How Users Who are Blind or Low Vision Play Mobile Games: Perceptions, Challenges, and Strategies

In the mobile era, the majority of respondents (N=32) are proficient in using smartphones, but fewer than half of the BLV players own a computer (N=12). As P27 mentioned, ”The operation of computers is very different from smartphones. Almost none of the BLV people I know can use a computer.” P30 added, ”I spent a long time trying to learn, but I just couldn’t grasp the tricks. However, when I started using a smartphone, I immediately learned because it’s just a touchscreen.” Unlike computers, which have a more complex operating system often combined with a keyboard and mouse, smartphones offer simpler touch-based interaction, which BLV users can easily learn.

In contrast, the inherent accessibility of smartphones is a significant advantage. Smartphones are equipped with voice reading systems or screen readers, which help overcome various challenges in information retrieval. Games that are compatible with screen readers are prioritized by visually impaired players, as this combination provides a smoother gaming experience, is easier to learn, and aligns well with the habits of visually impaired users. Additionally, P9 noted that smartphones have dedicated gesture systems that can be utilized in games. Beyond touchscreen and button controls, BLV users can use a variety of gestures to provide feedback and input information. The diversity of gesture types and their combinations enables more complex commands, significantly expanding the ways in which games can be controlled.

Among our respondents (N=10), computers are seen as being restricted to a particular physical space due to their large size and difficulty in portability. Respondents who have tried console or VR games (N=4) also believe that, apart from handheld consoles, other gaming systems always require some physical space to accommodate multiple components. P7, who frequently tests games on different devices, mentioned that the home-use nature of the PlayStation limits him to a specific space, making it the least favored gaming device. In contrast, mobile games require only a smartphone—something that almost every BLV user possesses. Mobile games also allow for online matching with other players, eliminating the need to rely on the already limited social networks in the real world. Participants mentioned that smartphones are easy to carry, and mobile games are quick to start and end, allowing users to complete all processes independently. P29 explained:

”While waiting for the bus, I can take out my phone and complete a game task. It’s quick and simple, allowing me to relieve daily stress during fragmented time. Moreover, mobile games are entirely up to me; I can play whenever I want, without needing to rely on family or friends for assistance with navigation or additional tasks.” (P29)

The convenience of smartphones makes mobile games virtually unrestricted by time and space, reducing additional travel costs and eliminating the need for physical space for gameplay.

In terms of tabletop games, the lack of accessibility in physical environments forces visually impaired individuals to spend more energy exploring unfamiliar places. P3, P6, P14, and P22 had similar experiences. Despite having various tasks that require them to be physically present, and being accustomed to going out frequently, they still avoid playing tabletop games. P14 mentioned two main reasons: they feel anxious about navigating unfamiliar areas beyond their regular commute, and most tabletop game cafes lack accessibility features.

Particularly, due to physical environmental limitations and limited social networks, they often struggle to find enough players to join in tabletop games. P29, a high school student from a special education school who is keen on exploring new and trendy activities, shared that many of his attempts to organize tabletop games had failed.

”Several times, we spent a week coordinating everyone’s schedules… Some parents thought it was too troublesome and unnecessary, and others, even with navigation, couldn’t find the exact location. In the end, we completely gave up on these kinds of games.” (P29)

In contrast, the portability of mobile phones stands out as exceptional. P2 mentioned that in the digital media era, smartphones act as an ”external organ” for everyone, especially for the BLV community.

”Compared to sighted individuals, we rely on smartphones to meet basic life needs. Without them, many daily tasks (such as payment or navigation) would be impossible.” (P2)

Without a smartphone, BLV users would face considerable inconvenience, even being unable to complete basic tasks. This indispensable function not only supports daily life but also enables BLV individuals to quickly and easily engage with games, highlighting the unparalleled convenience of mobile devices.

It is noteworthy that some prominent game companies have begun to design mobile games specifically for BLV users, leading the way for the BLV gaming community. P2, P7, P17, P22, and P24 all emphasized the importance of Chinese gaming companies dedicated to developing accessible mobile games. P18 is a media operator who mentioned that the company she works for specializes in developing mobile games and other internet social and entertainment products for the BLV community. Currently, the user base has surpassed 600,000. This supports the growing demand among BLV users for mobile games and other entertainment products. This attention has also increased the participation of BLV users in mobile gaming, fostering the development of broader online communities and more diverse social interactions.

All our participants unanimously agreed that although some BLV individuals with higher education explore careers in sales, software testing, or product operations, the majority of BLV employment opportunities remain focused on traditional fields, such as traditional Chinese massage therapy and music tuning. They argued that the limited employment opportunities often leave many of their BLV friends feeling trapped in repetitive cycles of monotonous work. Mobile games provide a valuable source of enjoyment for them and their friends. P16, a massage therapist, noted,

”My daily routine is massaging clients until late, which becomes monotonous. Mobile games, which are convenient and fun and I can play them during breaks at work or after my shift, bring me joy by allowing me to experience different careers and adventures, offering much needed relief from my exhausting job. ” (P16)

Mobile games provide a unique form of convenience, allowing P16 to seamlessly transition from his work to a world of adventure. As our participants stated (N=6), some BLV individuals in China who lack opportunities to choose their preferred professions and are unwilling to work in massage therapy often remain unemployed after finishing high school or university. For them, mobile games offer a way to alleviate boredom and bring a sense of purpose. P15, a 25-year-old who has stayed home since graduating high school at 21, shared:

“The tactile pavement near my home is often blocked by shared bikes… For me, mobile games open up a virtual world where, even without leaving the house, I can explore new places, feel the freedom of flying or running in games… Different games allow me tome to take on roles like a doctor, warrior, or chef! Making my time on the phone feel meaningful and engaging.” (P15)

Therefore, mobile games provide a convenient way to relax and transition seamlessly from work to leisure. For most of the participants (N = 17), mobile games offer not only a means to alleviate boredom, but also a sense of purpose.

For many participants, video games create a space where they can feel competent and successful. The structured environment of a game allows them to pursue goals, overcome challenges, and receive immediate feedback, all of which contribute to a strong sense of accomplishment.

P16 had partial vision as a child and experienced many mainstream games that lacked any accessibility features for BLV players in his childhood. After gradually losing his sight at the age of 10, he continued to play different types of games based on his childhood memories and even helped congenitally BLV players enjoy gaming. P16 proudly stated,

”I play mobile games to feel joy and achieve a sense of accomplishment. Sometimes, that comes from social interactions; other times, it’s about the thrill of winning—it feels amazing to win.” (P16)

P10 recounted a memorable experience:

”When playing a strategic game, there was a difficult level with a very low official win rate. I initially couldn’t pass it. After multiple attempts, I put in a lot of thought and calculated the optimal solution, and unexpectedly, I succeeded! The sense of achievement was simply incomparable.” (P10)

For some BLV players, mobile games have helped them release self-doubt and frustration that often build up over time. Engaging in gaming activities allows them to experience moments of success and belonging, which can be hard to find elsewhere. Many (N=14) reported feeling mentally healthier, noting that gaming had a therapeutic effect, offering them a much-needed break from the challenges of reality.

Most BLV individuals in China grow up within the special education system, with limited opportunities to interact with students without disabilities, forming a distinct ecosystem exclusive to the BLV community. P19, a BLV mobile game player with twelve years of experience in China’s special education system and four years at a U.S. university, mentioned that in her class in China, most students were blind or low vision, which meant they seldom relied on visual information and often discussed how sighted individuals might communicate about the same topics. P19 added,

”BLV people tend to be more direct and do not follow common social customs like handshakes or bows… Despite our strong desire to be part of mainstream society, there are few opportunities for us in China.” (P19)

To BLV students, the special education system in China separates them from sighted people, making it difficult for them to interact with sighted peers. To adults, due to employment limitations, most people with disabilities work in environments where their colleagues also have similar disabilities, meaning that BLV individuals often interact primarily with other visually impaired coworkers. For many BLV players, mobile games have become a bridge connecting them to the broader world.

BLV players also aspire to engage with more mainstream games, as a way to obtain information from the external world. More than half of our participants (N=24) reported experiencing significant delays in receiving information. P19 leads an alliance in one of these BLV games and interacts with many BLV players. She explained her observations:

“Sighted people can passively receive information at any time,but we have to actively search for information… So we often discover current trends much later! Back in school, I I loved reading sentences from youth pain literature. It was so popular at the time that social media platforms, driven by algorithms, kept recommending similar content to me. However, through discussions and interactions with others in games, I realized that my favorite style had been outdated for years. ” (P19)

Most social media platforms utilize algorithms to enable personalized content recommendations. However, for BLV individuals, such mechanisms based on limited historical preferences often result in outdated information. In contrast, games, as interactive media, provide BLV users with a fresh perspective on information access. Through real-time interactions within games, BLV players can transcend visual barriers, share information, and discuss topics with global players, capturing the latest trends in their areas of interest. Thus, games not only serve as information exchange platforms for the BLV community but also as effective channels for keeping up with the times and acquiring cutting-edge updates.

The BLV community has a deep desire for social connections, and gaming serves as one of the tools to develop these relationships.

Mobile games help close the social distance between BLV individuals and sighted people by encouraging collaboration to complete tasks, while also providing common topics of conversation. For example, P4 enjoys playing mainstream mobile games like hide-and-seek and parkour with sighted players. These shared gaming experiences lead to conversations about mobile games in daily interactions and foster closer social relationships, enhancing her sense of inclusion in society.

P19 described how she developed a close friendship while forming her alliance, explaining that she met her best friend seven years ago as teammates in a game alliance. They often played together, added each other on social media, and discovered a shared enjoyment in talking about life and hobbies, which led them to stay in touch and eventually become good friends over time.

In addition, gaming has become a breakthrough avenue for developing romantic relationships in the BLV community. Since offline social opportunities are limited, and they often don’t know where to find meaningful connections online, games serve as a platform for making these connections. P18, who works as a media operator, once promoted a BLV game by highlighting how it helped people find romantic partners: ”Many people play this game because they heard that several couples met through it. I even posted some love letters from the game on our media promotion.” P27 also confirmed this through his gaming experience:

“I once experienced a couple hosting a grand traditional Chinese wedding in the game’s main city. The groom rode ahead on horseback, while the bride followed in a sedan chair.” (P27)

This wedding left a lasting impression on the BLV player communities, and someone later shared an update, saying that the BLV couple had gotten together in real life as well.

Our interviewees (N=27) noted that, in China, card games, as the earliest type of BLV games, remain the most common form of gaming for the BLV community. BLV card game designer P1 mentioned that the cost of card game design is relatively low and offers greater flexibility in integrating accessible features.

”Card games, with their simple and clear rules, align with the thought processes of BLV users and are also more strategic, allowing players to strategize and plan. Hence, our company focuses on developing turn-based card games.” (P1)

According to BLV players we interviewed, in the past two years, some of the emerging BLV mobile games have been inspired by mainstream games designed for sighted players. This kind is different from the previously mentioned BLV mobile card games. According to P15, these BLV games are essentially adapted versions of popular mainstream games, retaining similar game mechanics and features while making adjustments for accessibility. They tend to offer high playability and have well-developed social systems, including official communities for sharing strategies.

P15 mentioned a recently popular BLV game that is almost a copy of Genshin Impact, featuring a vast open world, real-time combat, and MMO elements such as world, guild, and team chat channels. This greatly enriched his gaming experience. ”I play almost every day. The game is both accessible and offers a unique kind of fun compared to what I’ve experienced before. Although it took me a while to fully grasp how to play, I feel it was absolutely worth the effort.” However, as P15 pointed out, this kind of emerging BLV mobile games, which are designed to be similar to mainstream games, often have a higher operational threshold due to their extensive features and large scale. These emerging BLV mobile games involve many complex gestures and require extensive exploration. For designers, creating such games is also quite challenging.

For congenital BLV users, opportunities to experience mainstream games designed for sighted players are extremely limited. Many of them are only familiar with BLV-specific games, making them the most loyal audience for these games. As P9 noted, many BLV players he knows have never played other types of games and, therefore, cannot make comparisons. This exclusivity fosters a high level of loyalty and satisfaction toward BLV games.

When playing these BLV games, BLV players primarily seek to integrate into the BLV community. They often discover these games through recommendations from BLV game streamers or mutual suggestions within BLV player groups. Sharing similar gaming experiences helps them connect with more BLV friends.

As P13 noted, ”Since 99% of users in the BLV gaming community are visually impaired, I feel this is a very safe space for conversation. Unlike interacting with sighted individuals, here we can freely joke about our visual impairments without fearing judgment.”

P21 even met his wife while playing a BLV game:

”For a long time, my friends and I felt that our chances of entering marriage were slim… But my story has given many of my game partners hope. Therefore, BLV games tend to favor those who are more confident; perhaps games can help them develop healthy marital relationships.”(P21)

For BLV games, design teams need to invest more effort in music and sound effects compared to games designed for sighted users. P31, who is very sensitive to sound, mentioned that he often does nothing but listen to the sound design in games. He excitedly shared his gaming experience:

”I prefer games feature 3D surround sound, background music for different maps - some areas have cheerful music, while mountain locations have more ethereal and clear music. These sound effects effectively convey information to us as players. For example, in a temple, we hear birds chirping, wind blowing, and chanting, signaling that ’we should find a monk to talk to’!” (P31)

As a BLV game developer, P1 repeatedly emphasized the importance of sound design, many BLV games use heartbeat rates and breathing sounds in combat to express a character’s state, from healthy to lightly injured, to critically injured and near death, reflecting the intensity of the battle. This approach removes the cold, numerical voiceovers and allows players to use their imagination.

However, P7, as a game tester, emphasized that sound design needs to focus on the effectiveness of communication. When there is too much auditory information, the gaming experience can be diminished.

”In combat scenarios, players need to simultaneously monitor critical information such as skill announcements, positions, and health status. When multiple audio channels overlap, this can lead to information overload. Therefore, game design must differentiate between major and minor audio dimensions, prioritize sounds according to their relevance in specific contexts, and ensure seamless integration with other information.” (P7)

Meanwhile, BLV games are beginning to explore more diverse uses of sound. For example, in a game developed by P1, there is a feature called ”Lion’s Roar,” where the volume of the player’s microphone input determines the strength of an attack on NPCs within the game. This two-way interaction with sound fully leverages the strengths of the BLV players.

Additionally, In terms of interface interaction, take selection boxes as an example. In traditional designs, elements such as watch-style scroll wheels use visual cues, highlighting the centered option while dimming surrounding choices, to indicate the linear scrolling direction. However, for BLV players, such visual cues are not intuitive. To optimize this experience, BLV games play specific sound effects when the screen reader focuses on the selection area. These sounds are designed to be both descriptive and directive, essentially saying, ”This is where you need to scroll.” This auditory feedback not only lowers the usability threshold but also helps BLV players easily understand and complete the selection process.

However, BLV games also have some shortcomings for BLV users. As previous research has noted, there is often a conflict between game accessibility and playability (Bolesnikov et al., 2022). More than half of BLV players (N=18) have mentioned that BLV games are not very enjoyable, being overly simple and boring. These games fail to satisfy the original motivations of BLV players for playing mobile games: boredom relief and a sense of achievement. A significant number of participants (N=5) mentioned that the activities in BLV games were too repetitive. ”We often predict what the next event will be in the group, and we always guess it correctly because it’s too simple. Eventually, we all quit playing.” (P11)

P20, who was once an avid BLV player, has now uninstalled all BLV games. Regarding these games, P30 initially had high expectations, but eventually uninstalled all games due to the lack of achievement mechanisms, stating,

”BLV games treat BLV players like idiots, offering extremely simple games. They seem to think that disability equals inability and that we cannot participate in more enjoyable games.” (P30)

P13 tried both mainstream card games and card games designed for BLV groups. The former requires players to choose which card to play and when, while the latter just lets the system automatically play the cards once you enter the game.

”losing the strategic and intellectual elements that card games should have and does not treat us as players on the same level as sighted people.”(P13)

In summary, universal mobile games suitable for BLV players primarily include card games and emerging mobile games influenced by mainstream titles. In these games, BLV players can seek close community connections and experience effective auditory communication. However, the lack of playability fails to satisfy the original gaming motivations of BLV players, and may even lead to ableism. BLV players may feel their abilities are being questioned, and their gaming experience could appear ”inferior” or ”unequal” in social comparison, causing them to lose confidence in gaming and potentially affecting their self-esteem.

BLV players often have high hopes for games designed for sighted players that include accessibility tools. Positioned between the most engaging and the most accessible games, these games with accompanying accessibility tools strike a relatively balanced position. They cater to delayed information reception for BLV players, offering an optimal blend of enhanced gameplay experience and smooth exploration. As P19 remarked, ”BLV players cannot immediately adapt to sighted games without any tools. Games that fall into this middle threshold can mitigate our information delays and gently break down barriers between us and mainstream society.”

Due to the time required to explore these games, even with accessible tools, those who persist are often individuals with a strong gaming background and a deep curiosity about visual games. In other words, the accessibility of these games is not easily achieved; instead, BLV players must exert significant effort, even in the stage of obtaining the necessary tools, long before they can truly begin playing. For example, P5, currently a student with ample free time, enjoys exploring these games on his own at school. Most participants (N=19) expressed a strong desire to use easy-to-use tools to explore mainstream games. P5 shared his heartfelt wish:

“I firmly believe that even with my poor eyesight, if mainstream games were equipped with accessible features, I would be able to figure out how to play them. The most important thing is having the opportunity to try.” (P5)

As a streamer, P24 actively responded to the needs of BLV players, independently exploring coding, developing accessibility tools, designing accessible scripts, and creating video tutorials. He then shares these resources on BLV game forums or video platforms. To spread these evaluation videos to a wider BLV player group, he established a fan group, promoting the vibrancy and mobility of the BLV player community.

”After finding and evaluating relevant accessible tools, I will share review videos of the plugins that I find suitable and useful. I will post them in communities and on social platforms to provide more information for BLV players, hoping that more people will be able to enjoy these games.” (P24)

In these games, accessible tools typically provide a third-person perspective, describing ongoing events or assisting players in completing specific actions. For instance, according to P21, P23, and P32, with the right tools, Hearthstone can capture every piece of information related to the game and competition, converting it into audio form to fill the visual gaps for low-vision players.

Similarly, these games also present certain challenges for BLV players.

First, installing plugins requires a certain level of technical proficiency. Most BLV players must search for tutorials through gaming communities or seek help from knowledgeable BLV players. Since the number of players willing to explore such games is relatively small, those enthusiastic about these games need to integrate into specialized gaming circles, communities with high levels of information and gaming literacy, to better learn how to play the game as a BLV person, exchange tips for clearing levels, or form teams for cooperative play.

P2 and P8 indicated that without such information channels, it is difficult for BLV players to correctly download the accessibility tools. ”Exploring accessibility tools on my own is too costly. Even after spending a lot of time, I might still get stuck in the first step, not knowing where to click or how to operate it,” (P2)”These specialized gaming circles do not have public or official ways to join; membership usually happens somewhat by chance.” (P8)

Meanwhile, the absence of detailed tutorials or fundamental programming knowledge makes the installation of auxiliary plugins challenging. P23 shared, ”The accessibility tool was written in E-language, and my device kept giving error messages. I didn’t know what to do, so I ended up giving up.”

Three participants shared similar experiences to P23. When downloading accessible tools, their devices would often emit error messages or security warnings. Sometimes, the mobile phone would freeze, crash or restart. P30 believes that, like BLV games, many accessibility tools for mainstream games could also be malicious software, increasing the risks they face when playing mainstream games. P22 mentioned that, due to the fear of such risks, he has always had a sense of apprehension towards mainstream games.

Second, some games are not originally designed for the BLV community, and these plugins often function as workarounds rather than official features. They may not be reliable over time. After version updates or system patches, some plugins may become incompatible or be deemed as violations, exposing users to legal risks due to unauthorized software.

As a game tester, P7 is willing to experiment with various accessibility tools to explore this type of game,

”Since many games rely on visual information, these tools directly interpret that information and perform actions on our behalf, tasks that would typically require effort from sighted players… It feels like using ’cheat codes,’ which is why these accessibility tools are often flagged as violations and usually become unusable.”(P7)

Similarly, P4, P6, and P12 pointed out the ”fragility” of these tools: ”They might work one moment and become incompatible the next.” (P4)

Third, there is a risk of deception in the sharing of game installation packages or auxiliary plugins. Given the technical or informational barriers to access, some players exploit this information gap for profit through resource exchange. P27 shared, ”In BLV gaming forums, people often message me privately, asking if I want to pay for accessibility tools to experience more games. It used to be that everyone shared these tools voluntarily, but I’m not sure when or why that changed.” P17 and P25, who have had relevant experience, noted that after making payments, they often receive incorrect toolsets, and sellers typically do not offer any further support.

Games equipped with accessible tools strike a balance between playability and inclusivity. Compared to mainstream games, they offer higher accessibility while maintaining greater playability than many BLV-specific games. However, due to certain barriers in assistive functionalities, BLV players often expend additional effort and labor to participate in these games. This process may involve learning complex assistive features, customizing game settings, or seeking external guidance. These attempts often result in additional costs, both cognitive and emotional, which can undermine their confidence and willingness to engage with games.

BLV players often express curiosity about the gaming experiences of the sighted mainstream society, they often grow bored with games designed specifically for them, criticizing the lack of diversity and challenges. As a result, they turn to mainstream games to seek richer gaming experiences.

P32, who has tried various games, shared:

”The daily task in the BLV game I play is to collect daily rewards and then start auto-battle, which is very boring. Occasionally, I see a streamer playing a mainstream game, coordinating hand movements, positioning, fighting monsters, and leveling up. It feels very immersive and interesting. From now on, I only want to play mainstream games.” (P32)

Additionally, BLV players aim to use mainstream mobile games to strengthen their bonds with family, particularly younger family members. P2 noted that playing popular games allows him to stay updated on the latest trends, making it easier to connect with family and friends, thereby reducing feelings of isolation in a family setting.

Moreover, some BLV players use these games as a means of interacting with sighted individuals. For certain BLV users, the main goal isn’t necessarily gaming itself but rather initiating conversations with sighted players. For instance, P11 frequently initiates social interactions within these games:

”I enjoy striking up conversations with people. I often learn about the latest trends and jokes through it. Without exaggeration, mainstream games have become my bridge to the outside world.”(P11)

As a gaming content creator, P24 regularly uploads videos on video-sharing platforms, showcasing his challenges of playing mainstream mobile games without any accessible tools.

”I have over 7,000 followers, half of whom are BLV. I hope my videos help more people understand that BLV individuals can play games and play them well. At the same time, I want to show how challenging it is for BLV players to take on mainstream mobile games.” (P24)

By sharing his experiences with mainstream mobile games, P24 not only enhances the BLV community’s understanding of these games but also helps reduce the barriers to accessing them, thereby empowering other BLV players. The social interactions and video creation that stem from gaming contribute to increased visibility and recognition of BLV players, fostering better social integration and inclusion.

However, mainstream games without any accessibility tools present significant barriers for BLV players. Most sighted games rely heavily on visual information, with auditory elements limited to music or simple sound effects. P18, a new media content operator, pointed out that the issue lies not in the visual information itself but in incomplete feedback:

”For instance, when you enter a map and suddenly encounter a monster, BLV players might not see it, and without auditory cues, they can’t position themselves properly. They might die unexpectedly without understanding why they failed or what to do next. This creates a terrible gaming experience.” (P18)

Obstacles like these are meant to present fair challenges for all players, but without necessary sound cues for BLV players, they become ”experience barriers.”

BLV players require systems to translate visual information into auditory prompts, such as 1) screen readers for menus and controls, 2) clever sound effects (e.g., rapid heartbeats indicating low health), 3) ambient soundscapes for scene construction (e.g., crows and wind hitting tombstones to portray a gloomy graveyard), and 4) 3D audio for spatial awareness (e.g., changes in breathing or footsteps).

Additionally, some games feature designs that are particularly challenging for low-vision players. In order to enhance the visual and artistic effects, many mainstream games have incorporated frequent flashes on characters, ”Designs like this puts extra strain on my eyes, causing them to feel sore and even worsening my vision.” (P27)

Moreover, when some BLV users attempt to play mainstream games designed specifically for sighted players, the lack of accessibility tools can exacerbate psychological challenges such as autism and social anxiety. P26, who had repeatedly tried such games, expressed her sadness after facing multiple setbacks:

”The convenience of mobile phones often makes me feel that visual impairment is no longer a barrier… However, when trying mainstream games designed for sighted players, the numerous accessibility barriers make me feel like a cyber blind person.” (P26)

Among our participants, four pessimistically stated that the BLV community is destined to remain an overlooked user group in China’s mainstream gaming industry. ”Just thinking about mainstream games now fills me with fear—the fear of not being able to play and the sense of loss that comes with it. If I’m destined to feel disappointed, I’d rather not even start.” (P28)

Psychological barriers caused by the low accessibility levels of mainstream games are not uncommon. Most participants believe that mainstream games are unlikely to accommodate visual impairments. These games often face issues such as incompatibility with screen readers, difficulty in locating buttons, and lack of instructional guidance. During their attempts, participants often encounter the warning ”¡! Tag Undefined !¿”. P3 sadly said that every ”undefined” message feels like a reminder of their blindness and inability to play the game.

For mobile games that completely lack accessibility tools, BLV players have also explored alternative ways to play, often involving enlisting the help of sighted individuals, such as family or friends. By leveraging each other’s strengths, this collaboration can result in a highly effective and enjoyable gaming experience. P10, who enjoys puzzle mobile games, shared, “I have my cousin describe the visuals to me while I act as the strategist, directing him on how to play.” P27 prefers to take a more hands-on approach: “I find a sighted person to inform me about the situation, and then I handle the gameplay myself. It’s quite enjoyable that way.” Both methods essentially involve BLV players working with sighted individuals to bridge the visual gap, receiving real-time information. BLV players then use their superior auditory skills to interpret the information, allowing them to make quicker and more accurate decisions about how to continue playing.

Participants highlighted several expectations for future game design, spanning visual, auditory, tactile features, and mechanics. P12 emphasized integrating screen reader systems with focus navigation during development to improve accessibility and reduce exploration time, encouraging BLV players to engage with games. P19 suggested defaulting games to accessibility mode to address initial setup barriers for BLV players, while allowing sighted users to disable it easily. P20 called for customizable interface options, such as adjustable contrast and font size, to enhance usability and immersion for low-vision players. Similarly, P21 proposed customizable audio feedback systems to improve clarity and guidance through adjustable sound settings. P26 stressed the need for accessible tutorials tailored to BLV players, enabling quicker onboarding and reducing the learning curve. P31 advocated for developers to engage with the BLV community through open communication channels to gather feedback and refine designs. Additionally, P11, P12, and P13 discussed AI companion features, with P13 suggesting AI-generated NPCs for dynamic open-ended interactions, making games more emotionally engaging.

Overall, participants envisioned mainstream mobile games that cater to BLV players’ diverse needs, combining accessibility with inclusivity to foster greater engagement and ease of play.

BLV players’ motivation to engage with mainstream games stems from curiosity about their appeal and a desire to use gaming as a medium for social integration. However, poor accessibility imposes significant barriers, leading to self-doubt and concerns about exclusion. Despite these challenges, participants shared adaptive strategies and expressed optimism for future improvements that could make games more inclusive and empowering.