Accessibility becomes an increasingly important topic in the video game industry as Sony’s first-party PlayStation Studios and the Xbox brand push for more inclusive-minded games and consoles.The Game Awards 2022 highlightsThe Last of Us Part 1andGod of War: Ragnarokfor its “Innovation in Accessibility” category alongsideAs Dusk Falls,Return to Monkey Island, andThe Quarry. Indie games likeThe Knight Witchare similarly being designed with accessibility at the forefront.
Super Awesome Hyper Dimensional Mega Team “always thought about the mindset of the players” during development, according to game director Kevin Sarda Perez.Blending metroidvania exploration, shoot ‘em up combat, and deck-building,The Knight Witchshaved fat like skill trees to reduce the amount of stuff players must consider, and its spellcards are open to use at one’s discretion. Game Rant spoke to Perez, art director Enrique Corts, and programmer Jorge Fernandez Sanchez about how the studio’s player-centric development extended to accessibility features.
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The Knight Witch Considered Accessibility Early
Metroidvanias likeHollow Knighthave notoriously huge worlds with secrets around every corner, but Perez saidThe Knight Witchis more “straightforward” akin toIconoclastsorShantae. Its narrative-driven experience tells players where to go next, and they can return to older areas both for uncovering secrets and completing objectives they missed the first time. Even so, prospective buyers of theTeam17-published game who are put off by twin-stick shooters can rest assured that ease of play is paramount.
Players can treat the game like a traditional twin-stick shooter, but auto-aim is built intoThe Knight Witchby default without activating it in settings (though there is an accessibility tab on the main menu). Perez saidVampire Survivorsis a perfect reference for its auto-aim feature, though Luca Galante’s roguelike shoot ‘em up released after Super Mega Team began development. Much of the artwork by Corts and concept artist Mar Hernandez was made with colorblindness in mind, for example including numbers on any object that would otherwise be color-coded.The Knight Witchalso avoids video game tropes like quick-time events, Perez said.
“The game is designed to include these accessibility things, but they aren’t options. They’re just features we’ve been thinking about throughout development.”
Super Mega Team’s deck-building also makes it easier for players to opt-in or out of systems. “It’s a cool idea that lets you build your character how you want,” Corts said, even if that means ignoring spellcards to just play a shooter. However, one’s deck can also be built toclear the screen of bulletsalongside other helpful features, with bosses designed by Perez and Sanchez simultaneously to ensure any strategy can succeed.
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Difficulty and Cheat Codes in The Knight Witch
Still, Perez recognizes difficulty can be a barrier, and Super Mega Team’s design goes deeper than opening multiple avenues to reach max level without grinding. Inspired byold-school games with extensive cheat menus, there are numerous cheat codes available inThe Knight Witchthat can modify the experience via means like removing mana. “When people don’t like aspects of the game - which is absolutely normal - they can just ignore it a little and focus on something else,” Perez said. “The experience at the end is different for everybody.”
These cheat codes “are not tricky at all” according to Corts, ensuring any player can figure them out. Perez said, “That turns into an accessibility feature in the end, even if it’s disguised as something more fun.” The only area Super Mega Team believes it does not cover is more extreme disabilities that might prevent someone from holding a controller, but with existing systems that decrease mandatory pick-ups and encourage deck-building, Perez hopes to seespeedrunnersflock toThe Knight Witch.
While not an in-game feature, it’s worth noting that Super Mega Team refused to let its workers crunch to completeThe Knight Witch. Beyond a six-month stint in 2012, Super Mega Team has worked fully remote since its inception, which made it easier to adapt when COVID-19 hit. During the last stretch of development, Corts said the studio implemented six-hour days in afour-day work week, similar toBugsnaxdeveloper Young Horsesin 2021.
“We tried to actually pace ourselves, because we knew this was a marathon. We always wanted for our team to be happy and productive, not burn out themselves after a while.”
The Knight Witchis available now on PC and Switch. PS4, PS5, Windows 10, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S versions are scheduled to release June 15, 2025.
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