Quake (and Quake II) Motion Sickness: Why It Happens & What Helps
Quake and Quake II are first-person shooters, and both enhanced releases come with comfort options. Quake II lists a field of view slider from 75 to 125, a View Bob toggle and switches for motion blur and depth of field. Quake has a Screen Flash Amount setting, and its 30th Anniversary Update made weapon bob a separate option from view bob.
PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch · first-person · Has comfort settings · Player-reported motion-sickness risk: commonly reported by motion-sensitive players.
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Risk levels summarise what passengers and riders commonly report, not measured testing.
Key facts
- Quake (and Quake II) runs on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
- The camera is first-person.
- Player reports place it in the moderate band for motion sickness.
- The game ships a full set of comfort settings.
- 8 specific settings are listed on this page, starting with View Bob (Quake II).
Before your next session with Quake (and Quake II): Dizzout runs on your phone: pause, move your headphones over and press play, with relief in about 90 seconds.Starts in your browser · works with any headphones
Calm game nausea. Get your personalized Dizzout plan. Paid subscription for full access.
On your phone? Scan to start there.
Why Quake (and Quake II) can trigger motion sickness
Both games keep you in first person while you move, turn and fight. Bethesda's Quake II guide lists a bobbing effect when moving, and motion blur and depth of field as visual enhancements. Can I Play That says players can adjust field of view and switch off view bob, depth of field and motion blur, and that these can prevent some triggers for motion sickness.
- View bob: a back-and-forth bobbing effect while you move
- Motion blur and depth of field, which Quake II lists as visual enhancements
- Screen flashes from onscreen effects and muzzle flashes
Before your next session with Quake (and Quake II), have Dizzout ready
Calm game nausea
Dizzout runs on your phone: pause, move your headphones over and press play, with relief in about 90 seconds. It plays precisely calibrated audio through any headphones you already own, wired or Bluetooth. Free to download.
Get your personalized Dizzout plan. Paid subscription for full access.
30,000+ travelers in 30+ countries · How we count
On your phone? Scan to start there.
Comparing apps first? See how the motion sickness apps compare
Comfort settings in Quake (and Quake II)
Quake (and Quake II) ships a full set of comfort settings.
| Setting | Where | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| View Bob (Quake II) | Options > Gameplay Options | Turn it off to stop the back-and-forth bobbing while you move |
| Field of View (Quake II) | Options > Video Options | Raise it a few steps at a time. The slider runs from 75 to 125 |
| Visual Enhancements: motion blur and depth of field (Quake II) | Options > Video Options | Switch off motion blur and depth of field. Muzzle flashes can be switched off here too |
| Screen FX Intensity (Quake II) | Options > Accessibility | Lower it to reduce the opacity of onscreen effects |
| Crosshair Settings (Quake II) | Options > Gameplay Options | Set a crosshair style, scale and color you can see, so your eyes have a fixed point |
| Mouse sensitivity (Quake II) | Options > Input Options | Lower the horizontal and vertical sliders so turns are slower |
| Screen Flash Amount (Quake) | Options > Accessibility | Lower it to reduce the intensity of screen flashes |
| View bob and weapon bob (Quake) | In-game settings | Switch both off. Weapon bob has its own toggle since the 30th Anniversary Update |
One guide explains these settings for every game: how field of view, motion blur, head bob and camera shake trigger motion sickness.
Know someone who gets motion sick?
Send them the app that helps stop it, drug-free, in about 90 seconds, works with any headphones. Free to download.
Settings or an app: which one do you need?
In-game settings
Field of view, camera shake and motion blur fix the cause on screen, where the game offers them.
Dizzout
Sound therapy through any headphones, for when the nausea has already started. Eyes open or closed, on any phone, with relief in about 90 seconds.
What helps beyond the settings
- Switch off View Bob, motion blur and depth of field first, then change one more setting at a time
- Raise the Quake II field of view slider a few steps at a time and test each change
- Look at something still and far away until it passes, and try slow breathing
The fixes people reach for once they step away from the screen are covered separately, with the trials attached: the remedy verdicts.
Frequently asked questions
Does Quake have a motion sickness setting?
Neither game has a setting with that name. Quake II has a View Bob toggle, a field of view slider from 75 to 125, and switches for motion blur and depth of field. Quake has a Screen Flash Amount setting, and its 30th Anniversary Update added a separate toggle for weapon bob next to view bob.
Where is the field of view slider in Quake II?
Bethesda's Quake II accessibility guide lists it in the Video Options menu, with a range from 75 to 125. The guide does not give a default. The opened sources do not show a field of view slider for the original Quake.
How do I turn off head bob in Quake?
In Quake II, open the Gameplay Options menu and switch off View Bob. Bethesda describes it as the back-and-forth bobbing effect when moving. For Quake, the 30th Anniversary Update notes mention view bob and a separate weapon bob toggle, but they do not name the menu, so check the options screens.
Add the Quake (and Quake II) comfort badge to your site
For wikis, guides, Discord servers and stream panels. The badge shows this page's risk rating and links here for the settings.
Other game motion-sickness guides
Sources & further reading
- https://bethesda.net/en/article/3v0hSLOuXLhA2QhYEwA9pC/quake-ii-enhanced-accessibility-options
- https://bethesda.net/en/article/6T3szIl3glXb4fNcC9FCYx/quake-update-3-release-notes
- https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2310/view/1840310314342808
- https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2310/view/4224936215384179641
- https://caniplaythat.com/2023/08/10/enhanced-quake-ii-released-with-accessibility-guide/
- https://store.steampowered.com/app/2310/
- https://store.steampowered.com/api/appdetails?appids=2310&l=english&cc=us
Your next question, probably
Can you build tolerance?
Graded exposure, honestly assessed, so you can keep playing
Not your question? Is it your screen or your headset?
Based on publicly reported player experiences and each game's documented settings, as of October 2026. Settings menus change with updates, so check your version. Game names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Motion-sickness sensitivity varies by person, so this is informational, not a game review or a substitute for a doctor's advice.