VR Gaming as Meditation: Finding Inner Peace in Virtual Worlds

VR gaming has become a staple of my 2024 hobby routine, and I’ve discovered an unexpected benefit – its ability to serve as a meditation exercise. Initially, I was drawn to immersive experiences like Asgard’s Wrath, but soon found myself returning to rhythm games like Beat Saber and Synth Riders.

These titles have proven surprisingly meditative due to their simple, tactile gameplay and lack of distracting storylines or complex puzzles. For me, the rhythmic music and repetitive motions have become a form of white noise, ideal for clearing my head and calming my mind. This realization has led me to use VR more intentionally, particularly when I need to think through challenging problems or simply decompress after a long day.

The Meta Quest 3 has been instrumental in this process, offering improved controls, a better chip, and enhanced passthrough capabilities that allow me to stay hydrated while wearing the headset. This newfound freedom has greatly benefited my mental health and sense of space, making VR an ideal tool for mindfulness.

My experience with VR as meditation is not new; I first discovered its benefits during the 2020 lockdowns when caring for a sick family member. However, this year, I’ve come to realize that VR provides a meditative space intentionally, rather than stumbling upon it by chance. As someone who often overthinks and struggles with decision-making, VR has become an essential part of my self-care routine.

With my new Meta Quest 3, I’m excited to continue exploring the world of VR gaming and perhaps even discovering new titles that share its meditative qualities.

Source: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/vr/vr-gaming-was-one-of-my-favourite-hobbies-of-2024-and-its-because-ive-noticed-myself-using-it-as-a-meditation-exercise