“Your eyes will be of no help. So close them, sharpen your hearing and your blade… And embark on an epic, perilous rite of passage.”

A video-less video game? In this medieval fantasy adventure game, ears replace the eyes, and empathy helps raise awareness among video game lovers. Protagonist Edward Blake is a blind knight who, guided by his daughter Louise, fights to find his lost wife. You’ll have to trust in your hearing and the people around you to win this battle.

The gripping gaming experience is guided by your ears. Credits: DOWiNO.

A Blind Legend allows people who are blind and partially sighted to enjoy a gripping 3D soundscape gaming experience and the benefits of play, and asks sighted players to put themselves in Edward’s shoes and armour to promote empathy. Have you ever asked yourself what it means to have low vision? The free game is a new experience not only for people who are blind but for anyone who wishes to live an adventure using their other senses.

“We are an independent serious games and games for change studio and we aim to broadcast those tools with high social utility directly to the public.” — DOWiNO game studio

Meet the DOWiNO team (Nordine Ghachi, Jérôme Cattenot and Pierre-Alain Gagne). Credits: DOWiNO

Serious games

Video games that are designed for a primary purpose other than entertainment. Used in education, science, health, urban planning, engineering, and more.

Understanding the reality of people living with blindness is crucial to the DOWiNO team. According to the WHO, there are at least 2.2 billion people affected by a near or distance vision impairment and about 45 million people who are blind. The creative studio DOWiNO was founded with one goal in mind: to inform and educate the public about socially impactful issues. They consider their digital adventures Tech for Good, intended as the use of technology for social benefit.

The game puts tridimensional sound forth and centre as players use their hearing to progress through A Blind Legend’s various levels. People who are blind fight their own battle every day, do you think you can win the game with your eyes closed?

Close your eyes, get your earphones ready and enter the world of A Blind Legend. Credits: DOWiNO

AtlasAction: Want to test your ears and skills? Download the game.

Elena is studying Communications in Barcelona and is part of the Atlas team.