Last Updated on May 30, 2024 by Jhonni Jets
Color blindness, also known as color vision deficiency, is a condition that affects how individuals perceive color. There are several types of color blindness ranging from the inability to distinguish between certain colors like red and green, to seeing the world in shades of gray. For those with color vision deficits, enjoying video games can often be difficult or impossible due to overreliance on color cues for gameplay. However, there are many games that are color blind friendly or offer color blind assist modes. This article highlights 10 such games across different genres that color blind players will easily be able to enjoy.
Minecraft
Minecraft is one of the most accessible games for color blind players. While the default mode does rely on colors to distinguish items and blocks, there are multiple color blind modes that can be enabled in the game settings. These modes alter the way colors are displayed to make distinguishing different blocks and items much more feasible for those with color vision deficiencies. Minecraft is also very beginner friendly which allows color blind players to focus on exploring, building, and having fun without worrying too much about complex controls or objectives.
Hearthstone
Hearthstone is a hugely popular digital collecting card game. The game has separate art and border designs for each card that minimizes reliance on colors alone to recognize different cards. It also has color blind assist modes that modify the way mana costs and card art is displayed. Players won’t have any issues identifying their cards or following the action on screen. With an easy to learn interface and reliance on strategy over rapid color or pattern recognition, Hearthstone ranks high as a fun yet accessible game for color blind audiences.
Minecraft Dungeons
As a spin-off of Minecraft, Minecraft Dungeons continues the tradition of being color blind friendly. The various enemies, weapons, armor and levels all have distinct shapes, textures or icons making them easily distinguishable without relying on colors alone. There are also color blind modes available to customize the interface even further. With its simple hack and slash mechanics and family friendly co-op gameplay, Minecraft Dungeons provides accessibility and fun for players of all visual capabilities.
Stardew Valley
The charming farming simulation RPG Stardew Valley is quite color blind friendly out of the box. While seasons are distinguished by color palettes, crops and resources have distinct shapes that serve as identifiers. The customizable user interface can also be altered to use different colors if needed. Character customization and progression is not gated behind visual tasks, allowing full enjoyment of the relaxing gameplay loop. With such a wide variety of activities and things to explore, Stardew Valley is an accessible game that color blind gamers of all ages can easily sink dozens of hours into.
Slay the Spire
As a deckbuilding roguelike, Slay the Spire avoids reliance on fast color recognition for its turn-based gameplay. Cards are uniquely illustrated and have distinctive shapes, textures or animations for quick identification beyond just colors. Enemy types also vary sufficiently in appearance for combat to remain understandable. While colors do factor into elemental affinities, understanding these is optional for basic success. With adjustable interface colors and flexible, low-stress gameplay, Slay the Spire proves accessible and satisfying for color blind players.
Into the Breach
Into the Breach is a turn-based strategy game with grid-based movement and combat. Each unit and enemy has a unique icon and attacks are clearly telegraphed, making fast color perception unnecessary. Victory conditions are also about strategy and resource management over split-second color responses. The game offers several interface customization options as well to make the overlay clearer for those with visual impairments. With its thoughtful level design focused on tactical decision making over reflexes, Into the Breach is a great pick for color blind strategy fans.
Hades
The roguelike action game Hades has distinct enemy designs and clear combat abilities displayed through shapes and silhouettes rather than colors alone. Players build character power through boons that have unique graphical representations minimizing reliance on hues. Visual clarity is further supported through adjustable UI elements. Moreover, steady progression is determined more by strategic choices than rapid visual processing. With accessibility in mind across various needs, Hades delivers a great hack and slash experience for all players to enjoy.
Pokemon GO
Niantic’s hit mobile AR game supports color blind modes to make visual elements like type affinities legible. Pokemon are also identifiable through unique silhouettes and no critical gameplay is wholly reliant on fast color responses. AR exploration and collection mechanics are accessible when adapted interfaces are enabled. Community integration further enhances enjoyment for all abilities. As one of the most popular modern gaming franchises, Pokemon GO proves color is no barrier to enjoying augmented reality adventures.
Ori and the Blind Forest
The acclaimed platformer Ori and the Blind Forest offers color blind assist modes to modify how elements like pickups and environmental cues are displayed. Beyond this, its kinetic platforming is based on shape, timing and pattern recognition over color reactions alone. Exploration is guided more by environmental storytelling than visual commands. With an immersive score and touching narrative, Ori provides an example of how accessibility can be woven into the fabric of acclaimed artistic games.
World of Warcraft
As one of the biggest MMORPGs, World of Warcraft has invested heavily in accessibility including robust color blind modes. These options modify how the user interface, effects, maps and nameplates appear to minimize reliance on color alone. With a focus on intricate progression systems, character customization and vast social landscapes over reflexive gameplay, WoW delivers hundreds of hours of accessible content for players of varied visual capabilities to team up and enjoy together.
In conclusion, the gaming industry has made tremendous strides in recent years to make their interactive experiences accessible for those with color blindness and other visual differences. The selection of games highlighted here offer customizable display options, unique character designs, clear UI conventions or turn-based strategies that minimize necessary fast color recognition skills. As a result, they provide enjoyment on their own merits for people of all visual capabilities.