SokkoTuristi – Blind People go on Holiday too!

What if a whole group could travel blind… together?

SokkoTuristi grew out of a simple problem: When I demonstrate accessible games at events, there can be ten, twenty or even more people gathered around. But listening to someone explain a game is never quite as interesting as actually getting to play it.

So I wanted to design a game that a whole group could experience at the same time.

In SokkoTuristi, every player packs their own suitcase. Hidden inside a cloth bag are different objects to explore by touch. As the journey continues, players try to work out which souvenirs belong in their suitcase — with the goal of being the first to pack the right seven.
The game is designed so that vision is not needed at all. Everyone gets to explore the materials with their own fingers and make their own decisions.

A game you don’t just watch

SokkoTuristi works particularly well with groups and at events: everyone can play at the same time, with their own suitcase and bag.

A blind player does not need someone else to explain what is inside the bag or where an object can be found. Instead, everyone can spend a moment relying on what their own fingers can discover.
And perhaps, for once, the sighted companion gets to experience what it feels like to search for information without the help of their eyes.

Sometimes a small game can say more about accessibility than a long presentation.

The same journey, different ways to play

SokkoTuristi is still evolving, and different ways of playing have gradually emerged through testing.
You can now choose between two different kinds of holiday:

• Lomaranta: A more relaxed trip, where the focus is on exploring, recognising and remembering the objects you encounter along the way.
• Kulttuurikierros: A livelier journey that adds more speed and competition to the experience.

The same tactile materials create two rather different games, so before packing your suitcase, you can decide what kind of trip you feel like taking today.

SokkoTuristi today

SokkoTuristi is a playable game that I make myself in small quantities. I continue to develop it, and new ways of playing have grown out of testing the game with different groups.

Box Content

• 6/18 cloth bags
• 6/18 cardboard suitcases
• 6/18 sets of 15 wooden shapes (certified birch from Finland)
• 30 cards with text both in raised dots (Latin alphabet) and braille
• rules in large font and braille

Want to take the trip?

I have a couple of copies of SokkoTuristi for testing, playing and demonstrating the game. If you would like to give one a home, I may have copies available (87e/187€), feel free to get in touch at fiksufo(at)gmail.com