Highlights

  • Play Style: Choose between game-first Ring Fit Adventure or exercise-first Fitness Circuit for best gameplay experience.
  • Exercise Type: Pick games like Just Dance for dancing, or Fitness Boxing for boxing workouts tailored to your preference.
  • Accessibility: Ensure the game makes it easy to consistently exercise with rewards and easy-to-use features like in Ring Fit Adventure.

While getting in shape can be difficult, finding an exercise video game to help can be easy! Nintendo is known for supporting healthy gaming habits, periodically releasing accessories that involve movement and interrupting loading screens to remind people to take a break from gaming. With movement controllers and VR, there are more exercise video games than ever before, and Nintendo has been keeping stride.

The recommended amount of exercise per day is just 20 minutes, but that can feel like forever if there aren’t any points being earned, coins being collected, or a completion bar being filled. Luckily, gamers trying to be more active this year can look forward to dancing, fighting, and competing through the best exercise games on the Nintendo Switch!

Key Factors To Choosing The Best Exercise Games For The Switch

Out of all the consoles, the Switch probably has the most exercise games to choose from, so picking out a new one can be quite the task. Keep these factors in mind when choosing a new exercise game:

  • Play Style: Should it be a game first and exercise second, or the other way around?
  • Exercise Type: What kind of exercise should the game be encouraging?
  • Accessibility: How does the game make it easy to exercise consistently?

The Best Exercise Games On The Switch For 2024

Ring Fit Adventure game
Ring Fit Adventure
Best Overall Exercise Game For The Switch

Ring Fit Adventure is a role-playing game for the Nintendo Switch that aims to keep players in shape. The game comes with two accessories, a Ring-Con and Leg Strap, which work together with the Joy-Cons to let players journey through the game's dungeons and defeat monsters by doing workouts. 

Released
October 18, 2019
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence
Platform(s)
Switch
Developer(s)
Nintendo EPD
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Genre(s)
Sports
How Long To Beat
35½ Hours
Pros
  • Full-body workout
  • Ability to focus on different muscle groups
  • Customizable workouts and difficulties
  • Engaging worlds and combat systems
  • Provides motivation for a fitness routine
Cons
  • Not ideal for long, uninterrupted workouts
  • Not challenging for those with established fitness routines
  • Tedious side quests

When Ring Fit Adventure was first released, Nintendo struggled to meet demand as people quickly realized just how much exercise they could get while playing. Arguably one of the best exercise video games available, Ring Fit Adventure manages to make running in place feel rewarding while the full-on exercise moves are actually pretty fun, especially the victory pose at the end of each track.

The game comes with a resistance ring and a leg strap, both of which use the Joy-Cons to track movement. There are additional accessories too, but other than what’s in the box, all that’s needed is ample space to stretch out and move.

The difficulty can be adjusted slightly to force longer runs and more repetition, plus players can choose from a wide variety of exercise moves to use as attacks. What’s great about this selection is that there are four types of exercise moves, color-coded to let gamers know what they’re working on during their adventure: arms, legs, abs, and yoga. Not only do these options let players choose what to focus on, but they also allow for different levels of skill to begin the game. For instance, the yoga T-pose is much easier to do than 20 squats, yet both offer a physical challenge.

While people who are already very active and exercise regularly may find Ring Fit Adventure to be more of a warm-up, people who never exercise or only do light workouts will definitely feel the burn. Ring Fit Adventure is the perfect game for players who aren't totally out of shape but who don't normally exercise. It's great for building endurance and can help people new to exercise understand which parts of their bodies they should focus on and improve. For instance, a player may begin and find that running in place is no problem, but balancing the yoga poses is nigh impossible, while another player might only struggle with the hip movements.

Fitness Circuit
Fitness Circuit
Best Alternative to Ring Fit Adventure
$36 $50 Save $14

Fitness Circuit is a great game for enjoying working out. Featuring a virtual trainer, the goal of the game is simply to get players to workout for 10 minutes a day, three days a week. The low-commitment exercise game uses a mix of low and high-intensity workout routines to maximize the effects on players. Each routine can be tailored to player preferences, but there's also an online aspect where up to four friends can workout together online!

ESRB
E
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Publishers
Spike Chunsoft US
Number of Players
1-4
Pros
  • Up to 4-player online play
  • Quick and easy workout commitment
  • Doesn't require extra equipment
Cons
  • Motion control recognition could be better

Ring Fit Adventure is a few years old now, and it is showing no signs of being dethroned as one of the best exercise games around. However, Fitness Circuit made a respectable attempt and was able to become the new favorite for some gamers. Released in March of this year, the game is significantly cheaper than Ring Fit Adventure, though it’s missing the titular resistance ring accessory.

Fitness Circuit has a much more adult aesthetic, focusing on anime-style characters and challenges rather than the after-school-special vibes that Ring Fit Adventure has. The game itself offers quick workouts that maximize effects by alternating between aerobic and anaerobic exercises, though it does tend to focus on leg work more than anything else.

The game comes with Joy-Con leg straps, so it makes sense that most of its 45 different training moves involve squats. While the motion detection and strength training can’t compete with an integrated resistance ring, Fitness Circuit can be just as effective as Ring Fit Adventure for plenty of players, especially those who may be getting bored with the older title.

NINTENDO SWITCH SPORTS
Nintendo Switch Sports
Best Sports Exercise Game For The Switch

Nintendo Switch Sports was released in 2022 and is the latest entry in the Wii Sports sub-series, despite not having "Wii" in the title. 

Released
April 29, 2022
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Mild Violence
How Long To Beat
3 Hours
Platform(s)
Switch
Developer(s)
Nintendo
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Genre(s)
Sports
Pros
  • Online multiplayer options
  • Play as Mii
  • More sports than Wii Sports
Cons
  • Some controls aren't intuitive
  • Incompatible with Nintendo Switch Lite

In 2022, the long-awaited return of Nintendo's sports mini-games finally arrived in the form of Switch Sports. While the name may imply that there are tons of activities to do, the gameplay largely relies on the Joy-Con's motion controls. However, if exercise isn’t something that’s normally done, players may be out of breath sooner than they think.

Games like bowling and golf may not be very movement-based, but the rest of the activities can really make someone sweat. Chambara is especially active because who doesn’t want to play with swords? Plus, blocking and timing swings are fairly important during matches, so it’s easy for players to get caught up and start really lifting, tilting, and swinging their arms. Likewise, tennis and badminton get competitive fast, especially when playing couch co-op.

Soccer and volleyball offer a good medium between the nearly motionless games and the more intense ones, with gamers simply needing to lift an arm or leg in order to win. Overall, this variety of intensity is what makes Switch Sports an awesome exercise video game. No matter what level of fitness a player is at, they can have fun while burning a few calories!

Switch Sports is just barely an exercise game, meaning that it's the best place to start for gamers who are struggling to even begin working out. It's easy to go from flicking a wrist on the couch to standing while swinging an arm to full-body movements to avoid sword hits over the course of a few weeks. There's less pressure to be active but plenty of incentive to do so. After all, it's fun to see friends and family standing up to take their turn, being cheered on by the couch commentators, and besting other players in a more tangible way than with traditional game genres

Let's Get Fit
Let’s Get Fit
Best Personal Training Exercise Game For The Switch

Switch players can really get in shape with Let's Get Fit! Featuring pre-made workout programs ranging from soft gymnastics to high-intensity exercises, the game lets players track their progress with an in-game calendar. There are challenges to complete and an infinite number of custom workout routines ready to be tailored to specific fitness goals. With more than 100 fitness moves available, players can easily get a full-body workout.

ESRB
E
Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Publisher
Plaion
Number of Players
1
Pros
  • Offers 100 exercise moves
  • Players can customize fitness routines
  • Rewards players with achievements and trophies
Cons
  • Terrible graphics

Players who are ready to step up their at-home exercise game, but still can’t seem to get engaged with video or app-based training can get the personal attention they want through Let’s Get Fit. Although the game looks like it runs on an emulator, the gameplay itself is fairly thorough.

The game comes with 100 fitness moves, ranging from easy warm-ups to high-intensity moves that will really cause players to break a sweat. Each move can be reviewed beforehand, so gamers know exactly how to move their body. Players can follow specific fitness programs that last about 30 days, or create their own custom workouts and track their consistency on the in-game calendar. Players get scored, can see how many calories they burned, and can attempt to complete challenges for trophies and achievements. There’s even an online element ready to help friends compete and encourage each other as they work towards healthier living!

All in all, Let’s Get Fit is a great way to get the personal trainer experience on a budget and without leaving home.

just dance 2023 switch
Just Dance 2023 Edition
Best Dancing Exercise Game For The Switch

In the most recent version of Just Dance, players are able to dance alongside BTS with Dynamite and other top hits, including the likes of Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Glass Animals, Justin Timberlake, and many others. The updated user interface allows the user to spend more time dancing and less on the menus. Everything is just one click away.

The personalized experiences allow the unlocking of custom-made sessions and songs. Enjoy tailored experiences that fit specific playing habits and preferences.

Engine
Unity
ESRB
E For Everyone Due To Comic Mischief, Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Lyrics
Franchise
Just Dance
Released
November 22, 2022
Developer(s)
Ubisoft
Publisher(s)
Ubisoft
Genre(s)
Rhythm
Metascore
85
Platforms That Support Crossplay
PS5, Switch & Xbox Series X|S
Split Screen Orientation
N/A (Shared Screen)
Number of Players
1-4
Local Co-Op Support
1-6 Players
Pros
  • Online and offline options
  • Multiplayer for up to 6 players
  • Engaging story modes
  • Updated quality to visuals
Cons
  • Wheelchair mode only has 2 songs
  • Unable to create playlists

Just Dance 2023 doesn't reinvent the wheel, and that's okay. Gamers will be able to dance away their calories all the same. As with all Just Dance games, there’s plenty of color and style for eyes to feast on while dancing along to bangers like Britney Spears’s "Toxic." Ubisoft is still going along with their subscription-based songs, but players get 40 tracks when they purchase the game.

Possibly the best change is that users can now turn off the constant notifications and adverts for the Just Dance+ subscription service. Ubisoft has introduced another big change to their game: online matches. Yes, players can now sync up and have a dance battle against five others. Along with these changes, Just Dance 2023 also comes with a narrative mode that can force players to try songs they’d normally just skip over without a second thought, and there are expanded customization options for avatars, emotes, and more.

Finally, there’s plenty of gamification in use to keep players engaged and wanting to do their dancing exercise every day. Goals and checklists make it easy to track skills as they improve, and the songs have been organized a bit better to help players choose songs for workouts, partying, or more relaxing movements. Gamers who like good music and easy-to-follow dancing will have fun with Just Dance 2023.

Naturally, gamers should expect to be out of breath if they play this though. Just Dance 2023 will test players' aerobic capabilities as well as their endurance to keep moving to the beat for a solid few minutes. Some gamers might scoff at that, but there are plenty of other gamers who will feel the burn even within that short amount of time. Gamers who just can't seem to be motivated to exercise might find that the flashy lights and energetic music are enough to keep them engaged on a regular basis.

Zumba Burn It Up
Zumba! Burn It Up
Best Alternative To Just Dance

Burn up those calories while shaking it out with high-energy Zumba routines to chart-topping hits! Players control the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers to track movements as they learn from real instructors.

ESRB
Everyone
Publishers
505 Games
Pros
  • Very workout-focused
  • Fun for both beginner and experienced Zumba dancers
  • Aesthetically-pleasing presentation
Cons
  • Limited gamification
  • Limited song library

Zumba: Burn it Up is another dancing exercise game, but it’s more tailored to gamers seeking a solution to their workout routine problems. While Just Dance pumps up the volume on music and fun, Zumba: Burn It Up is closer to a video exercise than an exercise game.

First and foremost, the gamification is limited. There are of course some points to score and stars to have filled out, but players are mostly expected to follow the video moves to get their exercise in. Despite this, players familiar with Zumba will probably have a blast. The Joy-Cons do help track a user's body, and doing the moves correctly is key to scoring any points at all.

There are 30 songs to choose from and while they aren’t the most well-known hits, they are choreographed by real Zumba trainers who bring all the energy and excitement needed for this exercise routine. It can take some getting used to for players who aren’t familiar with going to a Zumba class, but it’s a fantastic way to acclimate to such a setting and maybe go join a class IRL someday.

The Zumba: Burn It Up exercise video game is perfect for players who aren’t interested in the flashy atmosphere found in Just Dance and would rather have a fun dancing game that focuses much more on getting an actual workout done. The game's goal isn't simply to get players moving, like with Just Dance, but rather to guide them through specific movements that target their hips, waist, and legs. It's excellent for very inactive gamers who would like to start taking their physical activity levels seriously, but aren't ready to jump right into running in place or mimicking a real sport.

Related
14 Best Dance Games, Ranked
Dancing and gaming go surprisingly well with each other, and here's a look at the best games that involve a bit of dance.
Fitness Boxing Fist of the North Star
Fitness Boxing: Fist of the North Star
Best Boxing Exercise Game For The Switch

Improve daily exercise habits, get into shape, and draw back the curtain on a new, legendary body! While retaining the basic features of Fitness Boxing, this latest installment adds characters and settings from the world of Fist of the North Star for truly effective workouts!

Platforms
Nintendo Switch
Released
February 3, 2023
Genre(s)
Fitness , Sports , Music
ESRB
E+10
Pros
  • Fun reskin to an already great exercise game
  • Uses just the Joy-Cons
  • The achievement system is a great motivation to keep playing
  • Battle mode
Cons
  • No leg workouts
  • Only a warm-up to more active players

While combining a famous manga and anime with a fitness game might seem like a weird choice, it actually isn't the first time that Fist of The North Star has done this. The spiritual predecessor to this game, Fighting Mania: Fist of the North Star, was a Konami arcade cabinet that had the players put on boxing gloves to play the game. While this version doesn't come with boxing gloves, it is still a great way to get the body moving, and even if people are not fans of Fist of The North Star, the characters are a great way to get motivated.

This game is basically a re-skin of the original Fitness Boxing game for the Switch, but instead of the pleasant Nintendo trainers walking players through the exercises it is instead coached by classic Anime characters with Popeye-esque arms and muscles. While the peaceful coaches of the first game were excellent motivators in their own right, something hits differently when Kenshiro (the show's protagonist) says, "Always focus on your abs." while he is more muscle than man.

The daily workout is the mode most players will find themselves coming back to. Gamers can set their fitness goals, choose what parts of the body they want to work on, and how active the exercises should be. But there is a battle mode that is unique to this version of Fitness Boxing. In this mode, gamers fight their way through a series of opponents from the anime. The gameplay in this mode is fairly similar compared to the daily workout, but it does help change the pace a bit when the exercises get boring.

arms game
Arms
Best Competitive Exercise Games For The Switch

Nintendo’s Arms is a unique fighting game where players have access to a roster of heroes with extendable, mechanical arms. Each fighter also comes with a slew of abilities that allow them to either heal or teleport across the game’s maps which are loaded with various environmental hazards. Arms can be played online or locally.

Platform(s)
Switch
Released
June 16, 2017
Developer(s)
Nintendo EPD
Publisher(s)
Nintendo
Genre(s)
Fighting
ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Cartoon Violence
Pros
  • Gets players moving
  • Competitive gameplay is a great way to stay motivated
  • Fun graphics and story
  • Different boxing mechanics than most other boxing games
Cons
  • Not a ton of gameplay
  • Only focuses on arms

Moving to an even more fantastical boxing game, Arms is an excellent option for any gamers who want a bit more of a competitive experience in their exercise games. Arms is jam-packed with fast-moving action, scenes of exploding color, and mechanics that reward practice and perfect timing making it a great way to easily get at least 20 minutes of exercise.

While this game can be played with a pro controller or in mobile mode, it really gets the blood pumping when playing it with the motion controls. However, the motion controls have a bit more of a learning curve compared to games like Fitness Boxing. Depending on how players feel about the skill ceiling being kind of high, this can be a pro or con, but for the sake of exercise, Game Rant sees it as a pretty big plus.

Besides the more cartoonish mechanics, Arms sets itself apart from other boxing exercise games, because of its competitive nature. Gamers who need outside motivation for exercise will find no short supply of motivation with this game. Players can challenge other boxers in online matches to test their skills, and despite the game being over five years old, the player base is still fairly active. Plus, there is a split-screen co-op mode for gamers who have an in-person exercise partner.

How To Pick Out The Perfect Exercise Game?

Play Style

Arguably, the play style of an exercise game is the most important part. If it's not a fun game, then it might as well just exercise in real life. Of course, this depends on the gamer's preference, but the crucial takeaway for this is, should the game be a game first and exercise second or vice versa?

For example, games like Ring Fit Adventure plays as a game first and a way to exercise second, with its deep lore and actual game mechanics that progress through a story. Knockout Home Fitness, on the other hand, is exercise first and a game second, with its main focus on the actual workout, and the only gamified feature is the "rewards" for logging in each day.

Exercise Type

A lot of the games mentioned in this list feature a variety of exercise types, but others mainly focus on one type of workout. Just Dance 2023 will give gamers a great dancing workout, but if they are looking for a strength training or yoga-type workout, it is not going to be a great game for them.

For those gamers who want to focus on a specific type of workout, be sure to check the description of the game before purchasing. And even though we are kind of out of the age of demos, a lot of Switch games still offer free trials to try out the game before purchasing, which is highly recommended.

Consistency

Any decent exercise game should encourage players to exercise regularly through elements like giving daily rewards and celebrating milestones. On top of this, accessibility is key. After all, what good is the game if it’s never played, or not played very often?

The ease with which players can jump in and get a quick workout done can be the difference between daily exercise and dusty exercise equipment. Even logging on for a few minutes of exercise is often enough to build on existing healthy habits.

More
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FAQ

Q: Is Nintendo Switch Sports good exercise?

Switch Sports won't get you moving around as some of the games talked about on here, but it is a great exercise game nonetheless. After a decently long session of volleyball or one of the higher-activity sports, it is easy to work up a sweat.

Q: Can Ring Fit replace a workout?

Ring Fit is possibly one of the best workout games to come out in recent years, and that is in large part due to the fact that it can actually replace a full-on workout. Most games, regardless of fitness level, will probably find themselves winded after playing a session of Ring Fit.

Q: Does Ring Fit Adventure count as strength training?

Ring Fit Adventure is a great mix of cardio and strength training. Running through the levels will get gamers warmed up, and the monster battles (especially boss fights) are a great way to work on strength.