“The Binding of Isaac Four Souls” is a captivating multi-player card game that brings the quirky and darkly humorous world of the popular computer game to your tabletop. Designed for 2-4 players, it masterfully combines strategy, chance, and adventure, offering a unique experience with every play. The game revolves around characters from the Isaac universe, each equipped with special abilities and items, battling monsters and collecting loot to emerge victorious. Simple to learn but rich in strategy, it’s perfect for both casual and avid gamers. Its engaging gameplay and creative design make it a standout choice for game nights and a testament to the innovative mind of creator Edmund McMillen and Maestro Media.
Game Overview
“The Binding of Isaac: Four Souls” is not just a card game; it’s an adventure into a world filled with challenges, surprises, and strategic decision-making. At its core, the game is about players taking on the roles of characters from the Isaac universe, each battling monsters, collecting powerful items and secure four souls to claim victory.
Players must navigate through strategic battles, negotiate trades, and sometimes outwit their peers to progress. With a dynamic mix of skillful planning and the element of chance dictating each turn, ‘Four Souls’ guarantees a fresh and exciting experience in every session, making it an ideal choice for those who appreciate thoughtful gameplay and interactive dynamics.”
The Binding Of Isaac Terminology
To fully grasp and enjoy Isaac world, it’s crucial to understand the specific terminology used in the game. These terms not only define the mechanics but also enrich the gameplay experience, allowing players to strategize more effectively.
Here’s a breakdown of key terms you’ll encounter in the game.
- Activate: This involves using an item’s special ability, item can be activated if it has a turning arrow symbol.
- Active Player: The player currently taking their turn. This player makes decisions and performs actions during their turn.
- Actions: These can include a range of activities, like using an item, attacking a monster, drawing from the loot deck, purchasing an item, playing a loot card, rolling dice, or responding to a passive item or monster effect.
- Ambush When an ambush card is played, it turns into a monster in an available monster slot. The player whose turn it is must attack this new monster during their turn.
- Cancel To cancel something means to remove it before it has an effect. This action is used for items or actions that are waiting to happen.
- Counters: These are markers placed on certain cards as specified by game rules or card effects. They can be represented by any small object, like a stone, dice, or coin.
- Curse A curse card is given to a player by the player whose turn it is. When the cursed player loses all their health, the curse card is discarded.
- Deactivate: This term is used when an item is turned sideways, indicating that its abilities are currently not in use.
- Destroy: When a card is destroyed, it is placed in the appropriate discard pile, removing it from active play.
- Discard: This happens when loot is used or when a monster in play is removed from the board without being killed. Discarded items go to their respective discard piles.
- Eternal: Refers to items in the game that are immune to being destroyed or discarded. These items provide continuous effects or benefits and remain in play permanently, adding a layer of strategy in how they are utilized or countered.
- Effects: refers to the specific actions or consequences that are triggered when cards are played or certain conditions are met in the game. These effects can vary widely depending on the type of card or game situation and can include things like gaining resources, affecting other players, modifying gameplay rules, or engaging in combat with monsters.
- Expand Slots This means you add more available spaces to a certain area of the game, like where monsters or items go.
- Flip Flipping a card means turning it over. Flipping a dice roll means you change the result to what you’d get if you subtracted the roll from seven.
- Gain To gain something means to take control of an item or resource that wasn’t yours before.
- Guppy: This serves as a marker for some specific abilities.
- Heal: Recover that many HP. An object cannot be heal beyond its max HP.
- Indomitable Indomitable monsters can’t be hidden or replaced. If you need to place one and there’s no room, you make extra space for it.
- Level Up/Down Adding a level counter means you level up. Removing one means you level down.
- Loot ×: If a card instructs a player to “loot ×” (for example, loot 3), it means the player draws that number of loot cards into their hand.
- Play Playing a card means taking it from your hand and putting it into action.
- Prevent Preventing damage or death means stopping it before it happens. If you prevent death, you also regain enough health to stay in the game.
- Recharge: Return a deactivated object to a charge state (Turned Upright)
- Souls: These are the points used to determine the winner of the game. Each boss monster has an associated soul, and defeating a boss earns the player that soul. Souls should be kept visible to all players.
- Reroll: to reroll a dice roll, roll that dice again. to reroll an item, destroy it and gain +1 Treasure
- Trinket When you play a trinket, it turns into a permanent item that you control.
- Triggered Effects: Abilities that are put onto the stack when a condition (or sometimes multiple conditions) are met. They begin with words like “when,” or “at,” or timing phrases such as “each time,” “every other time,” or “the 4th time”, before then detailing what is put on the stack when that condition is met.
These terms are fundamental to understanding and enjoying providing a framework for gameplay and strategy.
Card Decks And Their Purposes
Players will come across various types of cards, each serving a unique purpose in the game. Let’s take a look at each one, how they work and their uses.
Character Cards
These are the heart of your game persona. Each character card represents a different character from the Isaac universe, complete with special abilities. Think of these cards as your identity in the game world.
Who are the different Playable Characters in The Binding Of Isaac?
Starting Item
These cards are paired with the character the player chooses or is assigned at the beginning of the game. Each Starting Item Card typically represents an ability or advantage that is unique to that character, reflecting their special skills or traits.
Starting Items for each Characters:
Here are the Characters Cards in “The Binding Of Isaac Four Souls” side by side with their Starting Item Cards.
After picking the paired starting item for everyone’s characters, the rest of this deck is set aside. (This deck of card should not be confused and mix with the Treasure deck, they are not the same.)
Loot Cards
These are your tools for strategic advantage. Loot cards are unique, they are the only cards drawn and kept in hand by players.
Utilizing these cards can rapidly alter the game’s progression.
What are the different kinds of LOOT Cards?
Basic Loot Cards
Think of these like your everyday items in a game. They are things like coins (for buying stuff), bombs (for blowing things up), hearts (to keep you going), and pills (which have different effects). You use these cards to get resources or help you in fights. They’re pretty straightforward and easy to use.
Tarot Cards
These are special cards that can really change how the game is going. They’re more powerful than Basic Loot and can do some really cool things. For example, a Tarot card might let you take an extra turn or stop an enemy in their tracks.
Trinkets
These are rare and special. When you play a Trinket card, it’s like getting a permanent boost or helper. You put these cards on the table, and they keep helping you until they’re destroyed. They’re kind of like having a special tool or gadget that keeps giving you an advantage.
Knowing when to use these Loot cards can really help you win. It’s about making smart choices and using what you have at the right time.
Treasure Cards
The game changers. Treasure cards are valuable items that players acquire in the game. These cards are immediately placed in front of the player, visible to all. They possess potent effects that significantly influence gameplay, often interacting with other players and monsters, thereby shaping the game’s dynamics.
What are the 2 kinds of TREASURE Cards?
1. Active Items
Active items are that with a gold border and describe the effects you can play.
Active cards can be used either by activating them during your turn or by paying a cost .
Activated Effects
To use them, you turn the card sideways to show it’s been activated. However, before you can activate it again, you must ‘recharge’ it, which usually happens at the start of your turn.
Paid Effects
Marked with a dollar sign symbol, these effects require you to pay a specified cost to use them. Unlike activated effects, paid effects do not require the card to be recharged and can be used as many times as you can pay the cost during your turn.
2. Passive Items
They are distinguishable by their silver borders. They give players either special abilities or described trigger effects.(effects that are automatically played under certain conditions) Passive Items don’t require activation to use their effects. They continuously provide their effects, making them a consistent advantage in the game.
Treasure cards add depth and complexity to the game, offering players various strategies and ways to interact with other players and monsters.
Monster Cards
The Monster deck is a central component of the game, offering a variety of challenges and rewards.
What’s are the different kinds of MONSTER Cards?
Basic Monsters
These are the more common enemies you’ll face. Basic Monsters are generally easier to defeat compared to other types. Defeating these monsters often yields loot and coins, and on rare occasions, you might even get a treasure. They are the standard foes you’ll encounter and are essential for progressing in the game.
Bosses
Boss Monsters represent a significant step up in difficulty. They are harder to defeat, but the rewards for doing so are much greater. One of the key rewards for defeating a Boss is a soul. Souls are critical for winning the game, as collecting them is one of the primary objectives. When you defeat a Boss, you keep that Boss card as a way to track the souls you’ve earned.
Non-Monster Cards
Bonus Cards
These are less common and offer a mix of risks and rewards. Bonus cards can provide valuable resources or benefits, but they also come with the potential for negative consequences, including the possibility of your character being killed.
Curses
Curse cards are rare and have a unique impact on gameplay. When a Curse card is drawn, the player who revealed it can choose which player (including themselves) receives the curse. These curses are placed next to the player’s Character card and generally have ongoing negative effects. The curse is only lifted when the cursed player dies, at which point the Curse card is discarded.
Each type of card in the Monster deck adds a unique element to the game, creating a dynamic and unpredictable experience. Players must strategize not only how to defeat monsters but also how to deal with curses and leverage bonus cards effectively.
The Bonus Souls
Once players are comfortable with the basic game mechanics, they can introduce an exciting element called Bonus Souls. They are special cards that can greatly influence the outcome of the game. Players can earn these cards by meeting specific conditions during gameplay.
What are the different BONUS SOUL Cards?
Bonus Soul Cards include the Soul of Guppy, the Soul of Greed, the Soul of Gluttony, the Soul of Pride, the Soul of Envy, the Soul of Lust, the Soul of Sloth, and the Soul of Wrath.
When you begin a game and include bonus souls, mix them up and randomly select 3. These chosen three become the active bonus souls for that game.
Placement and Visibility
These Bonus Souls aren’t part of any deck. Instead, they are placed face up on the table, next to the game decks. This way, all players can easily see them, adding another layer of strategy to the game.
How do you Earn The Bonus Souls?
To earn each of the “Soul” Cards” players must fulfill specific conditions during gameplay.
Soul of Greed
This soul is claimed by the first player who accumulates 25¢ or more. It’s a race to gather coins, and reaching this monetary goal rewards the player with this soul.
Soul of Gluttony
This soul is awarded to the first player who has 10 or more Loot cards in their hand. It requires players to accumulate a substantial number of Loot cards, a feat that reflects the soul’s theme.
Soul of Guppy
To gain the Soul of Guppy, a player needs to have 2 or more Guppy Items in their possession.
What are the Guppy Items To Collect to gain the Soul Of Guppy?
Soul of Envy
When a player gets their third soul, the active player then grants the Soul of Envy to the player with the fewest souls, adding a layer of strategic choice and potential balancing to the game dynamics.
Soul of Lust
This card is about combat achievements. Each monster defeated by any player adds a counter to this card, and the player in action when the sixth counter is placed gains the Soul of Lust. It’s a reward for aggressive gameplay and successful monster confrontations.
Soul of Pride
Consider this card as a testament to resource acquisition. Similar to a progress tracker, each time a player acquires a treasure, a counter is placed on this card. The active player at the time the sixth counter is placed earns the Soul of Pride, marking a milestone in treasure collection.
Soul of Sloth
This card rewards the underdog – the player with the fewest items. When someone collects their fourth item, it triggers the opportunity for the current player to award the Soul of Sloth to the player with the least items, making strategic generosity part of the game.
Soul of Wrath
This card is tied to the in-game mechanic of player defeat. It’s claimed by the player who is active when a sixth player is knocked out of the game. Each player’s defeat adds a counter to the card, and the active player at the time of the sixth counter claims it.
One-Time Gain
Each of these souls can only be gained once per game, which means once a player has claimed a particular soul, it’s off the table for the rest of that game. This rule adds a sense of urgency and competition to be the first to meet the conditions for each soul.
Remember, each soul can only be earned once per game, which adds a layer of strategy as players race to meet these conditions before their opponents. It’s a great way to add depth and challenge to the game, encouraging players to adapt their strategies to these new objectives.
Room Cards
Room cards adds another dimension to the game, providing various effects when they come into play. These cards are not part of the standard game setup but can be included for added complexity and variation.
Room Cards
Each card type brings its own flavor to the game, making every round a new adventure full of strategic decisions and unexpected turns.
Winning the Game
The goal is to be the first to gather 4 souls to win the game.
How do you gain Souls?
Any card with the soul symbol can turn into a soul
card. The soul symbol says how many souls that
soul card is worth.
Gathering four souls is the key to winning. There are multiple ways to gain them. Let’s explore ways how you can snag these souls.
How do you gain Souls?
Accomplishing The Bonus Souls Conditions
Each Bonus Soul card is a mini-challenge waiting to be conquered. Whether it’s amassing a specific number of items or being the fastest to reach a milestone, completing these conditions rewards you with a soul.
Defeating Boss Monsters
Facing off against Boss Monsters is a daring endeavor that can pay off handsomely. Overcoming these formidable foes rewards you with a soul for each boss you defeat, some even have 2 souls to gain.
Non-Monster Card Effect
Certain non-monster cards also offer souls as a bounty for completing specific tasks. Engage with cards like the Holy Chest, and if luck is on your side with a roll of a 6, a soul becomes yours for the taking.
From The Treasure Cards
Treasure deck cards are more than just items and effects; some hold the key to earning souls. Keep an eye out for these treasures.
Attacking a Room
If you’re playing with room cards included, be on the lookout for rooms like Gus. That’s another soul.
By Stealing
And yes, you can even pilfer souls from your opponents! Certain cards allow for some good old-fashioned thievery. Use cards like Mom’s Shovel to dig one up from an unsuspecting player.
Now that we’ve familiarize ourselves with the different card components and the main objective, “to be the first to gather 4 souls”, let’s set the stage ready.
Game Setup
1. Choose a Character
Each player chooses a character card. Take a moment to get acquainted with your character’s special ability, as it will be a key asset in your quest for victory.
2. Prepare the Decks
Shuffle the Treasured deck, Loot deck, and Monster deck.
To set up the TREASURE deck you would…
- Treasure Deck: Shuffle the treasure deck thoroughly.
- Create the Store: Draw the top two cards from the treasure deck and place them face up in the center of the play area where all players can see them.
- Store Accessibility: These face-up cards form the initial store that players can buy items from during their turns.
The store is a dynamic part of the game where players can purchase items to aid in their quest to gather four souls. As items are bought, new ones are drawn from the treasure deck to replace them, keeping the store’s options fresh.
To set up the LOOT deck you would…
- Shuffle the Loot Deck: Mix the loot cards thoroughly to ensure a random distribution.
- Deal Starting Hands: Give each player 3 loot cards from the top of the deck to start their hand.
- Place the Deck: Put the remaining loot deck within reach of all players, usually in the center of the play area.
This creates a draw pile that players will use during the game to draw new loot cards, typically at the beginning of their turn or due to specific game effects.
To set up the MONSTER deck you would…
- Shuffle the Monster Deck: Mix up the monster cards to ensure unpredictability in gameplay.
- Place the Deck: Put the shuffled monster deck face down in a designated area that’s accessible to all players.
- Reveal Monsters: Draw the top few cards (typically two) from the monster deck and place them face up next to the deck. These are the initial monsters that players will encounter and have the option to attack on their turns.
This setup creates the monster line-up that players will engage with during the game to earn rewards and souls. As monsters are defeated, new ones are revealed from the deck to take their place.
3. Add Optional Cards
If you decide to include the Room deck, shuffle it as well and put out 100 cents (place near the room deck)
If you decide to play with Bonus Souls, pick 3 random Soul cards and place on the table face up.
Place card decks in the middle of the table.
4. Distribute Starting Items
Each player gets a Character card and gets the corresponding Starting items.
Each players are given 3 loot cards and 3 pennies to start with.
Ensure each player has a way to track their health and coins, whether through tokens, stones, or any form of counters.
Your complete table set-up should be like the image below.
5. Choose The First Player
“Time to Choose who will be the first in turn.”
Normally “Cain” always go first turn.
Or each players rolls the dice and who ever gets a higher score is the first in turn.
With all these steps completed, you’re ready to Play.
Turn Structure
A Turn is divided into 3 parts called Phases. These are the Starting Phase, the Action Phase, and the End Phase. They are an essential processes to understand and remember since you will be doing them repeatedly throughout the game.
Start Phase
At the beginning of every Turn(Start Phase) do as follow.
Active player draws 1 loot card from the loot deck to add to their hand.
NOTE: Players ‘Recharge‘ any items they used in the previous turn by turning them upright.
Action Phase
At Action Phase, Active player may do the following below:
1. Play Loot Cards
Player gets to play Loot Cards until the end of his/her turn .
How do you “Play Loot Cards?”
To play Loot Cards, follow these steps:
- Choose a Card: Look at the loot cards in your hand and decide which one to play.
- Play the Card: Announce your chosen card and place it face up on the table.
- Resolve the Effect: Carry out the action or effect described on the card.
- Discard the Card: After the effect is resolved, put the card in the discard pile.
2. Purchase Items
Buy items from the store with coins to gain abilities.
How do you Purchase Items?
You can either purchase any shop item(face-up cards) or the top of the deck for 10 cents.
1. Choose an Item: During your turn, look at the face-up items in the store.
2. Pay for the Item: If you have enough coins, pay the cost listed to purchase the item of your choice.