Baba is You
Platforms: Mac, Nintendo Switch and PC
Genres: Puzzle
Released: March 2019. Added to this library 4 months ago, last updated 5 weeks ago.
Overview
Baba is You requires some lateral thinking. Each level is controlled by rules written on the screen, such as ‘Lava is Hot’, ‘Wall is Stop’ and ‘Flag is Move’. By moving the words around with your pixilated character, you subvert the level’s logic to your advantage.
This game is good if you want to play BAFTA nominated games, harm no living thing, play games with visibility features, learn something playing a properly great game, have silly fun together, play games without in-app purchases or play old games like new.
Commitment
Costs
On the PC and Mac, you can purchase the soundtrack. This is included for free in the Definitive Edition.
Accessibility
- Difficulty:
- Reading: There is some reading in the game, including the puzzle words which are sometimes low contrast to the background.
- Controls: You can remap the controls and adjust how long you have to hold a key or button for it to repeat. You can apply two buttons to each game action.
- Image calibration: Turn on visual movement grid. Disable wobble effect. You can Force high-contrast colours. You can enable a zoom mode to magnify the screen.
- Audio calibration: Adjust sound effects and music separately.
System settings: Nintendo Switch has some built-in features, including a lockable zoom, that can be used on all games. 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... read more.
Similar Games
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Baba is You is in These Lists
In addition to the similar games listed above, which have been linked to this game specifically in the database, you may find games with a similar theme to Baba is You in the following lists:
Embrace Silliness
Whether it's the crazy puzzles in Baba is You or Twister-like contorsions of Fru or stomach churningly difficulty of walking in Octodad Deadliest Catch, these are games that will make you shreek and laugh together. Then there are silly multiplayer games like Super Pole Riders, Heave Ho or Wii Party where parents, carers and children take on bizarre or precarious challenges. The play often descends into giggling and laughter.
BAFTA Nominated Games
The awards started in 2004 and are presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). For parents, they are a great way of discovering brilliant games to play in their family. The games included here are from the:
- The Family Games award highlights games that will work really well for parents and children. These often include multiplayer features and feature a cast of family-friendly characters.
- The Games Beyond Entertainment award is also of interest as this highlights more unusual games with an emphasis on storytelling that addresses topics that parents may find appealing themselves.
Educational Games That Are Also Good Games
Some of these games are aimed at younger players to play on their own, but others (as indicated by their PEGI ratings) are better for teenagers or played together in a family. Find some games that pique your interest, read through the details and decide how your child might benefit from playing them.
Great Games Without In-App Purchases
The games in this list are really good for families but have all been selected because they don't include any in-app purchase costs. You either pay a single up-front cost or they enable you to play them for free.
Commit No Violence
Many of them are aimed at children and families, but you'll be surprised how many explore deeper, more mature themes in their narratives, or require just as much skill as a fast-paced first-person shooter. This means there's plenty of offer for parents who might lack the reflexes (or interest) to survive a round of Fortnite.
We've focused on the games you might not expect to be played non-violently here, but you can find the full list at Non-Violent Games Of the Day curated by James Batchelor.
Designed To Be Easier To See
- Fonts: Larger, scalable font sizes and bold fonts, like Moving Out.
- Zoom: Ability to increase the size of all objects on the screen such as in Untitled Goose Game's zoom feature.
- Contrast: Settings to adjust contrast and brightness, as well as distinct colours with good lighting, like Splatoon.
- Non-Visual Cues: Sounds and haptic feedback that help direct the player, like Lego games.
- Colourblind: Modes that invert colours or change colours to accommodate different types of colourblindness, such as in Hue.
- Screen Readers: Functions that read text and menus as they are highlighted and appear on the screen, such as in Eagle Island.
Some platforms provide system-wide accessibility features that help. The Nintendo Switch offers a built-in zoom function, while the Xbox offers co-pilot mode that allows two people to play as a single player. Such features create necessary flexibility for players.
There are many different types of visual impairments, and no two people ever see things the exact same way. Because of this, games that are accessible for one person may not be accessible to all low vision gamers. For gamers who find visual games too cumbersome, audio-only games may provide a solution.
It may be difficult for parents and caregivers who are fully sighted to understand which games will be easier to see. The best way to learn about what works and what doesn’t is hearing from people with impaired vision themselves. Can I Play That? has a variety of reviews discussing accessibility of games for people with disabilities, by people with disabilities.
Reimagined Retro Classics
The games in this list have been recreated (sometimes officially and sometimes unofficially) by developers who love and respect the original while also wanting to update it for modern technology and players.
Thanks for using our resource, supported by AskAboutGames and ParentZone. We are editorially independent, written by parents for parents, but welcome sponsorship, partnership and suggestions. Email our editor for details on these opportunities.The information on this database is designed to support and complement the in-depth discussion and advice about video game "addiction", violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. If you have any concerns or questions in these areas, email our editor who is quick to respond or can arrange for a one-to-one conversation.
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