If there is anything the lockdowns and quarantines due to COVID-19 have taught me, it’s that maintaining your health is of utmost importance. To maintain your physical fitness, a lot of people spend money on gym memberships that often cost upwards of $50 – $100 USD in many countries. However, as virtual reality headsets become more commonplace, VR games offer a fun and healthy alternative to regular console gaming, and a much cheaper way to remain physically fit. This list will introduce some of the best VR fitness games on the Oculus Quest, perfect for training cardio and even improving muscle tone and muscular endurance.
If you’re looking for more guides on the best games on the Oculus Quest, be sure to also check out:
- Oculus Quest – Best Games for the Motion Sick
- Pixel Ripped 1995 Review: The Best VR Game Is From 1995 (Oculus Quest)
1. Beat Saber
Beat Saber is one of the most popular VR games of all time and for good reason. From the crisp graphics to the controller tracking and gameplay mechanics, everything about this game is incredibly polished. It is the only game that makes you feel like a Jedi and an EDM DJ at the same time.
Hack and slash floating cubes in Beat Saber
In Beat Saber, you slash through floating cubes that race towards you at the beat of your chosen song. With a large variety of tracks that come with the game, there are also add-on music packs from famous artists and bands, such as Green Day, Timbaland and Imagine Dragons. As far as fitness goes, this game is great for cardio, as well as warming up your body for a more intense workout.
2. OhShape
OhShape is a surprisingly fun, addictive, and active game on the Oculus Quest. The game is a rhythm game similar in feeling to Beat Saber.
Strike and pose and dance the calories away in OhShape
Within the game, you remain stationary in a standing position, as transparent walls with cutout human silhouettes rush toward you at the beat of a song. Your job is to make sure your body fits within that silhouette by moving your arms, twisting your body, or squatting low to the ground. In addition, there are blocks you must dodge, dunk under, or smash with your fists. OhShape is a fun and great game to help you keep up your cardio. I often use it to help stretch my body at the beginning of a VR workout session. It is one of the most highly-reviewed VR fitness games on the Oculus Quest.
3. Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR
I had a lot of hesitation before buying Racket Fury, because its price was around $19 USD. However, this one is an easy decision. Either you like table tennis or you don’t. If you do, it’s a must-buy. If you kind of like ping pong, I’d still recommend the game. The main reason I recommend Racket Fury is because its physics are the most realistic of any VR ping pong game I’ve ever tried. There are various levels of difficulty, so it can be tailored for people of all skill levels.
Find you inner ping pong god in Racket Fury
There is a single-player option where you play against bots, as well as an online multiplayer option where you can play against random opponents, or match up with your Oculus Quest friends. Once the matches get intense, Racket Fury becomes a great game to help you lose some extra calories.
4. VR Workout
While this game is not yet on the official Oculus Store, VR Workout is one of the best VR fitness games out there. With decent hand tracking and a streamlined UX, this game offers a full-body workout you can’t find anywhere else on the Oculus Quest.
From squats and sit-ups, to burpees, push-ups, and jumping, VR Workout is a rhythm-based fitness game that activates your entire body. In addition to keeping up your cardio, it helps you train abs, arms, chest, and legs in a fun way that distracts you from the burn and pains of exercising.
The game is currently available for free on SideQuest, so be sure to check it out before it comes to the official Oculus Store.
5. Thrill of the Fight
By far the best boxing game on the Oculus Quest, Thrill of the Fight is possibly the best boxing game ever. Built to favor realism, the game is a true VR boxing simulator, the closest you can get to actual boxing without feeling the pain of getting hit.
Think you can fight? Prove it in this VR boxing simulator.
Developed by a sole developer, Ian Fitz, Thrill of the Fight is truly a marvel to behold. The punching mechanics are perfect and the controller tracking is so precise that every punch lands exactly how you expect it to. The enemy AI fight intelligently: blocking, dodging, and countering your attacks. To defeat enemy boxers, you will need both speed, endurance, and skill. However, if you aren’t up to the challenge yet, you can adjust settings to increase the strength of your punches, making it easier to knock opponents out.
Worried about punching a wall and breaking your hand? Well, you don’t need to be. As long as you are careful, the game will keep your play area safe for you. As long as you have a clear playing space and the recommended guardian length and width, the enemy AI will reposition themselves in the center of your guardian, always ensuring that you are punching toward empty space. Without a doubt, Thrill of the Fight is the most intense VR workout I’ve ever had. In my opinion, this is the best VR fitness game on the Oculus Quest.
Honorable Mentions:
Path of the Warrior – A free-locomotion VR beat-em-up, good for cardio and toning up your arms (if you punch with some effort). For fans of classic side-scrolling beat-em-ups, this game is pretty much Streets of Rage in VR.
2MD VR Football – Live out your dream of being an NFL quarterback in this polished and addictive football simulator. This is another game that gets you active and moving your arms as you call out plays and go for the touchdown.
Elven Assassin – Ever dreamt of killing orcs with your bow like Legolas in Lord of the Rings? If so, this is the game for you. Long play sessions can be a good workout for your shoulders and arms, and keep you standing up, rather than sitting down in front of the TV.
If you’re looking to keep in shape while staying indoors, these games can help you lose calories while having fun. We will be adding more and more games to this list, so please follow KeenGamer for more updates on the best VR fitness games on the Oculus Quest.
