This summer, I found myself scrolling through the expansive library of Steam, hoping to find an online game to cure my boredom. I had just finished my run-through of Deltarune: Chapter 5, and was searching for a game to entertain me until the next chapter. My friends urged me to purchase The Binding of Isaac, an indie third-person game developed by Edmund McMillan. The Binding of Isaac is an incredibly addictive game which follows a little boy named Isaac Moriah who fights monsters with his tears as he traverses deeper into his basement. Fair warning, the game contains graphic violent and themes of child abuse, which means it might not be for everyone.
The first frames of the game tell the story of Isaac’s childhood through drawings. Isaac lives in a dysfunctional household, with an absent father and a devoutly religious mother. Isaac’s mother hears a voice from above, which insists that Isaac is “corrupted with sin,” and therefore must have his freedom, and eventually, his life, taken away.
Isaac’s backstory is based on the biblical story of Isaac and Abraham, in which God calls upon Abraham, Isaac’s father, to sacrifice Isaac in order to prove his faith. The game features many biblical allusions: each character you unlock is named after a Bible character and there are references to the Eucharist and the Bible.
The Binding of Isaac’s biblical focus comes from the game’s creator, Edmund McMillan’s, religious upbringing. Through Isaac, McMillian explores the difficulties of finding an ultimate answer in religion and the fear and shame that can result from religious trauma.
Despite the distressing themes, the game’s design is so incredibly addicting, you just want to get more and more out of it. Every round you play feels and is designed to be almost an entirely new experience. The frustration and annoyance is a vital part of the game, and it only makes it more rewarding when you get an item you actually want. Nothing feels repetitive. Despite having the same setting and enemies, there are so many factors that make you only want to play another round. I was so interested in the play by play of the game that the story became secondary to me.
But I was curious about the backstory. Isaac’s character is small and pink with large, weeping eyes. He is cute. His vulnerability is in stark contrast with the grotesque designs of the enemies and setting in which you play. I wanted to know why such an adorable character was in such a grim location. When I conducted some background research on the game, I learned that the floors you run through when you play are a figment of Isaac’s imagination. McMillan shared in his blog on GameDeveloper that the premise of the game is centered around Isaac’s final hallucinations while suffocating inside a chest.
Between its engaging story and dynamic game play, Isaac feels new every time the game restarts. Of course, I failed. Many times. I lost the game over thirty times before ever winning. Despite that, knowing I had the chance to start fresh and relive more of the game made Isaac all the more addictive. The more I played, the more I unlocked, which only leads to more excitement and mystery every time you restart a run. It is the exhilaration of the unknown that keeps me coming back for more.
I highly recommend taking a chance on this game. You will find yourself wanting to play more than you thought.
Isaac, we love you!
