A fun way to get fit!

If you’re among the many people who groan and make excuses at the thought of going to a gym, or are a gym freak who is bored of the regular exercise routines, look no further than the exciting new world of workouts offered by VR (Virtual Reality) fitness games.

A few years ago, when Microsoft first introduced the XBOX 360 with Kinect, it revolutionised the world of gaming by using the cameras in front to track the player’s movements. This was ground-breaking in itself as it did away with the need for hand-held controllers, and the device was marketed to have a fitness angle too, as players jumping around in front of the screen ended up having a good workout.

Flash forward to 2019, and Virtual Reality (VR) has given a whole new dimension to fitness games. Turning the body into a controller, VR ensures that the immersion is quite substantial while the game aspect of it keeps the fun going for hours. The player only realises the level of exertion on stopping the game, much like after a strenuous real-life gym workout.

With VR, the virtual gym is in your home, and accessible whenever you need it. With many people into sedentary jobs requiring early check-ins to office and late check-outs, the only time we really move is when we need to have lunch or dinner. As per reports from leading health statistics, less than 20 per cent of adults are meeting the required exercise. And while exercise alone may not be a cure-all for all ills, it can sure help to prevent or delay the onset of heart disease, stroke, hypertension etc. So here are the top picks for VR games that can give you a great workout!

1. Beat Saber:

One of the most popular VR games available, Beat Saber is still topping the charts on the Steam Store. The premise is simple — boxes come at you in tune to the music and you need to slash them with your virtual light sabers in the corresponding colour. What looks simple initially gets fast and furious as the difficulty increases. You need to slash across yourself when colours appear on opposite sides and squat when barricades appear. These movements help burn calories and also build muscle tone as you really need to move to dodge and slash through the levels. Beat Saber is not as rigorous as other VR fitness games, but would still make you sore and sweat. Recommended as a good beginner title in VR fitness.

BOX VR:

This is a title which is designed specifically as a fitness game. Here, you don virtual boxing gloves and need to punch your way through the levels, trying to get your name to the top of the leader boards. You need to punch, block and dodge coming spheres and blockades. The game play is similar to other rhythm games. You can play with the existing tracks available in the game or select tracks you have on your system. The intensity of the workouts start from beginner where things are casual, and as the name suggests, for the absolute beginner. Levels typically last for five minutes, and are at a doable pace. In beast mode however, the workouts get quite rigorous and can last from 20-30 minutes. These are the workouts that will challenge your body and build endurance. BOXVR is definitely high on the list if you’re looking for VR fitness titles.

Hotsquat

This is a game that is both free and will give you an amazing leg workout. At the start, it gives you a false sense of security that it will be easy, but as the level progresses, the game will make you sweat and work for each and every point that would take you up the leader board. The basic goal of the game is to manage to fit yourself within the holes of the virtual walls that keep moving towards you. Being free, the game is low frills, with low polygon graphics and music that would remind you of the 8-bit era of games. But at the end of the day, the game makes your pulse rise, and keeps you entertained with every squat you manage to dole out. 15 minutes of game play would turn your legs to jelly, making standing a chore. This surprisingly simple game makes you burn calories and most importantly, gets you off the couch. With simple graphics and not much music to workout to, the replayability is a little low, but what else can we expect when something is free.

Holopoint

If you would like to get your hands on archery-based combat, Holopoint is the game to try. Pick up a virtual bow and prepare for a fast paced and the most physically demanding VR title. The cardio workout in this game is incredible. The game presents cubes that appear around you — the more you destroy, the more cubes keep appearing. Pull on your virtual bowstring and take down enemies, and as you progress, the cubes turn into blue or orange ninjas and start attacking you. You basically have three hits before you die in the game, so the goal is to survive for as long as you can. 10 minutes game play is a good warm-up while 30-60 minutes is a full workout. The repetitive motion of loading your arrows onto your bow and also the dodging and squatting ensures you get a nice steady burn. The bow can also be switched between hands to ensure you work out both arms equally. One important requirement is that the game needs a bit more space than other VR games which generally are good to play in one location. The extra space gives you the freedom to jump and turn in all directions to take down your enemies. The full body workout that you get from this game is unlike any other, but the space requirement is the only reason that might keep you away from this title. While this list of games is by no means exhaustive, and several newer titles are available, these are some of the best to give you a good introduction into the world of VR fitness.

You can also mix titles as you work out, for example, warm up using Beat Saber and then get into an intensive workout via BOX VR or Holopoint. This makes sure you give all your muscles the right amount of workout.

As with any workout regime, care should be taken to not hurt yourself by over exertion, so make sure to adequately warm up, stop if you feel pain at any point and most importantly, have fun exercising!

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