We've documented 18 accessibility features for Ape Out, including Large Text, No Repeated Pressing, Remap Buttons, Play Without Hearing and Visual Cues. Its accessibility is strongest in Controls and Visual but it also has features in Reading, Audio, Getting Started and Navigation 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.
Our accessibility examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Ape Out accessibility 2 years ago. It was re-examined by Andy Robertson and updated 2 years ago.
Game Details
Release Date: 28/02/2019
Out Now: PC, Switch and Xbox One
Players: 1
Genres: Fighting, Traversal (Action and Rhythm)
Accessibility: 18 features
Components: 2D Overhead and Pixels
Developer: Gabe Cuzzillo (@GabeCuzzillo)
Costs: Purchase cost
Controls
We've documented 6 accessibility features for Controls in Ape Out 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.
Mouse and Keys: Can play with mouse and multiple keys.
Remap Controls
Can customise the controls for the game as follows:
Remap Buttons: Can re-map all buttons so that you can use alternatives that better suit your play.
Button Combinations
Specific button operation required to play
Rapid Repeated Pressing Optional: Quick, repeated button pressing (more than 2 times a second) is not required, can be skipped or switched to holding a button to trigger a repeated action.
Controller Vibration
Vibration Optional: Controller vibration not used in the game or you can disable it.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Controls
If you want to play Ape Out, but it doesn't offer the Controls accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Controls accessibility:
- Test Tube Titans (14 Controls Features)
- Hi-Fi Rush (12 Controls Features)
- Catlateral Damage: Remeowstered (10 Controls Features)
- En Garde (9 Controls Features)
Difficulty
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Difficulty in Ape Out 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 Ape Out, and offer accessibility features for Difficulty:
- Double Kick Heroes (3 Difficulty Features)
- Hi-Fi Rush (2 Difficulty Features)
- Test Tube Titans (2 Difficulty Features)
- Disc Room (2 Difficulty Features)
Getting Started
We've documented 1 accessibility feature for Getting Started in Ape Out which deals 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.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Getting Started
If you want to play Ape Out, but it doesn't offer the Getting Started accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Getting Started accessibility:
- Test Tube Titans (7 Getting Started Features)
- We Are OFK (7 Getting Started Features)
- Hi-Fi Rush (6 Getting Started Features)
- En Garde (5 Getting Started Features)
Reading
We've documented 3 accessibility features for Reading in Ape Out 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.
Simple Minimal Reading: Minimal reading is required. The quantity and complexity of reading are at a level that a primary/elementary student (9-year-old) could understand.
Text Visibility
Large Clear Text: All essential text is large and clear or can be adjusted to be. The general text used throughout the game in menus, instructions and other key information (excluding subtitles that are assessed separately) is at least 1/20 (46 pixels on 1080 screen) the height on landscape screens and at least 1/40 height on portrait screens. We base this on the full line-height, including the space above and below the letters.
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 Ape Out, but it doesn't offer the Reading accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Reading accessibility:
- Hi-Fi Rush (7 Reading Features)
- We Are OFK (7 Reading Features)
- HarmoKnight (6 Reading Features)
- Marvel's Spider-Man (6 Reading Features)
Navigation
We've documented 1 accessibility feature for Navigation in Ape Out which deals 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.
Clarity
Large Clear Navigation: The in-game navigation and maps are clear to read. They offer large text and offer markers that are large and of high contrast. Where text or information is small, there are settings to zoom-in and increase visibility.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Navigation
If you want to play Ape Out, but it doesn't offer the Navigation accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Navigation accessibility:
- Marvel's Spider-Man (8 Navigation Features)
- Castle Crashers (5 Navigation Features)
- En Garde (4 Navigation Features)
- Otxo (4 Navigation Features)
Visual
We've documented 4 accessibility features for Visual in Ape Out 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
High Contrast: There is high contrast between elements that need to be distinguished from each other, such as characters, interactive objects and game environment, either by default or a high contrast mode. This is different to a slider that increases contrast or brightness between light and dark.
Interactive Elements
Large Game Elements: Game characters and other elements are large and distinguishable. Enemies and player characters are at least 1/6 of the height of the screen. Or there is a zoom feature to make them larger.
Visual Distractions
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.
Audio Cues for Visual Events
Audio Cues for Visual Events: Audio is provided to indicate visual events. Game events or progress highlighted by visual icons, effects or animations are also accompanied by audio to signify that progress. This is useful for blind players.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Visual
If you want to play Ape Out, but it doesn't offer the Visual accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Visual accessibility:
- Disc Room (7 Visual Features)
- A Way To Slay (7 Visual Features)
- Castle Crashers (7 Visual Features)
- En Garde (6 Visual Features)
Audio
We've documented 3 accessibility features for Audio in Ape Out 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.
Audio Events
Visual Cues for Audio Events: Text or other visual indicators of audio events. This mirrors audio indicators of progress in the game with a corresponding visual indication.
Play Without Hearing
Play Without Hearing: No audio cues are necessary to play the game well.
System Accessibility Settings
In addition to the accessibility features provided in the game, you can also use system-wide accessibility settings:
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.
Xbox One
Xbox One has a system features, the excellent co-pilot share controls mode and adaptive controller support for all games.
Read more about system accessibility settings.
Accessibility Report supported by VSC Rating Board, PlayabilityInitiative and accessibility contributors Andy Robertson