HyperDot came out of nowhere for me! It’s an action-arcade game by solo developer Charles McGregor. I wasn’t too familiar with this genre, but the game’s bright visuals and electronic music drew me in. However, what really stood out to me was the creator’s dedication to making an accessible experience for disabled gamers. It has a separate colorblind mode, visual aids, and support for third party programs. For disabled gamers, HyperDot will not disappoint!
HyperDot gives disabled gamers with fine-motor impairments a seamless experience with easily accessible menus and mouse support. To be precise, you can play the entire game with just a mouse. Many assistive tech devices are compatible, including Eye-Tracking and the Xbox Adaptive Controller. HyperDot even has touchscreen support depending on the device you’re using. Each level has a different goal, which range from collecting items to seeing how long you can survive a wave of enemies. Some levels do require quick reaction times, but HyperDot encourages you to play at your own pace, and it doesn’t force you to complete levels in any particular order. Also, levels rarely last longer than a minute, so the fine-motor impaired have ample time to try their luck again.
What about those with visual impairments? Well, there’s actually a designated accessibility tab for low-vision accessibility! It’s here that players can customize the visual assets, like changing the color of your dot and turning off background animations. Colorblind players won’t have anything to worry about with colorblind mode on, which affects the contrast of each level considerably. Also, HyperDot levels have special descriptors (next to the title name) that quickly let you know the required goal. Thankfully, these symbols are distinguished by shape, not color. Deaf and hard-of-hearing gamers should have no issues accessing the game, as there are no lines of dialogue or crucial information conveyed only through audio.
HyperDot has simple mechanics and an equally simple premise: dodge everything. It’s an extremely accessible game that perfectly balances challenge and fun. The neon visuals make each level stand out, and the LoFi beats will surely put players in a relaxing mood. This game addresses accessibility in almost all aspects of its game mechanics and visuals. HyperDot definitely deserves more recognition and attention, which is why I’ve chosen it for my Editor’s Choice.