It’s a stunner–hardly a surprise considering that Molyneux invented the god-game genre back in 1987 with Populous. It was the first time gamers were allowed to assume godlike powers, influencing–but not directly controlling–events and the lives of characters in a simulated world. The big difference from other games was that the world ran on its own whether or not you interfered. In Populous, for example, you were a god seeking to expand your sphere of influence among a group of followers. If you failed to improve their living conditions, a rival, controlled by the computer, would eventually take over the land. Populous was an instant classic, and a gaming genre was born. Scores of imitators followed. Other designers came up with their versions of god games, like the well-known SimCity series. In 1997 Molyneux delivered another chart-topper, Dungeon Keeper. It sold more than 500,000 copies in its first month.

With Black & White, Molyneux has outdone himself. The game casts you in the role of a god whose visible emissary is a giant animal, which you must train to become a reliable administrator of your divine will. Molyneux says that Tamagotchi, a virtual pet that “hatches,” was one of the inspirations for Black & White. “If I could get so attached to an egg-shaped piece of plastic, how much more attached might I get to a computer creature that could truly learn from me and even come to reflect my personality?” he says.

The artificial intelligence that powers your creature’s evolution in the game is undoubtedly a breakthrough. But the background landscape is even more amazing. Called Eden, the 3-D world–a group of islands in the middle of an ocean–is teeming with live objects with which you can interact. Virtually anything you encounter–trees, boulders, wildlife, villagers–can be plucked from the ground and tossed Frisbee-like across the land. You can view the world from a bird’s-eye perspective, zoomed out as far as possible. Or you can close right in on individual villagers, each of whom has a unique name. In this vibrant setting, your creature will explore as the tiny people go about their business. If you are benevolent, the land will flourish and you’ll attract new worshipers. If you arbitrarily set fire to homes and kill people for no good reason, the world will become dark and sinister. As the title implies, it’s your choice: black or white.