Black & White 2 is a god-game strategy title developed by Lionhead Studios, released in 2005 for PC and Mac. Players assume the role of a deity summoned from nothingness by worshippers, though divine power is not absolute — it grows or diminishes in direct proportion to the strength and devotion of the player's believers. The alignment of that deity, whether benevolent or malevolent, shapes how civilization develops under their influence. Central to the experience is a creature companion — an anthropomorphic ape, lion, wolf, turtle, cow, or tiger — that serves as a physical embodiment in the world. This being can grow to enormous scale and develops its own good or evil personality independently, shaped by how the player chooses to reward or punish its behavior. Building on the city-building and god-simulation foundation of the original Black & White, the sequel expands the formula with real-time strategy mechanics, introducing controllable military units and organized warfare.
The player comes upon a scene of a Greek city being devastated by a huge Aztec army after being summoned from a "pure prayer". After the player saves a certain number of people, their people are transported to a new land with a handful of refugee worshipers, the player must re-establish a power base from which to eventually defeat the Aztec empire. To do so, the player must conquer the Norse, the Japanese and the Aztecs, either by peace or war. Throughout the game there is a theme of "The prophecy", which states that a tribe will be destroyed by the mightiest power in the world but will receive a god who will lead them to glory and dominance of the world.
