When you’re thinking of ways to keep in shape, you don’t always expect to hear about Nintendo Switch fitness games. It’s a handheld games console – the only exercise it’ll provide is for your thumbs, right? Wrong. Things have come a long way since the days of Wii Fit, and you don’t always need an expensive piece of kit to get your exercise regime in place.
Okay, some of the best Nintendo Switch fitness games do require a specialised controller, but we promise it’s not always the case. We’re here to provide you with some of our top training titles that’ll give you a personalised workout that you won’t dread every morning.
Why should you trust us? Well, PT doesn’t just stand for Pocket Tactics – we can be your virtual personal trainer for the low price of, well, nothing. Jokes aside, we know our games whether they’re the best Switch strategy games, the best gacha games, or indeed our hot tips for Nintendo Switch fitness games. So, without further ado, here are the games we recommend for keeping active from the comfort of your own home.
We’ll kick off with our top pick: Ring Fit Adventure. This fitness-based title does require a little investment – the Ring-Con and game package will set you back $79.99 (£64.99) – but it is up there with the very best Switch RPGs. Yes, Ring Fit is primarily a role-playing game and offers everything you’d expect from the genre.
However instead of defeating the evil dragon-in-spandex Dragaux with a few button presses that translate to in-game sword slashes, you’ll have to out-workout the bench-pressing beast. Squat, lunge, and plank your way through levels, craft power-up smoothies, and explore a plethora of varying worlds and environments to build those biceps and tone those abs. If you’ve ever struggled with motivating yourself to get to the gym – there’s nothing like a stubborn boss fight to get you squatting in the morning!
If you would prefer your fitness games without the expensive kit – we did promise – we’d recommend checking out Fitness Boxing 2. The sequel to 2018’s gamified boxercise workout gives you more of the same, albeit with an updated playlist and more instructors to choose from.
Your instructor choice doesn’t impact the game too much, although they each have different coaching styles. You can also unlock new outfits for your trainer, as unlocking new outfits for yourself would simply involve heading to your IRL wardrobe and getting changed. We recommend plumping for Bernardo and his large, large arms – but any choice will do you good.
The biggest caveat with Fitness Boxing 2 is that you simply must – and we mean must – be a fan of cheesy music. Not one of the 20 tunes could be described as any semblance of “cool”. As it so happens, it’s my perfect blend of cheese: the strong parmesan of It’s My Life by Bon Jovi rarely features on the same playlist as the mild cheddar that is One Direction’s What Makes You Beautiful, but it kind of works. Set your intensity as high (or low) as you wish, and jam out to Boogie Wonderland, Y.M.C.A., and Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – although Sandstorm by Darude might just be our limit.
If you’re after something completely different, however, Mario Tennis Aces might not be the worst Nintendo Switch fitness game to pick up. Enable the motion controls and hit the ball a lá Wii Sports, and you’ll have a nice little arm workout without the pressure and intensity of Ring Fit Adventure or Fitness Boxing 2.
Whether you’re more Murray or Mario, Williams or Waluigi, Tennis Aces offers something completely different to regular fitness games, and that’s a vote in its favour.
Who said you needed an expensive gym membership to stay fit and healthy? Just pick up a humble Switch game, and you’ll be taking your first steps on the road to a healthier lifestyle in no time at all. If you ask us, joy-cons are the new dumbbells.