Short answer
openblack is an open-source re-implementation of Lionhead’s Black & White (2001) in modern C++ with OpenGL and Vulkan, for Windows, Linux and macOS. It is at an early stage: its first release (0.1.0, 4 September 2024) renders the islands, but it is not yet a full replacement for the game. A sister project, bw1-decomp, is decompiling the original. You need assets from your own copy.
This site is not affiliated with openblack, Lionhead Studios or Electronic Arts. We do not host any files and only link the project’s official pages.
What it is
Black & White, Lionhead Studios’ god game with a giant creature you train, came out for Windows in 2001. It runs poorly on modern Windows and is no longer sold digitally.
openblack is “an open source reimplementation of Black & White (2001) written in modern C++ and modern rendering engines (OpenGL, Vulkan)” (openblack README). The project started in 2018. It loads the original game’s assets, which you extract from your own installation.
The same community also runs bw1-decomp, “a work-in-progress decompilation of Lionhead Studios’ Black & White (2001)”, which turns the original Windows executables (versions 1.00 to 1.30 and Creature Isle) back into source code, with Classic Mac OS versions in progress.
Current status
- openblack: early development, very active (last update 1 November 2026). The 0.1.0 release on 4 September 2024 was announced as the “initial release” of the engine, with screenshots of islands compared to the original. Its known issues include off colours for sky and water and unsigned, installer-less builds.
- Test builds: the README links automatic builds for Linux, macOS and Windows (x64), plus Arch, Flatpak, AppImage and Snap packages. Android, iOS, ARM and 32-bit builds are marked experimental: “Don’t expect to be able to launch without some effort.”
- bw1-decomp: in progress, with code and data progress tracked on decomp.dev.
We have not tested openblack ourselves.
What you need
- Assets from your own Black & White: the original installer (usually a CD), plus official patch 1.10 and patch 1.2. The unofficial 1.42 patch is optional.
- Do not install patch 1.3, the README warns: it adds P5 Power Glove support and “is generally unstable”.
- A computer with OpenGL or Vulkan.
The project states plainly that it will not provide the copyrighted data. We do not link any copies either.
How to try it (overview)
- Install Black & White from the original installer and apply patches 1.10 and 1.2.
- Follow the README’s extraction guide to copy the assets openblack needs.
- Download a test build for your system from the links in the README.
- Start openblack and point it at the extracted assets. Expect an engine preview rather than the full game.
Should you use it?
openblack is for the curious and for contributors today. If you want to play Black & White through, the original game on Windows with community patches remains the practical route. Keep an eye on both openblack and bw1-decomp: a complete decompilation would make a faithful native port far easier.
FAQ
Can I play Black & White with openblack?
Not as a full game yet. openblack's only tagged release, 0.1.0 from September 2024, shows the game's islands rendered next to the original for comparison, and lists known issues with colours. It is an engine in development rather than a finished replacement. For actually playing, the original game is still needed.
Does openblack need the original game?
Yes. The original assets are required and the project will not provide them. Its README explains how to install the game from the original installer, apply official patches 1.10 and 1.2, and extract the files.
What is bw1-decomp?
A separate work-in-progress decompilation of Black and White by the same community. It targets the Windows versions 1.00 to 1.30 and Creature Isle, with Classic Mac OS versions in progress, and contains no game assets.
Which Black and White patches should I install for openblack?
The README lists official patches 1.10 and 1.2, with the unofficial 1.42 patch optional. It warns not to install patch 1.3, which added P5 Power Glove support and is generally unstable.
Is Black and White sold anywhere today?
Not officially. It has not been on digital stores for years, which is why openblack relies on the original CD installer.
Unofficial. This page is written by an independent directory. It is not made by, endorsed by or affiliated with Electronic Arts (developed by Lionhead Studios) or openblack contributors (openblack (Black & White engine re-implementation)'s author). We do not host any files, and we never link to game files, ROMs or ISOs.
Sources
This page was last updated on Nov 3, 2026. A date after a source is the day we read it. Versions and steps follow the official project; if they differ, the official source wins.
- openblack/openblack README (open-source reimplementation in C++ with OpenGL/Vulkan, test builds, original assets required, extraction guide and patches; checked 2026-11-03)
- GitHub API: openblack repository (created 15 January 2018, about 1,600 stars, GPL-3.0, last push 1 November 2026; checked 2026-11-03)
- openblack v0.1.0, the initial release, 4 September 2024 (known issues)
- openblack/bw1-decomp README (work-in-progress decompilation of Black & White, supported versions; checked 2026-11-03)
More ports
See every native PC version of a console game in our recompiled games list, browse all PC ports of console games, or go back to the full list of ported games.