Colorblind Modes in Games Have Gotten Good — Here's How to Set Yours
Quick answer: Colorblind support in games has moved well beyond a single toggle — many now offer separate presets for protanopia, deuteranopia and tritanopia, plus strength sliders. To pick the right one, it helps to know your own type of color vision deficiency, which a quick screen can suggest. Try the color blindness test in good, neutral lighting.
Why the game defaults may not fit you
Games lean heavily on color to convey information — enemy outlines, team colors, status effects, objective markers. A generic colorblind filter can help, but a preset matched to your specific deficiency works far better. That is why modern accessibility menus separate the red-weak (protan), green-weak (deutan) and blue-yellow (tritan) options rather than offering one catch-all.
Matching the preset to your vision
Red-green deficiencies are by far the most common, with the green-weak type the most frequent and usually mild. If reds and greens (and browns and oranges) blur together for you, a deuteranopia or protanopia preset with the strength dialed to taste usually helps most. Blue-yellow deficiency is rarer and has its own preset. Knowing which group you fall into turns a menu full of options into a quick, confident choice.
Beyond color
The best accessibility settings do not rely on color alone — look for options that add shapes, icons or patterns to color-coded elements, which help regardless of your exact deficiency. Combined with the right preset, they make competitive information readable at a glance.
Start by knowing your type
Run the color blindness test to get a sense of where you stand, then set your games' presets accordingly. Our guide on the types of color blindness explains what each preset name means. Remember an online screen is a prompt to see an optometrist, not a diagnosis.
Sources: NHS — Colour vision deficiency · Colour Blind Awareness
Frequently asked questions
Which colourblind preset should I pick?
The one matching your deficiency group. If reds and greens — and browns and oranges — blur together, a deuteranopia or protanopia preset with the strength dialled to taste usually helps most. Blue-yellow deficiency is rarer and has its own preset.
Why not just use a generic colourblind filter?
A generic filter can help, but a preset matched to your specific deficiency works far better, which is why modern accessibility menus separate the red-weak, green-weak and blue-yellow options rather than offering one catch-all.
What accessibility settings help beyond colour?
Options that add shapes, icons or patterns to colour-coded elements, which help regardless of your exact deficiency and make competitive information readable at a glance.
Can an online test tell me which type I have?
It gives you a sense of where you stand and which group you likely fall into, which is enough to choose a preset. It is a prompt to see an optometrist, not a diagnosis.