Last Updated on March 3, 2020 by Jake
Due to the nature of video games, hardcore gamers are unfortunately prone to living a sedentary lifestyle. It’s well documented that physical activity is crucially important when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, and exercise video games are a perfect way to incorporate some physical activity into your routine.
Thanks to advances in motion control technology, there are many games that utilize motion sensory devices such as Xbox Kinect, Wii remote & PlayStation Move, and other interactivity accessories such as VR headsets, and balance boards to provide players with light to heavy workouts.
With the ever-growing popularity of VR and motion controllers, we expect fitness games to grow in popularity as well. Regardless of your preferred gaming consoles, there are tons of games that ensure you are physically active while you enjoy them.
Table of Contents
In this article, we are going to touch on the best exercise video games then go over the consoles and equipment you can use for exercise video games.
Reviews of the Best Exercise Video Games Titles
There are many excellent exercise video games to choose from. We have reviewed the best ones on the market which provide fun and a good workout. These games all use motion controllers such as the Wii remote & balance board, PS move, and Xbox Kinect. We’ll touch on that more later.
Your Shape: Fitness Evolved (for Xbox 360)
- The game contains workouts included a martial arts class lead by celebrity trainer Michael George, and a special class by Michelle Bridges
- Player projection technology allowing the Kinect sensor peripheral to track over 1 million dots on your body
- The game comes with hundreds of exercises, players enjoy regular downloadable content releases to ensure you'll always have new and exciting workouts
- Burn calories, have fun and improve your fitness with the help of a personal trainer
- Feedback system that delivers precise feedback on every body part as you follow your coach's instructions and correct your form in real-time
This game is the sequel to Your Shape and is one of the best exercise games around. It uses the Kinect Sensor to track your movement. This allows for a feedback system that ensures you follow the coach’s instructions properly and correct your form in real-time. With this game, you can set and meet fitness goals while taking Yoga and Martial Arts class.
You also interact with visuals on the screen that mirrors your movement and impact. The game enables you to keep track of your progress and offers a plethora of choices. You can pick something new every single workout session. There are workout programs from Michelle Bridges, celebrity trainer Michael George and many others. Players can also engage in cardio boxing, yoga, martial arts or even play gym games. Basically it’s like having a virtual gym at your home!
Zumba Fitness Series (for Wii, Xbox 360, Xbox One)
- The first and only game designed to strengthen your core and sculpt your abs within a solid total body workout
- Dance to 40 new songs, including contagious Zumba fitness originals and more smash hits from today’s hottest artists like Enrique Iglesias, Karmin, Sean Paul, Kat DeLuna, Tiesto, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and Don Omar
- Move to 30+ different dance styles as you play including new rhythms like Brazilian Funk, Jive, Disco, African, Hula, Celtic, Ballet and more
- Take 45 different pre-set classes that include a warm up, interval training and cool down or create your own playlist of your favorite routines
- English (Publication Language)
The Zumba fitness game is one of the most popular games that allow for cardio fitness exercise. This dance game guides you through sweaty workouts as you dance to music. There are over 20 dance styles and 30 exercise routines you can move to.
Instructors include Gina Grant, Zumba creator Alberto “Beto” Pérez, and others. Series features music from all around the world and includes music from stars such as Lady Gaga, Pitbull, Priyanka, Daddy Yankee and many more.
This exercise video game uses motion controllers to track your movement and give you real time feedback. The Wii and PS versions even come with a Zumba belt in which you can insert your motion controller and move with your hands free.
There are 5 titles in the Zumba Fitness game series. Only the first in the series – Zumba Fitness – is available for the PS3.
My Fitness Coach Series (Nintendo Wii)
- The first and only game designed to strengthen your core and sculpt your abs within a solid total body workout
- Dance to 40 new songs, including contagious Zumba fitness originals and more smash hits from today’s hottest artists like Enrique Iglesias, Karmin, Sean Paul, Kat DeLuna, Tiesto, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and Don Omar
- Move to 30+ different dance styles as you play including new rhythms like Brazilian Funk, Jive, Disco, African, Hula, Celtic, Ballet and more
- Take 45 different pre-set classes that include a warm up, interval training and cool down or create your own playlist of your favorite routines
- English (Publication Language)
This Wii exercise video game allows you to create a true fitness routine. It provides a proper and well-curated approach to exercising. There are many exercise routines you can follow to work on core body strength, upper body strength, lower body strength, weight loss, and cardio. This video game will have you exercising properly and intensively.
You can also customize your workout environment and pick the type of workout music you want to hear. This game uses the Wii remote but is also compatible with the Wii balance board.
The My Fitness Coach game series includes titles such as My Fitness Coach: Cardio Workout (Gold’s Gym Cardio Workout), My Fitness Coach 2: Exercise and Nutrition, My Fitness Coach: Dance Workout, and My Fitness Coach Club.
Wii Fit Plus (for Nintendo Wii)
- Users can input the amount of time they want to spend on their workouts or select an area for personal improvement, and Wii Fit Plus will suggest a number of diverse activities for them.
- For the first time, users can mix and match which strength and yoga activities they prefer on a given day. The seamless exercise flows make it easier than ever for users to maintain their daily workout routines.
- Users might be asked to run an obstacle course across a series of platforms, zoom across a beach on a Segway x2 Personal Transporter or flap their arms to help their hilarious chicken-suited characters aim for targets.
- The range of games and customization options will make players want to play every day. They’ll be having so much fun that their workouts will seem to fly by in no time at all.
- English (Publication Language)
This exercise video game is an enhanced version of the Wii Fit. It features games that use the Wii Balance board and as such, it is sold with the balance board. This game has all the activities present in the Wii Fit (about 30) as well as 21 new exercises.
Exercises range from balance games to yoga to aerobics and strength training. This game will also let you know when you are doing an activity wrongly, so you can correct your form.
The Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout (for Xbox 360)
- Customize your diet with 50 new, healthy recipes and track your caloric intake to see if you are on track
- Utilize Kinect for Xbox 360 to receive real-time feedback for immediate results as well as controller-free gameplay
- Using the Body Analyzer to track your progress throughout your workout program to see the real results
- Record and track your weekly progress just like the contestants in the show with your very own Video Diary
- Enhance your workout with the advanced movement detection using optional the Biggest Loser resistance bands, stability ball and free weights
The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout is designed to help you get in shape and lose weight. This exercise video game is based on the popular TV competition reality show entitled Biggest Loser (created by Ben Silverman, Mark Koops, and Dave Broome), which has yield marvelous results for many contestants.
The Biggest Loser game uses the Kinect to track your movement and ensure your form is correct. Also, the game features movements that work your whole body. You can also opt for a customized and personalized workout routine.
Nike+ Kinect Training (for Xbox 360)
- Athlete Inspired: Through Nike's expertise we know how to train athletes of all shapes and sizes to achieve their peak fitness potential. Get direct access to elite Nike trainers and Nike sport science to get you athlete fit. Get Attaboys and tips from Nike athletes on console, mobile and web. Unlock premium athlete content.
- Proof of Progress: Every 4 weeks, we assess your strength, endurance and overall fitness to benchmark and show your progress over time. Compare your fuel print to Nike's family of athletes, celebrities and the Nike+ community to see how you stack up.
- Personalized to You: Nike + Kinect Training uses Nike Sport science and Kinect camera technology to create a dynamic and reactive workout program based on my body, my performance and my goals. Get personalized feedback and coaching from your trainer who knows you and remembers you. N+KT fits into your life based on your calendar, your time and your level of commitment.
- Connected to my athletic Life: Stay motivated with the Nike+ and Xbox Communities through social features that allow you to workout with your friends or as a team. Through Nike+ integration track and get credit for all the activity you do on console or using any of the Nike+ devices.
Xbox collaborated with Nike to give us the athlete inspired Nike+ Kinect Training video game. This exergame incorporates the Nike Sports science with the Kinect camera to deliver a reactive and exciting workout regimen designed to work your entire body.
With the help of a virtual trainer, you can work your way through plans and preset workout routines. You can also track your progress and meet on your goals, be it weight loss, marathon training, strength training or muscle toning. As you progress so does the workout program. It will evolve to perfectly fit your needs.
Just Dance Series (for Nintendo Switch, Wii, & Wii U, PlayStation 3 &4, Xbox 360 & One)
- With a one month trial of Just Dance Unlimited included, dance to more than 400 songs
- Your Just Dance experience is now personalized as the game learns your dancing habits and suggests content
- Experience eight exclusive choreographies created with the help of kids' development experts to encourage healthy movement
- Featuring seasonal and special event content for an even more dynamic experience on a new curated homepage
- Use your smartphone to track moves no PlayStation Move motion controller needed Up to six players can play together
The Just Dance video game is designed to have you just that – dance. It provides a great dance workout on your game console. The 2019 version of the Just Dance game series has over 40 popular songs from megastars such as Bruno Mars, Camila Cabello, Sean Paul, and Daddy Yankee.
You play this game by mimicking the on-screen choreography using motion controllers or the game’s smartphone app. You simply have to follow commands that appear on the screen. Players are then awarded for their accuracy. This game will give you a light workout while you improve your dance moves. The game also has a Kids Mode, which is designed for children.
There are 11 main exercise video games in the series and several spin-offs, which follows the same gameplay mechanics.
Widerun and ICAROS Machine (for Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift)
- With a one month trial of Just Dance Unlimited included, dance to more than 400 songs
- Your Just Dance experience is now personalized as the game learns your dancing habits and suggests content
- Experience eight exclusive choreographies created with the help of kids' development experts to encourage healthy movement
- Featuring seasonal and special event content for an even more dynamic experience on a new curated homepage
- Use your smartphone to track moves no PlayStation Move motion controller needed Up to six players can play together
The Widerun VR cycling game gives you the opportunity to through virtual world. It eliminates boredom and makes your cycling exercise routine more exciting and lively. All you need is to plug in any kind of bike that has wheels ranging from 26 to 29 inches. It works on the Oculus Rift, Google Cardboard, and Samsung Gear.
While the idea of cycling around the globe is an exciting idea, the Widerun game is still in the development stage and you have to pledge about $450 before you can get the full Widerun kit, which includes the steering module, trainer (onto which you mount your bike), and a host of VR courses.
The ICAROS Machine is designed to give you a full body exercise with the help of a workout cradle with doubles as the controller. It is the winner of many global awards for innovation. It has several game titles including Icalethics (exercise game), Steroids (racing game), Engadin (landscape exploration game), Deep (Under-water exploration game), Flight (a flight stimulation), and several more.
Best Game Consoles for Exercise Video Games
Motion sensory controllers have allowed the biggest game consoles such as the Xbox and the Wii to be host to countless exercise video games.
Xbox One
With the introduction of Xbox Kinect, fitness gamers are free to move as they please without the need of an in-hand controller like the Wii or the PlayStation Move. The Kinect uses a depth sensor, camera and microphone to track the movement of the gamer, that data is then sent to the Xbox console to interpret.
The lack of a held controller or motion detection board allows for an unsurpassed range of movement. Gamers can be more active, and get a full cardio workout. Although Microsoft discontinued Kinect in 2017, the technology behind it will be incorporated into many future products such as the Azure Kinect, which is yet to be properly released.
You can also get a Kinect adapter for the Xbox One S, the Xbox One X, and computers running the Windows 10 OS. There are also many exercise games that can be used with the Xbox Kinect, so it’s a super useful piece of equipment.
Exercise video games reviewed that can be played on the Xbox include Your Shape: Fitness Evolved, the Zumba Fitness series, Biggest Loser: Ultimate Workout, the Just Dance series, and Nike+ Kinect Training.
Nintendo Wii
Wii introduced motion gaming to modern video games via the Wii remote. It wasn’t only avid gamers who enjoyed the Wii but also casual gamers and people who otherwise won’t play video games. Exergames such as Wii Sports Resort and Wii Fit had everybody exercising with the Wii from preteens to grannies.
The Wii balance board may not have allowed for the level of freedom that the Kinect will later provide however, it was immensely popular shipping over 42 million units.
Wii exercise video games reviewed include the My Fitness Coach series, the Zumba Fitness Series, Wii Fit Plus, and Just Dance Series.
PlayStation
The PS3 uses both the PlayStation Eye Camera and the PlayStation Move to track and capture movements of the player. While this may not allow for a full range of motion capture, there are games that take full advantage of both motion control devices and have brought you challenging and effective exercise video games.
The PS Eye Camera may not be compatible with the PS4 but the console works with the PlayStation VR system which is specifically designed for motion gaming. Sadly, unless coupled with equipment such as stationary bikes or cradles, virtual reality games don’t allow for as much exercise as other systems (Wii and Xbox) does due to safety issues as you cannot tell what is going on around you with the VR headset on.
Exercise video games you can play on the PS include the Zumba Fitness and the Just Dance series.
Virtual Reality Systems
Virtual reality exercise video games allow you to exercise while enhancing social support and providing learning and training environments. With the help of a stationary bicycle, VR games such as Widerun allows you to cycle through many parts of the world.
It combats boredom and provides you with motivation, direction, and social support. VR coupled with cradles, or stationary bikes provides a safe space within which you can play exercise video games without the chance of causing harm.
Conclusion
These are some of the best exercise video games currently on the market. In the coming decades, exercising and physical movements are going to be incorporated into many more games from adventure to sports to action games.
Exercise video games are the future – and they provide tremendous health benefits to gamers who play them. Back to the present, these exciting and immersive games allow you to get fit while having fun. We hope you pick up an exercising video game and start gaming.
Need some ideas for your game room? Check out our post on ideas for your game room to get inspired!
Last update on 2022-06-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API