Good news for those who think “Won’t VR make me sick?” or those struggling with getting motion sick quickly in VR!
After playing over 100 VR games, I’ve learned that titles beginners can safely enjoy are limited. Especially if you choose a motion-sickness-prone game first, you risk developing an aversion to VR itself.
So today, I’ll share basic VR motion sickness prevention and 3 recommended motion-sickness-free games (including some advice from a nurse). After reading this article, you should be able to fully experience VR’s charm without suffering from motion sickness!
3 Causes of VR Motion Sickness
VR motion sickness is simply put, symptoms similar to car sickness. It’s the same unpleasant feeling of nausea and headache you get when riding in cars or trains appearing while playing VR.
Motion sickness occurs due to contradictions between 3 types of information:
- Visual information - Scenery and object movement through your eyes
- Inner ear information - Body rotation and tilt sensed by semicircular canals and otoliths
- Body information - Gravity, wind, vibration and other physical sensations
For example, when playing a VR roller coaster game, the visuals show scenery rushing by at incredible speed with side-to-side swaying, but your actual body isn’t moving, feeling no gravity, tilt, or wind… creating information mismatches.
This causes your brain to be unable to process the information properly, resulting in VR motion sickness.
Immediate VR Motion Sickness Prevention
Here are 5 effective VR motion sickness prevention methods:
1. Improve VR Environment
Let’s start by improving the VR setup itself, the source of the problem.
Interpupillary Distance (IPD) adjustment is quite important. Move the lenses to where the image appears clearest. If misaligned, images appear blurry, leading to VR sickness.
Also, changing head straps is effective. Switching to the official Elite Strap or third-party products like BOBOVR increases stability and reduces sickness.
2. Recognize Warning Signs
Motion sickness has warning signs: dizziness, discomfort, headache, yawning. When these symptoms appear, pause play and take a break with hydration.
When I continue playing VR while sleep-deprived, I get discomfort and break into cold sweats. Once fully motion sick, you need to lie down for 30 minutes to an hour to recover. Stop immediately when you feel something’s wrong.
3. Use Motion Sickness Medicine
Candy-type motion sickness medicine (like Asada Ame’s Travelop) is effective. Some work even after sickness starts. However, be mindful of drug interactions and daily limits - follow dosage instructions properly.
4. Acupressure
An immediate method is pressing the Neiguan (P6) acupoint on the inner wrist. With palm facing up, it’s located three finger-widths from the wrist crease toward the elbow.
5. Build Tolerance
Ultimately, building tolerance might be the best prevention. Rather than playing for long periods immediately, start with just 10 minutes daily and gradually increase.
Key Points for Choosing Motion-Sickness-Free VR Games
While VR sickness prevention is important, choosing games less likely to cause sickness is most crucial!
Motion-sickness-free games have these characteristics:
- Minimal or teleport-based movement
- Fixed viewpoint
- No intense action
- Play at your own pace
- Can play seated
Here are 3 games meeting these criteria that I’ve actually played and am confident “beginners will be fine with these!”
Recommended Game #1: Demeo
In Demeo, you control figurines in tabletop dungeons, strategizing with friends on adventures
Demeo is a tabletop cooperative RPG where you basically play from a bird’s-eye view of a virtual table. You don’t need to walk around in VR - instead, you pick up and move pieces (figurines) on the table with your hands.
I got really hooked and played constantly for a while! It’s plenty fun solo, but playing with up to 4 people discussing strategies is exceptional.
Why Demeo is Recommended
- No movement - You don’t move through the game world
- Turn-based battles - No sudden movements, think carefully
- Full Japanese support - UI and subtitles fully localized
- Long-lasting fun - Sequel series available, plenty of free updates
It’s like playing board games with animations and effects, an experience only possible in VR. While the rules might seem complicated, I thought so too initially, but you can actually start without reading rules, plus there’s depth for beginners to casually enjoy.
Recommended Game #2: Real VR Fishing
Scenery recreated in Real VR Fishing. Photorealistic graphics with soothing ambient sounds
Real VR Fishing is a VR simulation game for authentic fishing in beautiful natural scenery. Over 40 locations across Korea, Japan, and USA are available.
The graphics are photorealistic, with detailed water reflections, mountain mist, and even fireflies at night, letting you enjoy healing scenery as if you’re really there.
Why Real VR Fishing is Recommended
- Playable seated - Basically just casting from a stationary spot
- Play at your pace - Relaxing just watching scenery even without catches
- Japanese fishing spots included - Familiar places like Izu and Hokkaido
- YouTube playback feature - Fish while watching favorite videos
When I recommended this to a friend who said “I get VR sick easily and it’s troublesome,” they were thrilled: “I played for 2 hours straight without getting sick at all!” The best part of VR is not having to clean up scattered fishing gear~
Recommended Game #3: Puzzling Places
Assembling a 3D jigsaw puzzle of an old Japanese shop in Puzzling Places
Puzzling Places lets you assemble miniature models of world landmarks and beautiful architecture precisely 3D-scanned, like jigsaw puzzles in VR space.
You might think puzzles sound boring… but VR’s Puzzling Places is exceptional!
Why Puzzling Places is Recommended
- Zero movement - Play seated without moving from your spot
- Super simple - Just grab and connect pieces
- Selectable piece count - From 25 to maximum 400 pieces
- Meditative immersion - Pleasant BGM and sound effects
Completed models appear life-sized before you for detailed appreciation. I often play before bed, and there’s a unique digital satisfaction - that clicking sound when pieces snap together is irresistible~
Conclusion: Overcome VR Sickness for an Enjoyable VR Life!
Today I’ve introduced VR motion sickness prevention and 3 recommended motion-sickness-free games.
VR motion sickness is certainly troublesome, but it’s fully conquerable with proper prevention and game selection. The 3 games introduced today are all titles I can confidently recommend to VR beginners.
- Demeo - For those who want strategic enjoyment
- Real VR Fishing - For those seeking relaxation
- Puzzling Places - For those wanting immersive experiences
For those who gave up on VR due to motion sickness, please try implementing today’s content. Start with short sessions and gradually acclimate to the VR world.
I support your wonderful VR life! Let’s enjoy the VR world together!