About 8% of men and 0.5% of women have some form of color vision deficiency. That's roughly 300 million people worldwide — and a lot of gamers. If you've ever lost a fight because you couldn't tell enemy markers from friendly ones, or missed a loot rarity indicator, this guide is for you.
System-Level Color Filters
Before touching individual game settings, check your platform's built-in accessibility filters. These apply to everything on screen — games, menus, streaming apps — and can be a solid baseline.
Xbox Series X|S
Path: Settings → Accessibility → Color filters
Offers Deuteranopia, Protanopia, and Tritanopia modes with adjustable Intensity and Color Boost sliders. Applies system-wide without affecting game clips or screenshots. You can pin it to the guide menu for quick toggling.
PlayStation 5
Path: Settings → Accessibility → Display and Sound → Color Correction
Toggle "Enable Color Filter" and choose from Red/Green, Green/Red, Blue/Yellow, or Grayscale. Includes a Color Intensity slider. Applies system-wide.
Nintendo Switch
Original Switch / OLED / Lite: No system-level color blind filters. You're dependent on individual game settings.
Switch 2 (June 2025): Added Display Colors options (Grayscale, Invert Colors) and High Contrast mode in System Settings → Accessibility.
PC (Windows)
Path: Settings → Accessibility → Color filters
Windows has built-in color filters for Deuteranopia, Protanopia, and Tritanopia. You can also increase Digital Vibrance in Nvidia Control Panel (55–75% is a common range) or AMD's equivalent for a subtler boost.
Game-by-Game Settings
Most modern multiplayer games include color blind modes. But here's the thing most guides don't tell you: the generic filters are often not the best option. Many games let you customize specific UI elements (enemy colors, reticle colors, minimap markers) independently — and that usually works better than a blanket screen filter.
Fortnite
Path: Settings → Graphics → Color Blind Mode + Color Blind Strength
Options: Protanope, Deuteranope, Tritanope. Strength slider from 1–10.
Tip: Many players (including those with normal vision) use Tritanope mode at strength 5–8 for brighter, more vivid colors that make enemies easier to spot. On PC, combine with Nvidia Digital Vibrance at 60–70% for an additional boost.
Apex Legends
Path: Settings → Gameplay → Accessibility → Color Blind Mode
Options: Protanopia, Deuteranopia, Tritanopia filters.
Tip: Skip the blanket filter. Instead, customize your reticle color — a bright yellow or cyan crosshair stays visible against most map backgrounds and armor colors. Use the Firing Range to test which reticle color works best for your vision before going into ranked.
Call of Duty (Black Ops 6 / Warzone)
Path: Settings → Interface → Readability → Color Customization
CoD has one of the most robust accessibility systems in any game — you can independently customize colors for party, teammates, enemies, and neutral elements.
Best approach: (1) Enable High Contrast Mode for clearer outlines. (2) Use Color Filter 2 applied to "Both" (World + Interface). (3) Set World and Interface Color Intensity to 100. (4) Set enemy color to bright neon and team color to its opposite on the color wheel.
Overwatch 2
Path: Options → Accessibility → Color Blind Options
Lets you customize enemy, friendly, and UI colors independently with strength sliders.
Tip: Set enemy outlines to bright yellow or magenta. These colors remain distinct across all three types of red-green CVD. Avoid using red for enemies and blue for friendlies — the default that many color blind players struggle with.
League of Legends / Valorant
Both Riot games offer color blind modes. In LoL, the health bar colors change to distinguish teams. In Valorant, enemy highlights and minimap indicators can be adjusted.
Tip: In Valorant, enable color blind mode AND customize your crosshair to cyan or white. The default green crosshair is one of the most commonly reported issues by color blind players.
General Tips for Color Blind Gamers
If you're deuteranomalous, the deuteranopia filter might not be best. Try all three modes — many color blind players prefer tritanopia filters regardless of their actual CVD type because of the brightness boost.
If a game lets you change enemy outline color, reticle color, and minimap markers separately, do that instead of applying a whole-screen color filter. You'll get better results with less visual distortion.
Don't tweak settings mid-match. Go into a training mode, practice range, or private lobby. Swap between settings and test them against different environments (bright outdoor, dark indoor, smoke/fog).
On Nvidia: Right-click desktop → Nvidia Control Panel → Display → Adjust desktop color settings → Digital Vibrance (55–75%). On AMD: Radeon Settings → Display → Color → Saturation. This makes all colors more distinct without a color blind filter.
Before blaming the game, check your monitor. Increase saturation slightly, adjust gamma, and make sure you're not in a power-saving mode that dulls colors.
Games That Get Accessibility Right
Some games go beyond basic color filters and build accessibility into their core design. These are worth highlighting:
The Last of Us Part II
Over 60 accessibility settings. Customizable HUD colors, high-contrast mode, text-to-speech, and auto-navigation.
Forza Horizon 5
Color blind mode, customizable HUD, screen reader, sign language in cutscenes, speed adjustments.
Hades
God Mode increases damage resistance incrementally. Color-coded elements have icon and shape backup cues.
Celeste
Assist mode lets you adjust game speed, stamina, and invincibility. Not color-specific, but a model for inclusive design.
Common Questions
Should I use color blind mode even if I'm not color blind?
Many competitive players do. Color blind filters can increase color vibrancy and make enemy indicators pop more against backgrounds. It's not cheating — it's using the tools available. Try different modes in practice range to see if any give you a visibility advantage.
Do color blind glasses help with gaming?
Mixed results. Some gamers report better color distinction with EnChroma or similar glasses, but they filter light and can darken the screen — not ideal for fast-paced games in dim rooms. They also don't work for severe dichromacy. Worth trying if you already own a pair, but don't buy them specifically for gaming.
What about mobile games?
iOS (Settings → Accessibility → Display & Text Size → Color Filters) and Android (Settings → Accessibility → Color correction) both have system-level filters. These apply to all mobile games. Some games like PUBG Mobile and COD Mobile also have in-game color blind modes.
Are game devs required to include color blind modes?
Not legally in most jurisdictions, but industry expectations are rising. Xbox and PlayStation certification guidelines encourage accessibility features. The CVAA (21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act) requires accessibility in communication features of games but doesn't mandate color blind modes specifically.
Know Your Color Vision Type
The right settings depend on your specific type of color blindness. Take a quick test to know which filter mode to use.