Making Games Accessible jam closes with 16 entries
Published:
In short
Making Games Accessible has finished after a month of development work. Its 16 entries include new audio games, accessibility mods, demos, and updates to games intended for blind players.
Nine entries can be played in a browser, while ten have a Windows version. New releases include The Ill Literate, a short audio game where players type words spoken by approaching enemies, and Yachtsinkers!, a Windows, macOS, and Linux adventure developed with blind and Deaf accessibility as a goal.
The jam also produced an early accessibility mod for the NES game Dragon Warrior. Its Windows package uses NVDA, JAWS, or built-in Windows speech to narrate menus, dialogue, combat, and status information. It adds an object browser, route guidance, and automatic walking, but requires a legally obtained copy of the correct game ROM. The developer says the full game has not yet been covered and some routes remain incomplete.
Existing projects received new versions too. South of the March rebuilt its self-voicing system with keyboard navigation through text and large lists. Strategy game Necromancer Nonsense added more levels, units, and fixes; its game page lists screen-reader support, adjustable game speed, and the option to issue orders while paused.
All entries were submitted by their creators. Appearing on the jam page does not confirm that every game works from beginning to end without sight; the individual game pages describe current status, platforms, and known limitations.
Sources: the list of 16 Making Games Accessible entries, the Dragon Warrior Accessibility project page, the South of the March 0.1.4 self-voicing release notes, and the Necromancer Nonsense jam update.