This guide explains how to install Black & White (2001) on Linux using Wine via Bottles 🍷.
You need bottles, simples way to install bottles is through flatpak.
Black & White is considered abandonware. You can usually find it online, or you can use CDs/backups you already own.
- Black & White (2001)
- Black & White: Creature Idle (2002)
- Download all patches and store them in a folder (e.g.
~/Downloads/patches). - Mount the CDs or ISO files:
- Black & White ->
/mnt/cdrom - Creature Isle ->
/mnt/cdrom2
- Black & White ->
- Open Bottles and click "+" to create a new bottle.
- Name:
Black & White - Type: Gaming
- Runner:
wine-ge-proton8-26
You can install additional runners in Bottles via
Main Menu -> Preferences → Runners -> Wine GE, then downloadwine-ge-proton8-26
- Open the bottle Settings:
- Disable
VKD3D - set "Windows Version" to
Windows XP
- Open Manage Drives and add your CD-ROM mount points:
/mnt/cdromand/mnt/cdrom2
You can also add the folder containing the patches here.
CD- and patches-drives can be removed after installation.
- Open the Black & White bottle.
- Go to Tools -> Legacy Wine Tools -> Explorer.
- Navigate to the mounted CD and run
Setup.exe.
Note: A serial key is required. It can usually be found online due to the game being abandonware.
Use default settings during installation.
Skip the ReadMe, do not start the game, and skip online registration.
Copy "Audio" directory from CD into installed game directory C:\Program Files (x86)\Lionhead Studios Ltd\Black & White.
Still in Wine Explorer, navigate to your patches folder
(e.g. Z:\home\user\Downloads\patches) and install the patches in this order:
- Black_White_Patch_v1.100.exe
- BW_Football_Addon.exe
- BW_Villager_Banter.exe
- black_white_patch_v1_20.exe
- BWFanPatchInstaller.exe
- In Explorer, go to:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Lionhead Studios Ltd\Black & White. - Run
Setup.exe- Configure resolution and graphics
- Optionally enable Windowed Mode for testing, later you can switch to fullscreen
- In Explorer, open the Creature Isle CD
- Run
Setup.exe - Install the Creature Isle fan patch:
BWCIFanPatchInstaller.exe - Do not start the game yet
Close Wine Explorer and return to the bottle Settings.
Add the following overrides:
blinkw32d3dimddrawd3dim700
- Open Legacy Wine Tools → Explorer
- Navigate to the game directory
- Start
runblack.exe
If the game starts and runs correctly - congratulations 🎉
With the Fan Patch, a no-CD executable is usually not required.
In the Black & White bottle, add the following programs:
- CreatureIdle - CreatureIdle ->
.../bottles/Black-&-White/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Lionhead Studios Ltd/Black & White/CreatureIdle/CreatureIdle.exe - Setup ->
.../bottles/Black-&-White/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Lionhead Studios Ltd/Black & White/Setup.exe - runblack ->
.../bottles/Black-&-White/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Lionhead Studios Ltd/Black & White/runblack.exe - Setup - CreatureIdle ->
.../bottles/Black-&-White/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Lionhead Studios Ltd/Black & White/CreatureIdle/Setup.exe
Tip: Rename shortcuts for clarity.
Try to start the game (runblack) via "Programs"...
If the game does not start:
- Disable VKD3D and DXVK
- Turn Virtual Desktop off
- Try different runners:
lutris-ge-...kron4ek-wine-proton-...
- You can always start the game via Wine Explorer
- In Bottles, click "..." -> "Add to Steam" for
runblack - Restart Steam if needed
In Steam, Black & White:
- Manage -> Properties
- Add
gamescopeto launch options
(the Start In path may vary)
Customize game logo and header using SGDBoop: https://www.steamgriddb.com/game/37411
- Replace
runblack.exewith Infinite Drawing Distance - Install HD assets
- Download more custom Maps
See Exported bottle config for more details
- Game (window) only renders on the primary monitor, if you are playing in window mode.
- Fan patch or no-CD executable is required
- CachyOS (64-bit)
- AMD CPU
- NVIDIA GPU
- Hyprland (Wayland)
- Bottles (Flatpak)
- Steam + Gamescope (CachyOS Gaming package)
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