Adaptive Adventures: Accessible Boardgaming

Rachel Godwin

As board games have experienced a renaissance in recent years, their potential entertainment and recreation platforms while forming social connections have become increasingly evident. However, challenges persist in making these experiences accessible and engaging for players, particularly those with ADHD and visibility impairments. These challenges often stem from communication barriers, overwhelming gaming components, inadequate iconography, and poorly designed rulebooks.  

  

My project, “Adaptive Adventures: Accessible Boardgaming” seeks to systematically redesign and solve faulty gaming mechanics and aesthetics to improve the inclusivity and usability of the card game “Boss Monster”. This is achieved by leveraging visual cues such as colors, textures, and in-game resources, as well as converting the format to a board game. Addressing these issues requires a focus on ludological (study of game structure, narrative, mechanics) considerations, emphasizing the mechanics, and design elements that influence player interaction and enjoyment. 

  

Central to this effort are human-centered design principles and accessibility techniques. My resulting game seeks to embrace diverse participants while providing engaging, competitive, and enjoyable gameplay without sacrificing complexity or depth. 

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