Space Engineers (and Space Engineers 2) Motion Sickness: Why It Happens & What Helps
Space Engineers is a sandbox where you build and fly ships in first person, with a third-person view that world settings can switch off. The Options menu has a field of view setting and a post-processing switch for bloom, vignette and chromatic aberration. A world setting called Enable Tool Shake makes drills and grinders move the ship, and Keen Software House changed it to off by default in the Prosperity update. Space Engineers 2 is a separate early access game and is not covered here.
PC, Xbox, PlayStation · first-person, with a third-person view · Partial settings · Player-reported motion-sickness risk: commonly reported by motion-sensitive players.
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- Moderate
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- Very high
Risk levels summarise what passengers and riders commonly report, not measured testing.
Key facts
- Space Engineers (and Space Engineers 2) runs on PC, Xbox, PlayStation.
- The camera is first-person, with a third-person view.
- Player reports place it in the moderate band for motion sickness.
- The game ships some comfort settings, but not a full set.
- 6 specific settings are listed on this page, starting with Field of view.
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Why Space Engineers (and Space Engineers 2) can trigger motion sickness
Your engineer moves freely with a jetpack in six directions, and a first-person view moves with you. With Enable Tool Shake on, ship drills and grinders move the ship while they work. Keen Software House warns that the field of view value is vertical, so numbers behave differently from games that use a horizontal value. The official wiki lists the options that matter, and the paths below follow its headings.
- Jetpack movement and ship flight in every direction from a first-person view
- Ship drills and grinders moving the ship when Enable Tool Shake is on
- Post-processing effects such as bloom, vignette and chromatic aberration
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Comfort settings in Space Engineers (and Space Engineers 2)
Space Engineers (and Space Engineers 2) ships some comfort settings, but not a full set.
The official wiki's Options page lists no head bob, camera shake or motion blur option. Tool shake is a per-world setting, so you may need to change it in the world you play.
| Setting | Where | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Field of view | Options > Graphics Options | Change it in small steps and keep the value that feels calmer. The value is vertical. The wiki suggests about 60 for a couch and TV and 80 or more for a desk and monitor. |
| Enable Post-Processing | Options > Graphics Options | Off. The wiki says it adds bloom, vignette, chromatic aberration and a faint dirty visor shine. |
| Enable Tool Shake | World Settings | Off if the ship jolting while you drill or grind bothers you. The wiki says this moves the ship and does not change camera shake. |
| Enable 3rd Person View | World Settings | Keep it on so the V key can switch between first and third person, then try third person if first person bothers you. |
| Show crosshair | Options > Game Options > UI | Set it to always visible, so your eyes have one steady point. |
| Mouse sensitivity | Options > Controls | Lower it so turns are slower. |
One guide explains these settings for every game: how field of view, motion blur, head bob and camera shake trigger motion sickness.
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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
- Turn off post-processing and tool shake, then set the field of view in small steps.
- Fly in short sessions and stop at the first queasy signal.
- Look at a still point far away when queasiness starts.
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 Space Engineers have a field of view setting?
Yes. The official wiki lists Field of view under Graphics Options. Keen Software House warns that the value is vertical, and that lower values look better on ultrawide screens.
What does Enable Tool Shake do in Space Engineers?
The official wiki says ship drills move the ship while mining, and ship grinders move the target block and the ship while grinding. It says camera shake is not affected. Keen Software House changed the setting to off by default in the Prosperity update.
Can I play Space Engineers in third person?
Yes, unless the world turns it off. The Enable 3rd Person View world setting controls whether the V key switches between first and third person. The wiki says switching is enabled by default.
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Other game motion-sickness guides
Sources & further reading
- https://spaceengineers.wiki.gg/wiki/Options
- https://spaceengineers.wiki.gg/wiki/World_Settings
- https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/244850/view/1839041357036343
- https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/244850/view/1797820624595909
- https://store.steampowered.com/api/appdetails?appids=1133870&l=english&cc=us
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Engineers
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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.