27 fun accessible game and activity apps 2024

Many of us love playing games, puzzles and activity apps to help us relax and unwind. But how easy are these for disabled people to use? Many games require two hands and the use of multiple buttons, which is difficult for those who have dexterity issues. Some have no audio or the ability to magnify, making them tricky for blind people. And others are too complex if you have learning disabilities. 

Emma Purcell has done her research and found 10 accessible, fun games and activity apps for people of all abilities. Scroll down to the bottom to find 15 new accessible gaming apps added for 2024.

The list includes apps for Apple and Android devices, but she tried them out on her iPhone. Enjoy…

Waveband

The Waveband app allows you to play musical instruments by moving your Apple device, such as your Apple Watch. You can make music by moving the device up and down, side to side and twisting.

It is great fun and a good source of exercise. It’s a suitable app for people who have some form of movement, are blind or visually impaired and, basically, anyone who loves to have a dance. The app is free to download and includes multiple instruments, such as piano, drums, guitar and tambourine.

Bubble Shooter Game

Accessible apps – Bubble Shooter Game

Bubble Shooter Game is an engaging and colourful app designed to be accessible for players with various disabilities. This addictive puzzle game involves aiming, shooting, and popping bubbles of the same colour to clear the board and advance to the next level.

Bubble Shooter is a fun game that everyone can enjoy. You only need to tap the screen to shoot the bubbles, so it’s great for people who have trouble moving their hands a lot. The bright colours help people who don’t see well tell the bubbles apart. Plus, the game makes sounds when you do things, so people who can’t see well can play and have fun too.

Bubble Shooter Game is free to download and comes with hundreds of levels, each presenting a new challenge. The app includes an option to purchase additional features, such as extra lives and power-ups, to enhance the gaming experience. Available on both iOS and Android platforms, as well as in a browser version, it’s a fun and accessible game for everyone who loves a good puzzle.

Solitaire

Solitaired offers an inclusive Solitaire experience catering disabled people, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to enjoy this classic card game. Recognising the diverse needs of its players, the platform provides options to customise cards with large numbers and fonts, making the game more accessible for those with visual impairments.

 

The website features various Solitaire games, each designed with accessibility in mind. Players can enjoy traditional gameplay with enhanced features such as audio cues and customizable colour schemes to accommodate different visual preferences. Whether opting for high contrast settings or choosing ‘large print’ options for easier card identification, Solitaired.com aims to create a welcoming environment for all players.

Available for free with no need for in-app purchases, Solitaired.com is a browser-based platform, making it easily accessible without the need to download any apps. This commitment to accessibility and user-friendly design makes Solitaired.com a favoured destination for those seeking an enjoyable Solitaire experience tailored to their needs, ensuring fun and engaging gameplay for players with disabilities.

Audio Game Hub

Audio Game Hub is designed for people who are blind or visually impaired. With it, you won’t need the accessibility features on your device as there is a voiceover and inverted colour feature already available on the app.

There are 10 games including casino, archery and memory skills. Additional games are due to be released soon. Every game has audio descriptions throughout and different sound effects to identify colours, animals, numbers and obstacles. Also, you can choose to have the screen with black text on a white background, white text on a black background or in ‘blind mode’, where the screen is totally black.

The app is free to download from the iTunes App Store and has numerous in-app purchases available to gain more coins, and additional levels and to skip adverts. Prices are in American dollars ($). There is also a version on Google Play for Android.

Switch Accessible Mazes

The Switch Accessible Mazes app is designed for people who use a switch controller, an ergonomically designed mouse with a V-shaped based and four-way scrolling dish.  It can be accessed with two switches using step-scanning or one switch with auto-scanning.

Multiple mazes are completed by moving an arrow or car through the maze. The game can also be played on a touchscreen. There is a free app with three practice mazes available. The full set of mazes costs £15.99 or separately cost £7.99 each on the App Store.

Color Therapy

Color Therapy is a colouring book app with a wide variety of pictures, from animals to people, and places to patterns, plus much more. There are also seasonal pictures, including Christmas, Easter and Halloween. Because it is an American app (which is why it’s spelt as color, not colour), there are also American-themed pictures, such as Thanksgiving and Independence Day.

There are thousands of colours to use, both solid and granite. Completed pictures can be published on the app, saved to your photos and shared on social media.

This app is really good for those with dexterity issues and those who struggle using a traditional colouring book and pens. It is also good for people with visual impairments as they can zoom in on the picture using the zoom function from the accessibility settings on your device. It is also a great therapeutic tool for those with stress, anxiety and depression. 

The app is free to download from the App Store but to access all the pictures and colours, you will need to pay for the VIP All Access service. For one month it’s £6.99, and for a year it’s £35.99 (£3 per month).

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See Me Draw

See Me Draw is a drawing game, based on dot-to-dot. It is aimed at people with learning disabilities and is a great form of entertainment and development.

When you touch a red dot, it begins to draw a picture. A green dot will then move between each dot, which you follow to complete the picture. Once all the dots are connected, the picture will be revealed.

It plays amusing noises and a cheerful tune while drawing. There are four pictures to complete and the app is free to download from the App Store.

Moodfit

Moodfit is an emotional tool to help people suffering from stress, depression and anxiety to improve their mood.

The app lets you track your mood, create daily goals and learn mindfulness techniques. It is free to download but requires you to create an account to log in. You can use Zoom and voiceover functions on this app too.

The app is available on iTunes for iPhone and Google Play for Android.

Pet Rescue Saga

Pet Rescue Saga is a puzzle game created by King, the same company that created the world-famous Candy Crush. The aim of the game is simple – rescue the pets!

To do this, you need to clear all the blocks and obstacles to enable the animals to get safely to the ground. To remove coloured blocks, simply match two or more of the same coloured blocks together. As well as coloured blocks, there are also other obstacles, such as frozen blocks, cages and key-locked blocks.

Bonus tools, including hammers, balloons and rockets, are available to help remove more blocks quickly. Each level has a limited amount of moves, so choose each move wisely. If you fail a level, you’ll lose a life. There are over 2,000 levels for you to complete and the app is free to download.

The graphics are bold, clear and bright, and the zoom function can be used for those with visual impairments. It’s also great for those who only have the use of one arm.

The app is free and available on iTunes and Google Play.

Jigsaws

The Jigsaw app has a wide selection of animal and landscape jigsaw puzzles. With each puzzle, you can decide the difficulty by changing the number of pieces, from 84 small pieces to 4 large ones.

As well as making it as hard or simple as you want, choosing a larger piece is also useful for those with visual impairments. Moreover, correct pieces snap together, indicating that they’re the right fit, which is beneficial for people with limited motor skills.

The app is free to download from the iTunes app Store, and there are similar versions available on Google Play for Android.

Sims Freeplay

Sims Freeplay is an app version of the successful computer game The Sims. The game aims to create and maintain your own virtual town.

In the game, you create people known as Sims and then run their lives, developing them to get a job, buy houses, form relationships and start families. Plus, there are tasks to complete to win virtual money, and prizes and increase the value of your town.

It is a great form of escapism and very therapeutic. It is also easier to access than the computer game as it allows visually impaired people to use the zoom function and, ideal for those with dexterity issues, everything is controlled by one-finger taps.

The app is available on iTunes for iPhone and Google Play for Android.

Larry King’s Word Search

Larry King’s Wordsearch app is the ultimate word-search game. It has 18 topic categories for you to complete, including music, geography and science.

The app is 100% accessible for blind and visually impaired people as it allows you to use Zoom and voiceover on your device. It is free to download on the App Store.

Emma Purcell

You can read more about Emma by visiting her blog, Rock For Disability.

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UPDATED February 2024

15 NEW Fun Accessible Game Apps for People with Disabilities in 2024

Mobile games can provide entertainment and stress relief for everyone. But for people with disabilities, finding accessible games that work with their needs can be tricky. Many popular games require fast reflexes, good eyesight, or two-handed controls that not all players can manage.

Fortunately, developers are creating more and more games with accessibility in mind. Here are 15 of the most fun accessible game apps to try out in 2024!

For Blind or Low Vision Users

1. Blindfold Games (iOS, Android) – Offers over 70 audio-based games in different genres like arcade, trivia, educational, and more. New titles are frequently added.
2. SB Fun Games  (iOS, Android) – Features accessible arcade-style games designed for players with physical and cognitive disabilities. Games work with switches and have customizable settings.
3. Ringbowling 3D Accessible (Android) – An accessible digital bowling game playable hands-free using facial gestures. Customizable difficulty levels.

For Motor Impaired Users

1. Enable Viacam  (Windows, Linux) – Camera-based mouse controller that allows hands-free computer operation through head movements and gestures.
2. Switch Control  (iOS) – Apple’s built-in assistive technology that permits control of an iOS device using adapted switches instead of touch.

For Cognitive Impairments

1. Brain Wars  (iOS) – Collection of accessible, educational games focused on memory, concentration, calculation, and more cognitive skills.
2. Peak  (iOS, Android) – Fun brain training app with adaptive difficulty levels to suit a wide range of abilities and disabilities. Supports assistive features.

Multiplayer & Social Games

1. Words With Friends 2  (iOS, Android) – The classic digital Scrabble-like game. Play matches or chat with friends. Accessibility features like text legibility aids.
2. Uno! TM  (iOS, Android) – Mobile version of the popular card game with online multiplayer support. Also playable hands-free on Amazon Alexa devices.
3. Heads Up!  (iOS, Android) – Charades-style party game by Ellen DeGeneres. Hold the device to forehead and guess based on friends’ clues. VoiceOver support.

The key is finding games that align with one’s access needs. Fortunately, developers are expanding options with features like audio navigation, switch inputs, text legibility aids, and difficulty adjustments. Social games also facilitate inclusion with friends.

Bonus Finance App

Technology moves fast, and finance apps need to keep pace. One app that is making strides is CEX.IO’s cryptocurrency exchange platform, which provides an intuitive interface for buying and trading digital currencies. As cryptocurrencies gain mainstream traction, CEX.IO is focused on incorporating accessibility features into its mobile and web apps.

This includes support for screen readers, keyboard navigation, and flexibility to increase the text size for low vision users. By building inclusiveness into its DNA, CEX.IO is setting an example for other finance apps to follow. It shows that accessibility can go hand-in-hand with innovation. They claim to be the best app to buy and trade bitcoin. Click the link to check them out.

 

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