Summary

  • The Binding of Isaac fundamentally impacted the roguelike genre, influencing popular games like Enter the Gungeon and Hades.
  • While some debate its classification, Isaac's mechanics like permadeath and random generation have been widely emulated.
  • Fans eagerly await a Binding of Isaac sequel, with Edmund McMillen expressing interest in expanding the iconic IP.

Edmund McMillen's The Binding of Isaac, released in 2011, left an indelible mark on the games industry. It played a major role in popularizing the roguelike genre and is one of the earliest examples of a breakout indie hit. With indie roguelikes being ubiquitous today, it might be the perfect time for McMillen to hammer down on a follow-up to his 2011 masterpiece.

The Binding of Isaac wasn't the first roguelike—not by about three decades—but it is among the most influential, helping define the genre in the modern age. The way that The Binding of Isaac handles mechanics like combat and player movement is far removed from the gameplay formula of 'traditional' roguelikes, but the game still retains core genre staples like permadeath and random generation. This makes it a fast-paced action game with fundamental roguelike elements, which is a broad-strokes design philosophy that has been carried over to countless games, both big and small, since Isaac's release.

There's some debate regarding the "roguelike" label for The Binding of Isaac. For example, some players argue that turn-based combat is a requirement of a roguelike game, and thus define Isaac as a "roguelite," as it borrows elements from games like 1980's Rogue, rather than adopting the entire gameplay framework outright.

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28 Best Mods For The Binding Of Isaac, Ranked

The Binding Of Isaac has withstood the test of time, but even big fans might find it growing stale. These mods help keep the game fresh.

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The World of Gaming Needs Binding of Isaac 2

Roguelikes Are Bigger Than Ever

Whether The Binding of Isaac is the best action roguelike is a matter of preference, but its influence is undeniable. Items, progression, map layout, secrets, and side content of The Binding of Isaac have gone a long way toward shaping the roguelike genre in the modern era, and some of the most well-received indie games of the past few years would likely have never existed if not for Isaac. Some of the most notable Isaac-influenced games include:

  • Enter the Gungeon
  • Hades
  • Vampire Survivors
  • Dead Cells
  • Crypt of the Necrodancer

Setting aside games that were directly inspired by The Binding of Isaac, roguelikes and roguelites like Slay the Spire, Risk of Rain 2, and Returnal prove that there's major demand for different types of games with procedural generation, permadeath, random upgrades, and other roguelike trappings. Moreover, these games prove that there is plenty of room for the roguelike genre to grow, as they all innovate and expand on their foundations in interesting and meaningful ways.

The Binding of Isaac 2 Could Be the IP's Triumphant Return

The Binding of Isaac: Repentance notwithstanding, there hasn't been a proper follow-up to the original Isaac game from 2011, but that doesn't mean that it will never happen.

McMillen himself went on record in 2018 expressing his desire to make a full The Binding of Isaac sequel. It's been six years since those comments from McMillen, so it's not unreasonable to think that the developer has started to get the ball rolling on the sequel. It might still be a few years out, but today's gaming climate would likely be extremely receptive to the next full chapter of The Binding of Isaac, especially if it engages in some symbiosis with the games that it inspired, ultimately becoming an ambitious, wholly new gaming experience.

The Binding of Isaac manages to stay relevant 13 years after its release, with time doing little to dull its influence on the games industry. Even with incredible games like Hades and Dead Cells launching in its wake, Isaac is still widely considered to be the best action roguelike out there, which speaks volumes about its quality. If McMillen wants to leave the IP untouched, then that's fine, but if he has some grander designs for it, then The Binding of Isaac 2 could serve as a reminder of how to do a roguelike right, directly competing with titles inspired by its predecessor.

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The Binding of Isaac Tag Page Cover Art
The Binding of Isaac
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Released
September 28, 2011
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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When Isaac’s mother starts hearing the voice of God demanding a sacrifice be made to prove her faith, Isaac escapes into the basement facing droves of deranged enemies, lost brothers and sisters, his fears, and eventually his mother.


The Binding of Isaac is a randomly generated action RPG shooter with heavy Rogue-like elements. Following Isaac on his journey players will find bizarre treasures that change Isaac’s form giving him super human abilities and enabling him to fight off droves of mysterious creatures, discover secrets and fight his way to safety.

ESRB
M For Mature 17+ due to Violence, Blood and Gore, Crude Humor
Developer(s)
Edmund McMillen, Florian Himsl
Publisher(s)
Edmund McMillen
Number of Players
1-4
Split Screen Orientation
N/A (Shared Screen)
Steam Deck Compatibility
Verified
Genre(s)
Roguelike
Metascore
91
Local Co-Op Support
1-4 Players