It can be argued that games are too long these days, with big-budget studios releasing live titles you're expected to play forever. However, these endless streams of content don't offer the meaningful, finite experience that comes with a game like Blanc. Developed by indie French studio Casus Ludi and published by Gearbox, Blanc is a black-and-white co-op adventure game about a wolf cub and fawn who must work together to navigate a snowstorm and find their families. Blanc's $14.99 price might seem steep for a game that lasts just an hour or two, but it's a fair trade for such a well-crafted experience. We tested the Nintendo Switch version, but Blanc is also available on PC via Epic Games Store and Steam.

Noir et Blanc

In Blanc, you play as either a wolf cub or fawn and each animal has its own unique abilities. For example, the wolf can pull objects and cut ropes, while the deer can push items, jump higher, and lift the wolf to hard-to-reach places. You use these abilities to navigate the puzzle-filled game world. Along your journey, you encounter a goose and a pair of baby goats, which add extra puzzle-solving elements.

The simple, black-and-white art style makes the world look like a charming pencil-and-ink drawing. Without written on-screen instructions, you must pay special attention to the game's prompts that reveal if you can interact with an object. If you want even less guidance, you can turn down the number of prompts from within the Options menu.

The lack of clear direction means you must think about where you need to go and how you might get there using your characters' abilities. It's frustrating at times; the minimalist game world and sometimes awkward camera angles obfuscate your goal. In addition, the occasional bugs pop up. For example, the companion goats that copy your actions as part of a puzzle-platforming sequence don't always behave as instructed.

Blanc lasts only an hour or so. It's even shorter than the wonderfully brief Inside, a game that lasts approximately two to four hours. Blanc should be viewed as a short story, where the focus is less on the narrative and more on the cozy winter vibes. If you're looking for a longer journey, you should play Sackboy: A Big Adventure, which lasts about a dozen hours. For more action-focused titles, check out our roundup of the best multiplayer games.

Blanc's Multiplayer Gameplay

Blanc can be played solo, but controlling two characters at once is painfully tedious. Although there are many puzzles that can be solved by one person, much of the game is about traversing the landscape, and that's hard to do when your attention is split.

The co-op mode opens the game by emphasizing coordination and teamwork. I found myself enjoying the process of calling out what we needed to do, and how we needed to do it, even if the solution wasn't complicated. For example, we couldn't reach a ledge because a wood plank acted as a seesaw. We used the deer to weigh down the board so the wolf could climb up. It turns out that a co-op game is actively improved by cooperation—who knew?

Not everyone has a person for couch co-op. For those gamers, Blanc has an online co-op mode that lets you connect with faraway people. On the Switch, this means you can quickly select someone from your friends list.

Besides the co-op options, Blanc has helpful accessibility settings that let you tweak the size of the font and UI elements, as well as the audio balance between background music, sound effects, and ambient noise. You can also change controllers and reassign characters from the pause screen.

With Blanc, Less Is More

Blanc is a short game, but don't let that deter you from enjoying its cool, puzzle-solving challenges. Like Inside and other indie darlings, Blanc is a meaningful experience, not a bland AAA title with a budget that rivals a Hollywood film. Blanc doesn't quite hit those games' highs; after all, it's a silent game with a bare-bones plot. However, Blanc's hand-drawn art, cozy winter atmosphere, and cooperative play make it a game you'll want to share with others.

For more recommended Nintendo Switch titles, check out The Best Nintendo Switch Games and The Best Nintendo Switch Games for Kids.