Does Repentance include all DLCS?
Yes, The Binding of Isaac: Repentance bundles together all major DLC from the previous Rebirth expansions into one ultimate package. It includes hundreds of items, floors, bosses and other content additions from the Afterbirth and Afterbirth+ releases. For fans looking to experience the cumulative result of Edmund McMillen‘s iconic roguelike series, Repentance is the definitive edition to get.
What‘s Included in Repentance
As the final expansion, Repentance goes all-in on new content by building on every existing update for The Binding of Isaac. Here‘s an overview of some of the major additions:
Items
- Over 500 collectible items in total
- 130 new items found in treasure rooms, boss rooms etc.
- Dozens of powerful item combinations possible
Alternate Floors
- 7 new floor themes with unique enemies and bosses
- Extra themed challenge rooms and patterns
Bosses & Endings
- 100+ new bosses spread across different floors
- 4 new unique final bosses to unlock endings
- Secret bosses only accessible under specific conditions
Characters
- 17 playable characters total (13 from previous DLCs)
- Complete roster of "tainted" character variants
Game Modes
- Greedier mode now with alt floor themes
- Boosters to modify game rules and difficulty
- Extra challenges like flips and variants
Other
- Full Angel & Demon room pools
- Over 800 new room designs and layouts
- Additional story elements and cutscenes
| DLC | Rebirth | Afterbirth | Afterbirth+ | Repentance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Items | 300 | 120 | 80 | 130 |
| Floors/Rooms | 13 | 7 | 3 | 7 |
| Bosses | 11 | 9 | 4 | 100+ |
| Endings | 16 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
As we can see, Repentance builds substantially on every prior expansion to become the largest update yet. The dev team at Nicalis went all-out to make this release the ultimate package for Binding of Isaac fans.
Do You Need All DLCs?
An important requirement for Repentance is that players must own the base Rebirth game plus the Afterbirth and Afterbirth+ DLCs. Repentance will not work as a standalone purchase.
Owning all content gives the smoothest experience:
- Seamless progression through updated floors and bosses
- Unlocked access to added items, characters and features
- Understanding of new callbacks, jokes and references
The total gameplay hours across everything is estimated to be over 500 hours for completionists aiming to unlock all achievements. With a playtime like that, Repentance and the previous DLCs offer immense value-for-money even at full price.
Repentance as the Final Expansion
In several interviews and announcements, Edmund McMillen referred to Repentance as "the final FINAL expansion" for The Binding of Isaac. This has led many fans to see it as the concluding chapter after a decade of updates.
While smaller patches and technical support may still come, no major content updates are expected after this release based on the dev‘s statements. Of course, McMillen is known for his unpredictability, so a small chance of another return to the basement still persists among hopeful fans.
Twisted "Tainted" Characters
A brand new addition that shakes up gameplay are the alternate versions of familiar faces known as Tainted characters. Accessible only late into Repentance‘s endgame, each Tainted form remixes Isaac‘s entire roster into creative new variants.
Some examples include:
- Tainted Magdalene – Starts with a Trisagion-like aura that damages enemies in proximity
- Tainted Cain – Can only pick up consumables and craft them into collectibles
- Tainted Apollyon – Abyss shots have reverse gravity and float upwards
- Tainted Azazel – Fires a torrent of low-damage Brimstone rings
Unlocking and mastering all 17 Tainted characters provides fresh challenges for seasoned players. Their extremely warped mechanics often demand new strategies compared to vanilla runs.
Additional Modes, Features and Improvements
On top of core content additions, Repentance also overhauls and expands many underlying systems:
- Alt Greed(ier) mode floors with new background themes
- Item balancing changes to expand the strategic metagame
- Angel & Devil room spawn logic reworked
- Visueal upgrades like floor shading and lighting
- Continued mod support for custom Workshop add-ons
Special mention goes to the new Booster Packs – modular mini-DLCs that can modify the daily run rules. Things like "CHAOS!" and "Delete This" randomly trigger wacky effects to keep the experience exciting for veterans.
Finally, Nicalis implemented hundreds of subtle QoL improvements based on years of player feedback. Tiny tweaks that smooth out UX pain points to create the most polished Isaac yet.
The Definitive Roguelike Experience
After a decade of expansions and updates, The Binding of Isaac: Repentance stands as a testament to Edmund McMillen‘s visionary design. The sheer breadth of content and possibilities from combining every item, character and mechanic conceivable makes this the definitive edition for all fans of the genre.
For only $15 it‘s a bargain – both to experience hundreds of hours of new gameplay, or simply to support the development legacy of one of indie gaming‘s finest titles.
