Customers highly value the engaging gameplay and portability of "The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+", frequently praising its replayability and extensive content. However, some players find the game's difficulty challenging and the controls require adjustment. While the unique art style and dark story are points of discussion, many appreciate the overall fun and engaging experience.
This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.
The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
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Pros mentioned:
Gameplay
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The definitive Isaac
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I own this on multiple platforms - PC, PS4, and Vita handheld. The handheld platforms are where Isaac shines, the Switch in handheld mode is no exception. Great port, controls are responsive, graphics, and performance hold up no problem. The gameplay loop familiar w/ other versions is present - fun game when you get the perfect build. Must have in my opinion.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Content, Portability
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
This is THE version of BoI that you want to own!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
You could probably also call this the Binding of Isaac: Ultimate Edition, as this game is packed with content.
It is the latest version of the game, Afterbirth+, plus the developer promises to add content via patches.
Perfect game for the switch, whether it is handheld mode or on the big screen. Hardly the drains the battery, you can play for hours at a time!
If you can, try and track down the "Launch Edition" which has stickers, a reversible cover, and a cool throwback, zelda-esque instruction manual.
In summary, a great game on a great console ends up being the ultimate version to own.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Gameplay
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
the game is freaking awesome and very fun.
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Isaac is one of the best game i got. it a must have
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Gameplay, Replay value
Cons mentioned:
Difficulty, Learning curve
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Hard Game. Great Game
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
great game, it took me about 5 or 6 play throughs before i got used to the gameplay mechanics. the learning curve is a bit steep, and the game can be really unforgiving, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes a blast to play. lots of unlockables, and the replay value is through the roof. Great for quick 5-10 minute sessions, perfect for the switch.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Content, Gameplay
Cons mentioned:
Difficulty
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Fun Game
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Fun game overall though tough as nails. A good twin stick shooter very similar to Smash TV. Comes with fun selection of stickers and a full colored manual that is a throw back to the Zelda game manual for the NES. Overall worth the money if you are new to the series due to all the extra content is included. If you already have the game just get the DLC and save a few bucks.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Gameplay
Cons mentioned:
Difficulty
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
An Indie Roguelike, finally physically released!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This game has been out a while digitally on STEAM and released digitally on consoles. As a big fan of physical games, I was beyond ecstatic to support this developer in purchasing this indie title.
It is quite awesome. It appears crude and "low budget" in nature, but that's part of its charm. Don't judge a book by its cover. There are a ton of power ups, enemies, boss battles. The dungeon is endless and the difficulty is quite brutal. It's a great game for a quick gameplay session or extended time.
I'd also like to note that the first batch of games come with a full manual and stickers! No switch game has come with a manual thus far.
It's a great unique game on the switch at the moment with nothing comparable
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Gameplay
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Quirky, daring, and endless hours of fun!!!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I LOVE THIS GAME!!! I have logged about 500 hours or more playing the original and the sequel on Steam combined, and I STILL can't get enough! This is one of the most addicting games that I have ever played! Everything about it is amazingly executed, despite a few small bugs here and there (nothing game breaking). The rogue-like elements really do make it feel as if you are playing a different gaming experience every time you start a new run. On top of that, the game is incredibly difficult and takes a lot of practice to get the hang of, but if you are willing to put in the time and effort, it is also immensely rewarding. Edmund McMillen, the original creator of Isaac (by the way, if you haven't played any of his other indie games yet, you DEFINITELY should), in conjunction with Nicalis, have created an indie gaming masterpiece. The shooting style is simplistic, and yet difficult to master. You have to be able to plan ahead and strategize, as you find new items and learn how to use them effectively in combination with each other. You have to be able to react and adapt quickly to changes in combat, especially with the enemy types constantly changing and combining together. You have to know how to manage your items, stats, and pickups effectively so that you get the most that you can out of each floor. You have to be willing to explore beyond the scope of what you thought was possible, because the secrets you discover will most assuredly be helpful.
The game as a whole is an incredible experience and should be enjoyed by all, regardless of your views on religion and what is politically correct. The daring and offensive nature of the game's content is actually one of the things that makes it awesome, and it reflects the backgrounds of the developers and the struggle of growing up in a corrupted world. Along with that, the art style is fantastic, the sound effects are crisp and satisfying, the soundtrack is a perfect mix between catchy and ambient, the game play is fun and addicting, the enemies are very well designed and fun to fight, the bosses come in a wide variety and give off a real sense of intimidation, the different characters are ACTUALLY different and yet they are all well balanced, and the game overall is extremely fun, disturbing, dark, creepy, hilarious, and a very enjoyable experience. And if the base game wasn't enough for you, there are plenty of interesting and difficult challenges, greed mode if you want a different game play experience, daily runs that allow you to compete with others online, and all kinds of hidden secret achievements to discover. And trust me, in most cases, you DON'T want to look up a guide for this game; there is ALWAYS a good chance that you will stumble upon a secret seemingly out of nowhere. There are so many things contained within this game that provide for an endless amount of entertainment. I'm ready to log another 500 hours!
One more thing that I have to discuss.
When I got all of my stuff for my Switch on launch day, I found myself extremely disappointed in the case containing Breath of the Wild. My first thought was, "What a waste of plastic!" The case was way to big for such a small cartridge. In addition, there are two plastic hooks in the case as well, suggesting that there should be an instruction manual, and yet there isn't one! Maybe I'm dating myself here, but I remember that when I was a little kid, I used to pull the game manuals out of the boxes and read them late at night, just for fun! I used to love flipping through the pages, admiring the artwork, reading character bios, and looking for potential secrets. Nowadays, you would be lucky if your games even came with an instruction manual, and if they did, most of them would have NOTHING in them except for basic controls and disclaimers. How boring!!!
And then The Binding of Isaac was delivered to me a week later, and reminded me why, no matter how good Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft games are, indie game developers are the most incredible creators of all time, and their games will always be my favorite.
It wasn't enough for these guys to have one of the best games ever made (in my opinion), not only with fun and addicting game play, but with a deep and dark story hidden in the shadows. They went above and beyond. For pre-ordering this game, I knew one of the things that I was in for. The game came to me with two sticker sheets and an Isaac logo sticker inside. Now, I absolutely love decorating my electronics and personal belongings with cool stickers (DISCLAIMER: Don't put stickers or adhesives on the Switch or the Joycons though, their material doesn't play well with adhesives, and you can look up why on Google), but even if you don't like stickers, you have to admit that it was super cool of the developers to include such a thoughtful little bonus for their die-hard fans. What I didn't know that I was getting, however, surprised me even more. Contained within the case under those obviously-included-for-an-instruction-manual hooks, was an actual instruction manual for the game!!!!!!!!! I was overjoyed by this after the sadness about the Breath of the Wild case. From the cover to the last page, it is clear that a lot of heart and effort went in to putting the booklet together. It has controls, a section of items with information about them, a few enemy and boss bios, hints about secrets within the game to help you get started, tips on how to play, and beautiful artwork scattered throughout the pages. What an awesome thing to include with your game! My hat is off to Edmund and Nicalis for their prowess as indie game developers. Way to show your players and your fans that you care about them, their experience, and your game as a whole even more than your care about your sales! This is something that I feel a lot of AAA Developers lack nowadays. They are all so concerned about making a "good" game that sells well and performs well with its players, that they hardly ever take any risks or step outside their comfort zones to create something that they truly WANT to make, and that they can TRULY be proud of.
This game is amazing, its creators are incredible, and both are a true representation of the awesome things that the gaming community can create when they put their minds to it and stay true to themselves.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Gameplay, Portability
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great game
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Game is very fun to play. I also have it for my pc and being able to take it on the go now is even better. I recommend this game if you can get it at a sale price though as I did cause we all know it's not worth $40.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Content, Gameplay
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Fun, but little to hold interest for very long.
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I've put about 5 hours into the game so far. That is a very small amount because, technically, this game does have a lot of content to unlock and an endless amount of dungeons to run. The problem is that there is little reason to keep coming back over and over again. This is a rogue-like game, what that means is that when you die, and you will die, you start over with nothing. Not only that, but this game has over 600 items, and they all don't benefit the player. I was having a great run through the game, I was a flying character so spikes didn't effect me, I had lasers coming out of my mouth and my strength was over 20 (that's a lot) and it was all ruined because I picked up an item that turned my lasers into some black hole anomoly that wouldn't fire for an additional few seconds after I already took 3 seconds to charge the lasers to begin with. Meaning I couldn't hit anything. That run was immediately done. The runs will take anywhere from 5 minutes if you get no good items, to upwards of about 45 minutes if you're firing on all cylinders. Everything is random though, so you can't plan anything. Pick up one wrong item, go in one wrong room that is littered with spiders and your sweet run is over, you die, all your items are stripped from you and you start over from scratch. There are several playable characters in the game which can serve to keep if fresh if you find a character that you enjoy playing as, but the unlock conditions for some of these characters are pretty ridiculous. Overall, this is a fun game, but unless you're really into the old Zelda-style dungeon crawling and you don't mind losing everything and starting over with nothing every single time you play, then you could get more than a few hours out of this game. For everyone else, it's a fun ride, but it can be over too soon if it doesn't get its hooks into you. $20 is a good price for this game.
As a side note, the packaging of this game is fantastic. In an age when everyone is going less is more for physical game releases, even going so far as to carve holes into the plastic just to save a few more fractions of a penny, Nicalus went all out here with stickers (for preorders and first run only ) and even an old style NES instruction manual complete with the Nicalus Seal of Quality. It's a really nice package, and if you're concerned about them removing the stickers or instruction manual or dropping the reversible cover any time soon, then it may be worth it to pick up if you have a couple reward certs lying around and you're a GCU member. I still wouldn't pay $40 for it, personally.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Gameplay
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
The best version of an already great game
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
This game has been around awhile on other platforms but this version takes the cake!
With an expanded variety of items and enemies, there’s always something new to see.
It’s not a game for everyone, but if you enjoy rogue like, randomly generated dungeons, and a dark sense of humor, this games for you. It’s also very difficult as you progress, so it gives you a good challenge.
Couple all of that with Nintendo Switch’s portability and you’ve got a great game with high replay ability.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Gameplay
Cons mentioned:
Difficulty
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A True Challenge On The Go
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have played The Binding of Isaac back when it first came out on PC. I never got around to playing any of the expansions. So when Afterbirth+ came out for the Nintendo Switch it seemed like a great deal.
In the box you get a reverse cover, instruction booklet that is inspired by the original Legend of Zelda, plus two sticker sheets. Now this is only for the first print so keep in mind this may change later on.
So now to the game itself. This game has a pixelated art style similar to that of the old Nintendo/Sega days. You start off in a single room with no abilities other than Isaac's tears as the main weapon. As you move on to other rooms you come across several different enemies, power ups with every level being randomly generated. At the end of each level you have a boss fight before you can advance further. The game gets harder as you go and it can be brutal at times.
Overall this game is best suited for those with patience and who are looking for a challenge. Whether docked or portable both the performance and controls are fantastic.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Gameplay, Portability
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Same great game on the Switch!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I've put a lot of hours into BoA on the PS4/Vita and love it, but was hesitant to buy it on the Switch since my old game save wouldn't carry over and I'd have to start from scratch. Even so when the game went on sale I pulled the trigger and I have no regrets. It runs very well and it's great being able to take the game on the go with me (even with the Switch I could only play Afterbirth+- via Remote Play, meaning I could only do it from the wifi network my PS4 was on).
If you haven't played the game in the past on other platforms I will just say that it seems simple at first, and you play through and get to a final boss and credit screen quite quickly, but it's wayyy deeper than that. Each play through can last up to 45 minutes or so and even though I've put probably over 100 hours in on multiple platforms each play through is different due to the pickups/skills/bosses that you get/fight during each run. Amazing game that I will continue to put countless hours into!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Replay value
Cons mentioned:
Difficulty
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great console version
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Starting with the "bad"
The game chugs a little bit when the levels get harder and full of enemies, it's noticeable but not bad,
And the game is HARD. not every run ends up with a win and it's definitely not for a beginner or child.
Now the good.
An expansion on the difficulty, it is hard, but it's also addicting too. It's a good challenge
It's a lot of fun once you learn the game. Power ups are plentiful and stack well. And overall the additions to this version are tons of fun.
Replay value is off the charts here. I play it over and over when I'm bored.
It IS rated M for a reason. I would NOT reccomend it for younger audiences, blood and guts as well as religiously questionable references for younger audiences. As well as the big boss being your mom, who is trying to kill you, it's definitely not for the young and developing. But don't let this deter you from enjoying at an older age! Just have an open mind and enjoy the gam for what it is.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Gameplay
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great for collectors
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
Have never played Binding of Isaac, but hearing good things about it, I was excited to see that a physical release for this game was coming out and it would have a variety of goodies included. The game itself is a hard yet satisfying randomly generated dungeon crawler reminiscent of the original Zelda, each play through thru the game being different and encouraging players to play over and over. The game has coop, which I have to try, but it's a nice addition. As for the physical release, it's pretty awesome and should be in the collection of any physical collector. Even a Binding of Isaac fan who has a digital copy elsewhere has plenty of incentive to pick this up, the included manual and stickers are a nice touch and bring back old memories of picking up a new copy of a game back in the 80's and 90's.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Content, Gameplay
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Best played in portable +
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I've seen this game on many platforms with no real desire to play it since I usually play shooters and sports games on the big consoles. This game with all of its extra content was made to be played on the go as well as to take a few quick game breaks in the living room which is the perfect combination for the Nintendo Switch. They did such a great job on the physical boxed edition of this game that you can tell they put a lot of that retro love in the delivery with the inclusion of an old school NES style instruction booklet and stickers with every boxed copy. The value in that along with the aftermath plus content is immeasurable on replayability value with over 11000 variations of dungeons! Pick it up now and show your love for the Switch and these indie developers that they deserve!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Content, Gameplay
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
So Much Depth - not for Children
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
On the surface The Binding of Isaac appears to be a crude version of a Fan-made Legend of Zelda rip-off with twin-stick shooter elements. Once you see past the veneer of the crude body humor, there is a darker side to the game.
It tells the story of a poor child who is threatened with death by his abusive mother who believes her god wants her to sacrifice Isaac(similar to Abraham in the Bible).
The game plays out over multiple playthroughs, each attempt being a little different and unlocking more story, more items, more levels and more bosses.
Think you have beaten the game? Think again, you just unlocked more levels for your next playthrough.
Hours and hours of fun.
The M rating is there for a reason, this game is absolutely not for children.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Content, Gameplay
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Crazy fun and super addicting!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
At it's core, Binding of Isaac is a randomly generated version of classic Zelda dungeons focused more on survival than solving puzzles, but with a totally different visual style and a morbid sense of humor. The simplicity of this game belies the fun you have with it. The game packs hours of surprises with hundreds of unique items and power ups (or power downs!) that make each run-through unique. It isn't a breeze, either, making a successful run very satisfying. They include lots of unlockables that change up the game play, adding to the variety. This is also the definitive version of the game, making it that much easier to recommend.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Gameplay, Replay value
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Awesome game with retro extras
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The Binding of Isaac is a great game that is hard, yet keeps you coming back for more due to all of the crazy powerups and randomness of the levels. Every time you play it is a completely different experience which is what I love about it. The best thing about getting this version of the game is that it caters to people like me who still cling to the dying ways of physical games. I bought this game just because it comes with a full NES inspired instruction manaul. I wish games still did this and I will support anyone who caters to fans like me. I don't even have a Switch and I still bought this game!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Portability
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
loved it!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
It was the 2nd game I purchased for my Nintendo switch and I don't regret it. I picked it up as a game to play portably in short burst and it works. That being said it does cater to a specific audience. A very simplistic but raunchy art style.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Gameplay, Replay value
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Great game, not for everyone though.
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
BOI afterbirth+ is the complete definitive version of Binding of Isaac, its a hard game and the aesthetic is unique and may turn people off but if your willing to give it a chance its a great game you can sink tons of hours into, it is a rougelike if you don't know what that means it means that every run is different and unique and you don't keep anything between attempts. that may turn some off but the challenge and randomness makes the game fun and fresh every time you play.
use platinumgod.co.uk for indepth information on mechanics, items, and abilities.