Game companies are taking the health of their fans more seriously than ever before. Companies like Nintendo have made plans to improve the quality of life of players and when companies make games dangerous to the health of consumers players have stood up to demand better.
Games aren't just good for mental health, they can also help keep people psychically fit! The gamification of fitness has helped countless people get in shape and created an entire market for excellent fitness games.
10 Wii Fit Series
The one that started it all! Well, sort of. The first video game focused on fitness released for a major console was Yourself! Fitness back in 2004, three years before Wii Fit existed. It's more accurate to credit the series with starting the health game craze within the industry. The series is still popular today even with its age and newer titles offering better exercise challenges released.
9 Pokemon Go
When Niantic released Pokemon Go into the world it became a cultural phenomenon. Countless people went out to explore their neighborhoods and get as close to catching Pokemon in the real world as they could ever get. Pokemon Go doesn't just have lots of powerful Pokemon — it also has a step counter. Even Harvard has suggested that walking each day can greatly increase physical health and this game offers the perfect motivation to do so.
8 Fitness Boxing Series
Fitness Boxing is one of the newer fitness franchises to enter the ring. The first game was so popular on the Nintendo Switch a sequel was developed and released just two years later.
Unlike games like Punch Out and Arms, Fitness Boxing keeps a more fitness-focused approach to using shadowboxing for cardio exercise. The games offer various routines and instructors to help keep things fresh and entertaining.
7 Zumba Fitness Series
Created by Alberto "Beto" Pérez, Zumba is an exercise and fitness program that has dancing at its core. The Zumba series of video games have existed since 2010 and continues to have new releases. The interactive element of doing these moves in a video game makes it more exciting than just watching normal exercise videos.
6 Your Shape: Fitness Evolved 2013
This fitness game is still excellent many years after its original 2013 release. It is still one of the highest-ranked fitness games on Metacritic and it's easy to see why. The game lets players choose their monthly workout schedule, designs workouts to fit their fitness goals, and is far more fitness-focused over being a mini-game extravaganza most fitness games become. It's unfortunate that the game is only available on the failed Wii U but anyone who still has the old console and wants to get fit should hunt a copy down.
5 Just Dance Series
Just Dance is so popular it still released on the original Wii in 2020. The game lacks the focus on getting fit other games offer but it's hard to deny it brings a fun factor the others can't provide. Studies have shown playing Just Dance can burn the same number of calories as biking, swimming, and cycling. The game does offer a Just Sweat game mode (sometimes called Sweat Playlist) for players using the game to focus on working out.
4 Dance Dance Revolution
It's hard to find a game that can make players sweat like Dance Dance Revolution. There are so many releases in the series and it's easier than ever to get a dance pad to play the game. Even picking up an older console and a DDR game can be cheaper than buying exercise equipment.
Even bodybuilders have acknowledged how hard of a workout the game can be. The game having multiple difficulties makes it scale well for anyone getting into exercise. Just look at how fast experts can get at the game and try to tell us it isn't a tough workout!
3 Beat Saber
There's a good reason this game is one of the best selling VR games on the market. It's not only visually stunning but a difficult challenge at harder levels. Anyone with Beat Saber experience will know the game works up a sweat. Just set a timer, run through some songs, and get some of the most fun cardio exercises that exists!
2 Ring Fit Adventure
Ring Fit Adventure is so popular that companies have had a hard time keeping it in stock! It comes as no surprise that Nintendo innovated the fitness game market once more. The game has received countless positive reviews and even fitness buffs have admitted it can provide a challenging workout.
One of the best parts of Ring Fit Adventure that sets it apart from other fitness titles is the story. Players will be motivated to do their workout each day as they want to uncover more going on in the game's world. It offers a wide variety of exercises and its unique controller makes the game quirky and fun.
1 Zombies, Run!
Zombies, Run! is the most entertaining fitness app on the mobile games market. Released in 2012, the game has gained a total of 318 story missions for players to tackle over the years. The game has players running while listening to various audio narrations to learn the story of the game. Players must get supplies to help build their camp and fight off the zombie hoards.
The game has inspired multiple spinoffs and even a board game. The creators have even worked with the National Health Service and the American Journal of Medicine has given the game much praise. Anyone with a cell phone can play and who doesn't have one of those these days? Zombies, Run! is by far the best and most accessible fitness game around.