Black & White, developed by ZeroCreation and published by CubeGame, blends visual novel storytelling with turn-based war chess gameplay in a dystopian world defined by a strong black-and-white visual identity. Players observe the memories of twelve main characters while continuing to communicate with a mysterious girl, unfolding a narrative that spans over 250,000 words.

The game is distinguished by its monochrome-focused art direction and its central ideological choice between two opposing camps: the White Church and the Black Cinder Crow. Together, these elements create an experience in which narrative themes and strategic gameplay reinforce one another.

Immersive visual storytelling in a monochrome-focused world

Black & White presents its dystopian world with a strong black-and-white visual identity, while selectively incorporating color for emphasis. The game’s art direction favors symmetrical, painterly compositions that reinforce its thematic contrasts. This visual approach reflects the ideological divide between the two central factions: the White Church, representing order, fairness, and reason, and the Black Cinder Crow, symbolizing freedom, culture, and sensibility.

The narrative is conveyed through more than 400 story maps and CG images and features nearly 100 characters. Through memory observation and dialogue, players engage with the characters’ experiences and the ideological tensions shaping the world.

Strategic gameplay that supports the narrative

The game’s structure combines visual novel storytelling with turn-based war chess mechanics. With more than 30 level maps designed for tactical play, combat stages require careful positioning and planning while complementing the unfolding narrative. Gameplay alternates between strategic movement on chess-like grids and story-driven progression in visual novel form, creating a layered experience.

Player alignment and ideological choices shape narrative context and character progression, deepening engagement with the game’s themes. However, the emphasis on dialogue, memory exploration, and gradual progression may result in a slower overall pace, particularly for players expecting more frequent or fast-paced gameplay segments.

A distinctive blend of story and strategy

Black & White stands out for its integration of a narrative-driven visual novel with strategic war chess gameplay, framed by a strong black-and-white visual identity. The game explores themes of memory and ideology through its twelve main characters and the ideological divide that shapes its world. Overall, it emphasizes narrative depth and tactical gameplay in service of its thematic goals.