Repentance is the current full game for most players. Rebirth alone is still playable but missing a lot of items.

Is there a 'correct' character?

Isaac and Magdalene teach the rules. Lost and Tainted characters are later homework.

20–40 minutes to a typical ending, longer if you go extra floors.

Should I use a wiki mid-run?

For unknown items, yes. Memorizing 700 items is not a moral test.

#12 · Roguelike

The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth Wiki

Items, tears, and knowing which devil deal to skip

Nicalis, Inc.

Beginner guide All guides Steam store →

The loop

Isaac is a top-down roguelike dungeon crawler. Every run is a new item combination, and most deaths are greed: one more curse room, one more devil deal, one more champion.

Clear floors, spend keys and bombs on value, take items that synergize with your tears, then fight the boss before you are out of red health.

First moves

1.Unlock the first few characters and the Basement. Do not chase Dead God on day one.
2.Bombs open secret rooms and rocks; keys open treasure and shops. Spend them on info, not boredom.
3.Learn which items are tears-up versus range traps. A pretty costume is not a build.
4.Resetting for a perfect start is optional. Learning to play a bad start is the real skill.