How Do You Game When You’re Legally Blind?
Pretty much like anyone else! I just rely more on my other senses. Oh, and did I mention I also have hearing loss? But honestly, that doesn’t stop me from doing what I love—gaming.
I don’t live in a world of total darkness and silence. I can see bold colors, large shapes, and some details. With headphones, I catch most in-game sounds, which help me figure out where I am and what’s happening. And let’s not forget the unsung hero of accessible gaming—rumble. Whoever thought of making controllers vibrate is a genius.
Cozy Games Are My Jam
I stick to cozy games because their bright, simple art styles make them easier to navigate. I love watching the sunset at Dazzle Beach in Disney Dreamlight Valley, where the characters have audible dialogue, and every action—picking up sticks, smashing rocks, or harvesting crops—has a distinct sound.
Stardew Valley may have simple graphics, but it offers great contrast. The colors are almost too bright (snow and yellow soil? Ouch). Thankfully, PC mods help adjust that. Sound cues, like NPC footsteps or the “doink” of chopping trees, also help. There’s even a mod that narrates everything, from dialogue to coordinates, and warns me when I walk into walls—because that happens a lot.
Minecraft has a similar text-to-speech system, but honestly, the sound effects alone guide me pretty well. Though I could live without hearing zombies or spiders creeping up on me.
Racing, Fishing, and Total Chaos
Mario Kart isn’t exactly cozy, but it’s bright enough for me to see where I’m going (or at least when I’m not on the track—thanks, rumble!). In Animal Crossing: New Horizons, I rely more on colors than sound, except for fishing. If the volume’s off, I’m just guessing when to reel in.
Coral Island deserves a shoutout for its accessibility options. The devs really thought things through, and my favorite feature? Dark mode inventory—because light text on a dark background is perfect for me. (If you’ve ever wondered why this website is so dark, now you know!)
Where I Play & Where You Can Watch
I game on my ROG Ally, Nintendo Switch, and—reluctantly—my PC (Windows and I have issues). But it does let me share my gaming skills (or lack thereof) online. That’s right—I’m not just a gamer, I’m a streamer!
Catch me causing chaos every Tuesday and Friday at 7 PM European time on Twitch and YouTube. Use the buttons below to find fun and useful stuff related to my streams. Hope to see you online!
My Gaming Playlist 👇
CRS Life 