You’re a tiny dot, and everything wants to kill you, so try not to die. HyperDot is an action arcade game published by Glitch and developed by Tribe Games. HyperDot is available on Xbox One, PC, Mac, and Linux, but I’m reviewing the PC version. There are over 100 levels to complete, each with psychedelic visuals and relaxing electronic beats. It has a simple design with quite a bit of variety in gameplay. By its nature, HyperDot is meant to test your quick reflexes, but the creator also put a lot effort into making the game accessible for disabled gamers.
Disabled gamers with fine-motor impairments shouldn’t worry about HyperDot because there are many different ways to play and as many accessibility features. For starters, HyperDot can be played and completed with just a mouse. The creators also made sure it would be compatible with a good amount of assistive tech, including the Xbox Adaptive Controller and eye-tracking software. When hovering over a level’s name, there are certain descriptors about the kind of challenge that’s up next. If it says “Collector” then it mostly consists of collecting items, and if it says “Survivalist” the player will mostly be running away from enemies. The levels are split into subgroups, and there are five on each row. Some do require fast movement, but the game does a good job of keeping challenges fun and not frustrating. Plus, there’s always the option to skip an unappealing level. HyperDot doesn’t require that all the levels be completed to progress and doesn’t railroad players into tackling them in a specific order.
There’s an Accessibility tab in the options menu dedicated to those with visual impairments that includes a colorblind mode and a contrast slider. Colorblind players should take note that every time HyperDot starts up, there’s an option to change the color of the dot between six options. Those who might find the background animations distracting also have the option to turn the animation off completely in the Accessibility tab. Gamers with hearing impairments can alter individual sound levels, including music and sound effects. There’s no need for subtitles because there’s absolutely no dialogue in the game. Players can also choose music they want playing in the background.
HyperDot is really impressive not just for being a fun and simple arcade game but also because of all the effort put in to make the game accessible for disabled gamers. It’s compatible with the Xbox Adaptive Controller and has a designated mode for colorblind players. HyperDot is very straightforward, and anything not conveyed through words is communicated through helpful descriptors and icons. I highly recommend this game, and I can’t wait see what the development team comes up with next!
This article has been transferred from DAGERSystem (now AbilityPoints). Scores, formatting, and writing style may differ from original CIPT content.
