Top 10 Games That Can Actually Help You Succeed on Your New Year’s Fitness Resolutions – Destructoid

It’s always the same this time of year: the ball is set and ready to drop in Times Square, families are getting ready to gather together, and a whole new year full of new possibilities is just around the corner. New Year’s resolutions are made all over the world, and one of them is more common than any other.

After the holiday season, full of gluttony excuses and reasons not to exercise, it’s fair to say that everyone is feeling a little down about their eating and fitness routines to some degree. The New Year presents an opportunity to set an achievable goal, and if you like it, it usually has something to do with becoming more physically active.

It’s an achievable goal, but there are issues when it comes to implementing new fitness regimes into everyday life. Many of us work in an office or are tied to a desk at home. We all live busy lives, where work, kids, family and taking care of the house take up all our time. So when can we fit in and go to the gym? Or go jogging for an hour every day? It’s not always easy to do this.

However, if you’re spending a lot of time gaming each week anyway, which you probably will if you’re here, there are some games that can be implemented to boost your fitness. If you struggle with motivation, having a high score to beat can definitely push you forward, and playing with friends or family can help too.

In the past four months, I’ve managed to lose 30 pounds by doing nothing more than adding some activity-enhancing games into my life, and spending no more time than I normally would on gaming anyway. If you’re looking to shed some weight or get more active in the new year, here are 10 games that can help the whole group.

Dance Dance Revolution

Playing Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration For one hour on Difficult you can burn up to 489 calories, which is very impressive. Admittedly, if you want to play at home you’ll need a Wii and a decent dance mat, but they’re not expensive and can easily be obtained online. The games themselves are incredibly cheap at this point, and although the music is a bit dated, there are some hidden gems in the soundtrack if you look for them.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to buy a new console, you can try Stepmaniawhich is a similar game for PC. Players have created song packs containing thousands of songs from all genres, so you’ll definitely be able to adjust your workout routine to suit your own taste. The only downside is finding a dance mat that works with the software, but there are plenty of guides to help with that.

Just dance

Let’s face it, anything that gets you out of your chair will definitely help you burn some calories, get your heart pumping, and… Just dance That’s probably the best example I can give you. Depending on your current weight, you can burn between 360 to 600 calories in one hour of gaming, which will always help you if you are trying to shed some weight.

whatever Just dance If you choose, you’ll have a great time, and if you choose to play on Switch, you can subscribe to Just Dance Unlimited to get full access to hundreds of songs from previous games. You can earn points as you play, unlock new features, and there’s always a high score to keep you pushing for more. I love just dancing, And I can confidently say that I have two left feet and an amazing lack of coordination, so if I can do it, you can do it too.

Pokemon Go

I’m not saying you’ll transform your body and live your fitness dreams just by downloading Pokemon Gobut it will not only keep you on your feet, but unlike the other games on this list, it will get you out of the house. Fresh air and Vitamin D are extremely beneficial for physical and mental health, and if we ever needed a mental health boost, it would be during the long days of January.

I’d be surprised if you don’t know how Pokemon Go It worked so far. Once you download the app, you’ll be able to catch and battle nearby Pokémon, but that’s not what motivates you to go for a walk. What it does is eggs hatch after you walk a certain distance. There are eggs that hatch after 2 km, 5 km, 7 km, 10 km, and even 12 km. The longer you have to walk for the egg to hatch, the more demand there will be for the Pokemon inside.

Boxing fitness

There are very few things more healing than punching, but unless you have a punching bag on hand, punching things is somewhat frowned upon. With that in mind, let me introduce you Boxing fitnesstheir latest release featuring none other than Japanese music sensation Hatsune Miku. Not only is it fun, it’s therapeutic, and you can’t beat that combination.

The concept is simple and reminiscent Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration. Different types of punches are displayed on the screen and you must perform them with the Switch JoyCons in hand to complete the song. Boxing itself burns up to 800 calories per hour, although I’m not saying you’ll be able to achieve that by playing… Boxing fitnessYou will definitely feel the burn after a short period of playing. You probably don’t plan to do any heavy lifting the next day.

Saber won

Unlike most of the other entries on this list, Saber won It will require you to wear a VR headset and clear the room of children or animals who might unintentionally get in the way of your falling arms. Of course, you should probably do the same for many other entries, but a VR headset means you won’t see it coming and that could cause some issues and some bruising.

anyway, Saber won It’s great for getting you moving and burns the same number of calories as playing tennis, but it takes much less time and you don’t need to leave the house. Move your arms as you use VR lightsabers, hit the colorful pads as they approach, and enjoy the neon world you find yourself in the middle of. You will probably forget that you are exercising.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Maybe you weren’t expecting to see a Legend of Zelda game on this list, however Skyward sword It’s here, and for a very good reason. Unlike any other Zelda title, Skyward sword It requires you to use both the Wii Controller and Nunchuck (or individual JoyCons on Switch) to control Link’s sword and shield, which means you have to physically move. There is no activity on the couch while playing Skyward swordyou actually have to get physical included. To some extent, at least.

Well, you can actually turn off the motion feature and play with the buttons, and you don’t actually need to leave the couch at all even if you’re using the motion controls, but where’s the fun in that? Being on your feet adds a whole new level of immersion in the world, and although you may get some funny looks from family if you’re caught out of the blue, Skyward sword It’s a great way to move yourself, even if just a little.

Ringfit Adventure

To get the full benefits Ringfit AdventureYou will need to purchase it complete with RingCon accessories and leg strap. One JoyCon is inserted into the RingCon, while the other slides into a leg strap, allowing the game to track your movement, and thus how many calories you’re likely to burn. This is like the new version of Wi Fit With the infamous balance board, but it’s better in every way.

There is actually a story to follow Ringfit Adventureand will join forces with the sentient ring to take down the evil bodybuilding dragon named Dragaux. Well, it’s a really goofy game, but it’s also fun and you control everything using your body movement. The world is traversed by running in place, while combat is performed using RingCon. You’ll be using every muscle in your body, and you won’t realize you’re doing it until you’re sore the next day.

Zombies, run!

Okay, I know I said that all the games mentioned here can be added into your daily routine without much hassle, but to “play” Zombies, Run!, you will need to go out for a run every now and then. . However, it wouldn’t have been appropriate to write this list without including them, so here it is. Although it’s the least “joyful” game on the list and more of a workout companion app, it’s still immersive thanks to the story and your part in it.

Zombies, run! It is a hands-free mobile game that plays in the background while you run. Using your phone’s built-in fitness features, it can track distance, time, calories, and pace, allowing you to track your fitness in real time. As you run, you’ll hear audio clips detailing the story of the zombie apocalypse, and you’ll have “missions” to complete that typically require running for about 35 minutes to an hour. There are also “zombie chases”, which act as interval training, having you run faster for a short period to escape zombies that are actually chasing you.

Jump rope challenge

Jumping rope can burn a lot of calories. According to Healthline, jumping rope for just 20 minutes can help a 200-pound person burn about 240 calories, depending on the speed and level of movement you do during each jump. If you don’t want to throw a rope around your living room, there are still options. Jump rope challenge Developed by a small team at Nintendo during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns as a way to stay active while working from home, it’s now available to everyone.

Don’t let the simple art style fool you, because out of all the games on this list, Jump rope challenge Weirdly one of the most challenging. every day, Jump rope challenge You’ll be asked to complete a certain number of jumps while holding a JoyCon in each hand, starting at 100 by default with the option to manually select your goal. The game tracks how many jumps you’ve managed to do each day, so you can see your progress over time, which really helps when it comes to sticking to fitness goals.

Super hot VR

If you weren’t paying close attention to the YouTube gaming industry in 2017, you might have missed it Super hotbut it was a whole thing at the time, and it was released in VR as well. It’s a first-person shooter (FPS) that has the advantage that time only moves when you move, so you have the ability to freeze bullets in the air and stop enemies’ advances simply by not moving.

However, you’ll have to move, and avoiding those bullets will involve some Matrix-style avoidance tactics, you’ll need to collect ammo and weapons from those you’ve managed to kill, and you’ll be out of breath before the game is over. Exercise doesn’t have to be boring, and Super hot VR It is the perfect example of how much fun it can actually be.

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