Keen to get into gaming but not sure it’ll work for you? With a bit of advice from the accessible gaming experts, we’ve got you covered.
First step – Game on!
We know it might sound backwards, but if you’re new to gaming, firstly, pick your game.
While the console you’re playing on might seem the best place to start, actually the game you have in mind might decide for you. Some games are only available in certain consoles. You don’t want to go ahead and buy Age of Empires on Steam (an online game store), then find out you can’t play it on your Macbook. (Not that we’re speaking from foolish experience or anything…)
Our team put together this list of some of the most accessible video games, which could be a good place to kick off your game planning.
Gaming Consoles
You might be pretty relaxed about which games you play (many are available across consoles). Or you might be happy to get a few different consoles. If that’s you, go straight to thinking about the most expensive investment you’ll make in gaming – your game console.
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PC Gaming
An oldie but a goodie. PC (Personal Computer) gaming has the advantage of being super customisable and most game makers will make their game available on it. You do have to be careful between Apple or Microsoft, some games will only be available on either of these two systems. Apple will likely allow less customisation to help simplify the set up for you.
With PC Gaming, the world is basically your oyster for games and accessories. You can buy cheap games online and hack lots of system products to work to control your PC. You can even use emulators on your PC, those give you the visual experience of a different system like Nintendo, right on your screen.
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Playstation
The PlayStation has been around since the 90’s and since their launch have really worked hard to make their games accessible. As you may have read, in the last few years the creators, Sony, recognised the need to step up their game and jump into accessible contollers too. In late 2023, they launched a new Access Controller for Playstation 5. The brainchild of hundreds of engineers and members of our disability community. This controller is super customisable and takes their accessibility to the next level.
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Xbox
The Xbox is another dedicated gaming console which arrived on the market in 2001. The latest Series X console has additional functionality which comes from Xbox being a Microsoft product (meaning it ties into Microsoft PC gaming more closely than other dedicated consoles). They have some great accessibility features to support physical, visual, hearing and sensory impairments. With the Microsoft tie in, they also have access to Google Assistant and Alexa.
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Nintendo
If you’re born before the 2000’s you might remember Wii. It was a Nintendo product that revolutionized accessibility.
All you needed was some way to shift a wand that the console would pick up on and your character on screen would take action!
Nintendo has many games they only make to use on Nintendo consoles. Being made specifically with the console in mind, means they often have a nicely simplified interface which makes it easy to pick up and get going.
The Nintendo Switch is the newest device and it’s portable as well as plugging into a screen. The console it allows you to take the ‘Joy Con’ controllers off the screen and click them into a different shell. You can also create a lot of customisability within the standard controllers, the buttons and ‘bumpers’ can be remapped to support one handed and decreased motion range. The lightness of the Joy Con’s means they can slip in a sock, be stuck somewhere with tape or Velcro, and basically quickly and cheaply go where you need them to.
Controller Devices
As we’ve mentioned, the PlayStation Access Controller is super customizable. Meaning the button and sticks in the controller can be completely configured for your preferences.
It includes a joystick (with customisable length), full 360 playability, and the ability to use two controllers at once. In addition to being able to plug in additional buttons through expansion ports, you can mount Access Controllers to ensure that even in the heat of racing, your joystick doesn’t skedaddle somewhere else.
Watch our community setting up their Playstation Access Controllers here.
The Xbox Adaptive Controller almost looks to have more in common with a DJ table than a traditional gaming controller. The two central large pads allow easy selection while the familiar gaming plus button supports movement through menus and battle.
While the physical buttons can’t be customised as much as the Access Controller, the settings you assign them digitally can be. Plus you can store a number Adaptive Controller profiles meaning you can quickly switch your set up for different game requirements. You can find a good number of ports for plug in accessories, even the brilliant QuadStick invention.
Nintendo ‘HORI Flex’ is a controller developed by an accessory manufacturer specifically to make the Nintendo Switch super accessible. It brings in a tonne of new inputs and allows for some serious button mashing and holding.
You can even attach it easily to a camera mount and add on an eye tracker controller app. While it was made for the Switch and you can store six user profiles for the Switch, it can also be plugged into your PC with additional profiles stored there.
Plug ins
Big buttons - Now you can embrace that urge to smash the big red button, thanks to some awesome inventions by organisations like Able Net, you can plug switches and buttons into almost every console controller. Switches (ablenetinc.com) (external link)
Foot pedal - A weighted non-skid foot switch to bring accessible gaming to any console with an audio plug FS-2 Black Steel Slave Switch StealthSwitch3 Foot Pedal (external link)
Joysticks - There are a huuuge range of Joysticks to peak your interest and your style, this one from Logitech is a great example of bringing creativity to accessibility. It works in with a bunch of different consoles and has a whole lot of customisability itself - Extreme 3D Pro Joystick - Logitech Gaming (external link)
Quadstick A hands-free controller for quadrapelegics - This incredible piece of engineering brings a whole lot of non-hands-on functionality across a huge range of consoles. PC, Mac, iOS, Android, PS3, PS4 and Xbox. QuadStick FPS game controller — QuadStick (external link)
Custom 3D prints - While customising a standard computer keyboard is pretty easy for most people, thanks to some brilliant inventors on the internet, you can also make custom 3D adaptions to your gaming mouse. And even to joysticks or other controllers. Just check out this awesome piece from our friend Humphrey “No hands, No Excuses” Hanley. (external link)
One thing you might consider when deciding your console, is the communities you can game with.