Summary
There are games designed to be inclusive, and then there are games thatbeginwith accessibility as the foundation—not an afterthought. The titles below weren’t just built with visually impaired players in mind; they were crafted for them from the ground up. These aren’t games where accessibility is tucked away in a settings menu. Instead, they are full-fledged experiences where audio is king, touch and timing are crucial, and the screen might as well be off.
Whether it’s navigating a fantasy kingdom guided solely by sound cues or racing against traffic using nothing but one’s ears and nerve, each of these games proves that visuals aren’t everything and that imagination and immersion go much further when a game is built right.
myTrueSound Oy
Platform
PC (Steam), iOS
Part sound-based battler, part audio comedy,AudioWizardsthrows players into a world where elemental magic isn’t cast with a flick of a wand but with an ear for tone. Developed by Finnish studio MyTrueSound, this quirky and accessible mobile game was designed specifically for blind and visually impaired players. It relies entirely on stereo sound positioning and pitch recognition, allowing players to cast the right elemental spell based on the kind of noise a monster makes and where it’s coming from.
The absurdity of the premise—wizardry powered by hearing—is backed by surprisingly clever sound design and a sense of humor that leans all the way into dad-joke territory. Enemies shuffle, groan, and burp with unique audio cues, and each element—fire, water, air, and earth—has its own tone profile, so attentive ears quickly become powerful weapons. There are visuals, yes, but they’re purely optional; the devs made sure blind players could get through the entire game using nothing but headphones. Accessibility tools like text-to-speech menus and haptic feedback round out the experience, makingAudioWizardsnot just a fun experiment, buta legitimately playable action title that doesn’t compromise on personality.
PC (Windows)
Built from the ground up for blind gamers by developer VGStorm,Manamon 2isn’t a novelty; it’s a full-length, complex RPG that plays like a dark audio-only remix ofPokemon. Withover 300 creatures to collectand a story that goes far harder than most kid-friendly monster battlers dare to, this sequel improves on nearly everything from the originalManamon, including better pacing, deeper combat, and a surprisingly intense narrative.
Navigating the world is entirely audio-based, with each environment being filled with directional sound cues that let players “see” with their ears. Footsteps on different surfaces, environmental ambience, and spatialized sound effects help map out surroundings, and combat is layered with enough mechanics to rival early-genFinal Fantasy. There’s alsoa fair amount of voice acting—some of it amateur, some of it surprisingly heartfelt—that gives the world a radio drama feel. The menus are built for screen readers, the controls are crisp and tactile, and despite being a text-based game under the hood,Manamon 2pulls off some truly cinematic moments using nothing but sound and timing.
2005
Released back in 2001 and still discussed on forums for blind gaming today,Shades of Doomisthe gritty granddad of accessible FPS games. Developed by GMA Games, this Windows-based audio shooter throws players into a high-security underground facility filled with malfunctioning robots, toxic spills, and things that really shouldn’t be moving in the dark. There are no graphics—just 3D positional audio and a lot of tense breathing.
Players explore floor after floor of procedural mazes, locating items, unlocking doors, and avoiding enemies through spatial sound. Guns rattle from the left, echoing footsteps hint at lurking threats from the right, and even the subtle clicking of a Geiger counter becomes a navigation tool when everything is drenched in darkness. It’s clunky by today’s standards, butShades of Doomset the template for audio-based first-person experiences before most studios even acknowledged blind gamers. Its impact can’t be overstated; it was one of the first to take action gaming seriously without requiring sight.
PC, iOS, Android
CallingBlind Drivechaotic would be an understatement. It’s a noir-ish, absurdist, completely bonkers audio game where players are handcuffed to a steering wheel, blindfolded, and forced to drive against traffic while some mystery voice barks instructions in their ear. It’s a comedy thrillermasquerading as an arcade racer, and it thrives entirely on directional audio and split-second decision-making.
Cars whoosh past from the left and right, cyclists scream, cops yell, and pedestrians are somehow also involved. Every moment is frantic, fast, and funny. There’s voice acting galore, too, with a story that leans into the ridiculousness of the setup. At times, it feels like Ryan Gosling’sDrive, only everything happens in pitch black. Made by Lo-Fi People,Blind Driveisn’t just accessible; it’s built for blind playthroughs. The entire UI is audio-reactive, with players dodging traffic using stereo cues and reflexes. It also doesn’t overstay its welcome, clocking in at just the right length for its premise to shine without getting stale.
Swords, Sweat, And SFX
Release Date
Jun 28, 2025 (PC, Xbox), Jul 16, 2025 (Switch, PS4, PS5)
PC, Xbox, Switch, PS4, PS5
The Vale: Shadow of the Crownis not just a game; it’s an argument that blind-accessible design can push immersion further than traditional visuals ever could.The Valeisa story-driven action RPGthat drops players into the boots of a blind princess named Alex, forced to navigate a brutal medieval world after being ambushed and separated from her convoy. And yes, it’s entirely audio-based. What separatesThe Valefrom others in this space is its feel. There’s real weight behind every swing of the sword and every crunch of gravel underfoot. Combat isn’t button-mashing; it’s parrying, listening, and spacing. When an enemy circles, players will hear the armor shift. When they feint, it can be heard in the hesitation of their footsteps.
Created by Falling Squirrel in collaboration with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the game uses binaural audio recording to craft environments that feel almost tactile. There’s voice acting from professional actors, side quests, loot systems, and a rich world dripping with culture and context. Most importantly, it treats blind players not as a niche demographic, but as the entire target audience.
PC, macOS, iOS, Android
Before mainstream studios even thought to add audio cues for menus,A Blind Legendwas out here telling a full cinematic story with no visuals at all.Developed by French studio Dowino, this action-adventure title has players control Edward Blake, a blind knight on a quest to rescue his wife, guided only by the voice of his daughter and the world’s most meticulous sound design. There’s no UI or HUD. Everything happens through directional audio, ambient sounds, and physical feedback. Whether it’s galloping through forests, sneaking past patrols, or dueling enemy swordsmen, the entire game is experienced with eyes closed and ears wide open.
Combat is based on timing and positioning, with the sound of footsteps and blade swishes helping players predict and react. What makes it even more impressive is that it was designed not just for the visually impaired but also as an awareness tool for sighted players to experience blindness from a new angle. Somehow, it manages to pull it off without ever feeling preachy or mechanical.A Blind Legendremains one of the most ambitious and complete blind-accessible games ever released.
