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How do people with hearing loss handle audio cues in rhythm-based games?

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Hi everyone,

I’ve recently been playing Geometry Dash1, and it made me think about how much timing in rhythm-based games can depend on audio. Some levels use music and sound effects as cues for when to jump, change direction, or prepare for an upcoming obstacle.

For someone with hearing loss, I imagine that relying on those cues could be more difficult, especially when the visual indicators are not very obvious.

I’m curious about the experiences of people here:

  • Do you usually rely more on visual cues when playing games like Geometry Dash?

  • Do subtitles, visual indicators, or vibration feedback make a noticeable difference?

  • Are there particular accessibility settings or techniques that help with rhythm-based games?

  • Do you think game developers should provide stronger visual alternatives for important audio cues?

I’d be interested to hear how other people approach this, especially anyone who regularly plays rhythm-based or timing-focused games.

I don’t play rhythm based games so I can’t speak to those directly. But in general it’s…not really an issue. Do introduce some theoretical latency? Yes, but it’s never something I’ve noticed outside of one specific example and it’s never hindered my ability to play a game. Most games requiring fast reactions are going to combine both audio and visual cues. Any game which relies on audio cues only for super precise timing is going to be challenging for a lot of folks with unaided hearing.

I don't play rhythm games currently but I do use a rhythm therapy program that is in the form of games. Maybe it's because their target audience may have hearing issues, the sound settings goes super loud. I have to turn it down to <10%.

My loss is mild but I have neuro auditory issues and well above average visual domains (e.g. my visual memory far exceeds my auditory memory). In life, I do believe there needs to be both visual and auditory information for accessibility.

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