Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Have you ever tried playing modern board games? (self.Blind)
submitted by ErtaySh
Hey all,
As my vision keeps deteriorating, I've been trying to find something to replace my video game hobby with. A few months ago I got into board gaming and I'm really enjoying it!
There's a social deduction game, Secret Hitler, that I was regularly playing with my friends for the past couple of years, but a mechanic in that game was not very visually accessible and as I kept losing my vision I started having difficulties with the game. So I created a small app to work around the small problem which made me read more about other board games. Shortly after, I bought Pandemic, a cooperative game where you prevent diseases from killing the world's population, and I was hooked!
I found out that I needed to do more research than sighted people before buying a game, just to make sure I could actually play it. Even though there are plenty of games blind people can play, there still are many inaccessible games out there. I recently started a blog where I talk about board games you can play blind to introduce other low vision or blind people to the hobby. The few posts I've shared on the /r/boardgames subreddit have been received well, but I noticed that there's almost no blind people there, so I wanted to share my new hobby here.
You can find my blog at https://sightless.fun.
If you happen to be a board gamer, what games are you playing?
As my vision keeps deteriorating, I've been trying to find something to replace my video game hobby with. A few months ago I got into board gaming and I'm really enjoying it!
There's a social deduction game, Secret Hitler, that I was regularly playing with my friends for the past couple of years, but a mechanic in that game was not very visually accessible and as I kept losing my vision I started having difficulties with the game. So I created a small app to work around the small problem which made me read more about other board games. Shortly after, I bought Pandemic, a cooperative game where you prevent diseases from killing the world's population, and I was hooked!
I found out that I needed to do more research than sighted people before buying a game, just to make sure I could actually play it. Even though there are plenty of games blind people can play, there still are many inaccessible games out there. I recently started a blog where I talk about board games you can play blind to introduce other low vision or blind people to the hobby. The few posts I've shared on the /r/boardgames subreddit have been received well, but I noticed that there's almost no blind people there, so I wanted to share my new hobby here.
You can find my blog at https://sightless.fun.
If you happen to be a board gamer, what games are you playing?
sprinklesonbread 6 points 4y ago
Oh my god, I love you! :)
I’m an avid Gamer (PC and Table top). Nothing frustrates me more than when I feel like I am letting my friends/family down because my blindness slows the game play, they have to explain things to me, or there are just games they unfortunately have to exclude me from (typically ones where you rely on seeing someone’s facial expressions to know if they are bluffing, like Coup Rebellion).
We play a lot of Co-Op style games so that we can take the time for people to tell me what I can’t see. Eldrich Horror, Mansions of Madness, Forbidden Island/Desert and Pandemic are all fantastic. I also love card style games (Cards Against Humanity, Exploding Kittens and Sushi Go). Dice oriented is not too bad either (Zombie Dice, Get Bit). We’ve also had some success with We Have Goats! As a fun one to play competitively, we either play it in pairs, or they can take photos for me so I can zoom in for details.
I loved games like Settlers, Tsuro, Ticket to Ride, Smallworld and Carcassone, but sadly they are becoming less accessible to me as my sight fades.
I love the idea of your blog, and will definitely be following it! :)
I’m an avid Gamer (PC and Table top). Nothing frustrates me more than when I feel like I am letting my friends/family down because my blindness slows the game play, they have to explain things to me, or there are just games they unfortunately have to exclude me from (typically ones where you rely on seeing someone’s facial expressions to know if they are bluffing, like Coup Rebellion).
We play a lot of Co-Op style games so that we can take the time for people to tell me what I can’t see. Eldrich Horror, Mansions of Madness, Forbidden Island/Desert and Pandemic are all fantastic. I also love card style games (Cards Against Humanity, Exploding Kittens and Sushi Go). Dice oriented is not too bad either (Zombie Dice, Get Bit). We’ve also had some success with We Have Goats! As a fun one to play competitively, we either play it in pairs, or they can take photos for me so I can zoom in for details.
I loved games like Settlers, Tsuro, Ticket to Ride, Smallworld and Carcassone, but sadly they are becoming less accessible to me as my sight fades.
I love the idea of your blog, and will definitely be following it! :)
ErtaySh [OP] 3 points 4y ago
Cheers! Glad there's more of us, I think you're the first blind player that has personally shared the games they've played / like playing. I've mostly been seeing comments like "I have a blind friend and we play X'.
I agree, cooperative games with open information are great for blind players. I'm currently trying to decide what my next game is going to be, so many good choices out there. I'm torn between **Burgle Bros**, a coop heist game, and **Dice Forge**, a competitive dice game where you can upgrade your dice faces as you play to win more resources/victory points.
As for bluffing games, yes, you are at a disadvantage by not seeing their facial expressions, but I've found that I can pick up someone is lying by the changes in their voice :) But, in games like Secret Hitler or Resistance: Avalon, it doesn't matter too much that you can't see their face, you get a lot of information about other players from the moves they make in the game.
I read that Power Grid can also be plpayed by blind players, and I really wanted to buy that game, but I'm not sure the people I play with would be into it as they are mostly casual gamers. But it might be something that your family/friends might be interested in, so check it out. The game is 'algorithmic' and it has no hidden information, so should be playable once you understand the rules.
As for card games, those are usually a bit harad for blind players. I know there are people that use braille labels on the cards, but that's not an option for us who don't know braille. I've been thinking of a solution with QR codes, and a smartphone app that will read the cards for you through headphones, but I havaen't tested that out yet. Such a solution would make a lot of card games accessible for thte blind.
I agree, cooperative games with open information are great for blind players. I'm currently trying to decide what my next game is going to be, so many good choices out there. I'm torn between **Burgle Bros**, a coop heist game, and **Dice Forge**, a competitive dice game where you can upgrade your dice faces as you play to win more resources/victory points.
As for bluffing games, yes, you are at a disadvantage by not seeing their facial expressions, but I've found that I can pick up someone is lying by the changes in their voice :) But, in games like Secret Hitler or Resistance: Avalon, it doesn't matter too much that you can't see their face, you get a lot of information about other players from the moves they make in the game.
I read that Power Grid can also be plpayed by blind players, and I really wanted to buy that game, but I'm not sure the people I play with would be into it as they are mostly casual gamers. But it might be something that your family/friends might be interested in, so check it out. The game is 'algorithmic' and it has no hidden information, so should be playable once you understand the rules.
As for card games, those are usually a bit harad for blind players. I know there are people that use braille labels on the cards, but that's not an option for us who don't know braille. I've been thinking of a solution with QR codes, and a smartphone app that will read the cards for you through headphones, but I havaen't tested that out yet. Such a solution would make a lot of card games accessible for thte blind.
sprinklesonbread 2 points 4y ago
The thing I love the most about playing Mansions of Madness is that it comes with an App which reads aloud the storyline to me. The other players can help guide me and complete any tasks I might get stuck on, but it’s ability to have a fully supportive audio app has honestly made it an absolute pleasure to play. I highly recommend getting yourself a copy and having a look at how it’s worked into the game play. (It even has sound effects!)
As for QR Codes, I almost feel like you’re on the cusp of potentially designing a whole new game/gaming method. :) There’s a lot of potential out there!! And, I will (not do humbly) say we are very under-represented and underestimated in our likes and wants/needs when it comes to gaming. I understand there are many facets to the diagnosis of “blind” and we’re not all “round peg in round hole”, but surely some things can be somewhat easily changed just to make it easier for those with visual impairment to join in.
As for QR Codes, I almost feel like you’re on the cusp of potentially designing a whole new game/gaming method. :) There’s a lot of potential out there!! And, I will (not do humbly) say we are very under-represented and underestimated in our likes and wants/needs when it comes to gaming. I understand there are many facets to the diagnosis of “blind” and we’re not all “round peg in round hole”, but surely some things can be somewhat easily changed just to make it easier for those with visual impairment to join in.
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
I have looked into Mansions of Madness, and really wanted to get it but the only copy I found in my country was just too expensive. Since the box itself is quite heavy, ordering it online also doesn't work due to the huge shipping costs... Maybe I end up finding a used copy sometime, though living in such a small country with a very small board game community doesn't help...
I completely agree with the second part of your comment! I've been seeing some improvement in visual accessibility lately and there are more game designers that are working harder to be more inclusive, but yeah, there's still lot more to be done.
I completely agree with the second part of your comment! I've been seeing some improvement in visual accessibility lately and there are more game designers that are working harder to be more inclusive, but yeah, there's still lot more to be done.
sprinklesonbread 2 points 4y ago
Is it impolite to ask what country? Curiosity + maybe we can get a copy to you somehow! :)
kimthegreen 2 points 4y ago
This is a genius idea! Have you thought about how you want to implement it? Make a new recording for every app or record single words or sentences? I don't know whether you are familiar with QR codes - they don't have to lead to websites. They are simple text encoded in an image like structure. So you wouldn't necessarily have to build an app but could work with preexisting screanreading software. You could instead work on an accessible way to generate the QR codes so that people can make them by themselves and print them out (or maybe that exists already, I am not familiar with this problem). Pm me if you want to brainstorm!
ErtaySh [OP] 2 points 4y ago
Yep, I was talking about QR codes (haha yo actually made me reread my last paragraph just to check if I mentioned them).
And yes, the idea is to make a simple QR code voice reader, my brief search did not return something worthwhile but based on your comment, looks like there's some apps that do this already. Care to link me to any?
As for the QR code generation, yes, that was exactly what I was thinking. A simple tool that would generate a grid of codes and package it in a PDF file for printing. I haven't browsed for this, but as you said, this might also exist :)
And yes, the idea is to make a simple QR code voice reader, my brief search did not return something worthwhile but based on your comment, looks like there's some apps that do this already. Care to link me to any?
As for the QR code generation, yes, that was exactly what I was thinking. A simple tool that would generate a grid of codes and package it in a PDF file for printing. I haven't browsed for this, but as you said, this might also exist :)
kimthegreen 2 points 4y ago
Ah sorry I meant familiar with the way how QR Codes work. It sounds like you are :) I am sighted and really not familiar with screen reading software but maybe someone who is can chime in.
-shacklebolt- 3 points 4y ago
I own a few braille accessibility game kits from http://www.64ouncegames.com/ which are pretty great. I've had some issues with spelling/numbering issues with a couple games, nothing major. For some games they provide QR codes as well.
Checking out your blog now, it looks like you've done a significant amount of work yourself!
Checking out your blog now, it looks like you've done a significant amount of work yourself!
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Oh yeah, I know about those guys, they have kits for many popular games! Though, they are not that useful for me as I can't read braille. I've noticed they provide QR codes for some games too. Do you have a kit that comes with those? If so, can you share the app that you're using to read those? Right now, I don't own any games that would benefit from QR codes, but I'd like to try a game where they can be used (hidden information games).
Can you share some of your favorite games?
Can you share some of your favorite games?
[deleted] 2 points 4y ago
[deleted]
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Oh nice, I would like to go to the expo in Essen sometime. Not this year, but maybe next year!
Ha, a lazy susan sounds like an interesting idea. What games do you usually like to play?
Ha, a lazy susan sounds like an interesting idea. What games do you usually like to play?
Marconius 2 points 4y ago
I added braille to all the cards in my copy of Dominion plus built a fully accessible website that I use with my phone when playing to listen to the card instructions when playing.
$1
I've added braille to 3 entire sets of Cards Against Humanity including all the expansions, plus my girlfriend helped me affix printed QR code labels to the black question cards for a set I donated to the Lighthouse for the Blind here in San Francisco.
Added braille to Exploding Kittens which is always fun, and am trying to figure out a good way to manage any of the Fluxx games. A friend of mine is looking into 3D printing an accessible Settlers of Catan tableau since we really miss playing that game together. Love playing basic card games like Rummy with a standard brailled deck of playing cards, plus have found casino games like Baccarat, Blackjack, and Craps to be fully accessible.
It took a little finessing, but Utter Nonsense was an accessible party game that would work with brailled cards, along with Never Have I ever for a more raunchy experience. :)
$1
I've added braille to 3 entire sets of Cards Against Humanity including all the expansions, plus my girlfriend helped me affix printed QR code labels to the black question cards for a set I donated to the Lighthouse for the Blind here in San Francisco.
Added braille to Exploding Kittens which is always fun, and am trying to figure out a good way to manage any of the Fluxx games. A friend of mine is looking into 3D printing an accessible Settlers of Catan tableau since we really miss playing that game together. Love playing basic card games like Rummy with a standard brailled deck of playing cards, plus have found casino games like Baccarat, Blackjack, and Craps to be fully accessible.
It took a little finessing, but Utter Nonsense was an accessible party game that would work with brailled cards, along with Never Have I ever for a more raunchy experience. :)
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
This is fantastic, well done!
I see you've done something with QR codes, which I have been giving some thought about. For people like me, who are losing their sight later in life and don't know braille, I was thinking how effective QR code stickers on cards would be. I've seen that one of the problems of braille labels on caards is the thickness of the labels, is that correct? Is there any reason why you didn't go the QR code route for Dominion?
I see you've done something with QR codes, which I have been giving some thought about. For people like me, who are losing their sight later in life and don't know braille, I was thinking how effective QR code stickers on cards would be. I've seen that one of the problems of braille labels on caards is the thickness of the labels, is that correct? Is there any reason why you didn't go the QR code route for Dominion?
Marconius 1 points 4y ago
The Avery labels we used weren't very thick, so it didn't add too much cumulative thickness to the decks of cards. Braille is much faster to read and more manageable overall, especially for just identifying cards when you already know what they do. Having to constantly scan cards with DigitEyes or RedLaser gets timesome really fast, so braille alleviates that problem. I highly recommend learning braille, it's been pretty invaluable to me and I only lost my vision 4 years ago quite suddenly.
That being said, if you need to cram a lot of info into a card, QR is the way to go since a plain text QR code holds a lot of data and is read very fast by accessible scanning apps. You have to think of the overall UX you expect players to go through when having to keep scanning cards to keep track of them when you aren't using something immediately tactile like braille.
That being said, if you need to cram a lot of info into a card, QR is the way to go since a plain text QR code holds a lot of data and is read very fast by accessible scanning apps. You have to think of the overall UX you expect players to go through when having to keep scanning cards to keep track of them when you aren't using something immediately tactile like braille.
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
I understand, thanks for the response!
Terry_Pie 2 points 4y ago
Well bugger. There goes my blog idea :P I'd been thinking of doing the same thing for quite some time: boardgame reviews with an accessibility for VI/blind component. More the merrier I suppose!
Edit: Slight tweak
Edit: Slight tweak
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Haha, I'm happy to see that I'm not alone. How long have you been playing?
Terry_Pie 1 points 4y ago
I bought my first modern boardgame back in 2009. My collection numbers 53 now and I've played most of it. Your solution for social deduction games is good. That was an issue I'd thought a bit about and it has application for similar games like The Resistance and Werewolf
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Oh nice, that's a decent number of games!
Yeah, there are several games thata use the 'close your eyes' thing to reveal roles to a limited number of players. I've already added the base version of Resistance to the app, the idea was to add the Avalon variant as well, and if there's interest few other games.
Yeah, there are several games thata use the 'close your eyes' thing to reveal roles to a limited number of players. I've already added the base version of Resistance to the app, the idea was to add the Avalon variant as well, and if there's interest few other games.
Amonwilde 2 points 4y ago
I also enjoy Secret Hitler, but have trouble with the initial round where people hold up their thumbs or whatever. Kind of a pain.
I've played some Munchkin using Seeing AI, which can be a little slow at times but is manageable.
The blog looks great, I've subscribed. Nice design, very minimal.
I've played some Munchkin using Seeing AI, which can be a little slow at times but is manageable.
The blog looks great, I've subscribed. Nice design, very minimal.
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Thanks, I didn't design it myself, just the default template it came out of the box :) It's a Jekyll blog btw if you're interested in the backend of things.
Definitely read my Secret Hitler post, the Android app I've created and shared there solves exactly that problem with the role assignment!
Definitely read my Secret Hitler post, the Android app I've created and shared there solves exactly that problem with the role assignment!
Amonwilde 1 points 4y ago
Yes, my site is Jekyll as well, though maybe not as slick.
https://smythp.com/
https://smythp.com/
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
This is what I used to make mine:
https://github.com/barryclark/jekyll-now
https://github.com/barryclark/jekyll-now
ArcanaNoir 2 points 4y ago
My friend with low vision recently asked me for board game suggestions. I've made some modifications to a few games for us to play. I replaced the red marbles in Potion Explosion with brighter red marbles. I could paint the potions as well if needed with higher contrast colors. For lost cities (a card game) I printed a set of high contrast large print cards with just the color and number, no artwork. I printed on regular paper using playing card size and then sleeved the paper with a real playing card for rigidity. Another game that I think would work even with no vision is King of Tokyo. It's simple enough that it would be easy for a sighted person to state what was happening (e.g. You rolled a 3, 1, claw, and two hearts, you have 12 health and 3 points, the monster in Tokyo has 5 health.) He also told me he enjoys monopoly.
ErtaySh [OP] 2 points 4y ago
Thanks for sharing this, those are some good solutions for Potion Explosion and Lost Cities, well done!
My upcoming post which I'm planning to write by the end of the week is abaout **King Of New York**, a slight ugprade to **King of Tokyo**. Great game!
My upcoming post which I'm planning to write by the end of the week is abaout **King Of New York**, a slight ugprade to **King of Tokyo**. Great game!
ArcanaNoir 1 points 4y ago
Just had another idea. King domino could be made accessible for low vision by painting the terrain tiles with bright solid colors and writing a large number 1 or 2 if a tile includes a crown. It could be made tactile by gluing Velcro, satin fabric, felt, and sandpaper (just some example ideas) to the tiles and using puffy fabric paint to make dots where a crown would be.
ErtaySh [OP] 2 points 4y ago
I've read some good comments tabout Kingdomino but I haven't had the chance to check out how it actually plays. I will look into it for sure!
AchooCashew 2 points 4y ago
Someone posted looking for board/etc. games their blind friend might be able to play not too long ago, though I don't know what kind of response they got. Maybe that would be of interest to you!
I don't often have other people to play with, but I enjoy mancala. It's very tactile - you know, that game where you move stones around divots in a wooden board, dropping one in each consecutive divot until you run out and then get to pick up the stones in the divot you end on and keep going until you end on an empty space.
There are also scrabble, bananagrams, etc. sets that are produced with braille tiles, if you aren't aiming solely for games that can be played without any sort of adaptation.
I don't often have other people to play with, but I enjoy mancala. It's very tactile - you know, that game where you move stones around divots in a wooden board, dropping one in each consecutive divot until you run out and then get to pick up the stones in the divot you end on and keep going until you end on an empty space.
There are also scrabble, bananagrams, etc. sets that are produced with braille tiles, if you aren't aiming solely for games that can be played without any sort of adaptation.
WhatWouldVaderDo 1 points 4y ago
Cards Against Humanity works surprisingly well with OCR (I use Seeing AI by Microsoft).
Code Names is also doable, since you can get your team or others to read out the cards. Being the spy master is a bit more complicated since you need to have the other spy master read out the cards and their associated color before the round starts.
You can also modify the cards of games such as resistance or werewolf with stickers so you can feel the roles.
And there’s always large print or braille playing cards.
Code Names is also doable, since you can get your team or others to read out the cards. Being the spy master is a bit more complicated since you need to have the other spy master read out the cards and their associated color before the round starts.
You can also modify the cards of games such as resistance or werewolf with stickers so you can feel the roles.
And there’s always large print or braille playing cards.
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Modifying the cards alone in The Resistance (and I'm guessing Warewolf) does not really solve all the problems. You still need to be able to see during the 'role reveal' stage e.g. when the spies need to see each other in Resistance. This is the problem I had and to work aaround it I created an app for the role assignment and reveal step. I needed this for Secret Hitler, but also added the base version of Resistance in the app. You can read about it if you want here:
https://sightless.fun/Secret-Hitler-Board-Games-You-Can-Play-Blind/
https://sightless.fun/Secret-Hitler-Board-Games-You-Can-Play-Blind/
DragonJohn1724 1 points 4y ago
I'm fully sighted but I think D&D and other Table-Top RPG's could be fun for you. Other than character sheets and dice, the entire game is on the Dungeon Master describing things.
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Yep, RPGs can be great, my main problem is I don't have a group of friends that would be interested in them :) I could try an online variant using voice chat though...
Amonwilde 1 points 4y ago
Can you link to your app for Secret Hitler? Even if it's on GitHub or something.
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Sure.
GitHub Link: https://github.com/ertay/board-game-aid/
OneDrive link to .apk: https://1drv.ms/u/s!As0NUJnxyVaqktUujLwTlUZ2aT6uvw
Link to blog post: https://sightless.fun/Secret-Hitler-Board-Games-You-Can-Play-Blind/
GitHub Link: https://github.com/ertay/board-game-aid/
OneDrive link to .apk: https://1drv.ms/u/s!As0NUJnxyVaqktUujLwTlUZ2aT6uvw
Link to blog post: https://sightless.fun/Secret-Hitler-Board-Games-You-Can-Play-Blind/
Amonwilde 1 points 4y ago
Darn, I use an iPhone. But I have an Android lying around that maybe I can load it onto. Nice work.
ErtaySh [OP] 1 points 4y ago
Aw sorry, I probably should look into the ios version. The app is written using Xamarin so the logic is a ll there, just need the UI... Also not having a Mac is a problem, need to tinker with virtual machines heh, I honestly was hoping I'd find someone willing to contribute to the iOS version.
Worst case, someone in your Secret Hitler group should have an android phone :)
Worst case, someone in your Secret Hitler group should have an android phone :)
Amonwilde 2 points 4y ago
No worries, iOS development is a pain and I use Linux and don't want to be bothered with Mac OS, despite the fact that I use Linux on a Mac I was issued for work.
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