# The Binding of Isaac

> 2011 roguelike video game

**Wikidata**: [Q1041427](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1041427)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Binding_of_Isaac_(video_game))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/the-binding-of-isaac

## Summary
The Binding of Isaac is a 2011 independent roguelike video game designed by Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl. Released on September 28, 2011, the single-player action-adventure game is recognized for its distinct visual style and gameplay loop, running on the Adobe Flash engine. It is available on Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux.

## Key Facts
- **Release Date:** September 28, 2011
- **Developers:** Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl
- **Genre:** Roguelite, Action-adventure game
- **Game Engine:** Adobe Flash
- **Platforms:** Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux
- **Composer:** Danny Baranowsky
- **Game Mode:** Single-player video game
- **Country of Origin:** United States
- **Distribution:** Digital distribution (Steam, Humble Store)
- **Ratings:** PEGI 16, USK 16
- **Protagonists:** Isaac, Eve, Magdalene

## FAQs
### Q: Who created The Binding of Isaac?
A: The game was designed and developed by Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl, with music composed by Danny Baranowsky. It was published by the developers themselves.

### Q: What platforms can I play The Binding of Isaac on?
A: The game natively runs on Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is distributed digitally via platforms like Steam and the Humble Store.

### Q: Is The Binding of Isaac a multiplayer game?
A: No, the game is strictly a single-player video game.

### Q: What is the critical reception of the game?
A: The game has received positive critical attention, holding a review score of 89/100 on Kritikanstvo. It was nominated for the Golden Geek Award for Best Indie Video Game in 2012.

## Why It Matters
The Binding of Isaac holds a significant place in modern indie game history as a seminal title in the roguelite genre. Developed by Edmund McMillen (known for *Super Meat Boy*) and Florian Himsl, it utilized the Adobe Flash engine to create a replayable, dungeon-crawling experience centered around procedural generation. Its success demonstrated the viability of deeply replayable indie titles on digital distribution platforms like Steam.

The game is notable not just for its gameplay, but for its cultural impact. It has been recognized as an "esports discipline" in speedrunning and competitive communities, evidenced by its listings on esports earnings databases and speedrun.com. The game spawned a dedicated series and an expanded universe, receiving a "Best Indie Video Game" nomination at the Golden Geek Awards in 2012. Its influence extended to a "Wikibase" of community knowledge, with extensive fan wikis in over six languages (English, German, Spanish, French, Polish, Russian), and it remains a staple title cited in gaming databases over a decade after its release.

## Notable For
- **Roguelite Innovation:** A defining title in the roguelite and action-adventure genres that utilizes procedural generation.
- **Cultural Longevity:** Recognized as an "esports discipline" with active speedrunning communities and high sitelink engagement across multiple languages.
- **Critical Acclaim:** Nominated for the Golden Geek Award for Best Indie Video Game (2012) and achieving a review score of 89/100.
- **Development:** Created by prominent indie developer Edmund McMillen and musician Danny Baranowsky using Adobe Flash.
- **Expanded Universe:** Spawned a specific fictional universe and series (including an "Unholy Edition"), serving as the basis for extensive fan culture and wiki documentation.

## Body

### Development and Design
The Binding of Isaac was developed by Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl, who also served as the publishers. The game was released on September 28, 2011, originating from the United States. It was built using the **Adobe Flash** software engine. The audio direction, including composition and performance, was handled by **Danny Baranowsky**.

### Gameplay and Setting
Classified as a **video game** and **esports discipline**, The Binding of Isaac is a single-player experience that blends action-adventure elements with roguelite mechanics. The narrative takes place within the "The Binding of Isaac universe." Players control various protagonists, including **Isaac**, **Eve**, and **Magdalene**. The game is inspired by and based on the "Binding of Isaac."

### Distribution and Platforms
The title is distributed digitally, primarily through **Steam** (Application ID: 113200) and the **Humble Store**. It is compatible with a cross-platform audience, running natively on:
*   **Microsoft Windows**
*   **macOS**
*   **Linux**

### Reception and Ratings
The game received a review score of **89/100** from the aggregator Kritikanstvo. In 2012, it was nominated for the **Golden Geek Award for Best Indie Video Game**.

Regarding content ratings, the game is rated:
*   **PEGI 16**
*   **USK 16**

### Editions and Identifiers
The game has an edition known as **The Binding of Isaac (Unholy Edition)**. It is identified as the first part of a series (Part of series: Q60997384). It maintains a strong digital footprint with identifiers on major gaming platforms and databases, including:
*   **Steam:** 113200
*   **GOG Dreamlist:** the-binding-of-isaac-2011
*   **Metacritic:** the-binding-of-isaac (ID: 1300112104)
*   **IGDB:** the-binding-of-isaac

## References

1. Steam
2. MusicBrainz
3. Kritikanstvo
4. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
5. Humble Store
6. [2012 Golden Geek Awards - Nominees Announced - Voting Now Open! | Geekdo](https://boardgamegeek.com/thread/864240/2012-golden-geek-awards-nominees-announced-voting)
7. Quora
8. GameSpot
9. Badgames
10. Game Informer
11. Trovo Live
12. Giant Bomb
13. Q124398839
14. GamesMeter.nl
15. Game Input Database
16. Know Your Meme
17. GOG Dreamlist
18. VGChartz
19. Q131917281