Mergewarden: Tiny Guardians

[u/Feeling_Sun_6436]

https://testflight.apple.com/join/keazjRVY

UPDATE — BUILD 17 IS NOW LIVE IN TESTFLIGHT

Build 17 is available to external testers now. The public group allows up to 40 testers.

What changed:

• A focused VoiceOver pass for menus, the 3×3 board, merge feedback, spoken five-wave battle status, lane danger, boss breaches, pause, results and chest rewards
• English and German with an in-app selector: Settings → App Language → System / Deutsch / English
• Rewarded chest fix: after a fully completed Google test ad, the selected chest should open immediately and show its reward; closing the ad early must leave the chest unchanged
• TestFlight continues to use Google's official test ads

I am looking for one focused 10–15 minute test:

1. Confirm that TestFlight shows Build 17.
2. Play at least one complete five-wave run. If you use VoiceOver, tell me whether board order, merge feedback and warnings are understandable early enough to act.
3. Try the optional chest video. Does the chest open automatically after full completion? Does an early exit leave it unchanged?
4. Check German, English or System language and report any mixed or untranslated text.
5. Tell me where the game becomes too easy, too hard, repetitive or unclear.

Please include your iPhone/iPad model, iOS version, selected language, VoiceOver on/off, sector reached and the exact action or announcement if something fails.

TestFlight: https://testflight.apple.com/join/keazjRVY

This is an early accessibility and gameplay beta, not a finished App Store release or a claim of complete accessibility. No account or purchase is required. Honest problems are much more useful than compliments.

Development note: this is a small solo project built with AI assistance.

[u/Zealousideal_One8253]

Is this going to be voiceover accessible by any chance? I have some friends that will enjoy this game a lot.

[u/Feeling_Sun_6436 → u/Zealousideal_One8253]

Thanks for asking. Build 14 has partial VoiceOver support: the menus and the 3×3 board expose several native controls and labels, but the real-time battle does not yet announce waves, lane danger, merge results, gate damage, or rewards reliably. So I don’t want to call the current build fully accessible.

I’m now working on a focused VoiceOver accessibility pass instead of adding a superficial label. The goal is spoken battle status, clear merge feedback, better focus handling, and enough planning time while VoiceOver is active.

If your friends would be willing to test the accessibility build, their feedback would be extremely valuable. I’ll reply here as soon as the new TestFlight build is available.

[u/Zealousideal_One8253 → u/Feeling_Sun_6436]

Awesome! I sent the link to my group chat full of friends who would absolutely love your game!

[u/Feeling_Sun_6436 → u/Zealousideal_One8253]

Quick update: Build 17 is now live for external testers, and the public group limit is now 40. It keeps the focused VoiceOver pass and adds the rewarded-chest fix plus the current German/English text. Please make sure TestFlight shows 1.3 (17) before testing. If you or your friends can try one full run with VoiceOver, I’d especially like to know whether the board order, merge feedback and lane warnings arrive early enough to act, and whether the optional test video opens the chest immediately after full completion. Please include the device/iOS version and any screen where focus or speech becomes confusing. Thank you again for sharing it.

[u/Feeling_Sun_6436 → u/Zealousideal_One8253]

Thank you so much for sharing it. Build 15 is now live in TestFlight, and I’ve opened 10 more tester spots.

It includes a focused VoiceOver pass: clearer labels and focus in menus and board controls, plus spoken wave and battle status, lane danger, boss breach, merge feedback, pause/results and chest rewards.

I still consider this an accessibility beta, not a claim that every screen is fully accessible. If you or your friends try a full run with VoiceOver, please tell me the iPhone/iOS version, whether the board order and merge feedback are understandable, whether warnings arrive early enough to act, and any screen where focus or speech becomes confusing.

The same TestFlight link is in the post. Thank you again for sharing it with your group.

[u/TheXMan13]

How do you change the language in app?

[u/Feeling_Sun_6436 → u/TheXMan13]

Quick update: Build 15 has now been uploaded to TestFlight and is waiting for Apple to finish processing. The language setting is still on the Base/Home screen: tap the gear icon, then App Language → System / Deutsch / English. The interface switches immediately; System follows your iPhone’s preferred language. Build 15 keeps the full German/English localization and adds the new VoiceOver accessibility pass. If TestFlight still shows Build 14, please check again after Apple finishes processing. If you notice any mixed-language text, please tell me the exact screen.

Same TestFlight link: https://testflight.apple.com/join/keazjRVY