better than most thing and stay at the same level of fun and is long.And to shoot you only need to click one time which is silly thing to bring it down for that much.Even if it was like that the dev listens to people and would fix it.… Expand
  71. 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
  72. 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
  73. 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!
  74. 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
  75. Netetkan
    May 27, 2012
    8
    Really nice little game. Easy to get used to and a whole lot of fun. The graphics are simple and do not hinder your experience. The controls are very simple. It could be a bit lengthier though.Can be a bit...odd at times, but it is worth whatever price you pay for it.
  76. 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
  77. iamkyo90
    May 19, 2012
    8
    It has awesome graphics but the gameplay is very good! Every time you start playing, change the levels, enemies, bosses, items. Have much variety in every way. It is very addictive. Thoroughly recommend it.
  78. 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
  79. 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
  80. RexMan85
    May 8, 2012
    8
    The Binding of Isaac is a really good game, with a great replay ability, it will get you a lot for your money, and you can get in to it really fast, and the music, is AMAZING...
  81. Jaffacake
    May 7, 2012
    9
    A surprisingly deep game, once you battle the initial fear of its difficulty. Multiple plays reward you with improved skills and greater variability (including new challenges), and the procedurally designed levels give it randomness that will always make all attempts to succeed interesting. An expansion due May 2012 is expected to give greater depth still. Well worth picking up!
  82. 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.
  83. 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
  84. 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
  85. 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.
  86. Zane
    Feb 23, 2012
    9
    I'm not entirely sure why, but I find myself wanting to play this game more often than any other in my Steam library. Perhaps it's its fairly short playtime that doesn't require a ton of free time, or maybe it's its cute design and layout, with a different setup each playthrough. It's a deceptively long game that never seems tedious, though it may cause you to "ragequit" occasionally.
  87. 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. :)
  88. 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
  89. 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
  90. 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
  91. 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.
  92. 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
  93. 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
  94. 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
  95. 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
  96. 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
  97. 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
  98. 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.
  99. MB1
    Dec 15, 2011
    8
    This is a very fun game and also very hard. I think there are six different playthrough characters and I have only been able to beat the game with the first one. This game would be great to have on a PSP or similar device.
  100. Xman490
    Dec 13, 2011
    8
    This cheap title is worth the money as a retro Zelda-like game based on avoiding projectiles and defeating hideous enemies with tears and items. The game really acts as a gamble, though. You could be good at it and die to a blood donation station because you thought you would get higher max health and healing for it. You could also damage yourself with pills that could instead heal you.This cheap title is worth the money as a retro Zelda-like game based on avoiding projectiles and defeating hideous enemies with tears and items. The game really acts as a gamble, though. You could be good at it and die to a blood donation station because you thought you would get higher max health and healing for it. You could also damage yourself with pills that could instead heal you. Bombs, keys, and coins have to be kept in check because the game always throws (wasted) opportunities at you. I have not even got past the second third of a playthrough (there are 6 levels total with soaring difficulty).… 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

All reviews »
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.
    Read full review
  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
    Read full review
  3. 4P.de
    Feb 28, 2012
    87
    Zelda meets Robotron: Isaac celebrates old school topdown action in randomly generated dungeons.
    Read full review
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