Let’s test your VR fitness knowledge … Which of these games have you heard of?
- #SelfieTennis
- Sweet escape
- Goalkeeper VR
- Laiserbait
- Virush
- Sword master
- Bitslap
- Thirst VR
- Super pixel smash
- QuiVR
Never heard of one? You’re probably a nub. That’s right, I said it. This is a list for those ready to leave the fifth page of Steam behind and uncover hidden worlds where curiosity meets fitness. A place where players become athletes / climb mountains of candy. A place where we all look stupid and nobody cares. These games may not be designed for exercise, but try to play them without a break. For the fit. For the brave. This is a list of the 10 unusual VR fitness games.
10. Sweet escape
Let’s start this list with sweets. Sweet Escape is a climbing game. Swing from cupcake to lollipop as you speed through the obstacle course filled with oversized treats and pots of sugary acid. Don’t let the ridiculousness of this statement stop you from adding this to your VR training. Once you have the downward movements focusing on your form can help make this game a real workout.
We found Sweet Escape while looking for a new multiplayer game to add to Sphere’s game catalog. The most common reaction we hear from guests is “Wow … this is a workout.”
Yes. A candy based workout.
Sweet Escape is a must-have for arm warming up.
It’s fair to say that most of the games on this list probably weren’t designed for VR fitness. GoalkeepVR is an exception. Free mode is a great warm up and a great way to get focus right away. With different modes and challenges, GoalkeepVR ensures an intense cardio game / probably broken television. Consider adding this game to your VR fitness routine as a warm up exercise or real cardio. To see different modes like “alternate hands” or “shrinking gloves” watch the video:
For the narcissistic tennis player in all of us. #SelfieTennis is fun and a great alternative to playing against a wall. Every time you hit the ball, you teleport into a virtual tennis game against yourself and teleport to the other side of the court to return.
While this feels like an odd tennis ball dimension from Rick and Morty, selfie tennis is a great way to burn calories and practice. Whether you want to leave it to your own devices or keep your tennis swing in shape over the winter, #SelfieTennis is a great addition to any VR fitness routine (Hide the TV).
Rank17 made some really good games, but Super Pixel Smash should find its way into most VR fitness trainers’ repertoire. Because of the retro feel, this adaptation of Breakout feels more like racquetball. It yells at you too … very … which is motivating.
For fans of Breakout, you’ll be happy to know that there are plenty of games like this one, but Super Pixel Smash seems to have the simplest mechanics and learning curve. As you exercise, focus on your form, get into a good rhythm, and get yelled at for a while. It builds character and burns calories.
Lose the shield and rely on the indefinite crouching and jumping up to shoot targets in this fast-paced rail shooter. With a Madmax feeling, you’re on a mission to protect a train with one of the latest shipments of water on earth. Unfortunately, for people who need this water, I always lose. Thirst is a difficult game, but each typically lasts 5-10 minutes without a shield. That’s nice as a small sprint. Watch out for helicopters and incoming missiles. Hold down and only raise to shoot. As soon as you shoot you come back down. Durst VR can make for a great workout.
Bitslap challenges you with the ninja-like challenge of quickly hitting bright yellow targets (I’d assume they were “Bits”). The trick is to punch them in the order they appear. Otherwise the game will restart. This is a great exercise for building hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes.
Tip: relax your mind and let your fist do the talking. This game can trigger a trance-like flow state.
The Sword Master is classified by the VR Health Institute as similarly calorie-burning as an elliptical trainer (4-6 calories / min). While Sword Master may not be best for small spaces, it is a great way to step into a new world and forget you’re exercising.
Focus your sword on slashing between each enemy’s armor, pushing your core as you follow through your swings. As David Ellsey of VReemotion says, one of the fastest ways to get the brain to unleash our potential is when you’re in a hostile environment. Very few things are as motivating as being surrounded by armored warriors in a sword fight.
Now we’re digging into the super-unusual. Laserbait may not have the production values of raw data, but it is addicting and surprisingly a decent workout. In this invasion strategy game, your focus is on planet to planet expansion by directing your spaceships. The game starts slowly but increases in speed until the mind and body move in sync. Since it’s free, this physically active strategy game is well worth checking out if you want to conquer galaxies.
Virush allows you to kill as many viruses as you can by touching them with your controller. This isn’t a complicated game and even runs well on Google Daydream. With that said, it’s a workout. This is a great warm up exercise for your arms because you won’t stop moving.
Of this list, QuiVR is probably the best known. It’s also one of the funniest.
In QuiVR you are an archer and defend a series of gates against hordes of undead / magical soldiers. If your gate is overrun by the hordes, you will immediately fall back to the next gate. You’ll also have the added fun of teleporting around the map by shooting blue glowing gates. This is a multiplayer co-op game and people usually play. The VR Health Institute estimates that QuiVR can burn up to 120 calories for 30 minutes. Which is like a yogurt. Which is great … because I love yogurt.
If you haven’t tried QuiVR or any of these awesome games, solve the nub function and add it to your VR fitness workout. You will thank us. OR, if you live in Ohio email me to come to Sphere and check them out for free.
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