Over the course of generations, video games have surpassed and molded the definition of what a video game could be plenty of times. Big AAA games such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Last of Us 2 are just a few examples of how intense and impactful narrative could be in video games, whereas smaller titles like What Remain of Edith Finch have utilized the potential of this interactive medium, unlike anything else.
As such, the need for accessibility arises so that anyone and everyone can enjoy a game. Fortunately, many game developers have taken the responsibility of adding features that would make their games accessible to physically challenged people. The Last of Us 2 is a prime example of an accessible game that has over 60 options to tweak the game for people with visual and hearing impairments. In an interview with Game Rant, Indie game developer Greg Lobanov passionately explained how he designed his upcoming game, Chicory: A Colorful Tale, a game about colors, to be accessible even to the color blind.
A Color-Centric Game Accessible to Color-Blind Players
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is an upcoming adventure RPG, in which colors play a significant role both in the game's narrative and its gameplay. Interestingly, though, the game has been designed in a way that makes it accessible to color blind people as well. As Lobanov explained,
"Color is basically not used in puzzle solving...You don’t have to know the difference between any color to get to anywhere in the game.
In Chicory, coloring is the primary thing players will do. However, it's is important to note that players won't be restricted to use a particular shade of color to progress further in the game. According to Lobanov, "The choice of colors is purely aesthetic, it’s just like what color you want to draw with." This design choice will give players massive freedom on how they want to approach the game.
The mere philosophy of many games is to allow its players the freedom to approach it however they like. Chicory's approach in this regard seems like the perfect way to do just that. Ultimately, Chicory is an Indie game designed intentionally for color-blind players. "Half of our QA testers are color blind as well," Lobanov revealed.
In Chicory, players get to play as a dog who wields a powerful magical brush that previously belonged to Chicory, an exceptional wielder that everyone in Picnic Province looks up to. The player character in the game's official trailer can be seen struggling and questioning their ability to surpass the expectations of the town folks.
Chicory: A Colorful Tale will be available in early 2021 for PC, PS4, and PS5.