Make it fun: Video games to help you with your fitness goals

Posted by author February 3, 2025 Fitness

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Video games can provide fitness and mental health benefits.
Gamified fitness can make working out more engaging and fun.
Fitness-based video games are available on various platforms, including VR headsets, gaming consoles, and mobile devices.

Does working out feel overwhelming? Maybe make a game of it.

Video games can offer advantages for not only fitness but also mental health, and many people and companies are leaning into gamifying health goals.

About 76% of U.S. adults said that video games provided stress relief, with 68% saying they play to relax or pass time, according to a 2024 survey of 5,000 Americans from the Entertainment Software Association.

For those who use smartwatches, some of those devices, including the Apple Watch, have added specific options for tracking “fitness gaming” workouts.

In recent years there has been a movement toward gaming as a sport, said Peter Economou, an assistant professor of applied psychology at Rutgers University and the director of behavioral health and wellness for Rutgers University Athletics. If done in moderation, “there could be some really great benefits to it.”

Economou said people starting a new fitness journey should be cautious about setting rigid goals or steps, as this could lead to failure.

If fitness is something that people are doing as a resolution for the new year or to begin something new, that way of thinking might be “problematic just from the jump,” Economou said. “You want to be sure that it’s something that you’re committing to and that it’s sustainable.”

In addition to more traditional video games on consoles, there are also fitness-related gaming options for mobile or virtual reality headsets to explore.

VR is growing in popularity and, from a behavioral perspective, “it has shown to be promising for various diagnoses like social anxiety and phobias,” Economou said.

With VR, the brain doesn’t always know what’s real. Still, while there is not enough information yet on how technology may impact neurological functioning, “to me, that’s the only risk,” Economou said. “I don’t see any risk in anything that could potentially benefit one’s wellbeing. Whether it’s VR, an app, a video game, whatever it is, I’m not mad at it as long as people are using it mindfully and wisely.”

Here are fitness video games to check out that may help level up — or bring levity to — your regimen:

Beat Saber (VR)

In Beat Saber, a virtual reality rhythm game, players will swing their arms to slash blocks and crouch or lean to avoid obstacles, all timed to the music. The immersive game has a number of tracks available to play, but more popular tunes can be purchased in music packs. The game has solo and co-op modes and can be adjusted for different skill levels.

Fitness Boxing 3 (Nintendo Switch)

Players can step into the ring in Fitness Boxing 3, which released in December. The game, like others in the series, has boxing-based rhythm workouts. Guided by a virtual personal trainer, players will punch and move to music as well as cardio drills or seated exercises, and the game also has customizable workouts.

Just Dance 2025 (Switch, Sony PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S)

The latest installment in this long-running video game series and popular party activity likely needs no introduction. Just Dance, where players are tracked as they move along with on-screen dancers to popular songs, scoring points for accuracy, is back with fresh songs for 2025. The game is a fun option for getting some movement in, especially with friends, and it offers a range of difficulty settings and a workout mode.

Ring Fit Adventure (Switch)

This video game, along with the accompanying Ring-Con and leg strap accessories, may have released more than 5 years ago, but it’s still a solid way to blend gaming and fitness, especially for those looking for a more structured workout. In Ring Fit Adventure, players will battle enemies and explore a virtual world with real-world movement and exercises controlling what happens in the game.

HoverFit (VR)

HoverFit is a virtual reality multiplayer game where players race or compete through worlds using movements like squats and arm swings to control the virtual hoverboard. Users can set fitness levels to better suit their abilities. Players can compete for free as a guest, but results won’t be logged.

No More Rainbows (VR)

No More Rainbows is a virtual reality game where players are a beast whose world has been invaded by rainbow-filled creatures. The game is similar to a platformer, with players moving and using their hands to run, jump and climb throughout the immersive environment.

Run Legends (mobile)

Real-world walks or runs become missions in Run Legends. In the interactive mobile game, players can battle enemies and progress through the storyline in the game world as they run. The game encourages interval training and can be played solo or co-op.