Isaac has had its series of (mostly) ups and (a couple) downs over the last decade or so. Flash was a janky rng filled mess, but an excellent prototype and proof that the game was fun to play, even if it was a little bullshit. Rebirth was the next generation, everything coming together and moving forward to new platforms and audiences. It created and solidified a solid foundation for everything that was to come. Afterbirth was more of the good, a long list of improvements and additions (maybe except for greed mode). Afterbirth + unfortunately was more of a misstep. Lots of content that felt lazy or like it otherwise didn’t belong. Worse still the item pools had become so diluted that every run became a mad rush to the devil deals because they represented the only consistent way to get enjoyable runs. But for better or worse, all that is in the past now.

Repentance represents everything this game has been through, and everything it’s become, in the best way possible. One final expansion created in part by modders so passionate about the game that they were brought on to become development staff after spending nearly seven years on their project. Everything from the alt path, Ridiculon’s new music, the tainted roster, the game changing new items and massive number of reworks to older ones that would’ve otherwise become obsolete. All tied together by a final, climactic true ending, finally giving Isaac the peace he so desperately needed. The granddaddy of the modern roguelike coming back for one last time to show all the new guys on the block that he’s still top dog. It’s perfect, truly.