 The Binding of Isaac is a independent roguelike video game designed by Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl , initially released in 2011 for Microsoft Windows ; the game was later ported for OS X , and Linux operating systems . The game 's title and plot were inspired by the Biblical story of the Binding of Isaac . After his mother receives a message from God demanding the life of her son as proof of her faith , Isaac flees into the monster @-@ filled basement of their home , where he must fight to survive . Players control Isaac or one of six other unlockable characters through a procedurally generated dungeon in a roguelike manner , fashioned after those of The Legend of Zelda , defeating monsters in real @-@ time combat while collecting items and power @-@ ups to defeat bosses and eventually Isaac 's mom . 
