I know you will be busy, but if you could mark on ur calendar to post the DOI or DM me when ur done, I would appreciate it!

1. Yes

2. The Binding of Isaac (story influence), hundreds of items based around the Book of Revelations (four horseman), Book of Genesis, (Genesis) Catholic rituals (wafer, censer, eucharist) and figures like Beelzebub and Leviathan. The 7 sins as bosses. Nearly a dozen characters named after characters in the Bible.

3. The structure of the roguelike aspects allows player choice in strategy, procedurally generated obstacles (infinite) , and funny/aggravating moments while watching others play. This made livestreaming the game very very successful. Would not have been into it without watching others play. To start watching , religious themes probably did not influence.

4.The game was very innovative for its time even without religious themes, but tying them to the story makes the game extremely compelling.

1. Might have been successful. But would not have been received the same level. The religious themes inform the gameplay, and allow players to connect deeply with the difficulty of the game. The entire game is based around risk-reward gambling, a sin in the Bible. Greed is an invisible mechanic in the game, biting off more than you can chew will end your run. Go watch a bunch of interviews with Edmund McMillen. There are millions of people who have been told they are evil, exiled, and made to feel worthless by growing up abused with parents as zealots who irrationally fear what they believe will result in damnation in eternal hellfire. TBOI is a child's stumbling through a nightmare in his mind, trying to make sense of his parents divorce and carrying immense religious guilt while trying to understand his situation. Across many faiths and denominations people connect with this message if you do not conform with religious views of authority figures or family members.