You'd be hard-pressed to find a well-regarded roguelite that came out after The Binding of Isaac that doesn't borrow something from it. It'd likely be inaccurate to say that the game invented the features that define the genre (especially since so many of them were lifted from classic 2D Zelda), but it certainly popularized them. The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is, simply put, the best roguelite and one of the best games I've ever played. Nearly a thousand hours in and three expansions later, I'm still discovering new rooms, new item combinations, new strategies, and I'm loving every second of it. There's a breathtaking level of depth and strategy, as well as a stunning breadth of content to be had with its hundreds of items, dozens of characters, and constantly branching paths. Plus there are 45 challenges and a daily run feature that'll make you rethink everything you know about the game. That's not to say every element is immaculately balanced, and that's partly by design. Breaking the game is both intentional and ones of its best features. It's not perfect. A couple notorious enemies will doubtlessly leave you frustrated, and sometimes the RNG will be unkind, but despite that, with enough patience and skill, you can almost always salvage a run no matter what it throws at you. It's also not for everyone. The aesthetic is unapologetically gross, and the narrative is among the darkest I've seen in a popular game. There's an argument to be made for both getting all the DLC at once or one at a time. There's a lot to learn and Repentance is practically a sequel in and of itself, but even just on its own, Rebirth is a huge game. It should all find its way into your library sooner or later. If you have even the slightest interest in the genre or what you've read here, I can't recommend Rebirth enough. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it and its predecessor have redefined gaming as a hobby for me over the past decade.
