Echo Commander on Mobile: A Screen Reader User’s Guide to a Smoother Voyage!

Hello again, fellow commanders! Trung here, and I’m excited to bring you another guide to help you navigate the thrilling universe of Echo Commander.

Before we dive into this one, if you haven’t already, I really recommend checking out our previous articles:

• “What Is Echo Commander?” (Article One, for the basics)
• “Echo Commander: Launching Your First Mission - Getting Started, Game Modes, & Choosing Your Flagship!” (Article Two, for game setup and ship details)
• “Echo Commander: Decoding the Grid – Intel from Every Shot, Your Actions, and Teamwork” (Article Three, for core gameplay mechanics)

Having that background knowledge will definitely enhance your experience with this guide.

This article is a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough specifically for those of you playing Echo Commander on a mobile device using a screen reader. All explanations will assume you have your screen reader active and are ready to play.

Launching into Echo Commander

First things first, you’ll need to navigate to the game’s website. Open your browser and head over to echo-commander.com.

Once the page loads, you’ll land on the Main Menu. This is your central hub. Using your screen reader, you can explore the options. You will find buttons such as:

• Start Tutorial: A great idea if you’re completely new or want a refresher on how things work.
• Create Solo/Co-Op/PvP Game: This is what we’ll use to start a new match.
• Check Public Lobby Games: Use this to find and join games hosted by other players.
• Support Us: Yes, that’s us! Our shipyard could always use a bit of funding to keep those Flagships in top shape and bring you more cool features!
• Account Settings: This will appear if you’re logged in. I highly recommend logging in, as it unlocks the best game experience and more customization options. There are other settings and features you can explore later.

Screen Reader Tip: To quickly navigate through interactive elements like buttons in the main menu, many screen readers offer ways to change your navigation granularity. For instance, with TalkBack on Android, a common method is to swipe down with three fingers to cycle through navigation types (like Headings, Links, Controls, etc.) until you hear “Controls” or “Buttons.” Once that navigation type is selected, you can then swipe down with one finger to jump directly from one button or control element to the next, which is very efficient for menus. Check your specific screen reader’s documentation for similar features!

Setting Up Your Game Lobby

Alright, let’s fire up a match! Find the button labeled “Create Solo/Co-Op/PvP Game” and activate it (typically a double-tap with most screen readers).

This takes you to the Lobby Screen. Initially, there is instructional text about how lobbies work. If you’re already familiar or want to get straight to business, screen reader users can swipe until you find a link that says “Skip Instructions.” Activate that, and you’ll jump directly to the Lobby Settings.

• Privacy and Sharing: By default, your lobby is private. Swipe from the “Lobby Settings” heading to find the “Privacy and Sharing” section. Here, you can choose to make your lobby public, copy the lobby URL to send directly to friends and family, or use a share button to post it on social media or send it through messages.
• Game Mode: Next, you need to select your Game Mode. This will be a dropdown list. Activate it to expand it. (I’ve explained the different Game Modes in previous articles.) For this example, I’ll select “Solo or Co-op.” The list will close.
• Difficulty: Continue swiping to find the difficulty setting. It will state the current difficulty, for example, “Difficulty currently Easy.” I’m feeling adventurous, so I’ll find and activate the button labeled “Select Hard.” You can choose whatever difficulty suits you!
• Select Your Flagship: The next option is “Select Your Flagship.” This is another dropdown list. (You can read all about the different Flagships in my previous articles!) For this walkthrough, I’m going to choose the Submarine. After selecting, your screen reader should confirm something like, “Flagship set to Submarine.”

The Players and Getting Ready

After setting your Flagship, you’ll find the Players area. This section lists everyone currently in the lobby. For example, you might hear: “Trung. Flagship: Submarine. Not Ready.”

• Ready State: Pay close attention to the “Not Ready” status. The game cannot start until all players in the lobby have toggled their status to “Ready.”
• Lobby Actions: Moving past the player list, you’ll find “Lobby Actions.” Here, you’ll see:
  • Toggle Ready State: Activate this button to switch between “Not Ready” and “Ready.”
  • Send Hello: A simple way to send a friendly greeting to other players in the lobby.
  • Leave Lobby: If you decide not to play in this lobby anymore.

I’m going to activate “Toggle Ready State.” If all other players are also ready (or if it’s a solo game), the game will announce, “Players ready. Press Start!” Then, find and activate that “Start Game” button!

In the Thick of Battle: The Game Screen & Grid Interaction

Once the game starts, you’ll be on the main game screen. The battle grid will occupy the upper area of your screen, and below it, you’ll find various function buttons (like “Chain Lightning,” “Sonar Scan,” “Recommend,” etc.).

Understanding the Grid (for Screen Reader Users)

Imagine the grid like a spreadsheet. The top-left cell is A1. Moving to the right from A1 is B1, then C1, and so on. Moving down from A1 is A2, then A3, etc. So, the cell below B1 would be B2. Your screen reader should announce these coordinates as you explore.

Navigating and Interacting with the Grid on Mobile

• Movement/Exploration: The most effective way to explore the grid with your screen reader is to place one finger on the screen in the grid area and drag it around. Your screen reader will announce the coordinate of the cell your finger is currently over.
• Firing: To fire at the cell your screen reader is currently focused on (the one it just announced), simply double-tap anywhere on the screen (or use your screen reader’s specific activation gesture).
• Using Active Sonar Scan: To perform an active sonar scan on a specific cell, press and hold your finger on that coordinate for a moment. This triggers the “Sonar Scan” ability for that cell.

Example of Sonar and Firing

Let’s say I want to scan cell B2. I’ll drag my finger to B2 (screen reader announces “B2”), then I’ll press and hold on B2. The game then announces, “Sonar echo detected below B2.” This tells me there’s an enemy ship somewhere in the cells directly under B2 (like B3, B4, etc.).

Now, based on that sonar intel, I might move my finger down to B3 (screen reader announces “B3”) and then double-tap to fire. If I’m lucky, the game will announce, “Hit enemy Submarine!” My mission now is to find the other parts of that Submarine and sink it completely.

Your main objective is to continue this process of scanning (with press-and-hold or using a dedicated “Sonar Scan” button if available), firing, and using the intel gained from hits, misses, and near-misses (as detailed in Article Three) to locate and destroy all enemy ships before they destroy yours.

Special Abilities (e.g., Chain Lightning)

As the match progresses, you will get a notification like “Chain Lightning Charged!” Look for the “Chain Lightning” button (located in a corner at the bottom-left). Activate it to unleash its power and see how many enemy ships (or parts of ships) you can damage!

Important Screen Reader Gameplay Tip: I strongly advise against relying solely on your screen reader’s default linear swipe gestures (left/right swipes) to navigate tile by tile on the game grid. This can be slow and sometimes less predictable with complex interfaces. Instead, use the touch exploration method: place your finger on the grid and drag it around to explore. Your screen reader will announce the cell under your finger. Then, lift your finger and use your screen reader’s activation gesture (like a double-tap) to fire at the last focused cell, or press-and-hold for a sonar scan on that cell. This “explore by touch” method is generally much more fluid for grid-based games.

Wrapping Up

That’s your detailed walkthrough for getting into and playing Echo Commander on your mobile device with a screen reader! It might take a bit of practice to get the hang of exploring the grid and interpreting all the audio cues, but the thrill of the hunt is well worth it.

If you need any help, want to find other commanders to team up with or challenge, or just want to share your experiences, don’t forget to join our friendly community on Discord!

Join the Echo Commander Discord

Happy hunting, and may your shots always find their mark!

Back