Camera control explained
In many 3D games, you control two things at once: where your character walks, and where the “camera” looks. The camera is the view you see on screen. Most games use the left stick to walk and the right stick to turn the camera. This takes practice, and it is the part new players find hardest.
Why it feels hard
In real life, you turn your head without thinking. In a game, you do it with your right thumb while your left thumb walks. Your brain has to learn to do both together. This is a skill, not a talent. It comes with short, regular sessions.
Games with no camera control
Not every game asks you to steer a camera. Many games have a fixed view, or a flat 2D screen:
- Puzzle games, such as Monument Valley
- Building and farming games viewed from above, such as Stardew Valley
- Card and board games, such as Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
On our ratings, each game has a camera score from 1 to 5. A score of 1 or 2 means you do little or no camera work. Start with these.
How to practise
- Pick a game with a camera score of 2 or lower.
- Stand still. Move only the right stick. Watch how the view turns.
- Now walk forward with the left stick and turn gently with the right.
- Practise in an open, quiet area of the game with nothing chasing you.
- Stop after 15 minutes. Come back the next day.
Settings that help
- Camera speed. Look in Settings for “camera sensitivity” or “look speed”. Lower it if the view spins too fast.
- Invert camera. This flips up and down. If pushing up makes the view look down, turn “invert” on or off until it feels right. Either way is normal.
- Auto-camera. Some games, such as Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, use a helpful fixed camera.
Menu names vary by game. Look in Settings, Options or Controls.
First-person and third-person
- First-person: you see through the character’s eyes. Some people find this more tiring at first.
- Third-person: you see the character from behind. This is usually easier to follow.
Feeling dizzy
Some people feel queasy with fast camera movement. This is common, and it is not a sign that games are not for you. Try these:
- Sit further back from the screen, in a well-lit room.
- Lower the camera speed.
- Turn off motion blur and screen shake, if the game offers it.
- Choose games with fixed views.
- Take a break when you feel unwell.
See How to make games easier for more.
Is it worth learning?
Yes, if you want to play 3D games. If you do not, a large library of games needs no camera work at all. Both choices are fine.
Next steps
- Check the controller basics: How to use a controller
- Find games by comfort level: Game finder