Board games for visually impaired people

In constant evolution, the world of board games is trying to become more inclusive and accessible for all players, whatever their disabilities. So some game publishers are trying to adapt their games to meet the specific needs of people with different disabilities.

On Thot Cursus, we presented you with BCD Jeux' top 10 educational games for schools, which I think you'll find very interesting. This site also offers edutainment tools for specialized organizations, with a selection of different games designed to meet the specific needs of people with disabilities: speaking, sensory, emotions, memory, concentration, etc.

In this article, we present their selection of games for the visually impaired, with different types of adapted games. These board games provide a fun, safe environment for social interaction. So people with these disabilities can enjoy their gaming experience to the full, while sharing convivial moments with other players, developing communication skills and forging social links.

Here are different types or formats of games suitable for people with sight problems with a presentation of trendy games, to be chosen according to their visual impairments and ages.

XXL oversized game formats

XXL formats, with their larger game pieces, are particularly interesting for people with sight problems. Larger game boards, cards and dice allow visually impaired players to participate in the game, without worrying about deciphering small details. Similarly, people with dyspraxia or other motor difficulties can manipulate the components more easily, enhancing their gaming experience.

Board games in XXL format include such classics as :

• Dobble for ages 6 and up, which challenges attention, observation, speed, memory and motor skills. In the Dobble Access+ version, the size of the cards and symbols has been increased to facilitate player handling. The Access+ games have been developed in partnership with health professionals to offer a version that is both accessible and fun. They include analyses by scientific experts, to inform practitioners, caregivers and patients of the benefits of the game and the cognitive aspects involved.
  
  
• Codenames, for ages 14 and up, is a game of association of ideas, where teams compete in ingenuity to guess secret words thanks to clever clues given by their Master Spies. Codenames XXL, the enlarged version features cards twice as large, with words written in oversized script, to make the game easier to read for as many players as possible.
  
  
• See also the board games offered in the XXL giant games section of BCD jeux, selected for board game professionals (game festivals, toy libraries, leisure centers, retirement homes).

Tactile games for the visually impaired

With tactile games, visually impaired people can rely on touch to identify the different pieces, cards or locations in the game. For example, game pieces can have distinct textures, or boards can be designed with reliefs, to guide players as they move around.

• In 2022, the famous wooden board game Quarto created Quarto Access, an accessible version for the visually impaired. For players aged 8 and over, the aim of the game is to create lines of four pieces sharing a common parameter from 4 possible options. The parameters of height, shape (round or square), solid or hollow are the same as in the classic version. The 4th parameter is grooved or smooth for the Access version, and the presence of masks allows everyone to play on an equal footing, while emphasizing the sense of touch and memory. Easy to learn, Quarto is a strategic game that requires participants to anticipate their opponents' moves, block their options and create winning combinations. The game encourages cognitive development and logical thinking.
  
  
• Mow Access is an ergonomic version for the visually impaired, in Braille and tactile thanks to a selective varnish. The rules of the game can be accessed in audio, thanks to a special QR code with a different textured outline. For ages 7 and up, players take on the role of farmers who herd their cows to the barn, while avoiding fly infestation.
  
  
• Some game publishers don't forget younger children with visual impairments. For example, publisher Djeco offers Tactilo loto farm and Tactilo loto animals adapted for the youngest children, aged 3 and over. These games develop the sense of touch and vocabulary, and enable visually impaired or blind children to join in the game. This publisher also offers a TouchBasic tactile puzzle for ages 2 and up. It's made up of 4 cubes, engraved and colored differently, enabling 6 animals to be reconstituted thanks to the chosen characteristic.
  

Choice of colors for color-blind people

Game designers need to think about using easily distinguishable color combinations, so that color-blind players can clearly discern game elements without confusion. This allows all players to participate on an equal footing, without being disadvantaged by color constraints.

Color-blind-friendly games include :

• Qwirkle Cartes is an accessible, fast-paced family board game for ages 8 and over, which develops thinking and strategy by associating shapes and colors. The Qwirkle Cartes 2023 version is suitable for color-blind players, as it uses contrasting colors and different numbers of dots to distinguish the different colors.
  
  
• Rainbow 2022 for ages 7 and up also features a color-blind mode, with a selected color palette to make it easier for color-blind people to distinguish. The aim of the game is to make as many rainbows as possible.
  

A game to talk about visually impaired people in a different way

There are also educational games for professionals, such as Feelings: Malvoyance, en parler autrement. This game looks at visual impairment in everyday life, from different angles such as school life, relationships, work, leisure and mobility. The aim of the game is to raise awareness of visual impairment and blindness through experience rather than theory. Feelings enables participants to put themselves in the shoes of a visually impaired person, to experience different situations from the point of view of the person concerned, and to better support those who accompany people with disabilities.

In conclusion, the growing commitment of game publishers to inclusion and accessibility has led to the development of XXL oversized formats, tactile games and games with contrasting colors, to meet the needs of people with different disabilities. Although there's still a long way to go, the world of board games is striving to become more welcoming and enjoyable for all players, whatever their situation, reinforcing the pleasure of shared, inclusive play.

Take advantage of the WELCOME promo code, which gives you a 5% discount on your first order, and the BCD jeux loyalty program, to enrich your library of inclusive games!

• Selection of games for the visually impaired and handicapped
  
  
• Educational tools for specialized organizations on BCD jeux
  
  
• XXL giant games - animation games
  
  
• Top 10 educational games for schools

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