We all love doing puzzles and playing games on our mobile phones to help us unwind and relax. But did you know that most game apps are NOT designed to be used by disabled persons?
The fact is that most game apps for older adults require that you use two hands and multiple buttons at the same time, which can be difficult for people with disabilities and dexterity issues.
Some apps have no audio or ability to magnify, which can make them tricky for visually impaired individuals. Other game apps are too sophisticated, especially if you have learning challenges.
Luckily, game developers understand and appreciate that people with physical and cognitive disabilities want and deserve to play games on their smart devices, just like other people do.
It’s a no-brainer – and there’s no shortage of fun and accessible game apps for individuals of all abilities.
We have tried to develop a list that includes game apps for Android and Apple devices. Hopefully, you’ll be able to find a game app that suits your unique needs and preferences.
Best Game Apps For Disabled Adults
1. Larry King’s Word Search
Larry King’s Word Search (available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store) is a perfect game app for those who love playing grammar and vocabulary games.
The app lets you search for words in many categories, including science, geography, music, and entertainment. You get to complete a series of challenges at varying levels ranging from easy to difficult.
The app is 100% accessible by visually impaired and blind persons, as it allows you to use the zoom and voice commands and features on your device.
2. The Sims FreePlay
The Sims FreePlay is the mobile version of the popular computer game, The Sims. The objective of the game is to build and maintain your own virtual city.
The game allows you to create avatars of people, also called Sims, to who you can assign roles in society. You can form relationships, buy properties, get jobs, and start families with your Sims.
Furthermore, there are tasks that you can do to increase the size of your town, win prizes, and get paid virtual money. The Sims FreePlay is an excellent form of therapy and escapism.
The mobile phone version of the game is easier to access for disabled people, as it allows visually impaired persons to magnify the game interface. The game is also suitable for people with dexterity issues because everything is controlled using one hand.
3. Jigsaws
The Jigsaws game app (available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store) has a wide variety of nature and animal jigsaw puzzles. With each puzzle, you can choose the level of difficulty by adjusting the number from 4 large pieces to 84 tiny pieces.
On top of being able to choose how simple or difficult you want the game to be, choosing larger pieces is recommended for people with visual impairments.
Furthermore, matching pieces snap together to show that they’re aligned correctly. This can be useful for persons with limited motor skills.
4. Pet Rescue Saga
Pet Rescue Saga is a puzzle game app created by one of the leading mobile game developers in the world, King. This game is very similar to the popular mobile game app Candy Crush (from the same developer). The objective of this game is simple – rescue the pets!
To rescue the pets, you need to clear all the colored blocks that are preventing the animals from getting safely to the surface. Removing the blocks is easy. Simply match 2 or more blocks of the same color, and the blocks vanish into thin air.
Apart from the colored blocks, there are other barriers, like key-locked blocks, cages, and frozen blocks, that you must get rid of to rescue the pets.
There are bonus tools, such as rockets, balloons, and hammers, that can help you to clear blocks faster. You get a limited number of moves for each level in the game, so choose your moves wisely. When you fail a level, you lose one life. There are more than 2000 levels for you to play.
The graphics in this game are bright, clear, and bold. There is zoom support for people with visual impairments. Pet Rescue Saga is also perfect for people who can only use one arm.
5. Moodfit
Moodfit is more of an emotional support tool than a game app. The app helps people suffering from anxiety, depression, and stress to improve their mood through different exercises and activities.
The app lets you track your mood, set daily objectives, and improve your mental health through a wide variety of techniques. The app includes voice-over and zoom functions, which make it easy and convenient to use regardless of your disability.
The app is currently free to download, but you need to create an account to use it.
6. See Me Draw
See Me Draw (available on the Apple App Store) is a simple dot-to-dot drawing game that is ideal for individuals with learning disabilities. This game provides an excellent game app for both cognitive development and entertainment.
Playing the game is simple and easy. When you touch a red dot, it starts to draw an image. A green dot then appears between two red dots, and you can join the two dots to complete the image. Once all the dots are connected, the underlying image is revealed.
The game comes with amazing sounds and cheerful tunes to keep you engaged as you draw. There are multiple images that you can play around with in this app.
7. Color Therapy
Color Therapy is a coloring game app with a huge collection of images, ranging from people to animals, patterns to place, and so much more.
There are also seasonal photos from major holidays like Halloween, Easter, and Christmas. There are also American-themed holiday pictures, like Independence Day and Thanksgiving.
The game offers countless shades of colors to use, including granite and solid. Finished images can be shared on social media, saved on your mobile phone, or published on the app.
The app is suitable for people with dexterity issues and those who have difficulties using conventional coloring books and pencils.
The Color Therapy app is also ideal for people with visual impairments, as they can use the zoom feature to magnify images. This app is an excellent therapeutic tool for those who suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.
You can download the app for free on the Apple App Store, but to access all colors and pictures, you will have to pay a small “All Access” service fee.
8. Mazes – Switch Accessible
The Mazes – Switch Accessible app is specifically designed for individuals who play games using a switch controller (a specially designed mouse with a four-way scrolling dish and a V-shaped base). The app can be open using one switch with an auto scan or two switches using step-scanning.
There are different mazes that are completed by moving a car or an arrow through the maze. The game can also be played on a touchscreen device.
9. Audio Game Hub
Audio Game Hub is designed for individuals who are visually impaired or blind. With this app, you don’t have to rely on the accessibility features on your smartphone, as the app comes with in-built invert color and voice-over features.
There are multiple games in the app, including memory, archery, and casino games. Every game includes audio descriptions that help you distinguish different obstacles, numbers, animals, and colors.
Also, you can choose to have the screen with white text on a black background, black text on a white background, or in “blind mode,” where the screen is completely dark.
10. Waveband
Finally, the Waveband app lets you play different musical instruments by moving your Apple device (phone, tablet, or watch). You can make music by moving the device side to side, up and down, as well as twisting the device.
Waveband is an amazing and fun entertainment app that is ideal for individuals who are visually impaired or blind, as well as people who simply love to dance. The app is free to download and includes multiple instruments, such as tambourine, guitar, drums, piano, and many more.
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Conclusion
Being disabled in one way or the other doesn’t mean that you cannot have fun on a smart device.
Like other assistive apps for seniors, these game apps are evidence that you don’t need your sight, both hands, or exceptional gaming skills to play games on your iPhone or Android device.
From the music-playing apps to drawing games, there are many apps that disabled adults can take advantage of to have a good time.
