Children's Software Prize 2025
Inclusion at TOMMI
TOMMI inclusive - a work in progress
All children, regardless of disability or ability, have a fundamental right to play and social participation. In order to meet this requirement, the TOMMI also includes tests with inclusive groups. Children with and without disabilities test the PC and console games nominated for the TOMMI together in libraries. They work out how good these games are in terms of accessibility in the areas of vision, hearing, comprehension and control. Only some of the TOMMI libraries are still taking part, but this is also a longer process in order to establish the "TOMMI inclusive" in the long term.
Interested special schools and groups are welcome to contact the participating TOMMI libraries. Click here to go to the libraries.
Cooperation with Gaming without Borders (GOG)
The test phase was overseen by the Gaming without Borders initiative in three inclusive game test groups in the greater Cologne area. This project brings together children and young people with and without disabilities to test games for accessibility. The findings from these tests provide parents and professionals with reliable guidance and well-founded recommendations for the inclusive use of games. "Gaming without Borders" is a multi-award-winning project of the Fachstelle für Jugendmedienkultur NRW. It is highly committed to the participation of people with disabilities in digital games. Further information can be found at www.gaming-ohne-grenzen.de.
Which games are how far along in terms of inclusion?
Ten PC games nominated for TOMMI 2025 were tested. A lot has been done in the gaming industry in terms of accessibility, but there are still very few games that perform well in three or four categories (vision, hearing, comprehension, physical impairment). With these tests, we want to encourage the gaming industry to give greater consideration to accessibility right from the design phase.
We would like to express our sincere thanks to Saskia Moes, Sven Radtke, and Daniel Heinz.
The PC games tested in 2025
Oddada (Sven Ahlgrimm, Mathilde Hoffmann, Bastian Clausdorff)
)
Listen
That's what makes the game so good:
- Settings for music, sound, background noise, and sound effects
Note: This is a music game. For this reason,
the auditory level is important for the gaming experience.
Understand
What makes this game so good:
- Game can be paused at any time
No time-critical controls
We would like to see:
- Game explanation
- Interactive tutorial
- Information about objects that can be used
View
What makes the game good:
-High contrast
-Few and only important game elements
We would like to see:
- Enlargement in the menu
- Mode for color blindness
- More customization options
Taxes
The game already does this well:
- No complicated key combinations
- Alternative controls to use only one joystick
We would like to see:
- Alternative control options
Pumuckl and the Crown
of the Pirate King (Quantumfrog)
Listen
That makes the game good:
- All important elements are displayed visually.
We would like to see:
- Sound settings, e.g. for sound effects and music
Understand
What makes the game good:
- Automatic saving
- Control display
We would like to see:
- Read-aloud function
- Tutorial
- Orientation aids
- Puzzle aids
- Customizable difficulty
View
What makes the game good:
- Large font
- Some game elements are visually highlighted
We would like to see:
- Audio narration of the texts
- High-contrast texts
- Orientation aids
- Highlighting of all important game elements
- Settings for brightness and contrast
Taxes
What makes the game good:
- No complex controls
- Few different buttons need to be used
We would like to see:
- Customizable controls
- Skipping time-sensitive control elements
- Automatic camera movement
The Guardian of Nature (Inlusio Interactive)
Listen
What makes the game good:
- Subtitles
- Sound settings for audio, music, and sound effects
We would like to see:
- Subtitle settings
- Sound settings for speech
Understand
What makes the game good:
- Can be paused at any time
- Clear menu
- Key functions are displayed on the screen
- Locations where items can be used are highlighted
- Soundtrack in the intro
We would like to see:
- Puzzle hints
- German voiceover in the intro
- Text-to-speech
- Automatic saving
- Control aids
View
What makes the game good:
- Visual cues for interaction options
- No rapid image changes
We would like to see:
- Settings for brightness and contrast
- Mode for color blindness
- Text-to-speech
- Settings for text and subtitles
Taxes
What makes the game good:
- Control via mouse, keyboard, or controller
- Few different keys need to be used
- Keys do not need to be held down
We would like to see:
- Settings options for the controller
STAR BIRDS (Toukana Interactive)
Listen
What makes the game good:
- Subtitles
- Sound settings for audio, music, sound effects, cutscene volume, and background noise
What we would like to see:
Settings for subtitles
Understand
That makes the game good:
- Display duration of speech bubbles can be extended
- Easy-to-read font can be set
- Interactive tutorial
- Current task can be called up at any time
- All items in the inventory are described
- Tips and hints via text if you are in the wrong place
- Unimportant dialogs can be skipped
- Screen texts can be clicked on at your own speed
We would like to see:
- setting the texts to music
- orientation aids
View
What makes the game good:
-High contrast in speech bubbles
- Zoom function
We would like to see:
- Quest text windows that are not only transparent but also customizable
- A more clearly structured game world
Taxes
What makes the game good:
- Customizable controls
- Mouse-only controls
- Text prompts to help with controls
- No time-sensitive controls
We would like:
- Controllable with controller
- Can be switched off by holding down buttons
Pioneers of Pagonia (Envision Entertainment)
Listen
The game can also be played without sound.
What makes the game good:
- Important elements are displayed visually
Understand
The game was understandable for all players during testing.
What makes the game good:
- Automatic saving
- Interactive tutorial that can be repeated at any time
- Individually adjustable difficulty level (only when creating new maps)
- Important words are highlighted in the text and sometimes accompanied by images
- Tutorial videos with written explanations of the individual steps
- There are tooltips for almost all objects and buttons
- Text progress at your own speed
View
What makes the game good:
- Text enlargement (UI scaling)
- Modes for color blindness
- Customizable camera settings
- Text speed
- Text-to-speech
We would like to see:
-More references at the auditory level
Taxes
What makes the game good:
- Can be controlled with the mouse only. Keyboard can be used for assistance.
- Many controls for navigation: invert mouse, zoom speed, scroll speed, and many more.
- Customizable controls.
We would like to see:
- Controllable with a controller
- Less complicated key combinations
Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders (Megagon Industries)
Listen
The game can also be played without sound.
This is what makes the game so good:
- Sound settings for players, environment, and UI
Understand
What makes the game good:
- Training mode as an interactive tutorial that can be repeated at any time
- Game and control instructions in the menu
- Adjustable automation for acceleration and braking
- Description of the setting options in the menu
We would like to see:
- navigation aids along the route
View
What makes the game good:
mode for red-green color blindness
- Screen shake can be reduced or turned off
We would like to see:
- High contrast and mode for color blindness can be used simultaneously
- Important elements, such as the route or obstacles, are highlighted visually
Taxes
What makes the game good:
- Customizable controls
- Vibration intensity can be reduced or turned off
- Control options: keyboard only or keyboard and mouse
- Automation for acceleration and braking can be adjusted
- Lock function for buttons that are held down
We would like to see:
- Fixing the camera behind the person
Shoe it All! (Amberbite)
Listen
What makes the game good:
- The game can also be played without sound
- Settings for sound, music, and sound effects
Understand
What makes the game good:
- Interactive tutorial
- Can be paused at any time
- Helpful finish line can be turned on and off
We would like:
- Puzzle help
View
The game already does this well:
- High-contrast font
- Dialogs are spoken in English
We would like to see:
- The entire text set to music in German
- Support for low-contrast passages
- More non-visual hints
Taxes
What makes the game good:
- Few different buttons need to be used
- Can only be played with a keyboard or controller
- Vibration can be turned off
We wish:
- Customizable controls
Projected Dreams (Flawberry Studio)
Listen
|
What makes the game good:
|
Understand
What makes the game good:
- The story is told only with pictures
- Control instructions with explanatory videos
- Puzzle help
- Hints as text, but with explanatory videos
- Can be paused at any time
We would like:
- Setting the texts to music
View
|
That's what makes the game so good: We would like to see: |
Taxes
What makes the game good:
- Controls can only be adjusted with the mouse
- Vibration can be turned off
We would like to see:
- Hold down buttons to turn off
Henry Halfhead (Lululu Entertainment)
Listen
What makes the game good:
- The game can also be played without sound.
- Settings for sound, effects, music, and background noise in the game itself
- High-contrast subtitles in German
Understand
|
What makes the game good: We would like to see: |
View
|
What makes the game good: We would like to see:
|
Taxes
What makes the game good:
- Control via mouse and keyboard or controller
- No time pressure
- Automatic camera centering
- Adjustable camera speed
We would like to see:
- Customizable controls
- Option to disable long presses
- Option to disable multiple presses
The PC games tested in 2024
DISNEY EPIC MICKEY: REBRUSHED (THQ NORDIC)
Listen
The game already does this well:
- The game can also be played without an audio layer.
- Sound settings for overall, music, effects and film sequences
- Subtitles
- Important elements are displayed visually
Understand
|
The game already does this well: We wish: |
View
|
The game already does this well: We would like to see: |
Taxes
The game already does this well:
- Customizable key mapping
We wish:
- Automations for pressed and held keys
- Less complicated key combinations
- Supporting setting for time-critical control
- Automation for quick key presses
SNAP. THE MELODY OF THE MUMIN VALLEY (RAW FURY)
Listen
That already makes the game good:
- It is also playable without an auditory layer
- Sound settings for music, sound effects, environment, voices, UI, instruments
Understand
That makes the game good:
- Display duration of speech bubbles can be extended
- Easy-to-read font can be set
- Interactive tutorial
- Current task can be called up at any time
- All items in the inventory are described
- Tips and hints via text if you are in the wrong place
- Unimportant dialogs can be skipped
- Screen texts can be clicked on at your own speed
We would like to see:
- setting the texts to music
- orientation aids
View
That makes the game good:
- High-contrast font
- Color contrast can be increased
- Large font adjustable
- Easier to read font adjustable
- Important buttons and elements to interact with are highlighted
We would like to see:
- Soundtracks for the texts
- Orientation aids
- More non-visual information
Taxes
The game already does that well:
- No complicated button combinations
We wish:
- Customizable controls
-Automation for pressed and held buttons/joysticks
HAROLD HALIBUT (SLOW BROS)
Listen
The game already does this well:
- The game can also be played without an audio layer
- Subtitles with customizable size
- Sound settings for overall, music, dialogue and effects
Understand
The game already does this well:
- The game saves automatically
- The menu is clearly laid out
- Explanation of the controls can be called up in the menu at any time
- Important game elements are highlighted with an arrow
We would like to see:
- More puzzle aids
- Skipable puzzles
- Soundtrack for the entire text in German
- Orientation aids
- Room names in German
- In-game control explanations
View
The game already does this well:
- High-contrast font
- Dialogs are spoken in English
We would like to see:
- The entire text set to music in German
- Support for low-contrast passages
- More non-visual hints
Taxes
The game already does this well:
- No complicated button combinations
- Vibration can be switched off
- No time-critical controls
We would like:
- Customizable control
- Automation for pressed and held buttons/joysticks
PRIM (Application Systems Heidelberg)
Listen
The game already does this well:
- The game can also be played without an audio level.
- Sound settings for music, sound and voice output
- Subtitles
.
Understand
The game already does this well:
- "Confirm dialog text yourself" is adjustable
- Saves automatically and can be paused at any time
- Interactive tutorial
- Soundtrack for the texts
We would like to see:
- Skippable levels
- More orientation aids
- More puzzle aids
- Highlighting of important elements.
View
The game already does this well:
- Adjustable text size
- Sound for texts
- "Confirm dialog text yourself" is adjustable
- Only in grayscale
We would like:
- Highlighting of important elements
- Contrast adjustable
- More orientation aids
- Setting option for font in color
- More non-visual hints.
Taxes
The game already does this well:
- The game could be controlled by everyone in the test
- Only playable with mouse/joystick and click
- Button does not have to be held down
- No time-critical control
- Controller sensitivity adjustable.
INTO THE EMBERLANDS (DAEDALIC ENTERTAINMENT)
Listen
The game already does this well:
- The game can also be played without an audio level.
- Sound settings for overall, music, effects and ambience
- On-screen text
.
Understand
The game already does this well:
- Automatically saves
- Screen texts can be clicked on at your own speed
We would like:
- Orientation aids
- Help with the implementation of the tasks
- Highlighting of important elements
- Setting the texts to music
- Puzzle aids
- More orientation aids
View
The game has a lot of visual barriers.
We would like to see:
- Highlighting of important elements
- Clearer game design
- Adjustable contrasts
- High-contrast font
- Text with sound
- Adjustable text size
- EnlargementsMore non-visual hints
.
Taxes
What the game does well:
- The game could be controlled by everyone in the test
- Only playable with mouse/joystick and click
- Buttons do not have to be held down
SLING-A-THING (NAVEL)
Listen
The game already does this well:
- The game can also be played without an audio level.
- Relevant information with subtitles
- Sound settings for music and sound effects.
Understand
The game already does this well:
- Clear menu
- Levels are repeatable
- Buttons always have the same function
We would like:
- Puzzles
- Pause the game
- Explanation of the controls available at any time. -
View
The game already does this well:
- Highlighted objects provide orientation
- Font on background with lots of
- Contrast
We would like to see:
- Sound for the texts
- Color blind mode
- More non-visual hints
Taxes
|
The game already does this well: We would like to see: |
RASCAL'S ESCAPE- CHEEKY BADGER ON A JOURNEY (THE GOOD EVIL)
Listen
The game already does this well:
- The game can also be played without an auditory level
- Easy-to-read subtitles with pictograms
- Overall sound settings, music, ambient sounds, speech and effects.
Understand
What the game does well:
- The game was understandable for all players in the test.
- Clear menu
- Buttons always have the same function
- Texts are supplemented by pictograms
- No complex language
- Saves automatically
- Dialogs set to music
- Screen texts can be clicked on at your own speed
We would like to see:
- Complete soundtrack and translation into German
- Texts in the dialog options in addition to the pictograms
View
|
The game already does this well: We wish: |
Taxes
The game already does this well:
- Control with movement buttons/joystick and two additional buttons
- No complicated button combinations
- Vibration can be switched off
We wish:
- Customizable controls
MONSTER JAM SHOWDOWN (PLAION)
Listen
|
The game already does this well: We wish: |
Understand
The game already does this well:
- Training mode with adjustable difficulty level
- Stunt explanations with video and text
- Information in the HUD can be switched on and off individually
- Opponent difficulty adjustable
- Steering assistance, braking assistance, acceleration assistance, rear steering assistance, drift assistance, launch assistance adjustable
We would like:
- Soundtrack for stunt list and button explanations
- Intuitive, clear menu
- German voice output
View
|
The game already does this well: We would like: |
Taxes
The game already does this well:
- Customizable button assignment
- Trigger effect (high/low) can be adjusted
- Adjustable vibration level
- Adjustable steering aid, brake aid, acceleration aid, rear steering aid, drift aid, launch aid
We would like:
- Automation for pressed and held buttons/joysticks
EAST WIND: THE BEGINNING OF A WONDERFUL FRIENDSHIP - REMASTERED (MINDSCAPE.)
Listen
The game already does this well:
- The game can also be played without an audio level.
- Sound settings for dialog, music and effects
- Subtitles
Understand
What the game already does well:
- Repeatable, interactive tutorial
- Four difficulty levels
- Control hints
- Orientation aids with map and visual hints
- Important objects are highlighted
- Dialogs are set to music
- Tutorial aids can be displayed
- Saves automatically
We would like:
- Clearer menu
- Soundtrack for all texts
- Explanation of the difficulty levels
View
The game already does this well:
-Relevant elements are highlighted
- Orientation aids
- Dialogs are set to music
We would like
- More non-visual information
- Enlargement options
- Sound for all texts
Taxes
The game is already good at this:
- Keeping the mouse pressed while grooming can be switched on and off
- Vibration can be switched off
- Riding control also possible with the mouse
- Difficulty levels support the controls
We would like to see:
- Customizable controls
- More automation for pressed and held buttons/joysticks-
Automatic camera guidance can be switched on
MISSION MAGIC DIARY - ON THE TRAIL OF FEELINGS (SWR PLANET SCHOOL / SWR CHILDREN'S PROGRAM)
Listen
The podcast is not accessible for people with hearing impairments.
We would like:
- Subtitles
- Sound settings to reduce background noise .
Understand
We wish for:
- Simple language
View
The podcast does not require a visual layer.
Taxes
The game already does this well:
- The sound files can be started with one click
Just dance 2024 (UBISOFT)
Listen
The game already does that well:
- Sound settings for the menu, music and sound effects
- Controller vibration sets the beat
- Lyrics can be faded in and out
We wish:
-Smartphones set the pace with vibration.
Understand
The game already does this well:
- The movements are demonstrated
- The songs are played in the menu
- The difficulty of the dance is displayed in advance
- Scoring feedback, pictograms and song lyrics can be shown and hidden
We would like:
- Explain the use of smartphones as control devices with pictures or videos
View
The game already does this well:
- Important elements are highlighted in color
- Controller vibration sets the pace
We would like to see:
- More non-visual cues for the dance steps
- High-contrast text
- Enlargeable text or soundtrack
- Unimportant image elements can be toned down or hidden.
Taxes
What makes the game so good:
- Control via smartphone and controller at the same time
- Can also be played with the cell phone camera or with the cell phone in your handCan also be played while sitting down
We wish for:
- Alternative control, without movements
