White Shadows is a puzzle-platformer developed by Monokel and published by Thunderful Publishing and Mixtvision. This might be one of the most visually impressive games of 2021, which is why it's such a shame that it's so lacking in gameplay, as it could have been something truly special.
White Shadows is set in a dystopian city, where birds have been enslaved by pigs. The protagonist is Ravengirl, a raven who manages to escape from captivity and is free to explore the nightmarish hellscape. Environment is a strong suit of White Shadows, which has flashy advertisements that promote the ruling party, all of which light the looming towers and soulless machinery that dominate the skyline.
By far the most striking aspect of White Shadows is its visuals. There isn't a moment in this game that isn't impressive to behold. The grim dystopian city feels alive in a way that few do in gaming, which is especially impressive, as most of it exists in the background as the player is passing through. White Shadows feels like playing in a world created in an Eastern European arthouse animated movie, and it's an experience that players won't likely forget. There is minimal dialogue and text in White Shadows, but the game does an amazing job of telling its story with its setting and visuals.
White Shadows is not an animated movie, however, and it's here where the game has issues. The gameplay in White Shadows involves guiding Ravengirl through the city. This involves jumping across hazards, pulling blocks to complete basic puzzles, and running from shadow to shadow, in order to avoid detection. The platforming sections are frustrating, due to Ravengirl's limited ability to change direction after leaving the ground, in a similar manner to the platforming in the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES.
This isn't helped by some frustrating collision detection glitches, which can cause Ravengirl to miss ladders or clip through ledges. White Shadows might have been better served as a walking simulator, as the platforming elements just invite frustration. As a short game clocking in at a few hours, its gameplay mostly exists to keep the player moving in one direction. This is a game that lives and dies on its spectacle, and it's a shame that the platforming isn't tighter and that there aren't more obstacles to overcome, as this game world is crying out for more content.
The best way to describe White Shadows is that it feels like playing through the winner of the Best Animated Short Film at the Academy Awards. The visuals are incredible and the world is bristling with life and imagination. It's a shame that there's so little gameplay on offer, and what is there is hamstrung by poor controls and glitches. White Shadows might have been better suited as a short film, but as it stands it's a middling video game that drags down an exceptional presentation.
White Shadows will be released for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S today, December 7, 2021. Screen Rant was provided with an Xbox Series X/S code for the purposes of this review.