This game is like my comfort game, which I suppose is ironic to some considering how gross, violent and sad it can be. It’s a game that followed me through my life from the very first Flash version through all the extensions and revivals. It’s actually really incredible to see Edmund McMillen’s life dedication to this game and to how it became a symbol of not only his work, but also his various messages including his trauma with religion.

It’s a game I know by heart, somehow, and that I could play almost without looking (which I’ve done at times, because neurodivergence requires 3 things at once) yet that can still make me fail and rage regularly, especially the hardest dickiest challenges.
I don’t even think I’ve ever 100%ed it contrary to many other fan players. I just like to reason, minmax for hours sometimes way past the point where a run is clearly won. It’s what makes it so comforting, knowing every mechanic and strategy, and not playing the game but letting it play with me and react back. Sometimes even taking terrible decisions for fun.

I still probably haven’t played a third of the gold you can find on the Workshop although I did have a long phase where I tried a lot, including very indie ones that had a lot of defaults but soul and I really want to try again someday as it was really cool to see people tone shift the game.