Get Started...
Android
iOS
Mac
Switch
Switch 2
PC
PS4
PS5
Xbox One
Xbox X|SBlade Chimera is a running, jumping and fighting game where you battle alongside a demonic sword to search for the truth about your past. Play involves finding creative ways to combine the basic moves of each weapon so they combine for maximum impact. It stands out for this surprisingly open-ended combat sandbox, and the way your sword also helps you get around by manipulating time.
We've documented 24 accessibility features for Blade Chimera, including Low Pressure, No Button Combos, No Repeated Pressing, No Holds and Remap Buttons. Its accessibility is strongest in Controls and Reading but it also has features in Navigation, Visual, Getting Started and Audio to reduce unintended barriers.
This report is created from our extensive research, input from other accessibility experts and the player community, and information provided by the developer on the game's store pages.
Our accessibility examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Blade Chimera accessibility 12 weeks ago. It was re-examined by Thom Robertson and updated 7 weeks ago.
Accessibility Notes
The game automatically saves, although it is still possible to lose some progress when you quit.
Text is high in contrast but much less than 1/20th of screen height on some UI elements, which are very small and cannot be resized. Dialogue boxes are larger, but the text here is still slightly less than 1/20th of screen height.
The game is always clear on your main objective, and a minimap on the screen during play clearly points towards the objective, but sometimes knowing the exact way to navigate to the objective can be challenging to discern, due to this being one of the challenges of the game. Additionally, navigating to secret areas is often quite tricky. In addition to the small minimap UI element, which shows your immediate surroundings, a full map is also available in the menu, which shows the entire playable area.
The game is often quite low in contrast, and there are flashing effects as well as some busy backgrounds and screen shake effects.
Game Details
Release Date: 16/01/2025
Out Now: PC and Switch
Skill Rating: 9+ year-olds
Players: 1
Genres: Fighting, Platform (Deduction, Narrative, Shooting and Traversal)
Accessibility: 24 features
Components: 2D Side-On, Open World and Pixels
Developer: Ladybug Happy 6 (@Ladybug_Happy6)
Costs: Purchase cost
Controls
We've documented 8 accessibility features for Controls in Blade Chimera which deal with how you control the game, different options for alternative inputs and whether you can remap these settings to suit your needs.
Gamepad
Can play with the following:
Multiple Buttons & Single Stick: Can play with multiple buttons and a stick.
Mouse And Keyboard
Can play with the following:
Keyboard Alone: Can play with just the keyboard.
Remap Controls
Can customise the controls for the game as follows:
Remap Buttons: Can re-map all buttons so that you can use alternatives that better suit your play.
Remap Mouse and Keyboard: Can remap mouse and keyboard key bindings, on systems that support these controls.
Button Combinations
Specific button operation required to play
Holding Down Buttons Optional: Holding down buttons for prolonged periods (a second or more) is not required or can be switched to toggling the action on and off. This is in addition to the movement stick/button which is not considered a hold for this purpose.
Rapid Repeated Pressing Optional: Quick, repeated button pressing (more than 2 times a second) is not required, can be skipped or switched to holding a button to trigger a repeated action.
No Simultaneous Buttons: Only one button or key required at a time, in addition to direction stick(s).
Controller Vibration
Vibration Optional: Controller vibration not used in the game or you can disable it.
Difficulty
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Difficulty in Blade Chimera which deal with how you can adjust the challenge of play, and whether this is locked once chosen or can be adjusted as you play. The following games are similar to Blade Chimera, and offer accessibility features for Difficulty:
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (3 Difficulty Features)
- Astlibra Revision (2 Difficulty Features)
- Ender Magnolia: Bloom In The Mist (2 Difficulty Features)
- Mr Sun's Hatbox (2 Difficulty Features)
Getting Started
We've documented 2 accessibility features for Getting Started in Blade Chimera which deal with what support is offered to get started with the game. This includes customising the experience when you first open the game via any onboarding processes it provides as well as tutorials and other assistance when you first start playing.
Assistance Getting Starting
These features aid your play of the game in terms of cognitive load on learning controls, dealing with pressure and coping with the environment and challenges.
Tutorials: There are helpful tutorials and instructions on how to play. Information is provided in a timely manner, with appropriate level of detail.
Low Pressure: Game tasks aren't time-limited or there's a low-pressure mode. This avoids the pressure of being put on the clock for overarching missions, or failing tasks because you didn't reach a destination in time.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Getting Started
If you want to play Blade Chimera, but it doesn't offer the Getting Started accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Getting Started accessibility:
- Mr Sun's Hatbox (6 Getting Started Features)
- Ender Magnolia: Bloom In The Mist (4 Getting Started Features)
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (4 Getting Started Features)
- Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (4 Getting Started Features)
Reading
We've documented 4 accessibility features for Reading in Blade Chimera which deal with how much reading or listening comprehension is required, how well the game provides visual and audible access to the text and whether subtitles and captions are a good fit for purpose.
Reading Level
How much reading is required to play the game's main path or story and how complex the language is. The presence of voiced characters doesn't reduce this requirement, as it's recorded as a separate datapoint.
Simple Minimal Reading: Minimal reading is required. The quantity and complexity of reading are at a level that a primary/elementary student (9-year-old) could understand.
Text Visibility
High Contrast Text: Text colour contrasts to the background or can be adjusted to be. The text in menus, instructions and other information is presented in high contrast with a solid background.
Subtitles
All Speech Subtitled (Or No Speech In Game): All spoken content has subtitles, or there is no speech in the game. This means there is no requirement to hear spoken dialogue or narrative to play the game.
Captions
Speaker Indicator: Textual captions indicate who is speaking (or there is only ever one person speaking). This can also be indicated visually in the game with character icons or placing text in speech bubbles next to the person speaking.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Reading
If you want to play Blade Chimera, but it doesn't offer the Reading accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Reading accessibility:
- Metroid Dread (6 Reading Features)
- Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights (5 Reading Features)
- Hollow Knight (5 Reading Features)
Navigation
We've documented 4 accessibility features for Navigation in Blade Chimera which deal with how the game provides guidance and assistance to navigate its worlds. These are only for games that have traversal and exploration in 2D and 3D spaces.
Clarity
Clear Mission Objectives: The game provides clear, structured missions with directional guidance and advice on which can be attempted next. This also indicates (ideally on maps where they are provided) which missions can't be attempted because you do not have the appropriate items yet.
Head-Up Display
Head-Up Display Navigation: Indication of where to go next with overlaid arrows, minimaps and waypoint markers. This supplements in-game visual and audible cues with additional guidance about where you are and where you need to go.
Game Map: View a map of the game world during play, with the landscape, points of interest and missions highlighted throughout the entire game. This enables the orientation of the player and the world, confirming a direction of movement and the location of destinations or points of exploration.
Menu Navigation
Digital Menu Navigation: Menu choices with Gamepad can be made without using an analogue stick to guide a cursor to a selection. For example, using D-Pad, buttons or the Stick to change menu selection in a single action.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Navigation
If you want to play Blade Chimera, but it doesn't offer the Navigation accessibility features you require, this similar game extends the Navigation accessibility:
- Laika: Aged Through Blood (5 Navigation Features)
Visual
We've documented 4 accessibility features for Visual in Blade Chimera which deal with how you can adjust the visuals to suit your needs, and offer additional information if you can't hear the game.
Visual Distractions
No Screen Shake: No screen shake effect or it is included but it can be disabled. This includes the absence of screen shake for dramatic effect as well as to indicate hits on a target.
Audio Cues for Visual Events
Audio Cues for Visual Events: Audio is provided to indicate visual events. Game events or progress highlighted by visual icons, effects or animations are also accompanied by audio to signify that progress. This is useful for blind players.
Motion Sickness Friendly
Motion Sickness Friendly: Doesn't have 3D movement elements that may trigger motion sickness, like motion blur, depth of field and field-of-vision. Or includes the ability to disable motion blur, depth of field and field-of-vision effects.
Colour Options
Colour Blind Friendly: Game doesn’t rely on colour or can switch to colour blind friendly mode with double coding or similar way to avoid colour dependance.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Visual
If you want to play Blade Chimera, but it doesn't offer the Visual accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Visual accessibility:
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (7 Visual Features)
- Mr Sun's Hatbox (5 Visual Features)
Audio
We've documented 2 accessibility features for Audio in Blade Chimera which deal with how you can adjust the audio of the game and whether audio cues compensate for aspects of the game that are hard to see.
Adjustable Audio
Balance Audio Levels: Set music and game sound effects separately. This enables you to select your preference as well as ensure critical game sounds aren't obscured by other audio.
Play Without Hearing
Play Without Hearing: No audio cues are necessary to play the game well.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Audio
If you want to play Blade Chimera, but it doesn't offer the Audio accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Audio accessibility:
- Dead Cells (3 Audio Features)
- Children of Morta (3 Audio Features)
System Accessibility Settings
In addition to the accessibility features provided in the game, you can also use system-wide accessibility settings:
Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Switch has some built-in features, including a lockable zoom, that can be used on all games.
PC
Windows has extensive accessibility features. Some, like colour correction, work with games. Lots of accessibility software can be used with PC games, from voice recognition to input device emulators.
Read more about system accessibility settings.
Accessibility Report supported by VSC Rating Board, PlayabilityInitiative and accessibility contributors Ben Kendall and Thom Robertson
