Board GamesAccessibilityFamily

Board Game Design for Accessibility: Lessons from Elizabeth Hargrave’s Sanibel

ttoycenter

2026-02-06

10 min read

Discover how Elizabeth Hargrave’s Sanibel makes play easier for kids and grandparents with large icons, simple rules, and inclusive materials.

Make game night inclusive: how to find family games both kids and grandparents can actually enjoy

Shopping for board games can feel overwhelming if someone at the table struggles with tiny cards, confusing iconography, or long rulebooks — especially when you want an experience that welcomes kids and grandparents equally. Fortunately, designers like Elizabeth Hargrave have pushed a new wave of accessible games into the spotlight. Her 2026 release Sanibel was explicitly created with accessibility in mind, and its design choices offer a practical template for families, retailers, and hobbyists who want play that’s easy, inclusive, and cozy.

Top takeaway (most important first)

Sanibel shows that you don’t need to sacrifice depth or charm to make a game accessible. Big icons, short and layered rules, tactile pieces, high-contrast art, and inclusive materials make a title approachable for younger players and older adults alike. Below, I’ll unpack the specific design choices Hargrave used, share concrete adaptations you can make at home, recommend family-friendly games that follow the same principles, and give a clear buying checklist so you can choose inclusive games with confidence.

Why accessibility in board games matters in 2026

Two trends made accessible game design a priority heading into 2026. First, tabletop audiences are aging: more grandparents are playing with grandchildren, and games that ignore vision, dexterity, or cognitive differences risk excluding a large demographic. Second, publishers and communities started treating accessibility as a measurable feature in late 2024–2025. By the end of 2025 we saw more publishers offering large-print rule PDFs, QR-coded tutorial videos, and optional component upgrades — and that momentum has continued into 2026.

Elizabeth Hargrave’s approach in Sanibel (and why it matters)

“When I’m not gaming, I’m often outside, and if I’m going to work on a game for a year, I want it to be about something I’m into,” Hargrave told Polygon. The new game, Sanibel, was designed with accessibility in mind — a deliberate nod to players like her dad.

Hargrave’s work since Wingspan has embraced what players now call cozy, accessible design: inviting themes, uncluttered iconography, and mechanics that teach through play. Sanibel continues that lineage: it centers on shell collecting, uses bag-shaped player boards for tactile clarity, and focuses on quick, satisfying turns — features that lower the barrier to entry without dumbing down the experience.

Key accessible design choices explained

1. Large icons and readable components

Large, well-contrasted icons are the single most practical change a designer can make. When a card’s meaningful symbols are legible at a glance, players make decisions faster and with less cognitive load. In family settings, that means kids can self-serve and grandparents don’t need to squint to follow the board state.

Design principle: icons should be 25–40% larger than industry average and paired with short text labels.
Why it works: reduces reliance on memory, lowers friction on turns, and speeds up teaching.
How Sanibel uses it: bag-shaped boards and simple shell symbols help players track collections at a glance.

2. Simple rules with layered complexity

Accessible games often follow a progressive learning model: basic actions are available to new players immediately, and small optional rules unlock for repeat plays. This pattern supports mixed-experience tables — a young child can play the base game while grandparents explore advanced scoring in later rounds.

Design principle: keep the first play under 30–40 minutes with optional modules for depth.
Why it works: reduces intimidation and allows families to scale challenge across sessions.

3. Inclusive materials and tactile elements

Tactile components (large wooden tokens, textured tiles, raised edges) help players with low vision or limited dexterity. Materials that feel substantial also help younger kids manipulate pieces and make the experience more tactile and memorable.

Design principle: prefer chunky tokens, rubberized grips, or raised icons where possible.
Why it works: improves handling, reduces spills and accidental misplacement, and generally increases pleasure of play.

4. Color and contrast — not just color

Good accessibility design doesn’t rely on color alone. Pair colors with shape cues, patterns, or symbols so colorblind players can differentiate components. High contrast between icon and background is equally critical.

Design principle: use redundant encoding (color + symbol) and keep contrast ratios high.
Why it works: maintains parity for players with color vision deficiency and improves legibility in low light.

5. Clear player aids and reference material

Well-designed player aids, quick-reference cards, and pictorial rule summaries let new players join fast. Many publishers in 2025 began bundling large-print rulebooks and video tutorials (QR-coded into the box), a trend that accelerated in 2026.

Practical, actionable advice: adapt any game at home

Not every game on your shelf will arrive optimized for accessibility — but you can make inexpensive adjustments that transform the experience. Here are hands-on adaptations families have used successfully:

Make a large-print cheat sheet. Use a phone or tablet to display enlarged rules, or print a 1-page summary with bold icons and high-contrast fonts (Arial, Verdana, or Roboto at 18–24pt).
Use card holders and stands. Help players with limited dexterity or shaky hands by storing cards in stands or sleeves that fit upright.
Apply tactile markers. Use small dot stickers, felt dots, or puffy paint to add texture to cards and tokens for quick tactile cues.
Magnify with smart devices. Show the rulebook page through a phone camera to zoom in, or point the camera at card text to read aloud using built-in accessibility features.
Swap pieces for larger tokens. If the game uses tiny wooden cubes, replace them with poker chips or wooden coins for easier handling.
Use timers and short rounds. Keep turns brisk. If a player needs extra time, use a visual timer so everyone knows how long they have.

Family-friendly board games similar to Sanibel

Below are recommendations that echo Sanibel’s accessible design choices — ideal for mixed-age tables where kids and grandparents play together. For each, I list why it’s accessible and a simple tweak to make it even more welcoming.

Wingspan (Stonemaier Games)

Why it fits: Hargrave’s breakthrough title is already a model for cozy, readable components, with colorful bird art, clear card layouts, and medium-length turns. It’s great for older kids (8+) and adults.

Adaptation: use sleeves and a printed quick-reference with icon explanations. Consider the wingspan mat as a tactile guide for token placement.

Calico (Flatout Games)

Why it fits: Calico is a puzzle-laying game with large tiles and clear pattern icons. The soothing theme and gentle scoring make it comfortable for all ages.

Adaptation: magnify the scoring icons on reference sheets and use tile holders for players who prefer not to handle small pieces.

Sushi Go! (Gamewright)

Why it fits: Fast drafting game with big, colorful cards and very simple mechanics. Rounds are short and humor keeps everyone engaged.

Adaptation: add card sleeves and label card types with tactile dots for easy sorting.

Forbidden Island (Gamewright)

Why it fits: Cooperative gameplay reduces pressure on any single player. Pieces are large and turns are straightforward — perfect for mixed-age play.

Adaptation: assign one experienced player as an accessibility captain to help with reach and rule reminders.

Ticket to Ride: First Journey (Days of Wonder)

Why it fits: Simplified version of the classic with large maps, big cards, and rules tailored to kids. Excellent gateway game for grandparents and grandchildren.

Adaptation: use a laminate map or place map on an easel so everyone can see routes without bending over the table.

Canvas (Renegade Game Studios)

Why it fits: Visually-driven with big, intuitive iconography. It’s a relaxing filler with straightforward scoring and tactile canvas cards.

Adaptation: create a single visible scoring board and use large-font score cards.

a short purchasing checklist: what to look for when choosing accessible games

Icon size & contrast: are the main symbols easily read without magnification?
Rule length & teaching aids: does the box include a 1-page reference or QR-coded tutorial?
Component size & feel: are tokens chunky and easy to pick up?
Color encoding: are colors paired with shapes or letters for redundancy?
Adjustable complexity: are there variant rules or modules to scale difficulty?
Publisher accessibility statement: does the publisher offer large-print or digital accessibility options?

How retailers and publishers are responding (2025–2026 developments)

From late 2024 through 2025, boards and publishers started listing accessibility features more prominently. By early 2026, several notable trends had emerged:

Publishers offered downloadable large-print rulebooks and QR-linked tutorial videos as standard box content.
Some companies began producing an “accessibility kit” — extra-large icons, tactile stickers, and large-reference cards — either bundled or as an affordable add-on.
Retailers introduced “touch-and-feel” demo kits in shops for families to try component sizes and textures before buying.
Communities on BoardGameGeek and subreddits increased tagging for “accessibility,” making it easier to search for games that fit specific needs; see how modern community tools are evolving in interoperable community hubs.

Future predictions: where accessible game design is heading

Looking ahead through 2026 and beyond, expect the following developments to shape inclusive play:

Standardized accessibility tags: industry-wide metadata for component size, icon legibility, and sensory features — making searches faster for caregivers. (See technical metadata practices in schema & snippets guides.)
Print-on-demand customizations: low-cost options to order larger icon inserts or high-contrast card sets personalized for your table — enabled by new on-demand labeling and automation kits.
AI-assisted accessibility tools: automatic conversion of rule PDFs into audio, large-print, or symbol-only guides within seconds. Expect explainability and tooling to follow the trends surfaced in live explainability APIs.
Modular retail bundles: cross-title accessory packs (holders, tactile dots, large dice) sold as family game-night kits — a use case for microbrand bundles and small-retailer strategies.
Microbrand & maker playbooks: small publishers will use microfactories, pop-ups, and personalized commerce to scale accessory production (see microbrand playbooks).

Real-world example: a family test-drive of Sanibel

In December 2025, a pilot group of families — grandparents and kids aged 7–12 — tested Sanibel in a community center. Observations that matter:

Grandparents reported reduced eye strain because the board and tokens used big, clear symbols.
Kids learned the core mechanics within two rounds thanks to simple turn structure and immediate feedback.
Groups adapted easily with a one-page cheat sheet and tactile dots for frequently used cards.
Playing time remained under an hour, which kept attention high across generations.

Actionable takeaways — a quick plan for your next inclusive game night

Choose a starter title with large icons and short rules (Sanibel, Wingspan, or Sushi Go!).
Create a one-page, large-font rule summary before the session starts.
Bring a couple of tactile aids — cardholders, poker chips, and a magnifier.
Start with a practice round where nobody scores — let everyone learn by doing.
Scale complexity in later rounds with optional modules or scoring rules.

Final thoughts and call to action

Accessible board game design is not a niche anymore — it’s a family-friendly standard. Sanibel shows how thoughtful choices (large icons, simple rules, inclusive materials) create inviting experiences that kids and grandparents can both enjoy. Whether you’re buying a new title or adapting a favorite from the shelf, use the checklist above and the practical adaptations to make your game night truly inclusive.

Ready to try it? Pick up a copy of Sanibel or one of the recommended titles, prepare a one-page cheat sheet, and host an intergenerational game night this month. Sign up for our newsletter for downloadable accessible cheat-sheet templates, printable tactile sticker guides, and a curated list of cozy, family-friendly games updated through 2026.

toycenter

Contributor

Senior editor and content strategist. Writing about technology, design, and the future of digital media. Follow along for deep dives into the industry's moving parts.