Exercise Video Games

About Exercise Video Games

Surely, there are plenty of options out there when it comes to getting your butt in gear. These titles not only apply to the younger set, but can also easily be enjoyed by people of all ages. The interface is always intuitive and easy to play. Here are just a few active titles for you to consider.

Dance Dance Revolution

Dance Dance Revolution, or DDR to the most hardcore of enthusiasts, is probably the first title that comes to mind when people consider exercise video games. In case you've been living under a rock for the past ten years, this Japanese-developed rhythm game has a very simple concept but increasingly challenging gameplay. Utilizing a non-conventional "controller", you step on one of four arrows -- up, down, left and right -- on the step pad, timing these steps with the music. The arrows move up from the bottom of the screen, and you step on the corresponding "button" when the moving arrow overlaps with the stationary one. Many different variations of this game have emerged, including a Mario Mix for the GameCube, as well as ones themed after Disney and other popular topics. This is a slight departure from the original game that mostly featured J-Pop songs.

In recent years, several schools in the United States have purchased DDR arcade machines for use with their physical education programs. Children are more inclined to participate in this form of exercise because it is seen as entertainment rather than "schoolwork." The arcade machines do not come cheaply, however, as they cost upwards of $8,000 each. A cheaper alternative would be to buy the "soft" dance pads and a home gaming console like the Xbox or PlayStation 2.

Nintendo Wii

The Nintendo Wii was released to the public in November of 2006. Unlike the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, Nintendo's next-generation home gaming console brought a very unique and innovative control scheme. The motion sensitive Wii Remote, or "wiimote" as it is sometimes called, gets gamers to wave their arms around to mimic on-screen movements, rather than simply pressing a button.

Easily the most popular game for the Wii is Wii Sports. In this game, there are five different sports that you can play: tennis, bowling, golf, baseball, and boxing. With Wii Sports: Tennis, for example, you actually swing with the Wii Remote like how you would a real tennis racket. You can see how one can get a real workout playing for only an hour a day. The most physically involving game is boxing, because you use two controllers and actually mimic the punching motion. In the past few months, the Nintendo Wii has been deployed in retirement homes and even into the US Army in order to help with injury recovery and other physical rehabilitation. It's quite a workout!

Similar physically involving games include Wii Play and Rayman Raving Rabbids. Check out our list of the best Nintendo Wii games for more information.

In The Groove

A game that is very similar to the hugely popular Dance Dance Revolution is In The Groove, which is available for the Sony PlayStation 2. It plays much the same way, stepping in time with the music.

Popular Arcade Games

Although arcades are nowhere near as popular today as they were only ten years ago, there is still a wide range of exercise video games that you can try. The next time you visit the local arcade, check if they have games that are themed after snowboarding, horse racing, skiing, soccer, and other physical activities that mimic the real thing. I found that the horse racing game was a particularly good workout, because you have to really ride that pony!