Summary
Gaming is often a way for us to escape - we turn to video games to get away from real life and go on adventures or try something new. However, many of us also want to see ourselves in our video games.
For disabled gamers, it can be hard to find representation in the gaming world. Although there are a few iconic side characters (Joker, I’m looking at you) and some memorable NPCs, disabled main characters are few and far between. Here are a few of the best we’ve found.
9Yaga
Inspired by Slavic folklore,Yagafollows lovable, hapless Ivan, a blacksmith who lost his hand in an accident before the start of the game. The tzar chooses him to complete tasks, and must accomplish them while being attacked by monsters and berated by his grandmother (all she wants is for him to find a wife).
Every choice you make in this game increases one of your character’s personality traits, so there are endless ways to play the game. As you explore the woods to find the mysterious Baba Yaga, you learn how Ivan manages blacksmithing and fighting with a single hand.
8Celeste
Madeleine is the hero ofCeleste(although you can rename her at the beginning of the game if you wish). In this beautiful, maddening platformer, You learn more and more about her mind as she works her way to the top of Mount Celeste.
One of the key themes of Celeste is mental health. Without spoilers, we can say that Madeleine’s mental health problems hinder her along the way, but eventually becomes one of the reasons she is able to succeed in her mission.
7Overwatch
Overwatchis the type of game where you can choose which character to play, so not every character has the same abilities (or disabilities). However, this live, team-based first person shooter game features several diverse characters, including the international criminal and physically disabled Junkrat.
Junkrat has a prosthetic leg, but it doesn’t stop him (or the players controlling him) from being an excellent choice as a damage character. He’s a popular playable character for teams that need a demolitionist, and a great addition to a diverse team.
6Pulse
Although there have been several games with blind protagonists, many are horror games and focus on the disability of being blind with monsters around. Pulse takes a different spin: Eva, the main character, uses sound to find her way around confidently.
Pulse is a small indie game and has a relatively short runtime. It is relaxing and has stunning visuals. Most of all, you will fall in love with little Eva and how beautifully she perceives the world around her.
5Owlboy
Otus, the protagonist of Owlboy, is a young nonverbal boy who struggles with life as an owl. He must overcome enemies, help friends, and save his family from sky pirates while discovering the secrets of his world in the sky.
Owlboy is a newer platformer game, so it’s a good start if you get frustrated with harder games (we’re looking at you, Celeste). It combines classic platform gaming with flying and metroidvania elements, and is a delightful story.
4Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Senua from Hellblade suffers from psychosis. This dark fantasy game is based on Norse mythology and features creatures and gods from Northern European folklore. You play as Senua, a young woman who hears voices and must deal with the aftereffects of her mental health while trying to accomplish her goals.
Hellblade deals with some serious mental health issues, and the developers includemental health resourcesas part of the game’s information and website. Senua’s struggles are portrayed with compassion and honesty and add a level of depth to the game (which is already excellent).
3Deus Ex: Human Revolution And Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
TheDeux Exseries of games revolve around a series of protagonists, but Human Revolution and Mankind Divided focus on Adam Jensen. Jensen is a security guard severely injured in an attack, who is later implanted with cybertechnology to save his life.
Throughout the series, Jensen has to adjust to his new augmented body and how it affects his daily life as he fights the Illuminati and attempts to discover who attacked him in the first place.
2Beyond Eyes
Beyond Eyes focuses on a young girl, Rae, who has just lost her vision in an accident. The highlight of this game is the visuals - at first, the entire screen is white, but things blossom into color as Rae touches them or hears them.
The lightness and colors of Beyond Eyes is lovely, and the game is marketed as “a modern fairy tale.” Throughout the story, you learn more about Rae’s friends and family and what it is like adjusting to sudden blindness. This indie game is stunning and definitely worth a download.
1Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
PTSD and phantom pain are often experienced by soldiers coming back from war. InMetal Gear SolidV, several underlying themes focus on te aftermath of battle and how it affects those who survive. PTSD is also accompanied by physical disabilities in this particular game.
Venom Snake, the playable character, has shrapnel in his brain and lost his arm in an explosion. He also has the iconic eye patch ofBig Boss(the lore there is wild - you’ll have to play the games to find out). Venom Snake has a prosthetic arm and is able to switch weapons without problems, but the mental toll of his injuries becomes evident throughout the game.
