Gaming aids can go a long way toward helping players that need accommodations enjoy tabletop game sessions more. Over the last several years, some publishers in the tabletop game space have made a push to create games that are more accessible, but these efforts have been on a product-by-product basis and are not nearly as widespread as they could be. Gaming aids that can be used with multiple games are a good solution to accommodate players who have loss of vision, color-blindness, issues gripping game pieces, or trouble holding cards.
Here are a few suggestions:
Card Holders. These devices, originally developed in the 1950s, have been used by senior citizens with grip strength issues at pinochle nights ever since. In more recent years, card holders have been modified for use with children’s games, as younger children with smaller hands have difficulty gripping larger game cards. Gamewright’s The Original Little Hands Card Holder is a quality version of this product.
Dice Towers. Rolling dice can be a challenge for players with motor disabilities and arthritis. Luckily, there’s a tool some game stores already carry that can help. Dice towers with drop-in tops make rolling dice easier, and their different designs add flavor as a decorative piece on the tabletop. Gamegenic makes one of the most interesting dice towers available, the Crystal Twister Premium Dice Tower (see “‘Crystal Twister’“), which allows players to see their die as it descends down a see-through staircase.
Specialty Dice. Dice are the random element of choice for so many RPGs and board games, and being able to easily read roll results is key. Some dice manufacturers have started making dice with different texture features and technology components that help address this issue. Die Hard released a 7-piece Braille dice set, a fine product to add to an RPG accessories section. And down the road, Systemic Games plans to release Pixels dice, which can provide audio versions of roll results via a smartphone app, into trade next year (see “‘Pixels’ Dice Light Up the Tabletop“).
For more news and features on gaming accessories, see “ICv2 Accessories Week 2025.”
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