Disclosed herein are systems and methods for respiration-controlled virtual experiences. In an embodiment, a controller presents a virtual experience via a user interface that is perceptible to a user. The controller receives a respiration-data stream from a respiration device with which the user is operably engaged. The respiration-data stream includes one or more respiration-parameter values of one or more respiration parameters associated with ongoing respiration of the user. The controller updates the virtual experience based at least in part on the one or more respiration-parameter values in the respiration-data stream. The virtual experience includes a plurality of sequential phases that have an associated phase sequence. Among the sequential phases is an active-induction phase that corresponds in time to the user receiving anesthetic induction via the respiration device, as well as one or more phases that each precede the active-induction phase.