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Xbox X|SWe've documented 18 accessibility features for The Operator, including No Quick Reactions, No Button Combos, No Repeated Pressing, No Holds and Play Without Hearing. Its accessibility is strongest in Reading and Controls but it also has features in Visual, Getting Started, Audio and Navigation 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 The Operator accessibility 3 weeks ago.
Accessibility Notes
Text is all high in contrast but often extremely small. Dialogue from other members of the FDI is voice-acted, but your responses aren't. All dialogue is captioned.
It isn't always clear what to do next or which program to use, as this is the primary challenge of the game. As the game is played entirely from your computer screen, spatial navigation isn't necessary, but you still need to navigate between programs on the computer and this can at times be confusing.
The game is often low in contrast, and there are flashes at points in videos you watch to gain clues, as well as the opening cutscene. Both the opening and closing cutscenes feature severe depth-of-field effects.
Game Details
Release Date: 22/07/2024
Out Now: Mac and PC
Skill Rating: 10+ year-olds
Players: 1
Genres: Narrative, Puzzle (Brain Game, Communication and Simulation)
Accessibility: 18 features
Components: 2D Side-On
Developer: Bureau 81 Games (@Bureau81_Games)
Costs: Purchase cost
Controls
We've documented 4 accessibility features for Controls in The Operator which deal with how you control the game, different options for alternative inputs and whether you can remap these settings to suit your needs.
Mouse And Keyboard
Can play with the following:
Mouse and Keys: Can play with mouse and multiple keys.
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).
Similar Games With More Accessibility Features for Controls
If you want to play The Operator, but it doesn't offer the Controls accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Controls accessibility:
- The Case of the Golden Idol (5 Controls Features)
- VA-11 Hall-A (5 Controls Features)
- 112 Operator (5 Controls Features)
Difficulty
We haven’t documented any accessibility features for Difficulty in The Operator 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 The Operator, and offer accessibility features for Difficulty:
- 112 Operator (2 Difficulty Features)
Getting Started
We've documented 2 accessibility features for Getting Started in The Operator 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.
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 The Operator, but it doesn't offer the Getting Started accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Getting Started accessibility:
- Crime Or Punishment (3 Getting Started Features)
- The Case of the Golden Idol (3 Getting Started Features)
- VA-11 Hall-A (3 Getting Started Features)
- One Button Travel (3 Getting Started Features)
Reading
We've documented 5 accessibility features for Reading in The Operator 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.
Moderate Reading: Moderate reading required. The quantity and complexity of reading are at a level that a high school student (14-year-old) would appreciate.
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
Some Dialogue is Voice Acted: Some of the game dialogue and narrative is voice acted. This reduces the pressure on reading all the dialogue text, although not everything is provided audibly.
Navigation
We've documented 1 accessibility feature for Navigation in The Operator 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
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.
Visual
We've documented 4 accessibility features for Visual in The Operator 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.
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.
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 The Operator, but it doesn't offer the Visual accessibility features you require, these similar games extend the Visual accessibility:
- One Button Travel (7 Visual Features)
- 112 Operator (6 Visual Features)
- The Case of the Golden Idol (5 Visual Features)
Audio
We've documented 2 accessibility features for Audio in The Operator 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.
System Accessibility Settings
In addition to the accessibility features provided in the game, you can also use system-wide accessibility settings:
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
