Games with no flashing lights: what we know so far
If flashing lights bother your child, or you’re worried about seizures, you deserve a straight answer. Here it is: for most games, good public information about flashing doesn’t exist yet. We only call a game low-flash when a source says so. Everything else is marked unknown or still being checked.
Not medical advice. This guide is general information for families, not medical advice. Every child is different, and you know yours best. If your child has epilepsy or is sensitive to flashing lights, talk to your doctor and preview games yourself first.
About seizures: no guide, including this one, can promise a game is safe for a child with photosensitive epilepsy. Even games described as free of flashing can have bright or fast-changing moments. Nintendo publishes general photosensitivity information that applies to all its games. Please check with your child’s doctor.
Quick answer
- Described as generally free of flashing: Animal Crossing: New Horizons base game only (not the Happy Home Paradise add-on).
- Has flashes you can turn off with a setting: Stardew Valley, with one important caution about the mines.
- Unknown, no source yet: every other game we’ve rated.
Described as generally free of flashing
Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch, ESRB: E)
The Family Gaming Database describes the base game as “generally free of flashing lights.” The exception is the paid Happy Home Paradise add-on, which has a disco scene with strobe lighting and flash effects. We haven’t found a setting that turns it off, and we don’t yet know how long or intense that scene is. If flashing is a concern, stick with the base game.
Has flashes, with a setting that helps
Stardew Valley (Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, PC, mobile; ESRB: E10+)
Lightning flashes during storms on the farm, but the Show Flash Effects setting (Options > Graphics) turns these off. Untick it before your child plays.
Seizure caution: in the mines, bombs make flashes. On the Stardew forum, a player with epilepsy reported bomb flashes affecting them, and it isn’t confirmed that the setting covers them on every platform. We’re still checking this. Until then, we suggest treating the mines as off-limits for a child with photosensitive epilepsy. (On PC only, a community mod called “A Less Flashy Stardew” can remove more animations.)
Unknown: no source yet
For these rated games we found no source that describes flashing or strobe effects either way. That doesn’t mean they flash, and it doesn’t mean they don’t. Please preview them yourself.
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: we’re specifically checking Rainbow Road and item effects. One anecdotal thread on r/Epilepsy mentions lightheadedness, so our game page carries a seizure caution.
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder: the Wonder Flower sequences haven’t been reviewed for flashing yet.
- Astro Bot (PlayStation 5): no source on flashing. The optional Visual Aid setting adds on-screen flashes to match vibration, so leave it off if flashing is a concern.
- Minecraft: no source on flashing or strobe effects in any mode.
- Unpacking, Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Super Mario Odyssey and Disney Dreamlight Valley: no source yet.
What you can do today
- Look in each game’s options menu for settings with names like “flash effects” before your child plays.
- Play the first 10 minutes yourself and watch for bright or rapidly changing scenes.
- Skip optional areas or add-ons known to have strobe effects.
- If your child has epilepsy, follow your doctor’s advice about screen time and breaks.
We’ll update this guide as we confirm more. See each game page for sources, or read how we rate.