Most computer games rely on sophisticated graphics and generally do not offer voiced instructions or accessibility for blind or low vision users. The following list is representitive of a growing number of computer games which are accessible for people with vision impairments.
Free “demo” copies of many of these games are available from their websites, links to which are provided on the Suppliers page.
See also the sections on Computer Access: Voice
| Name and Source |
Price |
Comments |
| Accessible Games Whitestick |
Varies | Links to websites which offer accessible computer games |
| Armadillo Army APH |
US$39-$49 | Maze game which encourages students with low vision to practice visual
skills such as tracking, scanning, eccentric viewing, vertical eye movements
etc Clear graphics Can also be played by blind students |
| Azabat Azabat |
UK£40 | PC - CD ROM Talking computer programs which are self-voicing, use large fonts and do not use the mouse Sold in bundles and includes: Yahtzee, Blackjack, Klondike, Connect 4, Educational Games, Word Puzzles, Sudoku |
| Bavisoft |
US$43.90 each 2-pack US$63.90 |
PC - games include Grizzly Gulch (virtual world set in the old west) and
Chillington (set in and around a haunted village) See below for review of Grizzly Gulch |
| BSC Games BSC Games |
Some free | Arcade and educational games - try “Troopanum” and “15 Numbers” |
| Danz Games Danzgames |
Some free | “Maze Craze”, “Memory Challenge” and more |
| Games for the Blind Games for the Blind |
All games on CD ROM US$19.95 + P&H | PC - 8 games including Accessible Battleship, Blackjack, Freecell, Memory,
WordScrabble, Yahtsee etc Trial version runs for 15 days Self voicing - 8 voices, variable speed Battleship, Freecell, Memory, Simon, Word Scrabble, Yahtze Link to accessible games which can be played with an opponent via the internet |
| GMA Games GMA |
US$25-$35 + P&H 3-pack US$75 |
PC - games include Shades of Doom, Lone Wolf, Tank commander etc Comes with built-in voice software so you don't need a screen reader such as JAWS, Window Eyes etc to play Also several free games to download - Solitaire, Mine Buster, Dice |
| Hark the Sound University of North Carolina |
Free download for educational users | Game for young children - fully voiced, controlled with arrow keys and
Esc Name animal noises, musical instruments, braille contractions, country music tunes, environmental sounds etc |
| Kitchen's Inc |
Free games for DOS and Windows | PC - games include racing and casino games, golf, hangman etc May be voice compatibility issues |
Grizzly Gulch is a computer game, which was designed and produced by Bavisoft. Bavisoft was founded in 1999 on the East coast of North America and is a company that produces software for the vision impaired.
Grizzly Gulch was designed so that no vision at all is needed to play it. It’s set in the Wild West so of course, there’s stacks of bank robberies, heaps of shoot outs and most importantly, loads of villains. Or if you’re not really the violent type, you might like to relax in the saloon with a nice game of poker, black jack, the slot machines or the shell game.
There’s two levels of difficulty; on easy mode, the villains come at you from three directions, and on hard mode they come at you from five. You use the arrow keys to aim and shoot your targets. The aim of the game is to complete tasks, which the marshall of the town allocates to you.
This game is aimed at anyone who wants to try something different. There are heaps of audio instructions provided, so it’s suitable for the novice computer user through to the more experienced game player. I rate it 8 ½ out of 10, as it could have been longer and more complex.
Review by Sam from Bendigo
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