Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 539 Ratings

  • Summary: Isaac is a roguelike shooter based on the dungeon structure of Zelda (nes). At its core it controls like Smash TV / Robotron in a randomly generated semi RPG world filled with powerups items and special abilities.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 30
  2. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Oct 16, 2011
    100
    The Binding Of Isaac is pitch-black and hard as hell.
  2. Sep 29, 2011
    100
    The Binding of Isaac is a loony action/adventure game with a Kawai Gore atmosphere, random challenges and a varied gameplay. Thanks to the talent of the developers, the formula works perfectly well and draws you back in easily to slaughter some more, or see the poor Isaac being bludgeoned violently.
  3. Dec 17, 2011
    85
    If you don't mind the relative difficulty and dark overtones, forget that footlong and invest your $5 in Isaac. [Feb 2012, p.79]
  4. 70
    Stylish indie action game you can play over and over again. Sometimes frustrating because of its high difficulty setting but overall Isaac is pure fun. [Nov 2011]

See all 30 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 23 out of 181
  1. 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. Expand
  2. 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    Surprisingly addictive as the game looks completely outdated and a very pale copy of a Zelda-like.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 for everyone. You better have a good dose of black humor because the background is very sordid. Expand
  3. 7
    Realtime lightweight roguelike? How's that work then?

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

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

    It's not without flaws, the controls do feel like they should be tighter, and to be honest you generally feel like your weapons are just pissing up the wall - occasionally literally. It's not a game that will dominate your life, but it is probably a game that you'll still be coming back to in six months' time.
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  4. WARNING: this game is luck-based, meaning you can beat it ONLY if you are extremely lucky, like the lottery. Most of the time (99%) the game is uber-difficult and almost unbeatable. There are only 5-6 levels to beat but at level 4, if you weren't lucky enough to get "good drops", the game gets insanely difficult and if you die you have to start over AGAIN, making this a total frustration to play.

    I'm 8 hours in and I still can't pass level 4 and I haven't beat the game yet, and it's not because I suck at it, this game has little to do with skills, it's because "I'm not lucky enough" to get the essential drops that will help me kill a boss that fires constantly in 8 directions while jumping around dropping flies and vomiting acid, all at the same time, and you only have 2-3 hearts meaning you can only endure 2-6 hits before you are death.

    Very good game ruined by insane difficulty and luck-based chances of winning. Don't waste your time with this, specially if you like, you know, beat and see the endings of your games. It gets 2 points because of the concept, gameplay and good music.
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See all 181 User Reviews