6 Best Nintendo Switch Games to Work Out to in 2021
Face it, gamers: We are officially into year 2 of the Covid-19 pandemic. And many of us are looking for ways to get active as our time sitting down in front of screens has increased by an average of 4 hours per day. That’s a lot of vibing time in Animal Crossing: New Horizons and catching those bugs isn’t exercising our arms in real life.
Luckily, game companies have developed several games to help increase our fitness and get us up from the couch. Here are 6 physical games you can play in 2021 to get you moving.
Ring Fit Adventure
Ring Fit Adventure is a game for the serious adventurer. You use the Ring-Con (a resistance ring that houses a Joy-Con controller) and a leg strap to move your way through various levels and mini-games, leveling up your character as you go. Running in place is the go-to move when traversing the world but watch out for enemy encounters that will demand you squat, twist and yoga pose your way to victory.
Worried that you’re not physically in shape to enjoy the adventure? Don’t worry as the game asks you daily to rate how you’re feeling after a workout and adjusts your fitness level accordingly. There’s even a fitness test when you start to gauge the difficulty level.
Features that will keep you coming back to play include:
· One main questline with an overarching nemesis to keep you motivated to come back daily
· Over 100 levels in 20 different worlds to explore
· Variety of exercises that are added as you progress through the story
· Customizable workouts if you’re looking for a more formal workout and don’t have time to defeat some monsters
· Who doesn’t enjoy some fun physical mini-games?
Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise
Do you like to punch in time to the beat? Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise is a fun rhythm punching game where you use Joy-Con controllers in each fist and follow along to the prompts on the screen.
For those that need a bit of motivation to keep going, this game includes 9 unique trainers who change how they interact with you based on how often you work out with them. It’s like taking a fitness boxing class right in your living room.
The reward system in this game is great for the collector. You get tickets the more you workout which allows you to buy different in-game outfits for your trainer.
Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise also includes the following features:
· 66 different fitness courses set to 23 songs
· Ability to turn off certain boxing moves — great for people with movement restrictions!
· Customizable challenge levels
· 2 player mode so get your roommate out from behind their computer too!
· Alarm function to remind you of your fitness goals
· Ability to port your profile over from the original Fitness Boxing game.
· Free demo so you can try it before you buy it!
Just Dance
Just Dance 2021 is seriously fun for your whole household! And the best part is, you can use your smartphone to track moves with the Just Dance Controller app — no buying of additional Switch controllers necessary.
Bonus! For those who love to watch videos of gameplay: check out all the videos on YouTube featuring this game. There are some mighty creative gamers out there.
Features of this game include:
· The standard game includes 40 different songs to dance to
o If you opt into the Just Dance Unlimited subscription streaming service, you can dance to over 600 songs. 1 month free is included with the game.
· Play solo or with up to 6 friends
· Create custom playlists and moves
· Kid-friendly for the busy parent! Includes 8 kid-friendly songs and choreographies.
· Free demo!
Zumba Burn it Up
Zumba Burn it Up! Gives you that feeling of taking a Zumba class right in the comfort of your own home. This game had more of a taking class feel to it than playing a game. It uses the Joy-Con controllers to track movements as you dance your way through over 30 different classes.
This game boasts using real superstar instructors which stays true to the Zumba company’s focus on individual trainers. If you’ve played any of the other past Zumba games you may recognize some familiar faces.
This game includes:
· Over 30 songs to dance to
· Set your intensity level
· 2 modes of play: single song or full class mode
· Up to 4 people in your household can join in on the fun in Fitness Party mode.
· Goal setting and progress tracking
Arms
While not touted as a fitness game, Arms will get you up and moving and force you to break a sweat. The premise behind Arms is that all famous fighters have extendable arms. This leads to some amazing far-reaching punches in creatively designed arenas. This game is great for those that want a fun game to casually play as there isn’t a story to invest in.
Arms includes:
· 10 unique fighters
· Joy-Con controllers are used to punch, grab and block based on your movement in real life
· 1v1 or 2v2 battles
· Battle with up to 4 players
Mario Tennis Aces
Mario Tennis Aces is another unorthodox pick as it does not promote itself as a fitness game. This game gives you the option of playing the game in standard mode (using a controller as normal) or Swing Mode which gets you up and moving around using the Joy-Con like a tennis racket! You can bat, swat, and smash your way to fitness. When you get tired, you can sit down and switch to normal controller mode and still progress the story.
Mario Tennis Aces includes:
· More than 15 playable characters in the Mario universe
· Play with up to 4 players
· Unique mechanics for tennis shots that enhance the variability of play
· Story Mode keeps you motivated to keep coming back to this title
· Includes online multiplayer mode with a Nintendo Switch Online membership
o Nintendo supports online tournaments
o North American Open was just held on February 27, 2021, so the game still has a vibrant community
· Swing mode lets you use the Joy-Con like a racket
The Wrap Up
Pick up any of these sweat-inducing games if you’re looking for fun ways to increase your movement while playing video games while you’re stuck at home during the pandemic.
Cat Miller is a freelance writer for hire and mom to a busy toddler. When not writing, you can find her playing World of Warcraft Classic and complaining about how slow leveling an alt is. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter and read more of her work at catmillerwrites.com.
