Gaming

Getting fit in lockdown: The 10 most popular fitness video games


The gym junkies will no doubt be climbing the walls by now, desperate to get back among the sweaty bods and weight pumping action.

While gyms and fitness centres are starting to reopen around the country, restrictions still apply, and people aren’t able to just drop in like they used to.

Whether you’re a gym junkie, yoga aspirant or just do whatever you can to keep the weight off, we’ve all had to adapt to a new norm.

And this is where the new-age digital era has come in particularly handy.

In the 80s, we would have had to resort to those leotard and leg warmer toting ladies with the big hair to keep us fit with their repetitive aerobics workouts on VHS. You know the ones:

 

But in the 2020s we have a whole lot more options that span so many digital platforms.

Personal trainers had to become more creative to keep themselves busy while the gyms were closed. This led to a flood of YouTube and live social media streamed workouts.

In particular, there has been a boom in yoga during lockdown, according to Sydney Yoga Collective.

“Moving classes online to our on-demand model has increased our student reach tenfold,” SYC founder and head Yogi Casey Castro said.

“We are now reaching students all over Australia, Asia, the US, and Russia.

“With all the uncertainty around quarantine, social distancing, and working from home, we have seen a huge increase in wellness. People are turning to alternative ways to manage their bodies and mind.”

 

So many options…

So just what is out there?

This is hands down our favourite: Caleb Marshall’s Dance Workout. There is absolutely nothing more motivating than your favourite pop songs to inspire you to move.

 

This one also deserves a special mention: Hangover Yoga (because we are probably a little more hungover than usual in iso)

 

While this author’s go-to is Wii Fit (the one with the talking balance board and the trainer that tells you off for taking a break!), — or Just Dance if the kids want to get involved — there are so many workouts that can be done across various platforms like PS4, Xbox, Wii and Switch.

Luckily for you, Uswitch has been busy figuring out just which fitness video games people are working up a sweat over in lockdown.

Here are the most searched for fitness video games:

 

1. Beat Saber

Beat Saber is a unique virtual reality (VR) rhythm game where your goal is to slash the musical beats (represented by small cubes) as they are coming at you.

 

It requires you to use your upper body to slice musical blocks as they fly towards you, move side-to-side as you reach for them and also squat to avoid obstacles that make you lose points.

According to Uswitch, because you don’t need to move your feet too much, this game is perfect for smaller indoor spaces, but it can limit how high you can get your heart rate.

 

2. Ring Fit Adventure

Players explore a fantasy adventure world to defeat a bodybuilding dragon and his minions using real-life exercises.

 

This game involves squatting, pressing and flexing your way through challenges designed for a wide range of body types and levels of fitness experience.

 

3. Mario & Sonic Olympic Games Tokyo 2020

If you’ve ever dreamed of becoming an Olympic athlete, now’s your chance.

 

In this crossover between Nintendo’s Super Mario and Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog, players get to team up with Mario, Sonic and friends to participate in events like boxing, soccer, swimming, and gymnastics, and also karate, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing.

 

4. Mario Tennis Aces

Mario is certainly a popular little guy!

 

This one is pretty much as the title suggests – all about tennis. Players take part in tennis matches against all the Super Mario favourites like Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, Toad and Peach.

You can compete in everything from a basic match to tennis-based challenges in a variety of environments, such as a haunted house court and even on a volcano.

 

5. Yoga Master

 Yoga Master is proving popular for those wanting a little bit of Zen in their workout routine.

This 3D instructional game features 150 different yoga poses, from classic to urban/modern yoga, for various fitness levels from beginners to the pros.

It has fully customisable environments, backgrounds, coaches, and original music.

The game features PlayStation®Move and PS Camera support, allowing players to follow the exercises with their coach, receive a score and share videos of their experience on social media.

Check out below for the complete list of the most popular fitness games:

fitness_games
Source: Uswitch

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