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Xbox X|SWe've documented 26 accessibility features for Portal 2, including Fully Voiced (Or No Speech), 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 Visual, Audio, Getting Started, Navigation and Communication 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 Portal 2 accessibility 8 months ago. It was re-examined by Ben Kendall and updated 8 months ago.
Accessibility Notes
Text is high in contrast but sometimes less than 1/20th of screen height, and cannot be adjusted.
Contrast is generally lower than in the first game, in part due to the increased environmental detail present.
Navigating through the levels can be hard, and what to do isn't always clear as that's the challenge, but there's no way to provide hints of any sort.
The game relies on colour to distinguish portals, so you need to be able to tell the difference between orange and blue, which is important to note for colourblind players.
Game Details
Release Date: 18/04/2011, updated in 2022
Out Now: Mac, PC, PS3, Switch and Xbox 360
Skill Rating: 8+ year-olds
Players: 1-2 (2 online)
Genres: Action, Adventure, Brain Game, Traversal (Narrative, Platform, Puzzle, Sequencing and Simulation)
Accessibility: 26 features
Components: 3D Third-Person
Developer: Valve Software (@ValveSoftware)
Costs: Purchase cost
Controls
We've documented 14 accessibility features for Controls in Portal 2 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.
Mouse And Keyboard
Can play with the following:
Mouse and Keys: Can play with mouse and multiple keys.
Remap Controls
Can customise the controls for the game as follows:
Select Preset Controller Mappings: You can select preset button layouts from options provided by the developer.
Remap Buttons: Can re-map all buttons so that you can use alternatives that better suit your play.
Swap Sticks: Can swap the sticks over so that you can use the opposite sticks to control the game.
Remap Mouse and Keyboard: Can remap mouse and keyboard key bindings, on systems that support these controls.
Remap Extra Mouse Buttons: Can remap additional buttons on mice that provide more than the two standard buttons, on systems that support these controls.
Invert X/Y Axis: Can invert the direction required to control looking and aiming. This enables you to match your instinctive orientation when looking.
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.
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.
Sensitivity
You can adjust
Adjust Mouse/Stick/Touch Sensitivity: Adjust how sensitive touch/mouse/stick controls are.
Difficulty
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Difficulty in Portal 2 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 Portal 2, and offer accessibility features for Difficulty:
- Moving Out 2 (2 Difficulty Features)
- Schrodinger's Cat Burglar (2 Difficulty Features)
Getting Started
We've documented 1 accessibility feature for Getting Started in Portal 2 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.
Tutorials: There are helpful tutorials and instructions on how to play. Information is provided in a timely manner, with appropriate level of detail.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Getting Started
If you want to play Portal 2, but it doesn't offer the Getting Started accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Getting Started accessibility:
- The Talos Principle 2 (11 Getting Started Features)
- Lego Bricktales (8 Getting Started Features)
- The Last Cube (7 Getting Started Features)
- Patrick's Parabox (7 Getting Started Features)
Reading
We've documented 5 accessibility features for Reading in Portal 2 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.
No Reading: No reading is required, other than simple menus. The game either has no text or can communicate textual content with visuals and interactions. If reading isn't required because the text is voiced the All Dialogue is Voiced feature indicates this.
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.
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 1 accessibility feature for Navigation in Portal 2 which deals 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.
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 Portal 2, but it doesn't offer the Navigation accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Navigation accessibility:
- Ruffy and the Riverside (6 Navigation Features)
- The Talos Principle 2 (5 Navigation Features)
- Luigi's Mansion 3 (4 Navigation Features)
- Luigi's Mansion 2 (4 Navigation Features)
Visual
We've documented 2 accessibility features for Visual in Portal 2 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 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.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Visual
If you want to play Portal 2, but it doesn't offer the Visual accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Visual accessibility:
- Schrodinger's Cat Burglar (9 Visual Features)
- The Last Cube (8 Visual Features)
- Bleep Bloop (6 Visual Features)
- Moving Out 2 (6 Visual Features)
Audio
We've documented 2 accessibility features for Audio in Portal 2 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 Portal 2, but it doesn't offer the Audio accessibility features you require, this similar game extends the Audio accessibility:
- Schrodinger's Cat Burglar (3 Audio Features)
Communication
We've documented 1 accessibility feature for Communication in Portal 2 which deals with how you can communicate with other players in the game and what options are available to customise and control this interaction.
Player-to-Player Online Communication
This is how players communicate with each other in online games. This can be to plan strategy, chat as they play or co-ordinate resources.
Voice Chat: Chat to other players on your team or friends list by speaking with headset.
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Communication
If you want to play Portal 2, but it doesn't offer the Communication accessibility features you require, this similar game extends the Communication accessibility:
- Splitgate Arena Warfare (3 Communication 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
