We've documented 8 accessibility features for Kuro: A Shadow's Dream, including No Button Combos, Fully Subtitled (Or No Speech), Minimal Reading, Informative Vibration and Vibration Optional. Its accessibility is strongest in Controls and Reading but it also has features in Visual and Audio to reduce unintended barriers.
This report is created with input from accessibility experts and the player community to help people find games that have the accessibility features they require. Once you have found potential games on the database, there are excellent specialist accessibility sites that offer in-depth reviews to guide your purchasing decisions.
Our accessibility examiner, Andrea Walney, first checked Kuro: A Shadow's Dream (Dreams) accessibility 2 years ago.
Accessibility Notes
Game Details
Release Date: 20/02/2020, updated in 2021
Price: Free
Out Now: PS4 and PS5
Skill Rating: 7+ year-olds
Players: 1
Genres: Action, Platform (Adventure, Puzzle and Traversal)
Accessibility: 8 features
Components: 2D Side-On
Developer: A Bawnanable (@ABawnanable)
Costs: Free
Controls
We've documented 4 accessibility features for Controls in Kuro: A Shadow's Dream 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 & Two Sticks: Can play with multiple buttons and two sticks.
Button Combinations
Specific button operation required to play
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.
Informative Vibration: Controller vibration indicates events or interactions in the game, echoing visual and audio cues. This can provide additional information about progress, approaching enemies or hitting a target.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Controls
If you want to play Kuro: A Shadow's Dream, but it doesn't offer the Controls accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Controls accessibility:
- A Juggler's Tale (12 Controls Features)
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps (9 Controls Features)
- Hollow Knight (5 Controls Features)
Difficulty
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Difficulty in Kuro: A Shadow's Dream 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 Kuro: A Shadow's Dream, and offer accessibility features for Difficulty:
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps (1 Difficulty Feature)
Getting Started
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Getting Started in Kuro: A Shadow's Dream 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. The following games are similar to Kuro: A Shadow's Dream, and offer accessibility features for Getting Started:
- A Juggler's Tale (6 Getting Started Features)
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps (4 Getting Started Features)
- Never Alone (3 Getting Started Features)
- Hollow Knight (3 Getting Started Features)
Reading
We've documented 2 accessibility features for Reading in Kuro: A Shadow's Dream 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.
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.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Reading
If you want to play Kuro: A Shadow's Dream, but it doesn't offer the Reading accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Reading accessibility:
- A Juggler's Tale (5 Reading Features)
- Hollow Knight (5 Reading Features)
- Inmost (4 Reading Features)
- Hue (4 Reading Features)
Navigation
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Navigation in Kuro: A Shadow's Dream 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. The following games are similar to Kuro: A Shadow's Dream, and offer accessibility features for Navigation:
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps (3 Navigation Features)
- A Juggler's Tale (2 Navigation Features)
- Inmost (1 Navigation Feature)
- Dodo Peak (1 Navigation Feature)
Visual
We've documented 1 accessibility feature for Visual in Kuro: A Shadow's Dream which deals 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.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Visual
If you want to play Kuro: A Shadow's Dream, but it doesn't offer the Visual accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Visual accessibility:
- Hue (3 Visual Features)
- Hollow Knight (3 Visual Features)
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps (3 Visual Features)
- Dodo Peak (2 Visual Features)
Audio
We've documented 1 accessibility feature for Audio in Kuro: A Shadow's Dream which deals 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.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Audio
If you want to play Kuro: A Shadow's Dream, but it doesn't offer the Audio accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Audio accessibility:
- A Juggler's Tale (2 Audio Features)
- Hollow Knight (2 Audio Features)
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps (2 Audio Features)
System Accessibility Settings
In addition to the accessibility features provided in the game, you can also use system-wide accessibility settings:
PlayStation 4
PlayStation 4 has a range of accessibility settings. Some are system only, some work in games (invert colours and button mapping).
PlayStation 5
PlayStation 5 has a range of system-wide accessibility settings.
Read more about system accessibility settings.
Accessibility Report supported by VSC Rating Board, PlayabilityInitiative and accessibility contributors Andrea Walney