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Xbox X|SWe've documented 19 accessibility features for Pokémon TCG Pocket, including Fully Voiced (Or No Speech), No Quick Reactions, No Button Combos, No Repeated Pressing and No Holds. Its accessibility is strongest in Controls and Visual but it also has features in Reading, Navigation, Audio and Getting Started 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, Ben Kendall, first checked Pokémon TCG Pocket accessibility 5 weeks ago.
Accessibility Notes
Text is all high in contrast but extremely small and therefore can be difficult to read. There is no dialogue in the game.
Game Details
Release Date: 30/11/2024
Out Now: Android and iOS
Skill Rating: 7+ year-olds
Players: 1 (2 online)
Genres: Battle, Collecting (Simulation and Strategy)
Accessibility: 19 features
Components: 2D Overhead and Cards
Developer: Nintendo America (@NintendoAmerica)
Costs: Free. In-Game Loot Boxes
Controls
We've documented 5 accessibility features for Controls in Pokémon TCG Pocket which deal with how you control the game, different options for alternative inputs and whether you can remap these settings to suit your needs.
Touchscreen
Can play with the following. Additional gestures may be required for games played with a screenreader like VoiceOver.
One Motion Targeted: Can play with touchscreen, tap and swipe or hold gesture.
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
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 Pokémon TCG Pocket, but it doesn't offer the Controls accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Controls accessibility:
- Shogun Showdown (15 Controls Features)
- Slay the Spire (9 Controls Features)
- Monster Train (8 Controls Features)
- Pokemon Go! (8 Controls Features)
Difficulty
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Difficulty in Pokémon TCG Pocket 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 Pokémon TCG Pocket, and offer accessibility features for Difficulty:
- Isle of Swaps (1 Difficulty Feature)
- StarVaders (1 Difficulty Feature)
- Monster Train (1 Difficulty Feature)
- Slay the Spire (1 Difficulty Feature)
Getting Started
We've documented 1 accessibility feature for Getting Started in Pokémon TCG Pocket which deals 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.
Reaction-Time Not Critical: Individual game actions don’t need quick reactions, or there are settings to lower the requirement for quick reactions. This means you don't need to quickly press a button in response to an on-screen prompt, target a fast-moving target or skillfully complete a scenario against the clock.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Getting Started
If you want to play Pokémon TCG Pocket, but it doesn't offer the Getting Started accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Getting Started accessibility:
- Shogun Showdown (6 Getting Started Features)
- Monster Train (6 Getting Started Features)
- Slay the Spire (6 Getting Started Features)
- Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet (5 Getting Started Features)
Reading
We've documented 4 accessibility features for Reading in Pokémon TCG Pocket 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.
Voice Acted
All Dialogue is Voice Acted (Or No Speech In Game): All of the game dialogue and narrative can be voiced, or there is no speech in the game. This means there is no requirement to read the dialogue and narrative text to play the game.
Navigation
We've documented 2 accessibility features for Navigation in Pokémon TCG Pocket 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.
Menu Navigation
Menus Don't Wrap: Menus don't wrap and stop the cursor at the bottom of the list if you press down. Or menus do wrap but make it clear that you are back at the top of the list with sound or narration.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Navigation
If you want to play Pokémon TCG Pocket, but it doesn't offer the Navigation accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Navigation accessibility:
- Monster Train (7 Navigation Features)
- Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet (6 Navigation Features)
- Slay the Spire (6 Navigation Features)
- StarVaders (3 Navigation Features)
Visual
We've documented 5 accessibility features for Visual in Pokémon TCG Pocket which deal with how you can adjust the visuals to suit your needs, and offer additional information if you can't hear the game.
Contrast
Medium Contrast: Game uses generally well contrasting and bright visuals, or has a slider to make this the case.
Visual Distractions
No Busy Backgrounds: No distracting backgrounds or you can make them static or blank. This includes the absence of other movement elements in the background that might distract or confuse the action. Where foreground contrast is high, this includes games with some movement in the background that doesn't make it overly difficult to distinguish what is happening.
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 Pokémon TCG Pocket, but it doesn't offer the Visual accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Visual accessibility:
- Slay the Spire (9 Visual Features)
- Shogun Showdown (8 Visual Features)
- Monster Train (7 Visual Features)
- Isle of Swaps (6 Visual Features)
Audio
We've documented 2 accessibility features for Audio in Pokémon TCG Pocket 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.
Communication
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Communication in Pokémon TCG Pocket which deal with how you can communicate with other players in the game and what options are available to customise and control this interaction. The following games are similar to Pokémon TCG Pocket, and offer accessibility features for Communication:
- Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet (1 Communication Feature)
- Hearthstone: Battlegrounds (1 Communication Feature)
- Legends of Runeterra (1 Communication Feature)
System Accessibility Settings
In addition to the accessibility features provided in the game, you can also use system-wide accessibility settings:
Android
Android has accessibility settings including ways to navigate and interact, although not all games support this.
iOS
iOS has a very extensive suite of accessibility settings including ways to navigate with voice and comprehensive screen reading, though most of the features don't work with games.
Read more about system accessibility settings.
Accessibility Report supported by VSC Rating Board, PlayabilityInitiative and accessibility contributors Ben Kendall
