Fitness is a key feature of virtual reality that is still evolving with the VR medium. If you're looking to sweat it out at home, here are some of the best VR fitness games available.
Best VR Fitness Games
From fitness apps built from the ground up to rhythm games that naturally force you to burn calories, there are tons of VR fitness games to choose from. On the other hand, there are also VR action games that weren't necessarily designed for fitness, but will still result in sore muscles the next day.
Whatever your preference, we've broken these games down by section below.
Designed for fitness
FitXR
With encouraging trainers and new daily workouts, FitXR brings a virtual fitness studio to your home. This app mixes shadow boxing and rhythm mechanics to jab, cross, uppercut and crouch to the beat of the music. Your streak only progresses if you hit with a certain speed and force, allowing you to put in the maximum effort from start to finish.
Workouts are divided by a range of musical genres and beginner, intermediate and advanced difficulty levels. Even beginner workouts will have you sweating in minutes, and your whole body will be sore the next day. Beyond shadow boxing, dance workouts are included, and HIIT workouts are coming soon.
- Price: Subscription, $9,99/month
- Download here: FitXR
Supernatural
Yet another full-body cardio workout, Supernatural was the first of its kind to feature a virtual reality subscription-based fitness studio. Similar to FitXR, this fitness app provides great music, cool environments, and encourages trainers to motivate your movement in every daily workout. Even better, Supernatural provides in-depth tracking that monitors your heart rate and fitness goals.
If shadow boxing isn't for you, we recommend giving Supernatural a try. While squats are still involved, Supernatural trades punches for slicing moves, a la Beat Saber. This workout style is down to individual preference, so we recommend taking advantage of the free trials to test which app works best for you.
The thrill of battle
Do you remember Punch Out? You can now enter the virtual ring with both fists instead of the traditional controller. The Thrill of the Fight is your dedicated boxing fitness simulator, with no virtual rails or rhythm mechanics included. You'll block punches and lands to stun your opponents as if you were actually in the ring, so expect to move around a lot.
Due to movement, a minimum scale of 6,5ft x 6,5ft (2m x 2m) is required to enjoy The Thrill of the Fight. We recommend starting with short sessions to train your endurance and improve your fitness, as many players report exhaustion within the first few minutes. This app takes full body VR fitness to the next level.
The climb + the climb 2
The Climb simulates the thrill of rock climbing and fitness from the safety of your living room. But, climbing is used loosely here. From skyscrapers to snow-capped mountains to canyons, several environments are available for climbing. These different settings guarantee different ways to work the upper body while offering new sensations and adventures.
Unlike the games above, The Climb focuses more on building upper body endurance as opposed to a full body workout. This is something to keep in mind, just in case you are looking for a full workout experience. Either way, don't look down...
Related: Best VR horror games
Rhythm Fitness Games
Defeat Saber
Often the first purchase for a new VR owner, Beat Saber is an iconic VR game, and for good reason. One of the first VR rhythm games on the market to combine the mechanics of Guitar Hero, Beat Saber includes single/multiplayer modes and a campaign designed to improve your skills. Both addictive and rewarding, Beat Saber features a stellar soundtrack that encourages you to burn calories completely on accident.
dance center
Developed by Harmonix, the successful studio behind the Guitar Hero and Rock Band franchises, Dance Central will help you burn calories completely through dancing. It features a 32-song soundtrack from Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, and many more mainstream pop artists. Additionally, players can participate in multiplayer dances while tracking an estimate of the amount of calories burned per day.
OhShape
The benefits of OhShape as a VR fitness app are surprising, given that the rhythm mechanics don't involve punching or slicing. Rather, your whole body must use to dodge oncoming walls and pass through various shaped holes in the wall. You will bounce from left to right while contorting your body to match the body shapes. Unlike Supernatural or FitXR, OhShape doesn't offer daily levels, so we can't recommend it as a long-term fitness routine. But, it will still make for a once in a while unique exercise, and even a fun board game with friends.
- Price: 19,99 $
- Download here: OhShape
Related: Best Roblox VR Games (2021)
Action and fitness games
In Death: Unleashed
Are you looking to improve your archery skills? Then In Death: Unchained is the perfect VR action fitness game for you. A roguelite game first, In Death: Unchained places you in a medieval fantasy setting where you must fight your way through enemies to progress. With three boss fights, free DLC, and randomly generated worlds, this game's replay value is a huge draw. That, and the bow and arrow moves will naturally work on upper body fitness.
pistol whip
While it's no surprise to see another rhythm game on this list, Pistol Whip instead puts weapons in your hand to make you feel like John Wick. The game's campaign has you traveling through total bullet hell, forcing you to dodge bullets with your whole body and sneak behind walls for cover. Movement is essential throughout the experience, so expect to burn calories completely by accident!
Ghost: Covert Ops
Who knew a stealth action game could be so physically demanding? In Phantom: Covert Ops, you play as an elite phantom who must prevent all-out war in a single night. Like most stealth action games, you can choose to take out targets quietly or go all-in, guns blazing. As a unique fitness app, Phantom: Covert Ops has a military kayak to cross the water. This mechanic simulates rowing and you are sure to feel the tension in your back and upper body.
Do you have a favorite way to burn calories in VR? Let us know your VR fitness routine in the comments. Be sure to check back with Pro Game Guides for more VR content.
