I get dizzy when playing video games: causes, tricks, and solutions

If you've ever caught yourself thinking, "I get motion sickness when I play video games," you're not alone: ​​it happens to many players, and in fact, it's becoming more and more common. nausea, dizziness, or headache with certain titles, perspectives, or devices. It's not a mania or a whim: it has a very clear biological basis recognized by science.

In recent years, there has been a proliferation of testimonies from veteran users, streamers, and longtime fans who have had to put games on hold due to feeling ill after just a few minutes. This feeling often increases with first-person cameras, sudden changes of shot and virtual reality, although it can also occur in genres like driving or 3D platformers. The good news is that it can be mitigated with environmental, configuration, and habit adjustments.

What is motion sickness in video games and why does it occur?

Motion sickness (Kinetosis) occurs when there is a conflict between what the eyes see and what the vestibular and somatosensory systems perceiveIn real-life travel—on a boat, car, or plane—the physical swaying disrupts the body; in virtual experiences, this “movement” is simulated by the screen or headset while the body remains still, and the brain interprets conflicting signals.

En video games In modern games, the 3D environment is rendered on a 2D screen and the camera acts as your virtual eyes. Moving it with the right stick, mouse or even with gyroscopes and accelerometers, the brain thinks you're moving when you're actually sitting. When those sensory inputs don't match what's expected, some people go into a loop of nausea and discomfort.

There is no single isolated cause. The fast traveling shots, turns, sudden accelerations and camera swings, with particular emphasis on first-person perspective. How the scene is portrayed also matters: more realistic titles or those with certain visual effects can accentuate the discrepancy.

In addition, technical factors such as the frame rate stability and frame pacing —the temporal regularity with which the frames arrive—make the difference: unstable rates and irregular rhythms amplify that sensation of inertia and shaking that your body does not physically accompany, and it is also convenient to configure a good QoS for games and video calls.

Who is more susceptible: risk factors

Not all people react the same way to the same stimulus. Some people are more likely to experience motion sickness. Among them, Women show more susceptibility than men in population studies, possibly due to hormonal and autonomic response factors.

Age also counts. Motion sickness is usually appear around age 6 and reach a peak around age 9, with a subsequent decrease during adolescence due to habituation. In old age, paradoxically, it tends to be less common than at middle ages.

People with high aerobic conditioning They have been associated with increased susceptibility in some jobs, perhaps due to a more reactive autonomic nervous system; it's not an absolute rule, but it's good to know if you do a lot of endurance training.

The risk is also increased by vestibular pathologies, vertigo, Ménière's disease and migraines. In these cases, the threshold for symptoms to appear may be lower. Finally, the hormonal fluctuations of pregnancy and the menstrual cycle may increase sensitivity.

Common symptoms and warning signs

The most common symptoms are familiar to anyone who has ever experienced motion sickness: Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, headache, paleness, and drowsinessCold sweats, a feeling of instability, or an “upset stomach” may also occur.

There are early signs that warn you that it's time to stop: for example, unexpected yawns and repeated episodes can indicate that the brain is demanding more oxygen due to sensory overload. Detecting them early and taking a break prevents the episode from escalating.

In severe cases they may appear difficulty walking or postural instability for a few minutes. If this happens frequently or intensely, consult a healthcare professional to rule out underlying problems and receive specific recommendations.

When and with what games it appears most

The probability increases with first-person shooters, virtual reality experiences and games with highly mobile cameras, violent turns, or pronounced swings. The brain processes first-person differently than third-person, which explains why some people tolerate "back-to-the-character" games better.

The pace of the game itself influences this. Very fast-paced titles—think of deliveries with frenetic action in the style of a modern shooter— can be a challenge for those who are sensitive. However, in certain competitive situations such as Counter-Strike or ValorantMany players report less motion sickness due to minimal camera shake and a more “steady” view.

Other genres can also trigger symptoms: 3D driving and platforming, especially if they overuse speed and perspective changes. And in VR the problem is magnified: immersion is greater and, with it, the discrepancy between perception and actual movement.

Beyond the design, the technical finishes are important: Visual bugs, unstable frame rate, or poor frame pacing They translate into jerks and micro-cuts that your body “notices” as small jolts that don’t really happen, increasing the discomfort.

Adjust your gaming environment

Before touching on advanced game options, it's worth putting the space you're playing in your favor. These context shifts reduce sensory load and give your brain stable visual references, something key to minimizing conflict:

• If the screen is very large and takes up almost your entire field of vision, move away or use a smaller monitor. Leave elements of the environment visible (walls, furniture) so that the brain has “anchors” outside the image.
• Play in one well lit roomAvoid using the panel as the only light; add side lights or ambient lighting to reduce the contrast with the screen.
• keep space ventilatedIf opening windows makes it difficult to hear the audio, use headphones; on a console, you can connect them to the controller so you can hear the audio without turning up the TV volume.
• Position yourself so that you have a horizon or fixed point visible (monitor frame, edge of a shelf) that helps you stabilize your gaze in intense moments.

In-game and hardware settings

A good handful of graphical and control options can make all the difference. The goal is smooth movements, stabilize frame rate and remove effects that deceive your eyes. Start here:

• Disable Motion Blur (motion blur). This artificial trail during turns and acceleration adds visual confusion.
• Adjust the mouse or right stick sensitivity. Lowering it reduces camera whip and makes turns more progressive.
• work the FOV (field of view): A too narrow FOV “tunnels” the image; a moderate FOV often alleviates the tunneling and dizziness sensation.
• Check the depth of field and draw distance. Aggressive DOF that blurs the background can distort your perception; adjust or disable it, and if the game allows it, increase the draw distance to avoid annoying pop-in.
• If the option exists, reduces or eliminates camera roll and head-bobbing. You can also disable gyroscopes if they cause involuntary movements.
• When it is possible, switches to third personFor many sensitive players, this perspective is less problematic.
• I bet you high frequencies and stable frame rate. On high-resolution monitors, low resolution or low-quality graphics, to maintain a consistent cadence; this regularity dilutes the sensation of back-and-forth.

Some games, such as those that care a lot about accessibility, offer preconfigured profiles with “comfortable camera”, fixed indicators or filters designed to reduce motion sickness in sensitive individualsTake a look at those sections: they usually hide exactly what you need.

What to do if you start getting dizzy while playing

If you notice the first warnings, it is best to interrupt the session and reset to the body. Forcing yourself almost never helps and can actually prolong the discomfort. These actions usually work well:

• stop the game and stand up. Walk slowly, look at a fixed point, and breathe deeply through your nose, exhaling slowly through your mouth.
• Hydration: Drink water or a light beverage. Staying hydrated helps ease nausea.
• Avoid moving your head too much for a few minutes; the vestibular receptors are there and you want to decrease their stimulation.
• Apply acupressure on point P6 (three finger widths above the wrist crease, between the two major tendons). Continuous gentle pressure may relieve nausea in some people.
• Fresh water on the face or on the temples. This cold stimulus reduces the sensation of heat and dizziness.

If you're going to take it up again, do it with short sessions and specific objectives: a mission, a level, or a section. Frequent breaks allow the sensory system to "repair" signals before the discomfort reappears.

Habits and tricks that add up

Some everyday behaviors help reduce the likelihood of motion sickness. Many also work when traveling, where the phenomenon is the same: manage gaze and movement to minimize sensory discrepancy.

• Evita reading on the move or play mobile games while traveling; if you're a passenger, look ahead as if you were driving and seek a stable horizon.
• In a car or bus, try to get the driver to avoid sudden braking and acceleration, high-speed speed bumps and poorly drawn curves.
• La pleasant music and a calm breathing rhythm reduce the anxiety associated with nausea.

Remedies and pharmacological treatment

Ginger has been traditionally used as mild antiemetic and can act as a "vomiting interrupter" for some people. Specific infusions or preparations can be helpful in mild episodes.

For recurrent or severe cases, there are useful medications that should be prescribed based on medical criteria. Families with the greatest evidence of motion sickness include anticholinergics, antihistamines, and sympathomimeticsConsult a healthcare professional to assess the risks, benefits, and possible side effects; self-medicating is not a good idea.

Virtual Reality: When to Avoid It and How to Get Used to It

VR increases immersion… and with it, the risk of motion sickness. If you already get motion sickness easily when playing on TV, you're likely to an HMD is not a good investment First of all: today technology has limits and not everyone tolerates it well.

That said, there are those who manage to get used to it with practice. Starting with slow experiences, short sessions, frequent breaks, and activated "comfort" options can gradually increase your tolerance. The process can take weeks or months of gradual exposure, and there will be titles—especially those with extremely fast movements—that will continue to be difficult.

There are peripherals that try to "inform the body" that you are moving (omnidirectional belts, haptic systems, etc.), but for now They are expensive and impractical solutions For the average user. Before taking the plunge, try it at a friend's house or a specialized store and listen to your body.

Real-life experiences: Why it can happen to you even if you've been playing all your life

Even players with decades of experience can suffer these episodes. Some people remember their first yellow card in a first person shooter Years ago, in a hot room with a large tube TV nearby: narrow caves, banging against walls, sweating, nausea… stop now.

More recently, content creators with thousands of followers have shared how titles with nerve chambers or cave sections have been forced to stop playing due to physical discomfort. It is enough that the combination of camera, pace and technical finish - including the frame rate stability and frame pacing—aligns itself so that the brain “says enough.”

Fortunately, today we have higher refresh rate TVs and monitors, games with accessibility options, and a broader understanding of what settings and habits They work. Although you don't need to play everything: there are thousands of alternatives with more stable cameras and better-feeling rhythms.

Quick prevention checklist

If you want a pocket guide to start improving now, apply this combo: comfortable environment, key adjustments and pauses.

• Environment: ambient light, ventilation, screen at an adequate distance, visual references outside the image.
• Game: without Motion Blur, low camera sensitivity, moderate FOV, mild DOF, third person if possible.
• Technical: prioritizes stability FPS and frame pacing; lower quality or resolution if necessary to maintain uniformity.
• Habits: regular breaks, controlled breathing, water on hand and stop at the first signs.

If you often get motion sickness while playing or traveling, remember that it is not a quirk or a “weakness”: it is a normal consequence of a clash between sensesWith environmental adjustments, configuration changes, shorter sessions, and, if necessary, professional help and/or safe remedies, you can enjoy your favorite games with much less hassle.

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Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.