In its latest PS5 patch, Guerrilla Games has added a revolutionary accessibility setting to Horizon Forbidden West – you can now play the game in Thalassophobia Mode, just in time to try it out in the Burning Shores DLC. Thanks to Aloy's ability to hold her breath indefinitely, and a moving pink shadow marking out the seabed for you during diving sections, people who fear deep water will hopefully be able to play the game more comfortably.
Holding your breath, exploring aquatic depths, and possibly drowning in the process – these immersive hallmarks are found in many action-adventure games today. But the very existence of a Thalassophobia Mode in one of the best PS5 games marks an important step in the progression of video game accessibility. It's also had me thinking how useful a similar mode could be in a number of games where you can drown or experience dangers in the deep. Not everyone loves to be beside the seaside, so here are 10 games with underwater sections that could be kinder to is thalassophobic players, from open world wonders to first-person survival horrors.
