Influence of continuous navigation modes on the immersive experience in a virtual supermarket

Introduction Virtual reality has established itself as an effective tool for analyzing user experience and simulating everyday activities. However, there are still many questions remaining, such as how the type of movement in immersive environments influences this experience. The present study evaluated these variables in a virtual supermarket developed for Oculus Quest 2, with the aim of comparing the perceptual and cognitive experience under two navigation modalities: locomotion and joystick. Methods Twenty-two young adults (18–32 years old) participated in both groups. Usability (SUS), presence (PQ), everyday memory (PRMQ), and cybersickness (CSQ-VR) questionnaires were administered, all with moderate and high reliability (α = 0.685–0.912). Results The results showed high levels of usability in both conditions (SUS ≥79), with no statistically significant differences between navigation modes (p = 0.521). Natural presence was significantly higher in locomotion mode (6.17 vs. 5.47); however, this result should be interpreted with caution, as it was derived from exploratory subscale-level analyses (p = 0.038). Cybersickness symptoms remained low (p > 0.05). A very strong positive correlation was also observed between usability and presence in the joystick group (ρ = 0.902; p < 0.001), indicating that interaction fluidity enhances immersion. Discussion Both modes were ergonomic and safe, although with distinct profiles: physical locomotion increased perceptual naturalness, while the joystick reinforced the relationship between ease of use and immersion. These findings provide empirical evidence on how movement modulates the immersive experience and propose an experimental model, with implications for the design of virtual environments applicable to different populations in the future.