In this time of home working and limited movement, even those who’re happiest sprawled out on the sofa or in front of a screen will be feeling the urge to get moving. Thankfully, the video game community has long been refining the home workout experience with titles that seek to improve a player’s mental wellbeing, physical strength, flexibility, and cardio endurance.
The best fitness and exercise games manage to do something that our PE teachers never could – they make working out fun. Through a clever combination of story progression, mini-game challenges, head-bopping soundtracks, awards, and leaderboards, these games tap into the spirit of gaming and switch it up to encourage even the most inexperienced of participants to keep going and enjoy the experience.
Plus, they take up less space than exercise bikes!
In recent years, game developers have opened up the exercise game field. Not only are the games varied in their approach to fitness, but they offer up varied intensities and difficulties of workout too. So, no matter whether you’re an exercise newcomer looking to ease into physical activity, or a dedicated gym bunny looking for an alternative workout fix, there’s going to be something out there for you.
In the name of physical wellbeing, we’ve closed down our marathon Animal Crossing session and booted up some exercise games. We’ve boxed. We’ve danced. We’ve sweated. We’ve collapsed. All in the name of discovering the very best exercise games.
You’ll notice that boxing games are a really common sight within the exercise gaming field. The sport translates well to the small screen, combining fitness principles perfectly with a competitive gaming experience. You may also notice that the Switch appears heavily in this list. Because of its Joy-Cons, the Switch has a modular nature, allowing it to be used in all sorts of inventive ways.
Here are our picks of the best fitness and exercise video games available today.
Please note: Some titles may require specific peripherals, accessories, and controller configurations. Always double check!
Best Exercise Games
Description
In Arms, your punches are thrown at the player's opponent across rings on springy arms that mix the typical brawler punch-up with shooting game distance tactics to create a wacky and cartoonish boxing game. If you're looking to get moving and flexing with a light workout, then the joys of Arms might just be for you. It's one of the best Switch games for kids, too.
2.
Beat Saber
Description
MultiAddictive and physically exhausting, Beat Saber will have you wielding two virtual swords and swipe-smashing oncoming blocks the relentless rhythms. Dodging sidesteps and crouches keeps the pace varied, and chaining together moves feels nothing short of epic. It's so absorbing, you won't even realise you're working out. Bonus: There's a tonne of extra music packs available, giving players access to music catalogues from Panic! At The Disco, Imagine Dragons, Green Day, and more. Download for PSVR / Download on Steam
Description
No points for working out that Fitness Boxing is a boxing fitness game. Starting out with your basic boxing jabs, cross strokes, hooks, and uppercuts, the game slowly builds the intensity and complexity of the player's actions before moving on to defensive and evasive movements. Fitness Boxing has a customisable intensity setting, offers focussed and general fitness routines, and provides an estimated calorie burnt count. It's a simple premise, but it works really well and sure gets the blood pumping. This is one of the best, without a doubt.
Description
The clever so-and-sos over at Nintendo have done it again. By mixing goal focussed adventure gameplay with well-executed and accurately tracked exercises, they've succeeded in bringing out one of the best fitness games of all time. You'll complete cardio, strengthening, and yoga exercises to win battles and mini-games, following accurate guides and on-screen prompts and building up quite the sweat. For those looking for a more traditional workout, Ring Fit Adventure also offers routines designed for specific fitness goals. The Switch's JoyCons are clipped into a leg strap and Nintendo Ring to capture the player's real-life movements accurately.
Description
Remember Dance Dance Revolution? Well, Just Dance is the game's spiritual descendent. Now synonymous with fitness video games, the game series is great at getting even the most reluctant player bouncing around their living room. You don't have to know how to dance, you don't need to know that songs; your heart will be pounding, you'll be sweating, and you won't even care. There are 40 songs included in this version as standard, but if you subscribe to Just Dance Unlimited you'll have streaming access to over 400 additional songs.
6.
Boxvr
Description
Boxvr takes on the boxing fitness genre by focusing away from the one-on-one competitive nature and to timed, rhythmic routines to music. The routines are designed by professional health instructors, and vary in intensity and duration, with some even pushing past the one hour mark. The boxing sequences are really effective, but where Boxvr shines is in the ability to customise your playlists, allowing you to handpick the songs that'll keep you punching on through. Download for Oculus / Download on Steam
Description
It's time to hit the club in the best way possible – without actually having to go to the club. Dance Central jets you off into a virtual dance club scene, giving you the chance throw some choreographed shapes to chart-topping 'bangers' from the likes of The Chainsmokers, Justin Bieber, Salt-N-Pepper and Cardi B. While the player is busy vibing on moves like the 'Shoulder Shuffle' and 'Flexing', the game will be counting up the calories burnt so when the party's over, they can see the results of their efforts. This is a really fun one.