It can be a struggle to get motivated to work out. While fitness enthusiasts may love the pain, sweat, and discomfort that comes with pushing one's body to improve, many people hate the very idea of these things, working out reluctantly if at all.
Like pretty much everything else in the modern world, gamification inevitably came to fitness, building entire games around exercising. The great news is that many of these games can actually be a blast to play while one works up a sweat. Whether going for a jog in a fantasy kingdom or practicing one's martial arts against faceless assassins, fitness games give players a way to exercise and have some fun while they're at it. Here are some games that can give players an intense workout.
7 Ring Fit Adventure
The Nintendo Switch's RPG-lite Ring Fit Adventure uses a ring peripheral and has plenty going for it. It's cartoony and gorgeous, including runs through interesting fantasy environments as well as battles against a variety of monsters.
Mini-games, a cool setting, RPG elements, and top-notch execution wouldn't mean much, however, if this fitness game didn't actually help players work up a sweat. It does. The brilliance of Ring Fit Adventure is that its game aspects are executed so well that the player won't even mind the strenuous workout they're getting, progressing through this fitness game's story as they do.
6 Fitness Boxing
Another fitness entry for the Switch, Fitness Boxing doesn't require any peripherals, so players who already own the system have everything they need to give this workout game a go. Fitness Boxing is a rhythm game, so any fans of Dance Dance Revolution will be instantly at home with the game's onscreen layout. The main difference is that rather than requiring fast footwork, Fitness Boxing focuses on various punches and dodges.
Just like in real boxing, form is essential, a fact that the game isn't shy about reminding players, making sure they get the best workout they can from their gaming experience. Fitness Boxing is an excellent option for gamers looking to work some cardio into their gaming routine, even if they aren't a die-hard fighting game enthusiast.
5 Just Dance
Finding a home on a variety of systems is Just Dance, a colorful and playful fitness alternative for anyone who finds the idea of fight-based gameplay a little daunting. It's easy to feel a bit silly at first as one busts their best moves to the beat of Top 40 pop music, but given the quality of the workout involved, looking a little ridiculous is more than worth it.
Since even a good music catalog can become rather annoying if one is forced to listen to it on repeat, Just Dance is kind enough to include a greatly expanded song library for players who are willing to pay a little more. Just Dance provides an excellent workout experience overall, so it's nice to have at least the option of more music for players who decide this game is one they'd like to stick with long-term.
4 BoxVR
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Fighting fans who are looking for something more immersive than Fitness Boxing may want to check out BoxVR. As the title suggests, this is a VR boxing experience, requiring a PC, PS4, or Oculus Quest to play. The gameplay mostly consists of punching a stream of brightly colored orbs that shoot at the player against a backdrop of one of the game's several detailed environments.
There's no question that BoxVR makes for an immersive workout experience, doing a better job than almost any other game in the category on that front. One of the biggest and least surprising drawbacks of any VR fitness game is the sweat factor. Choosing the right headset is imperative since the added weight can easily work up a sweaty brow before the player is too far into their workout. Despite that drawback, BoxVR provides a satisfying and consistent fitness experience.
3 Beat Saber
What's better than music? Music plus the opportunity to whack things with a laser sword. Beat Saber is another VR fitness title that executes its simple premise to perfection. Escalating difficulties and complex movements give determined players something to master, but the basic concept of "swing swords, hit blocks" makes the game a breeze for anyone to get into.
Another massive point in the game's favor is its standout style: mixing neons against a minimalist black background and simple geometric shapes makes the player feel like they've fallen into the weird Tron crossover they never knew they needed. It's amazing how much of a difference visuals can make in a fitness game, and Beat Saber proves that with the right look, players will be willing to stick around for a workout much longer, making better gains because of it.
2 Pistol Whip
Even in some of the best fitness games, it can be hard to forget that one is basically just flailing around in their living room, looking splendidly awkward as one burns calories on the way to achieving one's workout goals. Pistol Whip smashes that trend by putting the player in the shoes of an action hero and giving them the task of dodging, shooting, and otherwise smashing and blasting their way through waves of bad guys.
This VR action shooter has some of the most stylish visuals in all of fitness gaming, and it's easy to understand its popularity based on that alone. With a gorgeous, high-contrast style, thumping music, and plenty of baddies to gun down, it's easy to stay focused on the task at hand rather than get distracted and quit early. Above all else, Pistol Whip is just fun, never leaving the "gaming" part of "fitness gaming" behind.
1 Zombies, Run!
In any genre, tropes begin to develop. Over time, games fall into a comfortable rhythm, rarely breaking away from established trends. Then something comes along that shakes things up. Zombies, Run! is one of those games in the field of fitness gaming. Zombie, Run! is a phone game intended to liven up the real-world jogging and running experience.
As the player runs, they listen to a series of scripted recordings detailing humanity's struggle with the zombie apocalypse. Thankfully, the right voice actors got involved. The player collects pick-ups as they run, allowing them to develop their community, and the radio play is periodically interrupted by the appearance of zombies, prompting the player to do their best to escape. From concept to execution, Zombies, Run! is one of the best fitness games around, and since the workout takes place in the real world, the player will never run out of scenery.