Safe In Our World Ambassadors try out modular gaming hardware for Global Accessibility Awareness Day

Two Safe In Our World Ambassadors tested accessible gaming hardware designed by Thumb Soldiers for Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2026.

THUMB SOLDIERS: IN A NUTSHELL

Safe In Our World met with David Chapman and Roxanne Needham, the founders of Thumb Soldiers, who shared their mission to revolutionise how we engage with video games. Designed by gamers, for gamers, their modular gaming controller attachments were developed to improve comfort and performance during play.

“Thumb Soldiers tackles problems like pain during play, limited grip or dexterity, or even just fatigue after a short session,” says David, who shared his own struggles with thumbstick control since starting gaming in the 80s.

“It’s like footwear,” explains Roxanne. “You wouldn’t wear the same shoes for football, racing, or golf. You’d wear the right shoes to perform at your best – and it’s the same with thumb grips when you’re gaming.”

HARDWARE FOR GAMING ACCESSIBILITY

At Safe In Our World, we believe that video games can be a great source of comfort, offering opportunities to connect, create, and blow off steam! As a mental health charity in games, we’re proud advocates for accessibility. Everyone should be able to play games and enjoy the benefits to their mental health.

So, we were curious to learn more about how Thumb Soldiers could help improve accessibility during gaming, addressing physical barriers (that we sometimes don’t even notice). We asked two Safe In Our World ambassadors to test the hardware and share their feedback.

“GAMES ARE MY JOY!”

After trying out hardware from Thumb Soldiers for their Nintendo Switch, Ladell, Class of 2023, shared that the Stud and Rock n Roller attachments opened up new gaming opportunities. “I was able to play games that I’ve not previously been able to focus on, such as Hades (1 and 2). The hardware lessened my thumb cramp and strain – and allowed me to rest them a lot easier on a bigger surface area.”

To our delight, Ladell also reported less pain after using the attachments compared to their usual levels. “I have chronic pain, so holding controllers (especially a handheld like the Switch) for long periods of time is never fun – but games are my joy!”

“Having this tech allows me to ease the strain,” says Ladell. “It did make me feel more hopeful about what games I can now play on my Switch.”

“GAMES ARE ALREADY SO EXPENSIVE”

When asked about accessibility in games and how this impacts mental health, Ladell said, “I rely on games as one of my key mood boosters. My body can have up days and down days, and not being able to play due to a lack of accessibility angers and upsets me. I can find myself retreating and feeling isolated because of things out of my control.”

Ladell noted that they wished the attachments came in more colours (ideally pink), but that it was a joy to discover affordable hardware to improve gaming accessibility. “One of my biggest problems with accessibility is the pricing behind it,” Ladell explains. “Games are already so expensive.”

“I’m currently unemployed, so knowing there’s tech out there that can enhance my gaming, that doesn’t require me to sell my soul, makes me smile.”

“IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING YOU TAILOR TO YOURSELF”

Codie, Class of 2026, noted that she loved how modular the hardware is and how simple it felt to swap pieces around. “Thumb Soldiers aren’t trying to make this a one-size-fits-all solution. It feels like something you tailor to yourself, which I think is really important for accessibility.”

Codie goes on to say, “I could quickly tell these are very specialised tools, and something you’d need to experiment with to find your perfect setup.” 

Conveniently, Thumb Soldiers has a 30-day Risk Free Returns policy, so if you’re not satisfied with your order, you have 30 days to return the product for a full refund.

“Gaming should feel fun and inclusive, not tiring or frustrating because of physical barriers.”

“I DIDN’T REALISE HOW MUCH I WAS COMPENSATING”

Breaking down her experience, Codie described the types of hardware she tested and how it impacted not just her, but her partner’s gaming experience. “The biggest benefit was the Shroom thumbstick. I have hypermobility and extended joints, especially in my thumbs, and I didn’t realise how much I was compensating until I used it.”

“The added height from where it has to sit on top of the standard thumbsticks actually made things feel a lot more natural and comfortable. Meanwhile, my partner’s experience was quite different. The added height from the hardware caused strain in his wrists, and due to his FND (Functional Neurological Disorder), that strain very quickly led to fatigue. So, while it helped me, it didn’t work for him.”

“DON’T BE AFRAID TO EXPERIMENT”

Trying out Thumb Soldiers led Codie to reflect on her gaming experience, realising she’d been overlooking a source of discomfort. “It made me realise that I had been experiencing strain while gaming, and had just normalised it.”

“Trying something different and finding a massive improvement in comfort has made me much more aware of what I actually need, and that was a really good feeling. It made me excited about what could work, rather than discouraged by what didn’t.”

“Realising that I didn’t have to just put up with discomfort, and that there are ways to improve it, made me feel a lot happier and more positive about gaming.”

When asked if Codie had any advice she’d give to others who might be curious about Thumb Soldiers to improve their comfort when gaming, she said, “Don’t be afraid to experiment! What works for one person might not work for another, and that’s completely okay.”

“Think about your specific needs, rather than guessing based on something saying it’s accessible. Read reviews, watch videos of the kits in action. It’s definitely a process of trial and error, but even small changes can make a big difference – so it’s worth exploring!”

Ladell adds, “Choose a controller you use the most at first and think about what might reduce the strain the most. Then think about what types of games you play, and how the accessories might best support playing those games. I selected attachments that I knew would help me in many of the games I play.”