The roar of a race car slices through the air, cutting across the conversations at a podcast training session designed for the blind and visually impaired. In a quiet corner of the room, Taufik, deeply immersed in his laptop, presses the keys rapidly, his ears fixed on the sounds emanating from the speakers. The sudden crescendo of a racing car draws the attention of the other participants, who had been busy transferring audio files.
This podcast training is part of a Community Service Program organized by Universitas Multimedia Nusantara in collaboration with Yayasan Mitra Netra, an organization dedicated to supporting the blind in Jakarta, Indonesia. The program empowers visually impaired individuals by teaching them podcast production skills, including audio script-writing, voiceovers, sound recording with devices like the Tascam DR-05X, and audio editing. Supported by the Directorate General of Higher Education under Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, this initiative not only equips participants with professional skills but also opens doors to creative opportunities in the media industry.
While Taufik and his fellow trainees learn the ropes of podcast creation, several blind participants have also discovered a new form of entertainment—audio games. As the room hums with activity, one participant turns toward Taufik, eyes wide with curiosity. “Are you racing, Taufik?” he asks.
“Ah… Taufik!” another participant responds, chuckling. “Come on, let’s play.” Taufik, grinning, enthusiastically invites them to join in.
Turning his focus back to the laptop, Taufik leans closer to the screen, ears trained to the sounds of the game. He presses the right arrow key, making his virtual car take a sharp turn. “BRUK!” The crash sound echoes through his headphones. “Ah, crashed!” he exclaims, jolting as though he felt the impact firsthand.
Taufik is playing Top Speed, an audio-based racing game designed specifically for the visually impaired. Unlike traditional games with vibrant graphics, Top Speed is a world built entirely through sound. Every detail, from the roar of the engine to the whoosh of the wind and the crash against barriers, is conveyed through immersive soundscapes.
On Taufik’s screen, there are no visual images—just simple text showing the developer’s name and the game title. The rest of the game world is shrouded in darkness, with only sounds to guide the player. As Taufik plays, the sounds serve as his eyes, helping him navigate the invisible racing track.
The three-dimensional sound design in audio games allows players to “see” through auditory cues. Using stereo headphones, Taufik can gauge his position in the game by listening to the balance of sounds in each ear. When the sound from the right speaker becomes louder, he knows his car is drifting too far right, signaling the need to steer back to the center.
In Top Speed, a narrator adds another layer of guidance. Announcements like “easy right,” “hard left,” or “sharp right” give players the necessary information to navigate turns. Taufik explains, “When it’s a hard right, you really have to turn sharply and brake because the curve is tight. It matches the intensity of the ‘hard’ cue. It’s the same with ‘easy’ turns.”
While Top Speed provides an adrenaline-fueled racing experience, another notable audio game, A Blind Legend, takes players on a different journey. Developed by DOWiNO, this action-adventure game follows the story of a blind knight on a mission to rescue his wife. Without visuals, players must rely on sound to navigate the treacherous world around them.
In A Blind Legend, sound serves not only as directional cues but also as the very fabric of the game’s world. Players hear the rustling wind, the crunch of leaves underfoot, and the approaching footsteps of enemies. Every action and obstacle is communicated through sound, immersing players in the game’s dark and dangerous world.
The game’s emotional depth is reinforced by the voice of the knight’s daughter, who accompanies players on their journey. Her voice warns of threats, guides players through the wilderness, and helps them fight enemies. The bond between father and daughter is conveyed through the sounds of her voice, adding an emotional layer to the experience.
Beyond Top Speed and A Blind Legend, a variety of audio games exists across multiple genres, from sports to fighting games to board games. Some games don’t even require narrators, relying instead on accessible design that works seamlessly with screen readers. Taufik points out that for games like board games, accessibility is key: “It’s not about the narrator’s voice; it’s about how accessible the app is. If it’s not accessible, it’s just confusing to make choices.”
As audio games evolve, so too does the accessibility of mainstream video games. A notable example is The Last of Us Part 2, which includes features tailored for the visually impaired. These include text-to-speech for in-game dialogue and descriptions, a high-contrast mode to distinguish objects, and audio cues to alert players of nearby enemies or items. These innovations ensure that visually impaired players can engage with action-adventure games just as fully as their sighted counterparts.
Despite these advances, gamers with visual impairments still face challenges. One of the biggest hurdles is the limited availability of audio games on mobile phones. “It would be great if there were more audio games for mobile devices,” Taufik says. “We use our phones all the time, so it’s much easier to play games on the go rather than needing to open a laptop.”
Another area for improvement is the quality of narrator voices. Taufik suggests that many audio games still feature robotic or unnatural-sounding narrators, which can hinder the gaming experience. “The voice should be clear, with good intonation, so we can understand the directions easily,” he emphasizes.
For Taufik and other visually impaired gamers, the key to a more enjoyable experience lies in accessibility. As long as a game is fully readable by screen readers, visually impaired players can navigate and play independently. Features like audio cues and well-designed narrators further enhance the experience. With better accessibility features, the gaming world can offer more opportunities for inclusion, allowing visually impaired individuals to experience the full range of entertainment in the digital age.
As the landscape of audio gaming continues to grow, the dream for many is where accessibility built into every game. For Taufik, it means ensuring that no one is left out of the fun, regardless of their visual abilities.
