What Binding of Isaac Game Should I Buy First?
If you’re diving into the world of The Binding of Isaac, you might be overwhelmed by the sheer number of versions and downloadable content (DLC) available. The short answer is: You should start with The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth. This is the essential base game, and it’s the best place to begin your journey. However, there’s a lot more to understand about why Rebirth is the correct starting point, and what you should do after that. Let’s break it down.
Why Start with Rebirth?
Rebirth isn’t just a version of the game; it’s a complete remake of the original Binding of Isaac, rebuilt in a new, more stable engine. The original game, which was built in Flash, was known for being buggy and slow. Rebirth addresses these issues, offering a significantly smoother and more enjoyable experience. Think of it as the definitive edition of the base game with enhanced performance and more content.
Furthermore, Rebirth includes all the items and bosses from the original game, plus the Wrath of the Lamb expansion. This means you’re getting a substantial amount of content right off the bat. It’s the perfect foundation to learn the mechanics, characters, and basic strategies of the game, without getting overwhelmed with the complex systems introduced by subsequent DLCs.
The DLC Path: A Gradual Progression
After experiencing the core mechanics of Rebirth, you can start to explore the DLC, but these should be taken in the correct order. The game has a clear, intended progression, and playing out of order will drastically impact your experience, making the game harder and more confusing.
The correct order is:
- The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth: The base game and your starting point.
- Afterbirth: The first major DLC, adding new items, enemies, alternate floors, and the difficult Greed Mode. It significantly changes gameplay dynamics.
- Afterbirth+: Builds upon Afterbirth with even more content, challenges, and modifications. Crucial to purchase if you plan to go to the next DLC.
- Repentance: The final and most significant DLC, considered the “ultimate” version of the game. It incorporates everything from the previous expansions and introduces massive amounts of new content and improvements.
Repentance is not a standalone game. It’s an expansion that requires Rebirth, Afterbirth, and Afterbirth+. If you try to jump straight to Repentance, you’ll be missing out on a vast portion of the game and its progression.
Why Purchase All the DLCs?
While you might be tempted to try Rebirth alone to see if you like it, buying the complete bundle with all DLCs is highly recommended in the long run. The DLCs do not just add end-game content; they significantly alter the early and mid-game experience as well. They introduce new items, character upgrades, and alternate pathways that greatly affect how you play the game. In many cases, the new content is considered improvements and will provide you with a better game experience than just base Rebirth.
Moreover, Repentance is considered by many to be the definitive way to play The Binding of Isaac, as it includes all previous content along with a massive amount of new improvements and changes. Purchasing all the DLC’s is important to experience it all.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I play the original Binding of Isaac instead of Rebirth?
While technically possible, the original Binding of Isaac is not recommended. It’s a Flash-based game, making it buggy, slow, and limited. Rebirth is a complete remake that provides a vastly superior experience, it also contains all of the base game content of the first release.
2. Is Rebirth enough, or do I really need the DLCs?
Rebirth is a great starting point, but the DLCs are crucial for the full experience. They don’t just add more to the late game; they change the whole way you play the game, especially with Repentance which many agree is the best way to play the game.
3. Do I need Afterbirth before Afterbirth+?
Yes. The Afterbirth+ DLC requires you to have both The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth and the Afterbirth DLC installed.
4. What’s the difference between Afterbirth and Repentance?
Afterbirth added items, enemies, alternate floors, and bosses, including Greed Mode. Repentance is a massive DLC that includes all previous DLC content, plus tons of new content and improvements.
5. Can I buy only Repentance?
No, Repentance is a DLC and requires Rebirth, Afterbirth, and Afterbirth+ to be installed to play.
6. Is Repentance the same as Afterbirth?
No. Repentance is a DLC expansion to The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth †, released several years later. It is an expansion of its own that requires you to have the previous DLC’s installed.
7. Should I buy the complete Binding of Isaac bundle?
If you plan to get the most out of The Binding of Isaac, buying the complete bundle is highly recommended. It’s more cost-effective in the long run and ensures you don’t miss any content. However, if the price is a concern, start with Rebirth to see if you enjoy the game before committing to the whole bundle.
8. Is the original Binding of Isaac better than Rebirth?
While some players might have nostalgia for the original, Rebirth is objectively a better game. It’s smoother, faster, and more feature-rich. If you want to experience a modern version of the game, then Rebirth is the way to go.
9. What’s the easiest character to play?
Lazarus is often cited as one of the easiest characters to unlock, which is important if you want to ease yourself into the game. Players need to have 4 Soul Hearts or Black Hearts at once to unlock him.
10. How many characters are there in Repentance?
Repentance adds two new characters: Bethany, who doesn’t use soul or black hearts for health, and Jacob and Esau, a pair of brothers that can be controlled as one.
11. How long does it take to 100% Binding of Isaac Repentance?
Focusing on the main objectives can take around 12 hours. However, achieving 100% completion can take upwards of 595 hours. If you want to become a completionist in the game, be ready to sink a lot of time in.
12. How many endings are in the game?
There are 16 endings in Rebirth, with 2 more added in Afterbirth, 2 in Afterbirth+, and 2 in Repentance. These endings can be viewed in the ‘stats’ section of the menu.
13. Is The Binding of Isaac a Bible game?
The game draws inspiration from the Biblical story of the Binding of Isaac, but it’s not a direct adaptation. The game is more of a dark twisted take on the original story.
14. Can I play Afterbirth without Rebirth?
No. The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth DLC requires the base game The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth to play.
15. When should I buy the DLCs?
You can purchase DLCs at any time, but it’s recommended to play Rebirth for a bit first. That way you can know if you enjoy the game before spending the money. If you find yourself enjoying it, though, buying all the DLC’s is highly recommended.
Conclusion
Starting with The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is the best way to begin your journey into the game. It’s the most polished version of the base game, and it allows you to learn the mechanics without the added complexities of the DLCs. Once you feel comfortable with Rebirth, you can begin your journey through the DLC’s in the correct order, culminating in the “ultimate” experience that Repentance provides. The game will take a lot of patience, time, and learning but, the overall experience is well worth the effort.