January is seemingly the most popular time to get serious about fitness. A new year brings new pledges to make the start a better one. We say there is never a bad time to want to improve one’s body and there has never been a better time for video game fans.

There are so many ways to exercise with games now. We rounded up the ten best for both new and old systems to give some variety depending on what one owns. Nothing beats a good workout at the gym, but these ten entries can at least help get the proverbial ball rolling.

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Updated by Michael Abayomi on May 11, 2022: We've updated this list of fitness video games with three additional entries. The first two are available on the Nintendo Switch, while the third is a VR game available on the PC. All three are guaranteed to get you sweating during your next video game workout.

18 Jump Rope Challenge

A screenshot showing gameplay in Jump Rope Challenge

Released as a free download on the Nintendo eShop in 2020, Jump Rope Challenge is a fitness video game with a singular focus. Using motion controls via the Nintendo Switch joy-cons, you are expected to perform a set number of jumps in jump rope.

The game sports a very minimalist design but what it lacks in production values it makes up for in utility as it encourages you to stay fit and active with its daily challenges.

17 Nintendo Switch Sports

A screenshot showing bowling in Nintendo Switch Sports

Looking to replicate some of the success it had seen with Wii Sports on the Wii, Nintendo recently released Nintendo Switch Sports for the Nintendo Switch.

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The fitness game offers a number of sports and fitness-based activities including tennis, soccer, volleyball, and of course, bowling. And with golf expected to arrive through a free update sometime this fall, the package is a must-have for all the fitness enthusiasts out there.

16 BoxVR

A screenshot showing gameplay in BoxVR

PC fitness games have seen a bit of an explosion all thanks to the growing availability of VR headsets and one of the better titles out there is BoxVR.

Using a compatible headset and motion-tracked controllers, you are encouraged to mimic boxing moves like jabs and uppercuts in time with the music. It is a simple design that is sure to have you burning calories before you know it.

15 Zumba Fitness: World Party

If you're a fan of Zumba in real life then you should find the game version just as fun, if not quite as challenging. There are 45 pre-set classes available to you in the game, in addition to customizable options if you prefer to adjust your workouts to your own specific routine.

Not only that, but there are tons of different dance styles including Bollywood, Irish step, cumbia, calypso, and more. The game comes with a variety of songs from over five global hotspots to tune your workouts to. It also comes with two-player support and a stat tracker to keep tabs on your progress.

14 Arms

Arms is a unique fighting Nintendo Switch game where you will play as one of several different characters who have extendable arms. The game won't necessarily provide you with a full-body workout but it will still help you work up a sweat. You can play single-player or multiplayer.

It is also surprisingly customizable and will let you pick between a number of styles and designs in the game in addition to the different fighting modes such as a battle mode, grand prix, and versus. The game received excellent reviews upon its release.

13 Beat Saber

Somewhat similar to games like Guitar Hero and even Just Dance, Beat Saber is an intuitive virtual reality game where players will need to pay close attention while music plays to use horizontal "sabers" that will cut blocks in half to the beat of the music.

It will definitely keep you moving and you'll have to watch carefully to ensure you can move fast enough to cut all the various blocks in half while maintaining the beat of the song. You can play single-player or multiplayer in party mode.

12 Supershot VR

Supershot VR is no joke, this is a game that will make you sweat profusely and give you a serious workout if you truly throw yourself into the gameplay. There is a good reason that it has won multiple gaming awards, including one for best VR game on the market.

You will have to try and defeat multiple enemies while being outgunned and the game doesn't give you a health bar or extra ammo. You have yourself and your physicality to fight and that is it. You'll also need to get the guns from your enemies after they've fallen. There are multiple modes, including one where you have to try not to use guns at all and one where only headshots will work.

11 Knockout League

Knockout League splash screen showing two boxing opponents, one is a squid

Knockout League is similar to Punch-Out in a lot of ways, and it provides players with a chance to lace up their punching gloves in a VR reality setting. It's a single-player game with arcade-style matches that should appeal to anyone who likes the idea of getting up on their toes and fighting against multiple opponents in different settings.

The nice thing about the virtual reality component is that you can actually dictate how you fight and dodge without relying on using buttons to do the job for you.

10 Ring Fit Adventure

Ring Fit Adventure was the inspiration for this list. It looked weird and vague given the initial trailer, but once we started playing around with the game everything started to click. The wheel and leg strap in tandem with the two connected Joy-Cons work fantastically at tracking movements.

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Part RPG, part on-rails shooter, this is one heck of a workout, but a fun one at that. We’ve been playing straight for a few weeks now and don’t feel any inclination to stop.

9 Just Dance

Ubisoft is always seemingly at Nintendo’s side whenever they launch a new system. For example, Just Dance was at first an exclusive for the Wii and while the tracking wasn’t perfect, as the limited range of the system held it back, it has gotten better over the years.

The number of songs and dances supported throughout its ten-year life cycle has been amazing. If one subscribes to their Just Dance Unlimited service, there are over 500 doings to dance to. Whether one is alone, or at a party, Just Dance can bring the funk. It is supported across seemingly every console, even Wii still!

8 Dance Central

Dance Central for Xbox 360 Kinect

Dance Central is essentially a better version of Just Dance for a more advanced crowd. The interface and songs offer a bit more variety, which is great since Harmonix, who also made Rock Band, developed this.

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While dance moves are only tracked by one hand in Just Dance, the Xbox 360’s Kinect camera captures the whole body in this making one have to work a little harder. Since this series has been Xbox exclusive for the two Kinect cameras, it may be a little harder to get into now.

7 Pokemon GO

This may not have a direct correlation as a fitness game, but it certainly got people active. To call Pokemon GO a phenomenon in the summer of 2016 would be an insult. There is no word to describe just how widespread this sensation really was.

On top of it connecting hardcore and casual fans alike, it also got people to get up and move. Sure, some people cheated by driving bikes, or cars, but the majority of players actually used this as an excuse to exercise. The crowd has diminished since, but those still playing are dedicated.

6 Wii Fit

Before Ring Fit Adventure, Nintendo tried to push Wii Fit on the Wii. It came with the Balance Board, which was just a large plastic matt one-stepped on to perform yoga-like moves. Because the Wii was still hot, it sold like crazy.

While it is useful for stretches and creating an in for a better lifestyle, it is unfortunately not that fun to play. If one doesn’t care about though, it is worth a try.

5 Punch-Out

The Wii Fit Balance Board could be used for more fun experiences actually. Let’s take a look at the Punch-Out reboot for Wii. One could use the board in order to dodge while punching with the Wii controller in hand.

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This created a more immersive experience and one that was an actual workout. It may not start out as challenging given the initial boxers, but the further one gets, the sweatier they will become.

4 Shape Up

Ubisoft also created an Xbox One exclusive fitness game called Shape Up. It wasn’t as much of a hit as Just Dance, or even Dance Central was. This was the only game ever made.

The problem wasn’t with the game, as like Ring Fit Adventure, it tried to gamify the workout experience and to great success. The real issue was that the Kinect and the Xbox One itself were struggling in 2014 when the PS4 was outselling the system at an incredible rate.

3 Wii Sports

This may not be as intensive as some other Wii, or Nintendo picks on here, but it is important to fitness gaming history nonetheless. The various games in this collection could give the body a light workout.

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Boxing was probably the craziest of them all if one really went for it. Maybe this will help grandparents get more hip with the kids. That seemed to be the trend at the launch of the system in 2006.

2 Dance Dance Revolution

Dance Dance Revolution is the granddaddy of dancing games. This Konami-led series originated in arcades in 1998. From there, various games in the series were ported to PlayStation consoles among others. It lacked radio hits that people would recognize, but the mix of electric tunes from Japan and other countries got the body working.

Whether at home or in the arcade, dancing was tracked with arrow keys. No, it never looked like dancing, but it certainly did make us sweat. After the PS2 the series kind of faded away from home consoles.

1 Brain Age

For our last entry, we thought to include something off the beaten path. Brain Age may not give one a physical workout, but on top of honing the body, we also think it is important to train the mind as well.

A strong body and a strong mind can take on anything. While this series never left the DS, a new one is finally happening for Switch. While that is exciting news, said DS versions are still great for mental exercises.

NEXT: Things We Wish We Knew Before Starting Just Dance 2022