Summer Game Fest is in full swing, and while there is plenty of hot mainstream news you can catch up on thanks to the Quest Daily team, there is one showcase that I feel is important to highlight: the Access-Ability Summer Showcase.
The Access-Ability Summer Showcase is a passion project of LauraKBuzz which showcases upcoming games and allows disabled gamers to find out if those games will be playable for them. Simultaneously, it provides a platform for game developers to discuss accessibility features, bring awareness to their upcoming projects, and encourage players to reach out with feedback and ideas. This is a truly inspirational showcase that brings developers and gamers closer than any other event we’ll see this Summer Game Fest.
READ MORE: Welcome to Gamegasm 2024
Interspersed throughout the showcase were testimonies from disabled gamers such as Chad Bouton, SightlessKombat, Milan Patel, and more, highlighting the importance of accessibility in gaming.
With 20 games showcased, there was so much to see, so I have curated a list of my top picks as the Accessibility Editor for Quest Daily for you to peruse. Enjoy!
Elsie
Kicking off the list with the game I am most excited about, Elsie is a technicolour, hyperkinetic, roguelike action platformer. As an android created by Dr Grey, Elsie must traverse the bountiful world of Ekis, find the Doctor’s lost Guardians, and save the planet from disaster. From bullet-hell ballet to epic boss battles, there’s plenty to be excited about with this title (especially as a recent roguelike fan).
Accessibility features:
- Background Modulation – Blur or desaturate background for more visual clarity.
- Font Size Modulation – Option to change the size of the font in game.
- Screen Shake Option – Adjust the amount of screen shake you experience.
- Outline Options – Ability to change the colour of the outlines for both player and enemies.
- Invincibility – Turn off damage with Elsie’s Invincibility mode.
- Colourblind Modes – Elsie is an incredibly colourful game, so it has options to assist those with colour vision deficiency.
- Additional Features – Option to adjust the timing required to correctly hit a parry and follow up with counter attacks as well as rumble strength modifiers.
Elsie will launch for PC on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
READ MORE: Roguelite Recommendations For Dummies
Fishbowl
Fishbowl is a slice of life, coming of age story. You play as Alo, a 21-year-old woman living by herself, working from home, and grieving the death of her grandmother. The game will have you calling loved ones, completing work tasks, sorting through your grandmother’s belongings, and playing various minigames along the way. One important note I’d like to make is that one of Alo’s friends has Vitiligo – we love representation!
Accessibility features:
- No forced day/night cycle – play at your own pace.
- No fail state, time limits, or penalties – play at your own pace.
- Screen shake option – ability to turn this off.
- Visual and audio cues for important events – no time penalty.
- Warning at start for content, dealing with grief, loss, loneliness, and isolation.
- And plenty more accessibility features are on their way!
You can wishlist Fishbowl on Steam and PlayStation today.
Slime Heroes
Slime Heroes is a souls-like 3D action game in which you play as, well, a slime. Your task is to journey with fellow slimes to save the ancient guardians from a mysterious corruption that is taking over the land. This game is bright, colourful, whimsical, and adorable.
Accessibility features:
- Enemies and bosses have different damage scales – allowing you to up the challenge or cushion the blows.
- Stamina recharge – give your character more stamina.
- Cursor customisation – change cursor size and colour.
- Toggle double jump
- Extend time for timed puzzles
- Change character outline
- Enable physical hitboxes – make sure all your attacks land.
- And plenty more accessibility features are on their way!
Slime Heroes will be available on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, and on Xbox Series X|S.
Magical Delicacy
A wholesome pixel-art platformer has entered the fray, and I could not be more hyped to meet Flora and the magical town of Grat. In Magical Delicacy you play as Flora, a young witch who must cook meals and brew potions to fulfil orders and learn more about this world of magic. From meeting fun new friends to platforming adventures, this cosy game has worked its way on to my wishlist.
Accessibility features:
- Disable crumbling platforms – make platforming easier.
- Several contrast options – such as highlighting the main character or making the background darker.
Magical Delicacy is coming to PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on July 16th 2024.
READ MORE: Our Favourite Cosy Games Coming to PC and Consoles in 2024
Dawnfolk
Move over generic city-builders, we have to make room for Dawnfolk (previously called Lueur and the Dim Settlers). This city-builder is a charmingly dark and minimalist survival game about bringing light into the world. Lead your settlement, farm resources, expand your horizons, and fuel hope. The game also features a quirky Clippy-like helper called Lueur who might just steal my heart.
Accessibility features:
- Completely playable with any controller you like – this was demonstrated by contrasting a person playing with an Xbox controller and a person playing with a Guitar Hero controller.
- Haptic feedback available – toggle on or off.
- Change font – toggle between the 8-bit pixel font and a more readable one.
- Signs, shapes, and high contrast colours – plenty of options for colour blindness.
- Narration – toggle on to have a narrator read everything for you.
- Pause time – play at an easier pace by pausing time and saving the game whenever you like.
- Screen shakes and flashes – can be disabled.
Dawnfolk will be available on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch.
