We've documented 13 accessibility features for Pentiment, including Large Subtitles, Large Text, Remap Buttons, Speaker Indicator and Fully Subtitled (Or No Speech). Its accessibility is strongest in Reading and Controls 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.
Our accessibility examiner, Andrew Robertson, first checked Pentiment accessibility 19 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 19 months ago.
Accessibility Notes
Game Details
Release Date: 15/11/2022, updated in 2022
Out Now: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox X|S
Players: 1
Genres: Brain Game, Communication (Adventure, Narrative, Puzzle, Role-Play and Shooting)
Accessibility: 13 features
Components: 2D Side-On and Text
Developer: Obsidian (@Obsidian)
Costs: Purchase cost
Controls
To complete the main campaign of the game you need to use a minimum of:
- Xbox: 11 buttons, 2 triggers and 1 stick.
Action | Xbox | Notes | Required |
Map | Y Button | ✔ | |
Interact | A Button | ✔ | |
Movement | Left Stick | Or D-Pad. | ✔ |
Aim Zoom | View Button | Zooms out to view the margins of the book for additional information/glossary. | ✕ |
Journal Menu | Xbox | Notes | Required |
Menu - Open Menu | Menu Button | ✔ | |
Notes/Journal | X Button | ✔ | |
Menu - Close | B Button | ✔ | |
Menu - Previous Page | Left Bumper + D-Pad Up + D-Pad Left + Left Trigger | Previous Journal Page/Tab/Entry. | ✔ |
Menu - Next Page | D-Pad Right + Right Bumper + D-Pad Down + Right Trigger | Next Journal Page/Tab/Entry. | ✔ |
Mini-game | Xbox | Notes | Required |
Examine | X Button | ✔ | |
Interact | A Button | ✔ | |
Menu - Back/Undo | B Button | Leave mini-game. | ✔ |
Movement | Left Stick | Navigate. | ✔ |
Use Ability | Left Trigger + Right Trigger | Take Left/Right action. | ✔ |
Gamepad
Can play with the following:
Multiple Buttons & Single Stick: Can play with multiple buttons and a stick.
Remap Controls
Can customise the controls for the game as follows:
Inputs Documented: The inputs required to complete the game in campaign mode or play competitively are documented on the database (or in other official documentation).
Remap Buttons: Can re-map all buttons so that you can use alternatives that better suit your play.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Controls
If you want to play Pentiment, but it doesn't offer the Controls accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Controls accessibility:
- Wildermyth (11 Controls Features)
- Weird West (8 Controls Features)
- The Magister (7 Controls Features)
- Reigns (7 Controls Features)
Difficulty
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Difficulty in Pentiment 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 Pentiment, and offer accessibility features for Difficulty:
- Wildermyth (3 Difficulty Features)
- Weird West (2 Difficulty Features)
- Triangle Strategy (2 Difficulty Features)
- Roadwarden (1 Difficulty Feature)
Getting Started
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Getting Started in Pentiment 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 Pentiment, and offer accessibility features for Getting Started:
- Chants of Sennaar (7 Getting Started Features)
- Roadwarden (6 Getting Started Features)
- Triangle Strategy (6 Getting Started Features)
- Pendragon (6 Getting Started Features)
Reading
We've documented 6 accessibility features for Reading in Pentiment 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.
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.
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.
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
Large Clear Subtitles: Subtitles are large, clear and of good contrast. They are at least 1/20 (46 pixels on 1080 screen) the height of a landscape screen and at least 1/40 height on portrait screens, or can be adjusted to be. We base this on the full line-height, including the space above and below the letters. Considered separately from the general text of the game, the subtitles are large, clear and of good contrast.
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.
Captions
Speaker Indicator: Textual captions indicate who is speaking (or there is only ever one person speaking). This can also be indicated visually in the game with character icons or placing text in speech bubbles next to the person speaking.
Navigation
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Navigation in Pentiment 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 Pentiment, and offer accessibility features for Navigation:
- The Magister (6 Navigation Features)
- Weird West (5 Navigation Features)
- Wildermyth (5 Navigation Features)
- Chants of Sennaar (3 Navigation Features)
Visual
We've documented 3 accessibility features for Visual in Pentiment 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.
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.
Violence
Turn Off Blood: Reduce or disable graphic content of blood and gore.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Visual
If you want to play Pentiment, but it doesn't offer the Visual accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Visual accessibility:
- Knights of San Francisco (8 Visual Features)
- Pendragon (7 Visual Features)
- The Magister (6 Visual Features)
- Reigns (6 Visual Features)
Audio
We've documented 1 accessibility feature for Audio in Pentiment 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.
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.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Audio
If you want to play Pentiment, but it doesn't offer the Audio accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Audio accessibility:
- Roadwarden (3 Audio Features)
- Wildermyth (3 Audio Features)
- Pendragon (3 Audio Features)
- Chants of Sennaar (2 Audio Features)
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.
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.
Read more about system accessibility settings.
Accessibility Report supported by VSC Rating Board, PlayabilityInitiative and accessibility contributors Jo Robertson