Towards Attainable Game Experiences

The expanding global engagement in gaming across a wide range of demographics highlights that video games transcend their traditional perception as mere entertainment for children and adolescents. They fulfil diverse roles for various societal groups. Creating universally designed games goes beyond simply featuring a diverse array of characters. These games are intrinsically designed to be accessible to all players, integrating inclusive mechanics, options, and user experiences from their inception. Researchers describe universally designed artefacts as proactively embracing and welcoming participants from diverse backgrounds. A profound and genuine connection between players and a video game markedly boosts engagement with the game’s content. Conversely, obstacles such as physical inaccessibility or the absence of relatable characters can create a sense of exclusion and prevent players from accessing meaningful learning and collaborative experiences. This article explores the concept of Universal Design in video games by introducing the AGE (Attainable Game Experience) framework. It outlines four comprehensive heuristics aimed at maximizing the impact of games by ensuring they are accessible, empowering and representative of all players.