Imagine you could make exercise fun, convenient and easy?
Exergaming is an exciting and adventurous way to stimulate your brain, tone your muscles and get the workout your body needs in the comfort of your own home. You’ll use your body to achieve gaming objectives while you explore different worlds, take on competitors or learn new skills like dancing or boxing.
Exergaming is a combination of video games and physical fitness activities.
Playing fitness games has become more popular over the last few years. Many people enjoy it more than doing repetitive weight exercises in a crowded gym and the global pandemic with its financial implications has also forced many of us to find ways to keep fit at home.
This article is for you if you are ready to make a game out of losing weight, toning your muscles and feeling better about yourself. We will cover some of the best exergames on platforms like Nintendo, Wii Fit, PC and PlayStation.
A Health Journey with Ring Fit Adventure
Nintendo Switch has been one of the most inventive consoles when it comes to creating games to improve fitness and Ring Fit Adventure is right at the top of the list if you are looking for a game to tone your muscles and improve your fitness.
The gameplay is built around a ring, or Ring Con, which you’ll hold in your hands and use to direct your character and exercise while you go through different activities and worlds.
Every game starts with dynamic stretching to warm-up your muscles and prepare you for tackle workout activity with vigour. Movement and navigation around the game is intuitive and easy, and most people use a yoga mat to make their floor-related fitness activities during this game more comfortable.
Training can also be personalised by choosing the type of exercise you want to do and while you pull and squeeze your Ring Con, you’ll work towards defeating monsters through your running, core exercises, Pilates, squats and stretches.
Most of these actions are simulated virtual experiences to create your game character actions. So you won’t do real running in your living room, but you’ll make use of your Ring Con to determine the speed at which your character runs in the game.
This trailer will give you a clear idea around what you can expect:
This 2019 release game was updated in 2020 with a Rhythm mode, an update that will excite players who want to dance to the music of Nintendo games like The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Odyssey.
Ring Fit Adventure is the game for you if you are seeking health adventures through different worlds where your challenges against monsters lead to weight loss and toned muscles.
Just Dance to Burn Calories and Have Fun
Dancing has always been a creative and expressive way of getting cardiovascular exercise. Just Dance rewards you with points and you'll get a leaner, healthier body while you dance along to some modern, funky tracks.
It’s a great way to burn calories, keep your muscles and joints nimble and it will also challenge your mind.
Introduced by Nintendo Wii in 2009, its commerciality speaks for itself as other consoles like PlayStation, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch also have different versions of it. Gameplay is easy and every console requires motion equipment to track the movements you make while you try and match the character moves on-screen.
With new releases every year, the 2021 Switch edition promises to get you grooving to the benefit of muscles like your pectorals, triceps, biceps, thighs and glutes. You’ll also make extensive use of your abdominal muscles and strengthen your joints while moving your hips to the song of your choice.
The various difficulty settings also mean that it's suitable for beginners and experienced dancers alike. The game also allows dance junkies to purchase add-on songs, especially if they are interested in other music genres.
This is one of the best exergames to make you laugh, give you a light cardiovascular workout, help with releasing stress, burn calories and even teach you some new moves. It is a great way to socialise while you challenge friends or family members in a dance off.
Punch Yourself Fit with Fitness Boxing
Boxing can benefit your mind, body and spirit, and with Fitness Boxing you now have a game to master your punches without running the risk of getting a blue eye. Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons will be your new boxing gloves. They serve as motion controllers and you’ll hold them in your hands while you punch to the rhythm indicated on-screen.
The game has an introduction to each of the punches, you can choose from one of the 9 coaches.
It’s been proven that regular boxing is one of the best sports to improve your mood, cardiovascular health, improve hand-eye coordination, increase your muscle mass and improve endurance and stamina.
So give the couch potato a punch with this exciting exercise game and while you punch to the rhythm you'll gain some toned muscles and a mighty uppercut.
Wii Fit – More Focused Home Exercise
Today the Wii Fit is considered as a retro console, but the Wii Fit is still ideal for those interested in fitness games. Launched in 2009, the Wii Fit was hot on the heels of the Wii console release in 2008. The Fit edition brought some exciting functionality and accessories to enhance the fitness experience of gamers:
- The balance board
- Wii Fit workout kit
- Wii fit dumbbells set
- Wii resistance bands
Wii fit is able to take you through a range of exercises, and with over 40 different exercise games you can participate in exercise types like yoga, aerobics, strength training and balancing games.
Wii Fit plus will give you even more games, but be sure you have all the required accessories before you buy it. A virtual fitness coach will take the stress out of exercising and the creators of Wii wanted to make it accessible to beginners and experienced sportspeople.
You can easily compare these games in the below table:
| Title | Year | Platform | Accessories Required | Types of Exercise | Recommended for... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ring Fit Adventure | 2019 | Nintendo Switch | Ring Con and Joy Con | Running, arms, legs, core, minigames. | Anyone wanting to lose weight or tone muscle. |
| Just Dance 2021 | 2020 | Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Stadia | Joy Con or Move Motion Controller | Dancing. | Beginners looking to lose weight. |
| Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm and Exercise | 2020 | Joy Con | Joy Con | Rhythm-based boxing moves. | Those looking to burn calories and tone arm muscles. |
| Wii Fit Plus | 2009 | Nintendo Wii | Wii Balance Board and Wiimote | Yoga, aerobics, balance games. | Beginners looking to lose weight or improve their balance. |
Virtual Reality (VR)
Virtual reality gaming takes physical game playing to a new level. Most of these are more about physically involving yourself in playing the game than about getting exercise. You will however still get a good solid workout while you do real moves to perform the actions you need to take in the game.
The equipment can be a bit pricey. A VR headset is the basic accessory you need to immerse yourself in this innovative gaming world. Blaston is a PC and Oculus Quest game that makes you dodge bullets, move around and even jump. Until you Fall is another VR game released by PlayStation, PC and Oculus Quest where you are armed with a weapon in each hand to defeat enemies, block their hits and duck and dodge big swings.
Mario Tennis Aces is another game where you play tennis against your component on-screen, but you'll ultimately workup a little sweat. Developed by Nintendo Switch, you have the choice whether you move as far left or right as the character, but be sure you create a safe playing environment where you don’t run into furniture or walls.
Level Up Your Fitness
There are plenty of other games on the market to explore, especially if you are interested in virtual reality. We recommend you research the types of games you want to play before committing to a console. This will inform the type of investment you are willing to make and whether it's something you will use all the time.
The pandemic did however make fitness more accessible, affordable and easy by connecting personal trainers with clients on online platforms. Superprof lists personal trainers in and around your area and it might be cheaper than enrolling in a gym membership or buying an expensive new console.
With one of our trainers you can continue to exercise at home or organise online group training sessions with your friends. Most of our tutors also offer in-person classes in their area of residence and on their profile you can view reviews from previous students and their rates. You also have the benefit of personal trainers who can customise your training regime according to your fitness level, needs and budget.
Whether you choose Exergaming or a new personal trainer, we hope that your journey towards a more active lifestyle will leave you feeling better, more confident and happier.
Check out this article on rules about doping in sports here on Superprof.
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