Long-time friend of the site Andy Robertson is working on a new project which seeks to benefit families and those seeking accessibility options within games, and you can help.
There are many ways to find out about video games online. Some of these aim to provide vital information to help you make informed decisions about purchase and discover new games to play. Working with families for the last 15 years or so via Family Gamer TV, I realised that sites like IGDB and MobyGames don’t offer the information that parents and carers need. Equally, with age ratings often only listed on digital storefronts rather than rating bodies website, it can be hard to know where to search.
That’s why I created the Family Video Game Database. I was at the end of writing a book, Taming Gaming, and wanted to create an online searchable list of the games I’d included. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the book publishing was delayed, but with some funding from Ukie, I was able to accelerate the database.
So here we are 6 months later, with a large searchable resource of around 650 games that you can search by age rating, system, number of players, duration, online, offline and even whether the game has loot boxes, season passes or other in-game purchases.
Each game has a single page on the database with all the information in one place. This includes about 10 games at the bottom that are similar to the current game. It means that if a parent or carer has looked up Return of the Obra Dinn for Switch, not only can they check out the details of the PEGI 16 rating, but find loads of similar games with a younger rating.
Finally, in making the database I realised a big issue for parents and carers is discovering games they want to play together. So the database offers loads of hand made lists of games. These aren’t the usual “Top 10 Co-Op Games”, “Best RPGs” or “Must Play Platformers. Instead, our lists offer themes and unusual groupings:
- Attempt the Impossible
- Games about Ageing
- Face Tough Decisions
- Bend Time To Your Advantage
- Games for Kids Not Ready for PEGI 16 Games
- Games That Get Children Reading
It’s this part of the database that has really ignited the gaming community. All I have to do is share a list idea on Twitter and I get loads of suggestions. Within a few hours, we have a new brilliant list – like the recent list of games where you have to Survive the Night.
The next step for the database is adding detailed accessibility data. We already have a bunch of games that we have specific accessibility information for, but we will be adding specific fields so if people need to play a game with just the mouse, or need to disable screen shake, or turn off the need to hold down buttons, they can search and find something for their needs. With the help of the Playability Initiative, that is becoming a reality.
This is where I need your help. If you know about any Nintendo games with amazing accessibility settings, let me know and I can add those details to the search. Equally, perhaps the database is missing important Nintendo games that work well for players with accessibility requirements – let me know about those as well.
For example, I’ve recently been looking for games that let you slow down the speed of play in the settings. Are there any Nintendo games that do this I may have missed? I’ve also been looking for games with customizable difficulty and in particular those with great assist modes. Perhaps there are Nintendo games that offer that too? Let me know.
My hope is that the database is a tool for parents and carers, but also somewhere that gamers can suggest games to add or new lists to create. It exists in the wonderful form it does today because it represents the knowledge and passion of so many gamers.
Comments 32
Really hoping this takes off, I don't have any suggestions myself right now though.
So basically, this is a website that lets you determine if a game is good for children or not, as well as find games with accessibility features?
What sort of accessibility features are they looking for? Things like color-blind mode, or different controller modalities? Is that what they mean?
That’s a good hobby to have outside your duties as Liverpool’s left back.
Is accessibility the right term for this? Seems more like a family guide.
I never had any issues with what games were suitable for me as a kid, so this seems a little patronising. But different families have different needs I guess? Good luck to them, seems like a lot of typing and admin...
Puyo Puyo Champions got an update recently that adds more accessibility features, one of which is to change game speed.
I haven't read the list but I'm thinking, in general, he's looking for games that allow you to tweak the settings in order to make the game more accessible and not leave anyone out, whether the target is for children or maybe even people with special needs.
A great example of this is Super Mario Odyssey. My 5 year old daughter struggled with Galaxy by losing all her HP, or drowning, or simply not knowing where to go. Odyssey's Assist Mode solved all of that and allowed her to actually beat the game almost completely by herself. An arrow always told her where to go, she had infinite oxygen, and if you stand still you eventually heal. It was exactly what she needed, and was a confidence boost to get her to try other games.
I still can't believe eshop doesn't let us filter out mature games. It would make game shopping/discovery for younger family members way easier.
Good idea. You should probably talk to Anti-Matter. I'm pretty sure he's already a database.
@Kimyonaakuma I think "accessibility" here means how accessible something is for a disabled person.
I think the new hyperspace drifter game has a mouse and keyboard setting? I could be wrong.
I think Scribblenauts is a good choice if you don't have that.
Try spongbob battle for bikini bottom.
Common Sense Media already exists, and provides this service. Why not write reviews on there?
@Screen Because they suck a*s.
@Snatcher
What makes you say that. I haven't had any problems with them other than when they don't have the review I'm looking for.
They don't talk about control schemes so if that's what the article wants my point becomes moot.
Perhaps a little obvious, but Mario kart 8 deluxe has the antenna and auto-accelerate options
@Screen I dont think they rating is good dont get me wrong I do think they point out the things to watch out for its just there job is to tell you if its good for a kid or not not the game is a pointless blood bath, they did say that in one of there reviews and the game is fun but I sometimes think they focus on the wrong things.
@Ratking I'm curious ... just how, exactly, are parents supposed to do what you think they should without a database like this to help them? What about this is "way for parents to be lazy and not do their job" instead of "tool required for parents to do their job"?
First thing that comes off the top of my head is that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe has an assist mode that makes it a lot easier to play.
Also pssst, Pode is an excellent, beautiful coop game rated E for Everyone that would be perfect in your database
I think this is only a good thing if the parents know where to find it. Common Sense Media can be helpful also, although they can be spotty on what they cover. In the end of the day engaged parents are the best thing for judging these matters as kids develop differently and there is no one size fits all solution.
This is awesome and I hope you get the help you need in order to grow the database! It's really nice to see someone doing this and making it as detailed and informational as possible.
I know it's a bit old now, but I thought Bit Generations: Sound Voyager for the GBA was amazing. It's a great game for people who are completely blind, and the best way to play it is closing your eyes with some earbuds in.
@TG16_IS_BAE that's right.
@AmethystLeslie thanks will add Puyo Puyo Champions.
@Panopticon thanks, added details for Mario Odyssey.
@Snatcher are there particular settigns on Sponge Bob that would be good to note?
@Nintendo_Thumb yes good tip. I had thought about adding those. Shame they are hard to get. UK release?
@andyrob_24_7 color blind mode.
@Snatcher thanks
@andyrob_24_7 Scribblenauts dose have to do with spelling but it helps you with words, you cant put in adult stuff but things like the reaper you can summon. The cpu can die but they just go poof some levels are only hard if you have a smaller imagination the bigger the better but I think it helps open your imagination pretty well, you can but in the word naked and nude but it just puts a big block over the character. overall I think its a amazing game for kids I do suggest the mega-pack but it does have dc in there so your more pron to fight But I think its still cartoon fun hope this helped.
@Snatcher any chance you could ping a screen shot to me @GeekDadGamer on twitter. I've googled but can't find that.
@andyrob_24_7 What cant you find? And I don't have a twitter sorry. if i'm wrong about the color blind mode I'm soo sorry I somebody told me it did I'm really sorry if i'm wrong I'm going to google more about it I have the game but its my brother I will play it to see if i'm wrong.
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