We've documented 12 accessibility features for Descenders, including Play Without Hearing, Moderate Reading, Save Anytime, View Controls and Tutorials. Its accessibility is strongest in Controls and Getting Started but it also has features in Visual, Audio and Reading to reduce unintended barriers.
This report is created with input from accessibility experts and the player community to help people find games that have the accessibility features they require. Once you have found potential games on the database, there are excellent specialist accessibility sites that offer in-depth reviews to guide your purchasing decisions.
Game Details
Release Date: 08/05/2019, updated in 2023
Out Now: Android, Mac, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox X|S and iOS
Skill Rating: 9+ year-olds
Players: 1 (8 online)
Genres: Race, Simulation (Sports and Traversal)
Accessibility: 12 features
Components: 3D Third-Person
Developer: Rage Squid (@RageSquid)
Costs: Purchase cost
Controls
We've documented 3 accessibility features for Controls in Descenders which deal with how you control the game, different options for alternative inputs and whether you can remap these settings to suit your needs.
Gamepad
Can play with the following:
Multiple Buttons & Two Sticks: Can play with multiple buttons and two sticks.
Controller Vibration
Vibration Optional: Controller vibration not used in the game or you can disable it.
Informative Vibration: Controller vibration indicates events or interactions in the game, echoing visual and audio cues. This can provide additional information about progress, approaching enemies or hitting a target.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Controls
If you want to play Descenders, but it doesn't offer the Controls accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Controls accessibility:
- Forza Horizon 5 (12 Controls Features)
- Forza Horizon 4 (12 Controls Features)
- Hot Wheels Unleashed (10 Controls Features)
- JellyCar Worlds (7 Controls Features)
Difficulty
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Difficulty in Descenders which deal with how you can adjust the challenge of play, and whether this is locked once chosen or can be adjusted as you play. The following games are similar to Descenders, and offer accessibility features for Difficulty:
- The Ramp (2 Difficulty Features)
- Hot Wheels Unleashed (2 Difficulty Features)
- Forza Horizon 5 (2 Difficulty Features)
- Art Of Rally (2 Difficulty Features)
Getting Started
We've documented 3 accessibility features for Getting Started in Descenders which deal with what support is offered to get started with the game. This includes customising the experience when you first open the game via any onboarding processes it provides as well as tutorials and other assistance when you first start playing.
Assistance Getting Starting
These features aid your play of the game in terms of cognitive load on learning controls, dealing with pressure and coping with the environment and challenges.
Tutorials: There are helpful tutorials and instructions on how to play. Information is provided in a timely manner, with appropriate level of detail.
View Control Mapping: You can view a map of controls during play. This clearly displays the mappings of actions to buttons/keys/mouse/keyboard without having to leave the game. This includes games that always display buttons to press during play.
Assistance For Progressing
These features aid your progress through the game offering different ways of maintaining your progression.
Save Progress Anytime: The game automatically saves progress or you can save any time. This doesn’t mean you never lose progress, but it does mean you can stop whenever you want (without having to get to a save point) without losing progress.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Getting Started
If you want to play Descenders, but it doesn't offer the Getting Started accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Getting Started accessibility:
- Forza Horizon 5 (8 Getting Started Features)
- Art Of Rally (6 Getting Started Features)
- Forza Horizon 4 (5 Getting Started Features)
- The Ramp (4 Getting Started Features)
Reading
We've documented 1 accessibility feature for Reading in Descenders which deals with how much reading or listening comprehension is required, how well the game provides visual and audible access to the text and whether subtitles and captions are a good fit for purpose.
Reading Level
How much reading is required to play the game's main path or story and how complex the language is. The presence of voiced characters doesn't reduce this requirement, as it's recorded as a separate datapoint.
Moderate Reading: Moderate reading required. The quantity and complexity of reading are at a level that a high school student (14-year-old) would appreciate.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Reading
If you want to play Descenders, but it doesn't offer the Reading accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Reading accessibility:
- Forza Horizon 5 (7 Reading Features)
- 360 Degrees (4 Reading Features)
- Art Of Rally (4 Reading Features)
- Forza Horizon 4 (4 Reading Features)
Navigation
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Navigation in Descenders which deal with how the game provides guidance and assistance to navigate its worlds. These are only for games that have traversal and exploration in 2D and 3D spaces. The following games are similar to Descenders, and offer accessibility features for Navigation:
- Forza Horizon 5 (10 Navigation Features)
- Art Of Rally (6 Navigation Features)
- 360 Degrees (3 Navigation Features)
- JellyCar Worlds (3 Navigation Features)
Visual
We've documented 3 accessibility features for Visual in Descenders which deal with how you can adjust the visuals to suit your needs, and offer additional information if you can't hear the game.
Visual Distractions
No Flashes: No flashing strobe effects or you can disable them. This includes the absence of flashing from dramatic visual effects, explosions or weather effects like lightning.
No Screen Shake: No screen shake effect or it is included but it can be disabled. This includes the absence of screen shake for dramatic effect as well as to indicate hits on a target.
No Busy Backgrounds: No distracting backgrounds or you can make them static or blank. This includes the absence of other movement elements in the background that might distract or confuse the action. Where foreground contrast is high, this includes games with some movement in the background that doesn't make it overly difficult to distinguish what is happening.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Visual
If you want to play Descenders, but it doesn't offer the Visual accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Visual accessibility:
- The Ramp (7 Visual Features)
- Art Of Rally (7 Visual Features)
- JellyCar Worlds (5 Visual Features)
- Lonely Mountains Downhill (5 Visual Features)
Audio
We've documented 2 accessibility features for Audio in Descenders which deal with how you can adjust the audio of the game and whether audio cues compensate for aspects of the game that are hard to see.
Adjustable Audio
Balance Audio Levels: Set music and game sound effects separately. This enables you to select your preference as well as ensure critical game sounds aren't obscured by other audio.
Play Without Hearing
Play Without Hearing: No audio cues are necessary to play the game well.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Audio
If you want to play Descenders, but it doesn't offer the Audio accessibility features you require, this similar game extends the Audio accessibility:
- Art Of Rally (3 Audio Features)
Communication
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Communication in Descenders which deal with how you can communicate with other players in the game and what options are available to customise and control this interaction. The following games are similar to Descenders, and offer accessibility features for Communication:
- Forza Horizon 5 (4 Communication Features)
System Accessibility Settings
In addition to the accessibility features provided in the game, you can also use system-wide accessibility settings:
Android
Android has accessibility settings including ways to navigate and interact, although not all games support this.
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch has some built-in features, including a lockable zoom, that can be used on all games.
PC
Windows has extensive accessibility features. Some, like colour correction, work with games. Lots of accessibility software can be used with PC games, from voice recognition to input device emulators.
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 4 has a range of accessibility settings. Some are system only, some work in games (invert colours and button mapping).
PlayStation 5
PlayStation 5 has a range of system-wide accessibility settings.
Xbox One
Xbox One has a system features, the excellent co-pilot share controls mode and adaptive controller support for all games.
Xbox Series X|S
Xbox One has a system features, the excellent co-pilot share controls mode and adaptive controller support for all games.
iOS
iOS has a very extensive suite of accessibility settings including ways to navigate with voice and comprehensive screen reading, though most of the features don't work with games.
Read more about system accessibility settings.
Accessibility Report supported by VSC Rating Board, PlayabilityInitiative and accessibility contributors Wesley Williams