Black & White

 PC
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 407 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 258 out of 407
  2. Mixed: 127 out of 407
  3. Negative: 22 out of 407

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  1. iseeall
    Dec 10, 2015
    9
    It's a highly innovative God-style management game where you help a small tribe to build and expand a village. The more villagers pray to you, the greater your circle of influence on the map becomes. Your goal is to capture the whole map and defeat rival gods. You also control a creature which you teach with rewards and punishments. Astonishingly, the creature's AI is designed with so muchIt's a highly innovative God-style management game where you help a small tribe to build and expand a village. The more villagers pray to you, the greater your circle of influence on the map becomes. Your goal is to capture the whole map and defeat rival gods. You also control a creature which you teach with rewards and punishments. Astonishingly, the creature's AI is designed with so much plasticity that, with some patience, you can teach it to do very complex things like creating forests, fetching stuff and generally helping villagers a lot and taking most of micromanagement away from you. Villagers tend to become lazy if you just give them food and wood, so it's better to create forests and rains instead, letting the villagers produce food and wood themselves. With some training, your creature would even do all the forests/rain spells.

    You can also choose to be an evil god, torture villages and let your creature eat them. The creature can fight with creatures of rival gods. There are quests scattered over the world, with the most famous one being where you bring grain and a pig to sailors (I still remember their song: "We're not complaining but there is one more thing remaining: We're not going nowhere 'ntil we get some meat.. ").

    The graphics are great for the time and still look good, and you can fully zoom out to see the whole map on the screen. You have 2 advisers (one good and one evil) who are funny and have a lot of character, especially the evil one. The game has an innovative system of casting spells (by drawing signs on the screen) which unfortunately doesn't work well - but you can also just use hotkeys for spells as well.

    The only real downside (and that's why 9/10 and not 10/10) is that the game somehow lacks purpose. The campaign offers a handful of words to conquer and after that you don't know what to do else. Even being evil for a while gets boring fast. This game came years before Minecraft, which made this style of game ("do whatever you want") more common and accepted.    … Expand
  2. Admelein
    Jun 3, 2015
    10
    Its 2015 and i am still playing this, not often as it isn't much for the replayability but it brings back memories of me originally playing it 10+ years ago. Graphics are a little off but look at how old it is. I believe i saw a comment from 2013 complaining about that but they didnt take into the age factor. I wish Black & white 2 stayed closer to this games gameplay. I also wish thereIts 2015 and i am still playing this, not often as it isn't much for the replayability but it brings back memories of me originally playing it 10+ years ago. Graphics are a little off but look at how old it is. I believe i saw a comment from 2013 complaining about that but they didnt take into the age factor. I wish Black & white 2 stayed closer to this games gameplay. I also wish there was more done of this, i haven't played another game like it and i want to. But i just have to deal with this and 2.… Expand
  3. Hurzdligh
    Sep 5, 2012
    10
    I don`t understand all the negative reviews on this game. For me is the single most brilliant game ever made, too bad it doesn't have a sequel to follow it's steps. From graphics to gameplay to story, this is the game that filled my early years in gaming with hope that the game industry will grow in intelligence and innovation. I was wrong, but still this game deserves to be in top 10 everI don`t understand all the negative reviews on this game. For me is the single most brilliant game ever made, too bad it doesn't have a sequel to follow it's steps. From graphics to gameplay to story, this is the game that filled my early years in gaming with hope that the game industry will grow in intelligence and innovation. I was wrong, but still this game deserves to be in top 10 ever made. It saddens me that so many ppl view it as junk.
    One of the best. 10/10    … Expand
  4. NicholasS.
    Feb 23, 2002
    10
    Totally awesome.
  5. stu_collier
    Mar 3, 2011
    9
    One of the first games i ever played and i have to say one of my favorates, this game has one of the best story lines i have ever come across a very fun game to play "black and White, Find out who you really are" this really game lets you go ahead throw that man off a cliff you have no one to answer too, burn that womans house no one can stop you put that child in a pack of wolves see whatOne of the first games i ever played and i have to say one of my favorates, this game has one of the best story lines i have ever come across a very fun game to play "black and White, Find out who you really are" this really game lets you go ahead throw that man off a cliff you have no one to answer too, burn that womans house no one can stop you put that child in a pack of wolves see what happens. This game will release the good or evil in you. The graphics havnt really stood the test of time unlike age of empires for example but the game is still great and worth buying.… Expand
  6. rosey1579
    Jan 4, 2014
    7
    Well... I am on the final land... I am trying to be a good god and impress villages, so first a make sure my villagers are happy. Then I raise the totem. Oh, I see that the villagers worshipping want food. Sure! Still in control... Okay, now to impress. Oh no! My influence is too small! Nevermind, I have a creature for such problems. Then I hear the death call. Hmm... I know I will get aWell... I am on the final land... I am trying to be a good god and impress villages, so first a make sure my villagers are happy. Then I raise the totem. Oh, I see that the villagers worshipping want food. Sure! Still in control... Okay, now to impress. Oh no! My influence is too small! Nevermind, I have a creature for such problems. Then I hear the death call. Hmm... I know I will get a heal and heal the people Okay, there, now to refill the food of the people. Alright, now to... Oh no! People are dying at the worship site! I must lower the totem. Okay, now my creature must go impress the village! Hang on! Why is he so small! Oh no! I spent too much time trying to be good that my creature has shrunk! Well anyway, I will send him! NOOO! Nemisis chucked like a million fireballs at him!!! NO! Oh no! My villages need more civic buildings! why are there so many children! Oh! Oh to hell with good! where's that fireball dispenser? Oh no! I accidentally destroyed it! Well, let me see how much belief I need, maybe I can expand my influence. 3500 belief needed. … Expand
  7. JonK.
    Oct 18, 2003
    6
    How did this score so highly? No, no, no!! I await Black & White 2 eagerly, but sadly the original was fatally flawed. It takes what is essentially a sandbox environment where you look after your creature and your worshippers, and restricts it with a rigid structure that's repetitive, dull, frustrating and badly paced. Plus, it's near impossible to play again because of the very How did this score so highly? No, no, no!! I await Black & White 2 eagerly, but sadly the original was fatally flawed. It takes what is essentially a sandbox environment where you look after your creature and your worshippers, and restricts it with a rigid structure that's repetitive, dull, frustrating and badly paced. Plus, it's near impossible to play again because of the very lengthy tutorial you're forced to sit through...… Expand
  8. Tarkin
    Dec 16, 2011
    7
    It is an absolutely great amazing... but... it gets boring way too much quickly I even have not finished it, although it looks very promising, the features and possibilities in this game are endless, yet still boring.
  9. ndr
    Oct 28, 2012
    10
    I loved this game. My biggest wish is that they make the "3rd" one also!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  10. Toffenuff
    Jun 19, 2013
    7
    This game had so much promise, but it falls short of its godly goals. That said, the game is still enjoyable thanks to the fact that YOU ARE A GOD. Seriously. Why didn't they make B&W3? With the hardware and even software out now, that game would be truly at epic proportions fit for a player-god.

    Quirky and funny dialogue from your advisers eventually get old. And, yes the gameplay does    This game had so much promise, but it falls short of its godly goals. That said, the game is still enjoyable thanks to the fact that YOU ARE A GOD. Seriously. Why didn't they make B&W3? With the hardware and even software out now, that game would be truly at epic proportions fit for a player-god.

    Quirky and funny dialogue from your advisers eventually get old. And, yes the gameplay does eventually get rather boring after a while and the story isn't even really worth paying attention to. Most of the time, I just try to build the best, most efficient city ever and then once my goals are met I bring the apocalypse upon my people. Muahahaha! Ahem.

    Anyways, I wouldn't exactly recommend this game, but if it's really cheap then buy it. Otherwise, I'd go for B&W 2 instead. Since it's basically the same game, only better! (and prettier too)    … Expand
  11. kailoone
    Oct 17, 2015
    7
    So I remeber all the hype about this game back in 2001 and years flew by and I finally decided to test this game after so many years, it's nearly 2016 now yep 15 years after the release of this game I always had that little feeling that I wanted to test this. So yea I finally did, well I don't know that to say, I can think of so many things but I will just try to keep it simple. The gameSo I remeber all the hype about this game back in 2001 and years flew by and I finally decided to test this game after so many years, it's nearly 2016 now yep 15 years after the release of this game I always had that little feeling that I wanted to test this. So yea I finally did, well I don't know that to say, I can think of so many things but I will just try to keep it simple. The game looks great very nice considering it came out in 2001, the sound and music are really good and the presentation is great, almost all about the game is decent for a 2001 game. nothing can go wrong right? Well... I am not sure if the game didn't age well or the concept was just too new back in the day or if it all was just a commercial stunt. Thing is the game is great but it just lacks depth, it gets very repetitive soon and trying too keep things in order, the vilages and citizens food wood miracles your creature etc etc becomes really hard, it starts to feel more like a chore than a game. Soon I started to feel more like a maid or a slave than a god. The game and concept is really great but it was poorly executed. I have very mixed feelings about this game and I don't know if I could recommend it, I have not played B&W2 but if its slightly better than this one then get that one instead of this one. This game just feels incomplete that should have been my whole review summarized 'Incomplete game'. I will rate it a 7 just because the game is not bad even with all it's flaws. if you like these type of games then get (Jowood The Nations) it's an old game too but at least it is more balanced than this one and it makes me feel more of a god than this one too.… Expand
  12. llamayarmybar
    Sep 16, 2013
    6
    I'm glad the game is finally getting the real reviews it actually deserves, since behind its sharp presentation lies an overwhelming mess of a game. From the woeful tutorial sections at the beginning of the game, to the intuitive design choices, Black and White seems more like a title designed to frustrate the player than to actual teach them anything. If anyone recalls the much betterI'm glad the game is finally getting the real reviews it actually deserves, since behind its sharp presentation lies an overwhelming mess of a game. From the woeful tutorial sections at the beginning of the game, to the intuitive design choices, Black and White seems more like a title designed to frustrate the player than to actual teach them anything. If anyone recalls the much better game, Populous 3, which came out some years before this, exceeds in teaching the player fairly basic mechanics and structure without attaching a one ton weight that is the atrocious AI of Black And White's infamous "creatures." You start the game off helping some folks being GOD and whatnot, you aren't opposed to helping (or harming) people once in awhile. After you're bored with that its time to listen to a tutorial for an hour rather than to introduce things slowly to the player without patronizing them or belittling their technical abilities to understand how a very basic game actually works. Their is no "management" of your throng of villagers, the gaggles of them will just literally do whatever you need them to do. Should you wish, you could essentially sit around and do nothing for them, but unfortunately nothing would ever get done. Unsurprisingly these villagers are pretty slow compared to you, GOD, who can essentially do their work for them much faster. After a few buildings are finished you will get to pick from three adorably polygonal monstrous creatures: A cow, a lion or an Orangutan. In what can only be described as, "tedious to a degree not since seen in any other game ever" you are now forced into what can only be described as a pet simulation till the end of single player game. None of the creatures were particularly better than you, GOD, and the effort needed to train these beasts from murdering citizens or gaining their trust before picking one up all of a sudden and eating them was mentally draining. I certainly don't remember this portion of the game being intuitive either. In fact I found it revolting how easily you could accidentally train your monster something entirely wrong and not know the consequences until it was too late. I never even bothered to finished the incredibly long winded Single player portion, as I was just too frustrated by the creature AI mechanics to possibly stomach the rest of the game. Though it was met with exceedingly amazed reviewers at its time of release, since then it has been confirmed for one of the most overrated and over hyped pieces of software to come out in some time. Is it fun to pick up villagers and throw all of them into the ocean one by one in an effort to bring some peace from the chaos? Yes of course. But you'll never get anything done that way.… Expand
  13. DantheMan
    Mar 18, 2011
    0
    Every so often a game comes along that makes you stare in disbelief. This is that game for me. Maybe I'm to old but I know **** when I see it. This game reminds me of the Segway. It was supposed to revolutionize gameplay. It had the best minds behind it. Yeah, right. It's nothing but hype. The product simply fails to deliver in any category. The people who like this game are the sameEvery so often a game comes along that makes you stare in disbelief. This is that game for me. Maybe I'm to old but I know **** when I see it. This game reminds me of the Segway. It was supposed to revolutionize gameplay. It had the best minds behind it. Yeah, right. It's nothing but hype. The product simply fails to deliver in any category. The people who like this game are the same people who are proud to wear DKNY. How they ever got into the gaming world is beyond me.… Expand
  14. Jerry
    Jan 6, 2004
    9
    This game wuz pretty amazing in the beginning but it became boring and the graphics culd have been a bit better......
  15. MikeN.
    May 14, 2007
    5
    Unplayable. B&W has a promising game concept, controling a big fury silly godlike cute creature that can evolve as the game progresses. And the game had extremely nice graphics for the time when it was released, and the presentation of the game and tutorial is top notch and it has an innovative control system, so as a game developer I fully appreciate the game and it is a nice work of Unplayable. B&W has a promising game concept, controling a big fury silly godlike cute creature that can evolve as the game progresses. And the game had extremely nice graphics for the time when it was released, and the presentation of the game and tutorial is top notch and it has an innovative control system, so as a game developer I fully appreciate the game and it is a nice work of art. But as a gamer there simply isn't any game to play, micro managment of the minions is killing the game and training the AI is close to impossible. However the game serves as a great tool of sorting out magazines that do real game reviews and those the just look at the cover, play the game for 15 minutes and then write a review. Don't ever buy one of the magazines that rated this game above 70. I haven't tried out B&W2 yet, but hopefully gameplay is included in the sequel which might make it a great game.… Expand
  16. KarlN.
    Sep 21, 2007
    6
    I didn't get far enough into the game to critique the game mechanics. It's the philosophy behind this game that bothers me. I find this game annoying because it assumes that people are whiny, helpless creatures that only know how to do three things: grovel for help, run in terror, or bow in terror/reverence. Surely people could have a more sophisticated response to God. Surely I didn't get far enough into the game to critique the game mechanics. It's the philosophy behind this game that bothers me. I find this game annoying because it assumes that people are whiny, helpless creatures that only know how to do three things: grovel for help, run in terror, or bow in terror/reverence. Surely people could have a more sophisticated response to God. Surely there could be something more than just fear driving human actions. This disappoints me because the game was ambitious and I would like to see more attempts at these kinds of games.… Expand
  17. ai
    Mar 10, 2009
    2
    If being god is this dull and boring, he'd have to shoot himself. this is the only game I ever bought that I was not able to advance past a few missions, for the sheer pain of playing futher. thinking of the possible obligation to play the game in light of buying it was like doing advanced accounting homework: wishing for a break; dawdling the time; picking up other things to do.
  18. YongukK
    Aug 8, 2009
    3
    Okay, this game is like second-secondhand yacht; It looks great, sails fine. Then it begins to sink in the very middle of the sea. Oops. All the systems praised by critics proven to be buggy and incomplete; I found myself tired of training stupid creatures and feeding villagers who cannot live on if i do not full their storage every 10 minute. And what about hard and frustrating quests? Okay, this game is like second-secondhand yacht; It looks great, sails fine. Then it begins to sink in the very middle of the sea. Oops. All the systems praised by critics proven to be buggy and incomplete; I found myself tired of training stupid creatures and feeding villagers who cannot live on if i do not full their storage every 10 minute. And what about hard and frustrating quests? This game is one overrated abomination.… Expand
  19. WillS.
    Jun 22, 2001
    6
    Much to my disappointment, Black and White offers Godhood, but the delivery suffers mortal flaws. Naive, kitschy characters (a little devil and a wizard-type figure that are about as charming as the Microsoft paperclip), blocky and dull-looking worshippers and kludgy game play make for uninspiring game play. Sadly, B&W doesn't deliver half of what it promises.
  20. HeikkiM.
    Aug 13, 2007
    2
    Horrible repetitive shallow garbage through and through. If you look past the graphics, a child could program a better game than this in BASIC in one hour. You can test the trustworthiness of a review site by checking what they had to say about B&W: the ones that praised it played it for a few moments, tops.
  21. ToeK.
    Sep 21, 2007
    1
    Very subpar game. not very fun. controls suck.
  22. mindguru
    May 1, 2011
    7
    Black & White was one of the first computer games I ever purchased for myself. Though having some major issues, this game was entertaining enough to keep my interest for a while. The miracle system and freedom to act how you please are what made this game so entertaining. No boundaries but your own sense of right and wrong. However, the AI was leagues behind where it needed to be for aBlack & White was one of the first computer games I ever purchased for myself. Though having some major issues, this game was entertaining enough to keep my interest for a while. The miracle system and freedom to act how you please are what made this game so entertaining. No boundaries but your own sense of right and wrong. However, the AI was leagues behind where it needed to be for a game like this. Stupid villagers cannot even feed themselves if you don't manage their village's every need. Your creature will walk around eating folk, even if you slap him silly every time he does it. This game was created far before its time. If made today, this could have been so much better!… Expand
  23. Fishymew
    Nov 10, 2013
    7
    The concept of this game is so very appealing, but it makes me feel a bit let down. The creature aspect either feels too advanced, or just wasn't thought through completely. I can't decide. Somehow it will feel like having a real pet, with a colorful personality where you can affect it's choices, lifestyle and morale. But the system for doing this requires a lot of patience, as it's seldomThe concept of this game is so very appealing, but it makes me feel a bit let down. The creature aspect either feels too advanced, or just wasn't thought through completely. I can't decide. Somehow it will feel like having a real pet, with a colorful personality where you can affect it's choices, lifestyle and morale. But the system for doing this requires a lot of patience, as it's seldom clear on how to do this. Often you will be required to watch him closely every minute to find the right timing on when to praise him or scold him, and the outcome may still not be what you thought it to be. It also seems like the creature forgets stuff over time, so he will have to keep relearning things throughout the game, which proves tedious. As for being a god the layout feels clever. You'll impress different towns with your godly ways, which will give you enough influence for them to start worshiping you. But you may only do stuff within your "influence radar", which makes it essential to either bring your pet over to impress or cause distress; or throw rocks and stuff from afar like crazy until people take notice. Sometimes, it works out well and you'll feel good about it. Other times, you'll want to rip your hair out as the god-villain so easily may electrify your creature to death, making your choices very few on how to proceed. It's also quite sad how boring it may be to be a god, as it often will feel like a village simulator where you just micromanage stuff; like turning citizens into farmers, build stuff and keep bringing food over to your worshipers. And every level will be repetitive as this is pretty much all you do. Then there's the side quests. They're always cheesy, but often a fun break from the regular god-stuff that you do. The rewards will often be surprising, but seldom that useful. Though I have to say that most of the charm in this game lies within such things. I find a lot of pleasure from the side quests, exploring the world, pressing F1 to get descriptions of weird stuff on the islands, checking out small easter eggs and such. It's clear that the game is meant to be quirky and fun, rather than a die hard strategy game.… Expand
  24. DeusXCom
    Aug 6, 2014
    7
    I always loved those I am GOD games, and especially this one had so much potential and so many excellent ideas, that it was almost more fun thinking about it and about all that potential than actually playing it. I loved the concept, but I also remember that it never kept me entertained for more than a few first levels, but it's definitely one of those titles that deserves to be rememberedI always loved those I am GOD games, and especially this one had so much potential and so many excellent ideas, that it was almost more fun thinking about it and about all that potential than actually playing it. I loved the concept, but I also remember that it never kept me entertained for more than a few first levels, but it's definitely one of those titles that deserves to be remembered for what it is and for what it tried to do.7/10… Expand
  25. tsakiym
    May 12, 2015
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I do not have to say anything more. But i need to write one hundred and fifty characters. i think my score can describe it............................… Expand
  26. Wiebe
    Feb 26, 2020
    8
    Brilliant game, some much fun to play around with, so original. The best management and town building where not well implemented though.
  27. ZiggyStardust
    Nov 9, 2002
    7
    A nice concept, but I didn't find the game as enjoyable as I expected.
  28. CherylK.
    Jun 7, 2002
    9
    This is one of the best games I've ever played unique and innovative. The graphics are rich and the details astounding. I'll give it a 9 instead of the 10 it deserves sheerly out of contempt with the lack of patches given for Black & White's expansion pack: Creatures Isle. Overall its a wonderful game that I recommend it for all. Good for ages young to immortal.
  29. AlexE.
    Oct 14, 2001
    8
    Best game ever but extremely demanding requirements.
  30. AlexE.
    Oct 14, 2001
    8
    Best game ever but extremely demanding requirements.
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best PC Game of 2001
11
#11 Most Discussed PC Game of 2001
2
#2 Most Shared PC Game of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 34
  3. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. Game Revolution
    100
    It's the sort of game that comes around once every few years and totally changes the gaming landscape.
    Read full review
  2. Voodoo Extreme
    85
    After about 15-25 hours (Depending on the gamer) the game just seems to lose it’s fun factor. Sadly, many games released nowadays don’t even have 15 hours gameplay in them, let alone 15 hours of damn fun gameplay; Black and White does indeed have this.
    Read full review
  3. GamePro
    100
    Black & White miraculously pulls you in and doesn't let go until you've sacrificed many hours.
    Read full review
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