VR Games With The Best Accessibility Options Built-In
VR games are the way of the future, and as they gain traction among players, there will be a growing list of issues companies will need to address. One of the many problems already arising is the accessibility of VR technology and gaming. Due to the mostly physical and visual implications of playing a game in virtual reality, many subgroups of gamers are being overlooked when making and marketing VR.
While all games have some level of accessibility to them- you can turn on vibration, subtitles, change the volume of sound or brightness of the graphics- they still tend to miss the mark with being fully accessible. On rare (though increasing!) occasions, a VR game is more considerate of various levels of needs.
Visual Accessibility Needs
Crystal Rift
A grid-based game set in a dungeon where you fight monsters in the first-person view, this game has caught a lot of flack from critics for being visually lacking and uninventive. However, for those with visibility issues like short-sightedness or decreased eyesight, this game is incredibly helpful. Head tracking is on from the second you enter the game, meaning the menu options and any other text can be enhanced by leaning in or walking closer to it so you don’t lose out on any important information, or just the ability to start the game again after a pause. This is obviously available in-game, too, as you can lean in or get closer to enemies, walls, doorways, etc.
Mine VR
This game isn’t out just yet but is being developed by Prune Games with the sole purpose of providing a game to the blind and visually impaired gamer community. It relies completely on audio and haptic feedback to progress the player through the story and solve puzzles as they go. It follows a science intern who loses her sight in a lab experiment gone wrong but gains new abilities as a result. Though the game is being designed for those with visual limitations, Prune Games makes it clear that players without impairments can still play- and hopefully get a better understanding of those with sight-based issues.
Hearing Accessibility Needs
The Persistence
Action and stealth games obviously rely heavily on sound, so what happens when the play has difficulty hearing? The Persistence levels the playing field, pun intended, by allowing for an indicator option. There’s a small skull image that appears in the direction of any close enemies- but only when they make a noise- so those with hearing impairments aren’t left out of all the fun. In this particular case, left out of all the AI-induced scares as you’re deemed its only reliable chance at the colony ship’s survival.
Moss
An adorable game following a tiny mouse on an adventure as you solve puzzles and progress him forward in the game. Quill, a cute warrior mouse, communicates with American Sign Language when giving hints and advice, and the game has subtitles options as well, making the game fully accessible for those hard of hearing or entirely impaired.
The London Heist/Blood And Truth
The London Heist was the original name when the game was still a PlayStation demo, though now it goes by Blood And Truth. Described as a ‘Cockney gangster’ style game, this VR is a high-action ride through crime in London. The London Heist will play like a movie, and the ability to turn on subtitles for the whole game is extremely handy if you have any kind of hearing impairment. One setback, however, is it won’t give you sound indicators like The Persistence.
Astro Bot (Rescue Mission)
You play as Astro, a robot, going on an adventure to rescue his robot crew from various calamities. There is absolutely no dialogue in Astro Bot, eliminating the need for subtitles or hearing aid cues. Since it’s raved about for its adventure and action-packed fun, this game is a revolutionary concept that is more inclusive than most highly praised VR games.
Physical Accessibility Needs
Dead Secret
A first-person horror-mystery, this one will bring the spooky vibes to a whole new level. You’re trying to solve a murder in the 1960s, finding bizarre evidence and clues along the way that will change the outcome of the game depending on what you find. Dead Secret is a great option for those with limited mobility because you can play the entire game with only one hand. Unlike most games that allow for one-handed use, this allows for it but continuously while still being a complex game that will entertain you for hours.
Rez Infinite
An action shooter set in space, this VR game has a lot going on, and a lot to offer. You can set this for one-handed controls, allowing for people with a limited range of motion to play through, as well as anyone who has standing restrictions or is otherwise unable to exert a lot of physical activity. As a shooter game, it gives variety to the VR with accessibility options, which is another bonus.
Beat Saber
This classic is a bit of an obvious choice for a list of VR games with accessibility options due to its arm-based gameplay. You can play Beat Saber almost entirely stationary, so wheelchair accessible needs are 100 percent met, or any other long-term or temporary physical limitations. With the range of songs you can play through, you have the opportunity for endless hours of gameplay.
Phantom: Covert Ops
A stealth shooter where you kayak down river sniping your targets, this game is perfect for players with physical impairments that limit prolonged standing or leg-heavy movement. You won’t spend a long time playing, as it typically takes six to eight hours in total to complete the full game, but it offers variety to the mix of accessible games, as well as an intense short game for anyone looking for a one-day time kill.
Along Together
Along Together is a fun adventure game where you go on a quest to discover secrets with two kids. Due to the storyline, this will actually be great for anyone with physical limitations- kid or adult- making it even more inclusive and more important in terms of accessibility. You can play the entire game one-handed if you need to, or with both hands but stationary.
Arca’s Path VR
You guide a ball through the path of this game in one of two ways, either with your hands or with your head movement. Depending on what your physical restrictions are, you can set Arca’s Path up to be played either way, allowing for many more people to enjoy VR gaming. Though it is simplistic in nature, the game offers its own challenges and fun, and can be great for those who aren’t into shooters or action/thrillers.
Island 359
You’re a mercenary hired to go to a remote island overrun by dinosaurs and kill as many as you can. This is a stealth game, survival game, and action game all rolled into one, and you get more than just a gun as your weapon with knives and other various throwable weapons. Island 359 offers Bump Turn and Seated Mode options for anyone with accessibility needs or restrictions on their mobility.