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. 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. :)
  2. FakeLies
    Nov 9, 2011
    9
    The best deal (prize) i ever made ...i bouth it on steam for 5 euro and already played around 75 hours ! It´s charming and humourous,although the main reason to play this game on a nd on is testing the dozens of different randomly given items amd to chieve every damn achievemt in this game...it´s great...the story is thrown at you in a few sentences,the graphicsThe best deal (prize) i ever made ...i bouth it on steam for 5 euro and already played around 75 hours ! It´s charming and humourous,although the main reason to play this game on a nd on is testing the dozens of different randomly given items amd to chieve every damn achievemt in this game...it´s great...the story is thrown at you in a few sentences,the graphics are nothing phenomenal nor anything like that as you can see in screenshots,and the sound is nothing more than ok...but somehow the gameplay,even if its as simple as pressing for keys for walking,4 keys for shooting in different angles adn space for the use of items it always gets me back playing this game...… Expand
  3. All4n
    Nov 10, 2011
    9
    This game is fun, lots of items that you can get/unlock lots of monsters. It has quite much content. It is damn hard at the start and you will die a lot, but keep trying!
  4. Izumo199
    Nov 21, 2011
    9
    This game is amazing! And for only $5! It starts out hard and a little slow but once you figure out what your doing and really get into it you will have a blast! Theres a bunch of different items and power ups, the bosses are original and have a lot of variety and the graphics aren't perfect but they do the job and they have there own little shine to them. Something that I find interestingThis game is amazing! And for only $5! It starts out hard and a little slow but once you figure out what your doing and really get into it you will have a blast! Theres a bunch of different items and power ups, the bosses are original and have a lot of variety and the graphics aren't perfect but they do the job and they have there own little shine to them. Something that I find interesting about this game is the extreme amount of satanic themes and references. I also love how they took a lot of influence from classic Zelda. Definitely worth the $5. I reccomend this to anyone.… Expand
  5. 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
  6. Gamebrain8505
    Nov 27, 2011
    9
    This is a great game, I found the story to be quite amusing and (unlike some others) I realised that it was almost completely satirical and that most of it shouldn't be taken too seriously.
    For a game made by just two people this is really great.
  7. 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
  8. 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.
  9. LordFoortwenti
    Jul 8, 2014
    9
    This is a great game, that can give you hundreds of hours of varied gameplay, for a low price of admission. I would best describe this as a Rogue-like meets the original Legend of Zelda, but it really goes way beyond that simple description. Basically, you play through randomly generated dungeons reminiscent of the dungeons from LoZ using a choice of six different characters, w/ eachThis is a great game, that can give you hundreds of hours of varied gameplay, for a low price of admission. I would best describe this as a Rogue-like meets the original Legend of Zelda, but it really goes way beyond that simple description. Basically, you play through randomly generated dungeons reminiscent of the dungeons from LoZ using a choice of six different characters, w/ each character playing like a traditional RPG "class" like the Warrior, Druid, Cleric, etc. There are a total of six "chapters" for each play-through, and each "chapter" contains two floors. On each floor you will find at least one treasure room, 2 secret rooms, and one boss room, w/ a lot of other possible "bonus rooms" thrown in like the Shop, Arcade, or Library. The general idea of the game is to battle your way through each floor collecting power-ups that do things like give you a different type of shot (for example homing shots, or turning your regular "bullets" into missiles), increase your stats (Health, Speed, Damage, Shot Rate, and Range), or give you other items that alter the way you interact with the world and the enemies. This is what some of the other reviewers here don't seem to get, this game is all about finding, and using, all the really neat and widely varied power-ups with the different characters to complete the game in different ways. It's easy to see that some of the other reviewers did not spend a lot of time with the game b/c the true genius of this game isn't apparent after just an hour or two, or even a play-through or two. Since the game features randomly generated rooms, strung together to form new dungeons every time you play, when you mix that with the literally HUNDREDS of items, and power-ups that significantly alter game play, you will never play the same game twice.

    I can understand not everyone "getting" this game, it IS quite difficult until you really get a hang of the feel of the controls, and there are certain points where the game actually makes itself harder (after defeating certain bosses, or completing the game a certain number of times) and for the longest time I played w/ the browser open in the background so I could look and see what a certain item did. Then there is the story...which is a bit, weird (to put it mildly). The story is loosely based off of the Biblical story of Abraham and his son Isaac, whom god ordered Abraham to sacrifice as a show of faith, fear and obedience. I don't see why anyone would take offense, but then again, I'm not a very religious person. But, imho, all these are very minor quibbles with what I have found to be one of the best values for my gaming dollars EVER.

    If you ever see this game on sale during a Steam sale, do yourself a favor and grab this game, you can get both the original + the xpac for like $3 when they have it up at 75% off. At that price, this should be a no brainer.    … Expand
  10. 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
  11. 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
  12. 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
  13. 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.
  14. 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
  15. ReubenIsAGod
    Feb 23, 2013
    9
    Fun, Hard, MAKES ME WANNA CUT MY BALLS OFF, GOD I LOVE THIS GAME WORTH ALL YOUR MONEYS,
  16. 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!
  17. MatthewTheDark
    May 13, 2013
    9
    After playing a game like Super Meat Boy, I wondered just how screwed up in the head Edmund was for making such a game that had no right being so amazing. "What could he think of next?" I would ask. The answer I got was disturbing but oh so pleasing, The Binding of Isaac. This game is as creepy and mental as the trailer leads it on to be. You fight demonic entities, decapitated bodies,After playing a game like Super Meat Boy, I wondered just how screwed up in the head Edmund was for making such a game that had no right being so amazing. "What could he think of next?" I would ask. The answer I got was disturbing but oh so pleasing, The Binding of Isaac. This game is as creepy and mental as the trailer leads it on to be. You fight demonic entities, decapitated bodies, giant worms, biblical figures, mirror copies yourself (it's complicated), and other abominations throughout the game while keeping a consistent tone for the most part. It can get comical how outrageous this game gets. References, scenes, and power-ups lighten the tone slightly as the game gets weirder and weirder. As you play, you get more characters, more bosses, and even make the game harder. There are lots of endings to spare as well as power-ups to find and unlock. The game evokes a feeling of satisfaction whenever I play it, giving me a great experience. The game is hard however, so you may wanna be careful. If I personally have one complaint, it's the engine. Flash is an engine that, in my opinion, isn't much more complex than the wheel. It's just as primative too. For the most part, the engine behaves, but lag, bugs, and worse can happen without a moment's notice. But I feel all this is fair considering a game that kicks THIS much ass is only $5. I love this game. Go buy it.… Expand
  18. 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。
  19. 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
  20. 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.
  21. 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
  22. 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.
  23. 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
  24. 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.
  25. 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
  26. xTreeCutterx
    May 11, 2013
    9
    Incredibly fun game. It has an insane amount of replay value as the combination of weapons are endless. It's dauntingly difficult at first, but once you get more familiar with the controls, enemy movements, and the gameplay mechanics, it becomes a lot more enjoyable. I poured days into this game, I've gotten the absolute final achievement, but I keep playing this game. Every new game isIncredibly fun game. It has an insane amount of replay value as the combination of weapons are endless. It's dauntingly difficult at first, but once you get more familiar with the controls, enemy movements, and the gameplay mechanics, it becomes a lot more enjoyable. I poured days into this game, I've gotten the absolute final achievement, but I keep playing this game. Every new game is literally a new game. You'll never know what item you'll get on the first floor, and what kind of unique combination it'll have with the item you get on the second.… Expand
  27. colonelgaraffi
    May 17, 2013
    9
    Easily worth it's relatively cheap price, Isaac is a brilliantly refreshing game. I really enjoyed it's controls and random generation. Great for casual pick up and play moments. Very difficult, but many would not call this a downside. Get it.
  28. DanielWesoly
    Jun 15, 2013
    9
    I religiously play this game atleast once a day to see if I can finally defeat the final boss. I never succeed, but that's what keeps me coming back for more! each time you play through, the game gets randomized in every aspect. Different enemies, different map layouts, different items, healths, difficulty! almost everything. And I seriously love that aspect in games, it's what keepsI religiously play this game atleast once a day to see if I can finally defeat the final boss. I never succeed, but that's what keeps me coming back for more! each time you play through, the game gets randomized in every aspect. Different enemies, different map layouts, different items, healths, difficulty! almost everything. And I seriously love that aspect in games, it's what keeps gamers coming back for more. The thrill of having the game change when you come back to it. I've clocked up 24 hours of gameplay and I am still finding bosses that I have never fought before! suprises enemies, and items! the game's soundtrack is really nostalgic too, for some reason it reminds me of real old school gaming years. Since this game is also 3£ on steam, it is certainly worth picking up! you will not regret it!… Expand
  29. a0puncfan
    Jun 23, 2013
    9
    In short: It's good. Buy it if you're into rogue-like dungeon crawlers with heavy Legend of Zelda elements.

    So I bought this game during a sale where it was $1.24, but originally it's a $5 game. You play as Isaac, a young boy who flees to the depths of his basement after his over religious mother hears God command her to kill her son. From there Isaac must gather powerups and items    In short: It's good. Buy it if you're into rogue-like dungeon crawlers with heavy Legend of Zelda elements.

    So I bought this game during a sale where it was $1.24, but originally it's a $5 game.

    You play as Isaac, a young boy who flees to the depths of his basement after his over religious mother hears God command her to kill her son. From there Isaac must gather powerups and items to help him defeat his mother in combat.

    So it's simple, and fun. Fun. Well, it's basically the Legend of Zelda (the first one that is) on steroids. It's basically screen to screen rooms, fighting a boss and fighting enemies along the way. After you kill the boss, you can go down another floor, rinse and repeat. It's just addicting, as each floor gets larger and larger, with great boss battles and interesting secrets to be found.
    There are several characters to unlock by doing several little challenges, and each has their own little perks and stats.

    There's very few criticisms to think of at time of writing, besides that the game can be a little unforgiving at times. Death and Isaac go hand in hand and you will spend endless hours trying to outdo yourself and your own progress.
    The game has endless replay value and will have you playing for hours and hours.
    The score by Danny Baranowsky is just amazing, the music being unique and great to hear during the time you spend on this game. Credit goes out to him and his skill.

    If you like this genre, check out the demo, and if you like that, go ahead and purchase the game.    … Expand
  30. benpaco
    Feb 6, 2014
    9
    A great "five more minutes game". I'll just try it one more time. Oh, I almost made it to the womb. OK, I gotta try again. Oh, I unlocked a new item. Better go look for that.

    There is no stopping this game.
  31. Shockderment
    Jul 11, 2013
    9
    Very Good Game. Very hard at first but will get easier. My Win/Death was at once 7-17. Now its 75-67. After a while it will get easy. If you buy this game and don't like it... Its just 5 bucks so calm down.
  32. mijxero
    Apr 3, 2015
    9
    I love the gameplay and weird style that this game has. The story is either very deep or the creator threw a bunch of random things together and knew we would try to analyze it and pick it apart. Either way I really enjoy how easy it is to turn this on and have a quick play-through.
  33. Add1cted
    Nov 12, 2015
    9
    £3? Bargain of the year. Basic, but great fun the game is weird and challenging in perfect amounts. Not one for the kids (even though poo wee and sick are the main themes)
  34. Dr_Fetus
    Oct 28, 2013
    9
    Another great indie game that has a lot of achievements to fulfill and is by no means a walk in the park, TBoI and its DLC counterpart make a great, yet fairly simple game where there are many combinations of items you can find that can make you either extremely powerful or make that round extremely difficult.
  35. BlastnNrds4Dayz
    Sep 30, 2013
    9
    simply amazing. If you enjoy rogue style rpg(random generator spawns) then you have to try this out. between the large amount of power up collectibles and difficulty of the game, it will keep you coming back for more
  36. Rarefiend
    Dec 11, 2013
    9
    Binding of Isaac is like a bottle of wine. It gets better each time you come back. There is a slight learning curve, if you have never played a roguelike, and the dark humor might not be right for everyone. However,
    for $5, I'd say to give it a try.
  37. tytanxxl
    Oct 10, 2013
    9
    Im a Christian very much and i love this game. Many people tell me to stop playing this game but i wont because it doesnt offend me at all and its very playable even more the comercial games. So please Video game creator look at this game and learn how to make them.
  38. Hyperscore
    Oct 26, 2013
    9
    This is possibly the darkest, most brutal, hardest, weirdest game I have ever played. Not everyday can I say I played a pc game in which I am an infant with a fetus attached to my head and a parasite lodged in my skull, trying to kill my mom whilst fighting hordes of mutant spiders and chunks of flesh.

    This game is probably not a good idea for people that are grossed-out by video game    This is possibly the darkest, most brutal, hardest, weirdest game I have ever played. Not everyday can I say I played a pc game in which I am an infant with a fetus attached to my head and a parasite lodged in my skull, trying to kill my mom whilst fighting hordes of mutant spiders and chunks of flesh.

    This game is probably not a good idea for people that are grossed-out by video game gore, and the religious references can be offensive to some people.

    However, this game is fun as hell but can cause quite a lot of aggravation because of its difficulty. It's a well designed randomly generated dungeon dwelling bullet-hell massacre!    … Expand
  39. grrrr
    Feb 2, 2014
    9
    Playing again and again until you do not finish your evil christian mom. Surprisingly, it is not boring and repetitive, it is challenging. The world is randomly generated so your game is never the same. Nice graphics and soundtrack, a lot of different creatures and interesting boss fights.
  40. JungleFudge
    Feb 6, 2014
    9
    Let's talk about Zelda for a second. It was a good game in it's time, and is still addicting and fun today. But I feel like that kind of fun is squandered upon newer, higher- tech games. It's the system of trial-and-error that makes you want to play it for hours on end. And that's what The Binding of Isaac is. There are no saves or checkpoints. It gives you a keyboard and mouse and saysLet's talk about Zelda for a second. It was a good game in it's time, and is still addicting and fun today. But I feel like that kind of fun is squandered upon newer, higher- tech games. It's the system of trial-and-error that makes you want to play it for hours on end. And that's what The Binding of Isaac is. There are no saves or checkpoints. It gives you a keyboard and mouse and says "scratch your ass with this and see what happens". Once you find out that it probably won't do anything, you realize something. You realize that you have, in fact, been scratching your ass the entire time. Or it seems that way because the game is so hard! Anyway, I digress. Just like Zelda, they give you a game and you play it. And eventually get better and better, until you scratch your ass so hard that magical fairies pop out and make you beat the game. It teaches you not to be an idiot, and gives you a couple magic beans along the way to help you win. All the bosses and the entire story is based on the bible. Your mom is a christian fanatic, and she hears a "voice from God" telling her that Isaac (the character you play as) is a spawn of Satan, so she tries to kill him with a butcher knife. Out of fear, you find a trapdoor under the carpet which brings you down to the basement, where you fight monsters that look like they come straight from some deranged kid's sketchbook. But the cartoony, creepy art style is what makes the experience more magical. Overall, this game is super addictive, just don't play it at an age where it will scare the crap out of you.

    Also, don't try and explain it to your parents. The conversation I had went something like this: "What is that game?" "It's a zelda-like top down shooter where your mom thinks you're a spawn of Satan so she tries to kill you with a butcher knife and you find a trapdoor and-" "Okay! I've heard enough! I don't know if I want you playing that though..."    … Expand
  41. fishmanbr
    Jan 16, 2015
    9
    I don't understand how could this game be so nice. It's a simple walk and shoot using the keyboard, but I spend many hours playing it.
    It have a rogue like style, that means you will learn what's the best way to play according you play.
  42. Keeby358
    Sep 22, 2014
    9
    I love this game. It packs a Roguelike and Dungeon Crawler in one, with an insane difficulty. Sounds like my kind of game. The enemies, the bosses, and the items are just PERFECT. It really can't get any better. If you like LOZ, PLAY THIS GAME. If you like FTL, PLAY THIS GAME. If you don't like difficulty, DON'T, I mean DON'T play this game. It can take you 20 hours of gameplay to beat itI love this game. It packs a Roguelike and Dungeon Crawler in one, with an insane difficulty. Sounds like my kind of game. The enemies, the bosses, and the items are just PERFECT. It really can't get any better. If you like LOZ, PLAY THIS GAME. If you like FTL, PLAY THIS GAME. If you don't like difficulty, DON'T, I mean DON'T play this game. It can take you 20 hours of gameplay to beat it for the first time. You will get frustrated often, but all the new unlocks and secrets make up for it. You WILL want to beat it as soon as you touch it.
    BUY THIS GAME.    … Expand
  43. ReviewBros
    Jul 10, 2014
    9
    this game is so cool. the first 1 hour of playing it like me you will have no idea what is going on. but after 3 hours of gameplay the game becomes unique. and its only 5 pounds. must buy.
  44. EremitaJ
    Aug 7, 2014
    9
    A lot of companies should learn form this game. First lest have biblical references, mix it with dark humor in a childrish style of graphics, an awesome dungeon crawler gameplay and BOOM you get TBoI. Also the DLC is amazing and such references to the original sin, king Midas, Satan, the hangwire reresenting blasphemy... this game is so sinful and disgusting that I love it.
  45. Bacondoughnut
    Aug 5, 2014
    9
    This game is the most re-playable game that is made and will ever be made. I love this game so much. Sadly, achievements don't work on mac. So much content, that even me, with hundreds of hours of gameplay, have not completed this game 100%.
  46. nilsy
    Mar 16, 2017
    9
    Think this game is a brilliant execution of randomly generated perma death game were you slowly unlock more and more randomly element each play through.

    It has a strong comedy horror theme for enemies and items which is humorous and a nostalgia towards many early game classics like super mario and zelda which i can only assume the creators has grown up with as it permeates the whole    Think this game is a brilliant execution of randomly generated perma death game were you slowly unlock more and more randomly element each play through.

    It has a strong comedy horror theme for enemies and items which is humorous and a nostalgia towards many early game classics like super mario and zelda which i can only assume the creators has grown up with as it permeates the whole game.

    Think a large part of its success isnt just how good mechanically it is but also the nostalgia effect it has, but it has a solid game as its basis that gets deeper and more random the longer you play and the more you unlock.
    It is very hard though and even after hundred of games im hardly even likely to finish the game each time through no matter how serious i try.

    If i had a hat id want to take it off and give a bow to the developers for making this with a tiny resources im not big on indie games but this one blew me away.    … Expand
  47. Camu_Camu
    Jun 16, 2016
    9
    Ok, this game Is So Awesome to take dark, twisted subject's and have people that just think it smack's Christianity upside the head and tell it to furiously lick windows. But it is not! And I love it for being a different, unforgiving, bomb of love to old Zelda fans! This game is fun but also hard, it has aged like bleu cheese but it is good bleu cheese none-the-less!!!!
  48. Estro
    May 29, 2021
    9
    I had a lot of fun playing this game, and honestly all bugs and lag issues it's really good! there's so much to do in the game and even after completing all the achievements the game still is really entertaining
  49. 3ls0ul
    Mar 7, 2023
    9
    Este juego aún no lo eh jugado o completado, así que pondré una reseña y nota diferentes cuando lo haga.
  50. zazziik
    Jul 19, 2023
    9
    not that much to say, the game is simply amazing and worth every cent - however it was made in flash, which isnt too good of a game engine. its laggy as hell
  51. not_good
    Nov 2, 2011
    8
    Pretty good game for $5. Simple and easy to get the hang of, but really hard! It's worth looking into if you want a shooter rpg type of game with a unique atmosphere.
  52. Mikester7
    Nov 30, 2011
    8
    Horrifically morbid, depressing, sad, shocking, funny and hellishly enjoyable. This game is damn hard to get anywhere successfully showing it's rogue-like and Zelda elements. Incredibly budget, but it is a cheap indie game after all. Certainly worth picking up and giving ago, even if it is just to see how dark the game is.
  53. 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.
  54. Geovas77
    Oct 4, 2011
    8
    I absolutely love this game, its simple concept make it a breeze to play through but sharp controls and an amazing collection of items as well as the random dungeons you end up with on each playthrough make this ultimately replayable. The fact that it only costs a fiver is just icing on the cake, there's not many games out there that provide such huge playtimes with so little a cost. Buy this !
  55. badrain
    Nov 28, 2011
    8
    Utterly hard.. but how much fun! This is a kind of game in which you will die a lot. Mastering it will take some time, but it's also pretty enjoyable. Overall randomness makes it all very tempting... to try another time and see what you'll come up with. Random levels, random powerups, random bosses.. You can't beat this game unless you will be ready for EVERY outcome. There's no saves, noUtterly hard.. but how much fun! This is a kind of game in which you will die a lot. Mastering it will take some time, but it's also pretty enjoyable. Overall randomness makes it all very tempting... to try another time and see what you'll come up with. Random levels, random powerups, random bosses.. You can't beat this game unless you will be ready for EVERY outcome. There's no saves, no checkpoints. No easy ways. This is why it keeps you in front of your screen - it's really challenging;) .. And after you beat all 6 levels, there's at least two bonus ones. Not mention the unlockable characters. Only one complain - it's a flash game and flash games have their issues. Oh, well. Go play it.… Expand
  56. 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
  57. cmlabianca
    Nov 2, 2011
    8
    From initially reading about The Binding of Isaac, I was fascinated by the style and obvious heavy-influence from the original Legend of Zelda. Binding is an especially dark and twisted game that incorporates elements of adventure, shoot-em up, and RPG-style gaming. The dungeons are randomly generated as well as the power-ups, enemies and bosses you will encounter along the way. CombineFrom initially reading about The Binding of Isaac, I was fascinated by the style and obvious heavy-influence from the original Legend of Zelda. Binding is an especially dark and twisted game that incorporates elements of adventure, shoot-em up, and RPG-style gaming. The dungeons are randomly generated as well as the power-ups, enemies and bosses you will encounter along the way. Combine this gameplay with dirty and vulgar Flash-inspired visuals, religious themes, and a great soundtrack and you have a title that is priced surprisingly at only $5.00.

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

    If you're not turned away by the style or tone of this game, definitely give it a shot. Binding has considerable replay value and at a price tag of $5.00, I think most gamers will not be disappointed.    … Expand
  58. wallofjericho42
    Nov 14, 2013
    8
    Essentially a game that lasts forever. For $5 dollars, you get countless hours of fun. The game has you rely a lot on luck, which can be frustrating, but it works for the most part. A few slowdowns, even on powerful machines, due to flash. Still great worth the low, low price!
  59. Rubius
    Sep 29, 2011
    8
    A nice depressing Rogue-like/Adventure/Shoot Em Up game about a kid who never got anything good in his life, trying to escape his mother and other monsters. You get power ups in the form of piece of your mom clothing or other monstrosity. I recommend this.
  60. Bolter
    Oct 9, 2011
    8
    This isnt meant to be a massive game that grabs your attention and keeps you hooked but more of a game to keep you entertained for 5 minutes. I love most rogue type games as I like the challenge and that the gameplay changes every game. This is quite a funny little game which random story and evil bad guys tat make you look twice. The game can be very much the same when attacking theThis isnt meant to be a massive game that grabs your attention and keeps you hooked but more of a game to keep you entertained for 5 minutes. I love most rogue type games as I like the challenge and that the gameplay changes every game. This is quite a funny little game which random story and evil bad guys tat make you look twice. The game can be very much the same when attacking the enemy's as not much changes but hey as I said its just there to keep you entertained for 5 mins. I liked it ^^… Expand
  61. SwiftBrutalDeth
    Oct 9, 2011
    8
    Currently there is an overabundance of very easy games. Constant auto saves and replays make games easy. This is not a part of that scene so it has a learning curve. I've enjoyed it so far. It's $5 and for that price you will get your moneys worth. Polished graphics, music and sound. Unique game-play.
  62. Glic2003
    Oct 12, 2011
    8
    A couple of weeks after the release of The Binding of Isaac, it has become the game I love to hate. It's clunky, ugly and annoying, but there's something so irrisistible about it, I can't seem to stop playing. I really enjoy it, but I don't always understand why. Isaac is a very random game. That must be said right from the start. There will be times when you're struggling through roomA couple of weeks after the release of The Binding of Isaac, it has become the game I love to hate. It's clunky, ugly and annoying, but there's something so irrisistible about it, I can't seem to stop playing. I really enjoy it, but I don't always understand why. Isaac is a very random game. That must be said right from the start. There will be times when you're struggling through room after room on your very last hit point, and then a sudden change of luck will allow you to progress straight on through the final boss. This same randomness that makes the game compelling can also be its most annoying characteristic. You'll have games when you luck into dozens of coins, and have nothing to spend them on. You'll have games in which you discover room after room of hearts you can't pick up, and nary a bomb or key in sight. The binding of Isaac is nicely balanced, however, and as long as you're willing to keep plugging away, you can be fairly certain your luck will eventually change. Battling through room after room of monsters can grow a bit tedious, and the controls don't exactly help in this regard. Isaac is a "dual-stick" shooter...without the sticks. You can use the keyboard or mouse for shooting, but movement requires the keyboard. It didn't bother me too much, as it apparently justified the hours I spent playing Robotron with a keyboard via MAME, but I could see this being a huge turn off to some players. Simply put, the lack of gamepad support is a bit baffling. The game's use of Flash as a development platform is also a bit odd, and results in regular slowdown, even with just a few enemies and objects on screen. Other technical issues plagued the game at launch, but thankfully those seemed to have been smoothed out, and the developers are even promising new (free) content in the near future.

    The Binding of Isaac's style is unique, to say the least. It's gross, cute, creepy and funny, and frankly, it did take me a while to warm up to it. There's just something so ...squishy...about all of it. But that same ugliness makes the game all the more satisfying to beat. It's like an ugly bug that you love stomping on...over and over again. It's addictiveness should not be underestimated. Despite a few minor issues, The Binding of Isaac is a fast, unique and strangely compelling game.    … Expand
  63. BeautifulLies
    Nov 5, 2011
    8
    The Binding of Isaac is a fun little Indie game, I had my doubts about this game at first because of the bland story line and the short length of the game but when I played it it was hard to stop. The game was Rogue-Like concept this makes the game much more challenging and addictive. The art of this game is quite simple yet also depressing, its not every day you would play a game with aThe Binding of Isaac is a fun little Indie game, I had my doubts about this game at first because of the bland story line and the short length of the game but when I played it it was hard to stop. The game was Rogue-Like concept this makes the game much more challenging and addictive. The art of this game is quite simple yet also depressing, its not every day you would play a game with a absurd amount of blood, tears and turds but this just portrays how unique and fun it is. The Binding of Isaac randomly spawns the structure of the dungeons, monsters, items, bosses and power-ups for each game play so each play through would bring new challenges. I could rant on about how good this game is, I highly recommend this to newbies or veterans who just want to reminisce.… Expand
  64. keefbaker
    Oct 17, 2013
    8
    Nails, great little shooter that both infuriates and delights at an equal level, the dark psychology behind the setting is just superb and as old school 2D semi RPG shooters go, you're onto a winner.
  65. Orujimaru
    Nov 9, 2011
    8
    The Binding of Isaac is a great game with a lot of replay value for its price.
    Before picking this up you need to know that it's a hard game with permanent death, which means if you die you die, no respawning. This is not a problem most of the time since the levels are randomly generated, however sometimes you feel like it's a bit too random and it can get frustrating if you only get weak    The Binding of Isaac is a great game with a lot of replay value for its price.
    Before picking this up you need to know that it's a hard game with permanent death, which means if you die you die, no respawning. This is not a problem most of the time since the levels are randomly generated, however sometimes you feel like it's a bit too random and it can get frustrating if you only get weak items or can't reach items.

    This makes The Binding of Isaac a very unbalanced game, one playthrough you might have got all the powerful items and are plowing through the levels without taking any damage and the next time you'll barely hurt the bosses with your tears (projectiles).

    If you're brave enough to jump into a hard game with permanent death and can see beyond the balancing issues The Binding of Isaac is a great game, you won't find a game with more play value for the $/â    … Expand
  66. ETisME
    Nov 10, 2011
    8
    A really well made game, except it suffers from the technical issue that probably is due to the flash.
    It also put a lot of stress onto the eyes, which doesn't happen to me except DJ max for 2 hours straight.
  67. Einsteinium
    Nov 11, 2011
    8
    At 5 dollars, The Binding of Issac is one of those little gems that pays for itself within a few minutes. The initial play through in my opinion is too short. From start to finish it's only about 20 - 25 min in length. Of course that's when you manage to not die over and over and over. After you manage to beat the game the first time, is when Isaac really begins to shine. There are two newAt 5 dollars, The Binding of Issac is one of those little gems that pays for itself within a few minutes. The initial play through in my opinion is too short. From start to finish it's only about 20 - 25 min in length. Of course that's when you manage to not die over and over and over. After you manage to beat the game the first time, is when Isaac really begins to shine. There are two new levels added that really make the game even more difficult by having you take double the damage of the other levels. Not to mention that there are new bosses, including the four horsemen of the apocalypse. There are several items to start out, but as you beat the game again and again, new items and characters will unlock, providing even more fun. One of the detracting features, as mentioned before, is the difficulty. I personally like a challenging game, but when it takes you two or more hours to beat the game for the first time,considering how small it is, and after dying more times than I can count, it really makes it frustrating, and difficult to buckle down and start from scratch time after time. However, after you do manage to beat it, the feeling of overwhelming accomplishment is more than enough to convince me to keep playing. Another detracting feature is the redundancy of the soundtrack. While the music they have is great, and really sets the tone for the game, they could really benefit from producing more tracks.… Expand
  68. Locras
    Nov 30, 2011
    8
    When I saw the trailer, I wasn't sure what to think of this game. On the one hand, the music captured my interest within 3 seconds, on the other hand, the actual game play footage looked to minimal. I've played games like Super Meat Boy and I really liked those, but in TBOI even the main character looked half finished.
    Still I bought it and I'm glad I did.
    TBOI is a satirical take on    When I saw the trailer, I wasn't sure what to think of this game. On the one hand, the music captured my interest within 3 seconds, on the other hand, the actual game play footage looked to minimal. I've played games like Super Meat Boy and I really liked those, but in TBOI even the main character looked half finished.
    Still I bought it and I'm glad I did.

    TBOI is a satirical take on the biblical story with the same name. one day, Isaacâ    … Expand
  69. 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
  70. 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.
  71. 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
  72. 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...
  73. 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.
  74. 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.
  75. 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!
  76. 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
  77. 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
  78. 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
  79. 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
  80. 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
  81. Seryin
    Jul 19, 2013
    8
    The best words to sum up this game would be "omg" and "wtf."
    The opening video for the game is worth half the base price alone. Really funny random humor.
    The gameplay is hard as hell, and I rarely make it past the first stage, but the game is designed to play in an arcade type fashion so I can accept the unforgiving difficulty.
    Great indie game. Must buy for an indie fan.
  82. Violett
    Jan 4, 2015
    8
    Nevermind me, when I rated this game "zero" I was probably just in bad mood. Actually this game is awesome. Awesome and hard. For indie game this is masterpiece. Such games as this one and Super Meat Boy really ignites indie game industry.
  83. 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!
  84. mooker19
    Jun 13, 2014
    8
    I am conflicted about what to say about TBoI. On the one hand, I have played it obsessively and found it fun and frustrating in equal turns. Of course, that is how I felt about Edmund McMillen's other smash-hit PC game, Super Meat Boy, and that is one of my favorite independent games. Isaac has a similar sense of humor, though it is even darker, and that could certainly turn some peopleI am conflicted about what to say about TBoI. On the one hand, I have played it obsessively and found it fun and frustrating in equal turns. Of course, that is how I felt about Edmund McMillen's other smash-hit PC game, Super Meat Boy, and that is one of my favorite independent games. Isaac has a similar sense of humor, though it is even darker, and that could certainly turn some people off (but, hey, if you look for two seconds at the game you're purchasing, you should know what to expect). I found most of the grotesquery pretty amusing, but certain things still managed to turn my stomach. The art design and music are both absolutely perfect (I suggest a soundtrack purchase, honestly), and the game feels like a cohesive piece of morbid art. Where it has issues is in the gameplay. Isaac is a rougelike, meaning you progress through randomly generated levels with little foreknowledge of what to expect, little idea of what to do, and when you die, you come all the way back to the start. One of the hallmarks of the rougelike is the typically insane difficulty, and this is due in part to the lack of information given about items, enemies, and the like. I love rougelikes (this game is among the three best on Steam, in my opinion, with Dungeons of Dredmor and FTL filling out the list) for these very elements--it's great, for instance to equip an item, only to learn that it has a high risk-reward factor, and say, "So it's going to be one of THOSE runs"--but I can understand that the high difficulty would again turn some away. Isaac's issues don't come with the randomness, but rather, with the controls. Isaac feels too slippery, especially when you receive speed boosts, and this can lead to many, many "cheap deaths." Also, the game is set in mostly confined rooms, and Isaac's sprite is just too large; his hit box can even grow with certain items, making his life extremely difficult to save. Also, after beating the main boss for the first time (I'll leave them nameless so it can be a surprise), I felt a rush of achievement and exhilaration...only to not get the achievement. I looked it up--certain achievements are a bit glitchy, meaning they could come the next time you open the game, or maybe you might have to just re-achieve them. Oy vey! I purchased the DLC for the game as well, which is a great expansion, but I suggest getting used to the base game first because the DLC is even harder. For what it's worth, if you're ready for the challenge of your life, pick this game up and revel in its silly, macabre humor. Good luck. If that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, you ought to back away slowly, and pretend you never stumbled into this game.… Expand
  85. 1771174
    Aug 15, 2013
    8
    This is the kind of game in which you say "I'll just do a quick run" then find yourself sinked in it for hours. The random aspect of it makes it feel fresh even after several hours of play and the difficult keep increasing as the power you can get. I may say, some of the rooms are plain frustrating cause you don't have space to dodge unless you have a fly upgrade, but that's not dramatic,This is the kind of game in which you say "I'll just do a quick run" then find yourself sinked in it for hours. The random aspect of it makes it feel fresh even after several hours of play and the difficult keep increasing as the power you can get. I may say, some of the rooms are plain frustrating cause you don't have space to dodge unless you have a fly upgrade, but that's not dramatic, that kind of room isn't that common. Despite being random, if you play well you usually get an erray of upgrades good enough to fight till the end. And this is the best part of it, a lot of the upgrades play in synergy with each other so every time you play you can end up with very different results. Sadly there are some items that are just useless and don't work well with anything else, but are not a lot. Creepy and funny.… Expand
  86. Dweebo
    Aug 29, 2013
    8
    binding of isaac seems really retro, without looking retro or trying to be retro for the sake of it. it is hard and difficult, and never holds your hand along the way. which alot of modern games seem to do now. It is really simple, yet difficult, riveting, and heart pulsing gameplay. there is SOOOOOOO much experimentation here with hundreds of items to use and try. graphics fit nice andbinding of isaac seems really retro, without looking retro or trying to be retro for the sake of it. it is hard and difficult, and never holds your hand along the way. which alot of modern games seem to do now. It is really simple, yet difficult, riveting, and heart pulsing gameplay. there is SOOOOOOO much experimentation here with hundreds of items to use and try. graphics fit nice and have a cartoony easy on the eyes look. you WILL die, alot. but just like old games it makes that winning THAT much more exciting. (and when you probably beat it you will most likely dance in happiness). and speaking of endgame the replay ability has the most replay value ive ever experienced. I usually NEVER replay a game unless i really love it (only games ive replated Bioshock, and elder scrolls). But this makes you have a REASON to replay it. because once you beat it you wouldnt have found all the interesting items, and you will unlock new playable characters, new bosses, new rooms, progress further into the game, and new enemies (probably forgetting more). But in reality you have to beat the game about like 10 times before you REALLY beat it. it seems confusing. but i have 50 hours in BOI and still only on like the 7th ending. it's a hard game, but have never felt more rewarded beating it more than any other game.… Expand
  87. Evilcalyptic
    Aug 31, 2013
    8
    The binding of Isaac... A stellar little steam game. Well worth the 7 odd dollars with the expansion. MY main attraction to this game was the dark and religious element to the game. ITs very unique in its neo-gothical revision of Christianity. I also very much enjoyed the randomness of every game and getting items. Getting items is the real opiate of the game which makes it so worth while.The binding of Isaac... A stellar little steam game. Well worth the 7 odd dollars with the expansion. MY main attraction to this game was the dark and religious element to the game. ITs very unique in its neo-gothical revision of Christianity. I also very much enjoyed the randomness of every game and getting items. Getting items is the real opiate of the game which makes it so worth while. The designers here have done great work and I hope to see more from them in the future. As for Isaac.... Shell out the cash for this one, its fun on breaks and lunch.… Expand
  88. Tsuki
    Oct 23, 2013
    8
    The Binding of Isaac is a fun game. It has a nice adventure and you can't say it's always the same, because every time you play again you play with different items, scenes and bosses. Also, the story is hilarious. However, you might get bored after a while, for you always have the same goal.
  89. OfficialMA
    Nov 9, 2013
    8
    This is an amazing arcade game and it is 100% worth the price! This game does what not many arcade games can do and that is not to be repetitive. Every time you die there will be another randomly generated level for you to play so you don't get bored. The only problem is this game can get extremely frustrating especially as some of the bosses (like Gurdy) are near impossible to beat.
  90. fn_must
    Nov 20, 2013
    8
    Such a fun game. Lots and lots of replayability. The difficulty though, oh boy. It honestly became a bit tiring after countless of times dying and starting over without beating the game even once. Luckily it has so many different item routes to take, even though in many situations the choices aren't yours to make. And besides, isn't challenge what games like this are all about! VerySuch a fun game. Lots and lots of replayability. The difficulty though, oh boy. It honestly became a bit tiring after countless of times dying and starting over without beating the game even once. Luckily it has so many different item routes to take, even though in many situations the choices aren't yours to make. And besides, isn't challenge what games like this are all about! Very addictive also. I just wish they gave you some more info than just the name about the items you find.
    I'd recommend it to anyone who looks for challenging, fun and long-lasting game experience and doesn't mind the old school looks.    … Expand
  91. hlavko
    Dec 11, 2013
    8
    Cartoon horrorish art style, dungeons with cruel enemies, random generated levels and ten other reasons why to play Issac. But be careful this is the most dangerous one-more-level-like game.
  92. Chunderfield
    May 13, 2014
    8
    This is a rogue-like. An infuriatingly difficult rogue-like. The randomly generated levels, enemies, items drops and bosses makes BoI extraordinarily re-playable. The art is gross, the music is creepy, and the anti-religious theme is controversial. I love it. It makes for a violent and hilarious game.

    Pros: - Fast paced action - Great replay, random generation! - Smooth controls -    This is a rogue-like. An infuriatingly difficult rogue-like. The randomly generated levels, enemies, items drops and bosses makes BoI extraordinarily re-playable. The art is gross, the music is creepy, and the anti-religious theme is controversial. I love it. It makes for a violent and hilarious game.

    Pros:
    - Fast paced action
    - Great replay, random generation!
    - Smooth controls
    - Easy to learn, hard to master
    - Hilarious art and effects
    - Tons of weird and gross items/enemies/traps/bosses/maps

    Cons:
    - Rage quittingly difficult
    - No controller support
    - Flash game
    - Item explanations are occasionally vague

    A really great game that will provide you your money's worth. Your girlfriend will be grossed out and you will laugh. Laugh until you begin howling with fury. 82/100    … Expand
  93. flametail23
    Mar 15, 2015
    8
    This game is a dark but very fun time. It has a lot in common with the first Zelda game, which is a great thing. The game doesn't only sound great, it plays great too and I would recomend it to anyone who enjoys challenging games.
    8/10
  94. tupungato
    Jan 31, 2016
    8
    Small dungeon crawler with roguelike elements. You play as a small child Isaac in nightmarish semi-random basement levels fighting some really disturbing monsters. You can develop Isaac's speed, health and damage by finding various power-ups (there is A LOT of these).

    Beware, the game is difficult, but very addictive. A full playthrough takes about 30-45 minutes, but usually you get    Small dungeon crawler with roguelike elements. You play as a small child Isaac in nightmarish semi-random basement levels fighting some really disturbing monsters. You can develop Isaac's speed, health and damage by finding various power-ups (there is A LOT of these).

    Beware, the game is difficult, but very addictive. A full playthrough takes about 30-45 minutes, but usually you get killed before you reach the final level. It took me almost 10 hours to complete the game for the first time.

    Side note: game features child abuse and a lot of disturbing gore/violence including blood, intestines, urine, feces.

    But to sum up, it's really worth playing (especially at sale prices below $0.99). It's addictive, has a spooky atmosphere and completing the game is rewarding.

    GRAPHICS: 8/10
    AUDIO: 8/10
    GAMEPLAY: 7/10
    STORY: 8/10    … Expand
  95. SavageSalamence
    Oct 28, 2014
    8
    Do NOT listen to debigman, he is very wrong.
    And I find it kind of funny saying that barely anybody could get the achievements, yet Steam owners of Half Life 2 only 35% of them have beaten the first level. Anyway, here's my Steam review copied and pasted because I'm too lazy to type it all out again:
    The Binding of Isaac is a great example of a game which can both be simple and highly    Do NOT listen to debigman, he is very wrong.
    And I find it kind of funny saying that barely anybody could get the achievements, yet Steam owners of Half Life 2 only 35% of them have beaten the first level. Anyway, here's my Steam review copied and pasted because I'm too lazy to type it all out again:

    The Binding of Isaac is a great example of a game which can both be simple and highly enjoyable. The game is very easy to get into and you'll be kicking butt right from the start, due to what weapons you'll get. The control is pretty straight forward, but not as good as it could be since I may accidently use items when I want to move. The difficulty from this game depends on which items you'll pick up along the way. With the Wrath of the Lamb DLC, it's even better than before. Gameplay wise, it sort of depends on which character you like to use. I use Cain for nice speed, having one of the better ingame attack stats and decent HP. The downsides for this game is the fact you can get bad items and how annoying it is trying to unlock some other items in the game. But the good outweighs the bad a lot and I would definitly pick up Wrath of the Lamb DLC to increase the amount of content.
    Graphic wise, I enjoy looking at the 16-bit style of this game and it looks pretty clean. And the music just kicks ass. I still can't get it out of my head!

    The game is definitly worth $5. Probably one of the best $5 you'll ever spend, I actually wouldn't mind paying $10 or $15 dollars for this game! Or for free. I got it as a gift from my friend HonestCharlie. But seriously, the game is THAT good that you wouldn't care how much it costs. I would have given this a 9 if I was counting the DLC, but the normal game isn't quite as good without it so it gets a slightly lower score. Ready for my final verdict?

    Gameplay: 9.0
    Control: 7.5
    Graphics: 9.0
    Music: 10.0
    Replayability: 10.0
    Unfairness: 4.0 (the lower the unfairness, the better)

    FINAL SCORE: 8.7/10
    FANTASTIC    … Expand
  96. Andromeda707
    Apr 4, 2021
    8
    7.8/10
    Своё знакомство с Айзеком я решил начать с самой оригинальной игры безо всяких дополнений и ремейков, к которым я прикоснусь позже обязательно, но сейчас мне хотелось узнать, с чего же всё начиналось. После 13 часов игры и 17 прохождений начинаешь понимать, в данной игре всё-таки не хватает контента (данная проблема, насколько я знаю, с лихвой компенсируется позже), и каждый новый    7.8/10
    Своё знакомство с Айзеком я решил начать с самой оригинальной игры безо всяких дополнений и ремейков, к которым я прикоснусь позже обязательно, но сейчас мне хотелось узнать, с чего же всё начиналось. После 13 часов игры и 17 прохождений начинаешь понимать, в данной игре всё-таки не хватает контента (данная проблема, насколько я знаю, с лихвой компенсируется позже), и каждый новый ран почти не удивляет тебя чем-то новым, а чтобы удивил, необходимо ещё добиться множества факторов. Тем не менее на мой взгляд это прям эталонный рогалик, или рог-лайт, если на то пошло, с невероятным уровнем аддиктивности и реиграбельности. Радует не столько достижение цели, сколько сам процесс игры, который каждый раз отличается от предыдущего (правда, ближе к финальным "утробным" уровням этот процесс может вовсе наскучить, когда на уровнях происходит абсолютная дичь, и ты уже вовсе не понимаешь, где находится Айзек с десятком своих улучшений и предметов). Но и больше всего лично меня радует то, как мало (в техническом плане) нужно в игровой индустрии для того, чтобы создать настолько прекрасную и глубокую игру, затрагивающую множество очень важных аспектов вроде вреда от религии в семье, жестокого обращения к детям и так далее. Спасибо гению Эдмунда МакМиллена (которого я действительно очень сильно уважаю в последнее время) за воскрешение ещё и жанра рогаликов для множества разработчиков и игроков в 21 веке. И отдельное очередное спасибо Дэниэлю Барановски за прекрасный саундтрек, который также обязательно хочется выделить. Думаю, пришло время включить Wrath of the Lamb.    … Expand
  97. RagingPoet
    Apr 24, 2018
    8
    The Binding of Isaac is a very oldschool top-down roguelite shooter with RPG elements that has it's own style and feel while paying homage to a lot of older games. Main flaw of Isaac is randomness: itis too high even for procedural generated permadeath game.
  98. 7ut7ut
    Jun 21, 2021
    8
    Binding of Isaac. Love it forever and always. It's a fckin classic, how can't you love it? X)
  99. LeFlatBear
    Mar 13, 2022
    8
    a classic that pushed the limits of flash.( **** the eternal difficulty)

    .....................................
  100. Magical_Viktor
    Apr 30, 2023
    8
    Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»Существуют просто Зло и Большое Зло, а за ними обоими в тени прячется Очень Большое Зло. Очень Большое Зло, Геральт, это такое, которого ты и представить себе не можешь, даже если думаешь, будто уже ничто не в состоянии тебя удивить. И знаешь, Геральт, порой бывает так, что Очень Большое Зло схватит тебя за горло и скажет: «Выбирай, братец, либо я, либо то, которое чуточку поменьше»
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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.
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  2. GameCritics
    Mar 10, 2012
    90
    One may play for an hour or two, but they're constantly tempted to go back in and uncover the scads of remaining secrets. It's a style of game that really intrigues me, and one I want to see more of
    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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