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Start by reducing camera movement and visual effects, then adjust field of view and look sensitivity one setting at a time. Take a break as soon as symptoms begin. These changes help some players, but there is no setting that makes every game comfortable for everyone.
Why first-person horror can make you feel sick
In a first-person game, the view may bob, sway, shake, blur, or turn while your body stays still. That mismatch between what your eyes see and what your body senses can contribute to motion sickness. Microsoft describes camera and screen movement as a possible barrier to play in its Xbox Accessibility Guideline 117; it is design guidance, not a clinical treatment recommendation.
Symptoms can include dizziness, nausea, headache, sweating, pallor, and vomiting. People differ in which symptoms they experience and how intense they are, and there is no established population rate specific to first-person survival horror games. The NHS overview of motion sickness provides general symptom context, while a 2024 qualitative study documents varied player experiences rather than estimating how often all players become sick.
Adjust settings in this order
Option names and availability differ by game and platform. Check the game’s video, accessibility, camera, and control menus; if you play on a console, its system accessibility settings may offer relevant options too. Change one setting at a time, then try a brief section of play and see whether it helps. This is a practical way to identify your own preferences, not a method validated by the cited studies.
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1. Reduce camera movement and screen effects
First look for camera bob, head bob, weapon sway, camera shake, automatic camera movement, motion blur, and other moving or distorting screen effects. Turn off or reduce one option at a time. These features can make the view move independently of your input; Microsoft’s guideline specifically calls out adjustable camera field of view, camera bobbing, motion blur, weapon sway, and automatic camera-angle changes as important accessibility considerations.
2. Experiment with field of view
There is no universally comfortable field-of-view (FOV) value. If the game provides a slider, adjust it in small increments and test each change from your usual screen distance. A wider view may suit some players, while a very wide setting can look distorted or “fishbowl-like”; a lower angle may feel better for others. Microsoft recommends letting players choose a view suited to factors such as viewing distance, rather than prescribing one value.
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3. Slow down look sensitivity
If quick turns or small inputs make the view swing too abruptly, try lowering horizontal and vertical look sensitivity. Some games let you adjust the two axes separately; others combine them. Aim for a response that feels controllable without making it difficult to look around or react.
4. Try another perspective if the game offers one
A third-person view may feel more comfortable because you can see the character and the camera’s movement relative to them. In a 2024 qualitative study of players’ experiences with gaming sickness, some participants described third-person perspective as helpful. That is evidence of individual experience, not a guarantee that switching views will prevent symptoms.
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Know when to stop
Stop playing when symptoms start rather than trying to push through them. Leave the game and allow time to recover before deciding whether to resume. The 2024 qualitative study reports that players commonly quit to recover, and Apple’s Vision Pro motion-sickness guidance also advises stopping when unwell and consulting a provider for severe or persistent symptoms. Apple’s advice is for its headset, not a game-specific protocol; seeking clinical advice for severe or persistent symptoms is a cautious step.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the evidence does—and doesn’t—say
Microsoft’s accessibility guidance supports offering adjustable camera and visual settings, but does not show that a particular change will work for every player. The 2024 qualitative study describes how some participants used settings and perspective changes, while others still could not play certain games comfortably; it does not establish prevalence or prove that an adjustment will work for you.
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A 2021 study found that a visual guide reduced sickness in specific virtual-reality first-person-shooter experiments. Because those experiments involved a headset and particular study conditions, they do not establish that a crosshair or guide reduces sickness during ordinary play on a monitor or television. Likewise, travel and simulator guidance from the CDC Yellow Book and remedies discussed by the NHS do not establish that ginger, medication, acupressure bands, fans, or other purchases treat sickness from playing first-person horror games.
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