For colorblind board gamers, the most significant challenge is usually identifying player pieces. Even in games that are otherwise colorblind-friendly, most games continue to distinguish multiple players' components by color alone. I've developed customized solutions to solve the problem, including custom markings on my own games: dots on the purple to distinguish them from blue, … Continue reading Accessibility Tip: Bring Your Own Meeples
From Wingspan to Wyrmspan: An Accessibility Journey
Card Designs (from left): Wingspan Asia Prototype, Final Published, Vision-Friendly, Wyrmspan Creating accessible games requires designers, developers, and publishers to identify the presence of unintentional barriers and seek innovative solutions. In this article I share Stonemaier Games' efforts to reduce challenges for colorblind and low-vision players, including my role as a freelance proofreader and accessibility … Continue reading From Wingspan to Wyrmspan: An Accessibility Journey
My Favorite Things: 2023
Brown paper packages tied up with strings... As 2023 comes to an end, I looked back on my board game experiences and anticipated the future. Consider this my personal gaming Year in Review! Changes in 2023 More Solo Plays. More than 70% of my games played this year were solo. Reasons include my lack of … Continue reading My Favorite Things: 2023
Colorblind Games Review | Disney Sidekicks
A Whole New World Gaming: Hobby and Mass Market Board gaming has often been described as a luxury hobby aimed at a dedicated and niche audience. "Hobby games" offer complex mechanisms, interesting tactical and strategic choices, and a learning curve that, once overcome, adds richness to the experience. Mass market games, by contrast, are typically … Continue reading Colorblind Games Review | Disney Sidekicks
A Buyer’s Guide to Visually Accessible Board Games
I am excited to welcome Sarah Reed back to share her experiences and recommendations to support board gamers with visual accessibility barriers. This is a follow-up to Sarah's previous essay on the topic, Supporting Blind Gamers. Sarah’s recent video essay, A Buyer's Guide for Visually Accessible Board Games, was featured on the Salt & Sass … Continue reading A Buyer’s Guide to Visually Accessible Board Games
Universal Colorblind Code?
Once a child "learns their colors," this new language allows them to communicate easier with others and better understand the world around them. In games, designers use this language to help players distinguish objects from one another. Those of us with color vision deficiencies are not fluent in this language, so we mitigate this communication … Continue reading Universal Colorblind Code?
Words Matter: Games Accessibility, Approachability, and Difficulty
The Last of Us: Part II "I used to think I sucked at games because of my blindness, but in reality, games sucked for me." Steve Saylor, Accessibility Advocate Words Matter in Gaming In every aspect of life, words are a primary tool for communication. In gaming, we use words within game environments, while learning … Continue reading Words Matter: Games Accessibility, Approachability, and Difficulty
Supporting Blind Gamers
I'm excited to welcome back Sarah Reed, a game designer, developer, and playtester who previously wrote about her experience modifying tabletop games for those with color vision and low vision. Sarah specifically shared how she plays with her husband Will Reed, who is legally blind and colorblind. Sarah recently responded to a Facebook community group … Continue reading Supporting Blind Gamers
Colorblind Gaming 101: (Some) Solutions
"Accessibility is not binary."James Thurston, G3ict This is a follow up to Colorblind Gaming 101: The Basics, an introduction to the science of color vision, colorblindness, and how it applies to tabletop gaming. The needs of colorblind gamers - approximately 4-5 percent of the population - are significant as we navigate tabletop spaces at home, … Continue reading Colorblind Gaming 101: (Some) Solutions
Colorblind Gaming 101: The Basics
Alongside reviews, profiles, and colorblind-friendly game mods, I hope these essays will help increase understanding of color vision deficiency and how it relates to gaming. Color Vision Deficiency Up to 90 percent of tabletop gaming is visual, and much of that information is color-specific. From player tokens to cards to the board itself, color is … Continue reading Colorblind Gaming 101: The Basics
Colorblind Games 