Abstract: A system for translational navigation of an immersive virtual reality environment is provided. The system includes a head mounted display having a field of view of the immersive virtual reality environment displayed on a display of the head mounted display and at least one sensor for detecting an orientation of the head mounted display. The system includes a user input control for translating input from a user into a velocity of the user in a single direction within the immersive virtual reality environment. A control module is provided in communication with the user input control and head mounted display for limiting movement of a user through the virtual reality environment to a direction corresponding to a center of the field of view when a velocity input is detected from the user input control.