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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Neither 2D nor 3D games are inherently better. A controlled study found that stereoscopic 3D and virtual reality made players feel more present in a game than 2D did, but did not improve their overall attitude toward it. For players, the better choice depends on whether depth supports the game’s mechanics and whether its presentation is clear, comfortable, and accessible for them.
What the research actually found
Roettl and Terlutter’s 2018 peer-reviewed study tested the same simple, three-level jump-and-run game in three presentation conditions: 2D, stereoscopic 3D, and head-mounted-display virtual reality (VR). The main study included 237 players. Reported presence—the feeling of being located in the game environment—increased from 2D to stereoscopic 3D and from stereoscopic 3D to VR. But players’ overall attitude toward the game and their arousal did not differ across the conditions. Read the PLOS ONE study.
The distinction matters: feeling more immersed is not the same as liking a game more. The authors concluded that technological enhancement to 3D or VR does not necessarily lead to a better game evaluation.
Why the study does not settle 2D versus 3D for every game
This was a controlled comparison of one game, not a survey of players’ preferences across genres. Its results cannot establish whether players generally prefer 2D or 3D games, nor whether one format makes better platformers, shooters, puzzles, or adventure games. The authors specifically called for further research using other genres.
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It is also important to be precise about “3D.” The experiment compared 2D, stereoscopic 3D presentation, and VR for the same game. That is narrower than comparing all games with 2D or 3D art, camera angles, or world designs. A game can use 3D models while keeping movement on a 2D plane, for example; that is not the same presentation comparison as the study.
How to choose between 2D and 3D as a player
Does depth serve the game?
Depth can be valuable when a game asks you to judge space, explore a world, or move through it. If the game’s appeal depends on a tightly controlled plane or carefully framed action, extra depth may not add anything you want. These are practical questions about an individual game, not proven universal strengths of either format.
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Can you read the action comfortably?
Pay attention to whether you can judge position and timing and notice important visual information. Clarity depends on the game’s implementation and on the player; the cited study did not directly test readability across genres.
Does the presentation feel comfortable?
In a separate post hoc study with 53 students, participants reported more dizziness and motion sickness in VR than in the 2D and stereoscopic 3D conditions. This finding concerns VR in that study; it does not show that all 3D games cause those symptoms. If you know a particular display or visual effect bothers you, that personal response is a valid reason to choose another presentation.
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Does the game meet your accessibility needs?
Check the specific game’s controls, display options, and support for your needs rather than assuming its dimension determines accessibility. The European Commission-hosted 2023 AccessibleEU white paper on video-game accessibility provides guidance for developers, including adapted peripherals. A game’s actual features and the player’s needs matter more than a blanket rule that 2D or 3D is accessible.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the evidence cannot tell you
- It does not identify a population-wide winner or establish what players generally prefer.
- It does not show that 3D graphics automatically make a game more enjoyable; presence increased, but overall attitude did not.
- It does not establish that 2D or 3D is cheaper or easier to develop.
A separate 2014 peer-reviewed paper examined interviews, game metrics, and psychophysiology as ways to improve levels in a 2D platformer. It is evidence about methods for evaluating a particular game, not evidence that players prefer 2D over 3D. See the paper on evaluating 2D platformer levels.
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