Ever since the Wii, Nintendo consoles have been the home for some pretty stellar workout games. We got started with the basic Wii Sports that was a pack-in. Then we loved Wii Fit and its spawn. And we are now obsessing over the most recent iteration of Nintendo fitness games: Ring Fit Adventure (affiliate link). But Ring Fit is only one of the top Nintendo Switch workout games. You have to choose from. Let's take a look at some of the contenders for your time, energy, effort, and money.
Fitness Boxing
With a name like Fitness Boxing, I wonder what this game is about. Think about it kind of like DDR, but beating the living crap out of someone. You're dipping and dodging and punching with a Joy-Con in each hand. The best part is that you can download a demo of Fitness Boxing for Nintendo Switch and give it a try. I personally know a few people who've tried the demo and then bought the full game.
Price: $49.99 with FREE demo | More information
Mario Tennis Aces
Mario Tennis Aces is near the top of my list for Nintendo Switch workout games (obviously, as you can read). I am biased, however, because tennis is one of the ways that I initially got into shape and started losing weight. Using the motion controls in Mario Tennis Aces was just delightful, and it brought back tons of memories for my wife and me. It also made us go to the real tennis courts down the road.
While it's nowhere near the workout of being on a real-life court, the digital one featuring Mario and friends is pretty good at getting your blood pumping and the sweat dripping. Just watch out for those overly long cut-scenes and animations. Use those for water breaks and towel-offs. Be sure to download the demo of this one.
Price: $59.99 (with FREE demo) | More information
Jump Rope Challenge
Released with no real announcement, Jump Rope Challenge is a simple fitness game for Switch that plays exactly like you'd think it would. You hold the Joy-Cons like handles of a jump rope and…you jump.
Nintendo Supposedly removed the game was supposedly on September 30th. But it's after the 30th as I write this, and I was able to download it. I never had downloaded it before on that account, either. So you should try it before it leaves. Or simply becomes not free. And even then, it's probably worth a few bucks.
Price: FREE (maybe?) | More information
Mario & Sonic and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020
Despite having an incredibly long name, Mario & Sonic's Olympic adventures use motion controls to put you in the middle of the games. While this is absolutely not the top pick on the list, if you're looking for fitness games on the Switch, it would be a disservice to everyone involved to not mention a game that has you competing in the Olympics. Like most of these, there's a free demo, so download it, give it a shot, and see if your favorite plumber or speedster gets your blood pumping right.
Price: $39.99 (with FREE demo) | More information
ARMS
ARMS was one of the first Nintendo Switch games released. Not quite at launch, but shortly thereafter. It has unfortunately gotten nowhere near the attention it deserves. ARMS is technically a fighting game, but this isn't Street Fighter or Mortal Kombat. You use the Joy-Cons to control your fighters arms (get the name now?) as you move around an arena and try to use all sorts of fun and wacky moves and gestures to beat them into submission.
And if you're worried about violence, don't be. It's as violent as Splatoon. Very comedic and stylized. ARMS has a demo, and Nintendo occasionally gives a full-game trial for Switch Online members. In case you weren't aware by now, I think you should totally try out this non-fitnessy workout game.
Price: $59.99 (with FREE demo) | More information
Just Dance 2020 or 2021
To this day, I don't know if Just Dance was created as being a workout game, but that's what the series has become. Obviously, it's a dance and rhythm game at heart, but you are moving around and gyrating as much or more as any Zumba class you've ever been to.
My wife and I bought Just Dance 2020 earlier this year, and our very first song was “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish. What we did not realize is that Just Dance games have a ranking system for difficulty, and that one is Extreme. Needless to say, I learned then and there that Just Dance is absolutely one of the best workout games on Switch, haha!
(Fun Fact: Just Dance 2021 is the first version of the game not releasing on the Nintendo Wii. Yep, the first Wii. You can find 2020 for the Wii right now.)
Price: $49.99 (with FREE demo) | More information
Ring Fit Adventure
Even having mentioned it before, I couldn't finish a post about the best workout games on Switch without talking about Ring Fit. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ring Fit has been one of the most sought-after Nintendo products outside of the full-sized Switch itself. We're all locked in our houses for months on end, so what do we do? Theoretically, exercise.
And what better what to exercise than a Switch game that gets you to run, jump, shoot air bursts, squat, and twist your way through an RPG world where you can level up and collect loot? The concept is genius, and the game itself is amazing. You can set various fitness levels, workout lengths, and even eschew the Adventure Mode altogether to get in a quick workout with none of the RPG elements. Ring Fit even has Mario Party-style minigames.
It is more expensive than other Switch games, sure. But it comes with its own specialized hardware. Considering that, the extra $20 you spend for it is absolutely worth it.
Price: $79.99 | More information
Best Switch Workout Games: Runners-Up
There is no dearth of these, either. You've got Zumba: Burn It Up and many of the 1-2 Switch minigames (sword fighting and magic duels come to mind). You can also get sweaty with Sports Party with its motion controls or American Ninja Warrior Challenge. (Let me be honest, though: I would truly prefer if it were Sasuke Challenge).
WIth that in mind, you're going to be able too sweat off some poundage with a Joy-Con or two in your hand. Whether you want to play tennis, go for the gold, or fight an all-too-familiar dudebro gymrat demon…the Nintendo Switch has ya covered.
What are some of your favorite Nintendo Switch workout games?
This article was originally posted on GeekFitness.net