Black & White video games
What do a zebra, a tuxedo, and a Charlie Chaplin film all have in common? That’s right: they’re all black and white! Two non-colours originally used due to the technical limitations of the time, but that now exude a sense of elegance and mystery. When it comes to video games, here we have a few great games that won’t just be popular with gamers affected by achromatopsia (a pathology whose sufferers see everything in black and white).
Renoir
No connection to the Impressionist master Auguste Renoir, here you must be playing as one of his long-lost cousins, a detective by the name of James Renoir. Or rather, you play as his ghost and his many alter egos. To discover how he lost his life, you’ll need to solve some tricky puzzles that will demand synchronised action on your part. And all within an unmistakable 1940s film noir atmosphere.
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Publisher: Fulqrum Publishing
Developer: Black Wing Foundation
Chicken Police - Paint it RED!
A unique game for fans of crime novels and film noir. You’ll be diving into a dark bestiary where the protagonists are animal heads that walk around on human bodies. In black and white and with a jazz soundtrack, this game is a cross between interactive fiction and a Point and Click game, and the case you’ll be solving is incredibly well plotted and full of fun.
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Publisher: Handy Games
Developer: The Wild Gentlemen
Beholder - Blissful Sleep
Here’s Beholder with its expansion. It’s set in the same dystopian world, and you’re free to be exactly who you want to be, even if that’s a real piece of scum! You might choose to spy and denounce, or go the other way and become the top member of the secret resistance on a mission to make your tenants’ lives easier. Just make sure you’re never apprehended by the secret police. A real indie gem!
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Publisher: Alawar Entertainment
Developer: Warm Lamp Games
Run or die
An endless runner set in a desecrated world, all in black and white. Armed with your double jump, you have a choice: run or die. Your red scarf is the only touch of colour in this smartphone game.
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Publisher: Playtouch
Developer: Playtouch
Beholder 2
The sequel to Beholder, set after the events of the first game, with a new main character. There’s no concierge here, instead there’s a young office worker setting out on a career in the halls of power, starting on the very lowest rung. He wants to climb the ranks to find out the truth about the death of his father, and it’s up to you to choose how: by collaborating or resisting…
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Publisher: Alawar Entertainment
Developer: Warm Lamp Games
Hue
A real gem of a puzzle-platformer! It’s based entirely on a palette of eight colours that you’ll need to manipulate to make progress. Is that a blue wall blocking your path? Change the colour of the background to make it disappear. It works the same for the other colours. It sounds simple, but get ready to put your grey matter to the test. It’s even adapted for the colourblind.
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Publisher: Curve Games
Developer: Fiddlesticks Games
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