Indicate / allow reminder of controls during gameplay

I have cognitive impairments including a truly shitty short term memory. I can’t remember which of six buttons uses my magic doobers. I can’t remember which one is fast attacks and which strong. I can’t remember which button parries, although I remember you can either parry or counter attack. How could it have been improved? Allow me to display them on the HUD.

Andrea Chandler, via Twitter

Complex controls can sometimes be difficult to recall for any player, but especially with impaired memory.

Being able to access reminders through UI can help greatly, and not only for the basic controls themselves – providing summaries of any game-specific mechanics or actions covered in tutorials to be accessed at a later date is also beneficial.

Best practice examples:

• Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture simple controls
• XCOM: Enemy Unknown help screens

Category & Level:

• Cognitive (Intermediate)