We've documented 9 accessibility features for Downwell, including Play Without Hearing, Colour Blind Friendly, Fully Subtitled (Or No Speech), High Contrast Text and No Reading. Its accessibility is strongest in Controls and Reading but it also has features in Visual and Audio 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.
External examiner, Jonah Monaghan, first checked Downwell accessibility 3 years ago. It was re-examined by Jonah Monaghan and updated 3 years ago.
Accessibility Notes
Game Details
Release Date: 15/10/2015
Out Now: Android, PC, PS Vita, PS4 and Switch
Players: 1
Genres: Action, Platform and Shooting
Accessibility: 9 features
Components: 2D Side-On and Pixels
Developer: Ojiro Fumoto (@OjiroFumoto)
Costs: Purchase cost
Controls
We've documented 3 accessibility features for Controls in Downwell 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:
1 Button & Single Stick: Can play with button and stick.
Mouse And Keyboard
Can play with the following:
Keyboard Alone: Can play with just the keyboard.
Touchscreen
Can play with the following. Additional gestures may be required for games played with a screenreader like VoiceOver.
Two Taps Targeted: Can play with touchscreen, two simultaneous taps in specific locations.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Controls
If you want to play Downwell, but it doesn't offer the Controls accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Controls accessibility:
- PokeyPoke (13 Controls Features)
- Dome Keeper (11 Controls Features)
- Switch 'N' Shoot (7 Controls Features)
- Octogeddon (6 Controls Features)
Difficulty
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Difficulty in Downwell 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 Downwell, and offer accessibility features for Difficulty:
- PokeyPoke (2 Difficulty Features)
- Dome Keeper (2 Difficulty Features)
- Doodle Jump (2 Difficulty Features)
- Cuphead (2 Difficulty Features)
Getting Started
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Getting Started in Downwell 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. The following games are similar to Downwell, and offer accessibility features for Getting Started:
- PokeyPoke (9 Getting Started Features)
- Dome Keeper (3 Getting Started Features)
- Doodle Jump (3 Getting Started Features)
- Cuphead (3 Getting Started Features)
Reading
We've documented 3 accessibility features for Reading in Downwell which deal 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.
No Reading: No reading is required, other than simple menus. The game either has no text or can communicate textual content with visuals and interactions. If reading isn't required because the text is voiced the All Dialogue is Voiced feature indicates this.
Text Visibility
High Contrast Text: Text colour contrasts to the background or can be adjusted to be. The text in menus, instructions and other information is presented in high contrast with a solid background.
Subtitles
All Speech Subtitled (Or No Speech In Game): All spoken content has subtitles, or there is no speech in the game. This means there is no requirement to hear spoken dialogue or narrative to play the game.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Reading
If you want to play Downwell, but it doesn't offer the Reading accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Reading accessibility:
- Cyber Shadow (6 Reading Features)
- Mechstermination Force (6 Reading Features)
- PokeyPoke (5 Reading Features)
- Gonner (5 Reading Features)
Navigation
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Navigation in Downwell 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 Downwell, and offer accessibility features for Navigation:
- PokeyPoke (5 Navigation Features)
- Dome Keeper (4 Navigation Features)
- Cyber Shadow (4 Navigation Features)
- Gonner (2 Navigation Features)
Visual
We've documented 2 accessibility features for Visual in Downwell which deal with how you can adjust the visuals to suit your needs, and offer additional information if you can't hear the game.
Contrast
Medium Contrast: Game uses generally well contrasting and bright visuals, or has a slider to make this the case.
Colour Options
Colour Blind Friendly: Game doesn’t rely on colour or can switch to colour blind friendly mode with double coding or similar way to avoid colour dependance.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Visual
If you want to play Downwell, but it doesn't offer the Visual accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Visual accessibility:
- PokeyPoke (7 Visual Features)
- Cyber Shadow (7 Visual Features)
- Dome Keeper (6 Visual Features)
- Shadow Frog (5 Visual Features)
Audio
We've documented 1 accessibility feature for Audio in Downwell which deals 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.
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 Downwell, but it doesn't offer the Audio accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Audio accessibility:
- Dome Keeper (4 Audio Features)
- PokeyPoke (3 Audio Features)
- Jetpack Joyride (3 Audio Features)
- Risk of Rain (2 Audio 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).
Read more about system accessibility settings.
Accessibility Report supported by VSC Rating Board, PlayabilityInitiative and accessibility contributors @JonahMonaghan