65 Exergaming and Exercise Games

Exergaming and exercise games

combine physical movement with video-game mechanics such as points, targets, levels, music, competition, stories, and immediate feedback.

Examples include:

• Motion-controlled sports
• Dance games
• Rhythm games
• Boxing-inspired games
• Fitness adventures
• Camera-tracked workouts
• Balance-board activities
• Mobile movement games
• Virtual-reality exercise
• Active multiplayer challenges

An exercise game may encourage a player to:

• Step
• Reach
• Squat
• Punch
• Dance
• Jump
• Balance
• Pedal
• Row
• Move around a room

However, a game is not automatically an effective workout simply because it requires movement.

A useful exergame should be judged by:

• Actual movement performed
• Exercise intensity
• Session duration
• Weekly frequency
• Movement quality
• Progression
• Recovery
• User enjoyment
• Physical safety
• Long-term accessibility

The score on the screen is a game result. It is not necessarily a measure of cardiovascular fitness, strength, technique, or health improvement.

What Is Exergaming?

The term exergaming generally describes digital games in which body movement is an important part of play.

The game may detect movement through:

• Handheld motion controllers
• Leg straps
• Balance boards
• Pressure sensors
• Cameras
• Phone accelerometers
• Smartwatches
• Exercise-machine sensors
• Virtual-reality tracking
• Touch-sensitive targets

The player’s movement may control:

• A character
• A ball
• A vehicle
• A musical sequence
• A virtual opponent
• A workout score
• A story or challenge

Some exercise games are designed primarily as entertainment. Others are marketed as structured fitness products.

The distinction matters.

An entertainment game may create useful physical activity without including:

• Warm-up
• Balanced exercise selection
• Progressive loading
• Recovery
• Technique instruction
• Long-term programming

A fitness-oriented game may provide these features, but they should be evaluated rather than assumed.

Exergaming Is Broader Than Virtual Reality

Virtual-reality fitness is one form of exergaming, but many exercise games do not require a headset.

Non-VR systems may use:

• Television screen
• Console
• Phone
• Tablet
• Projector
• Wall-mounted target
• Camera
• Controller

These systems preserve more real-world vision than a headset, but they may still create risks involving:

• Controller swings
• Rapid footwork
• Furniture
• Cables
• Other players
• Balance
• Screen distraction

Choose the interaction format according to the room and user, not only the game’s graphics.

Can Exercise Games Count as Physical Activity?

An exercise game can contribute to physical activity when the player moves at a meaningful intensity for enough time.

CDC recommendations vary by age. Children ages 3–5 should be active throughout the day. Children and adolescents ages 6–17 should complete at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity each day. Adults generally need at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week plus muscle-strengthening activity on at least two days. Older adults also benefit from balance activity.

An active game may contribute toward these goals, but it should not be assumed to provide:

• All recommended activity types
• Adequate muscle strengthening
• Bone-strengthening activity
• Balance training
• Suitable intensity
• Sufficient weekly volume

Record the actual activity rather than labeling all game time as exercise.

Evaluate Exercise Intensity

Game difficulty and exercise intensity are different.

A game may become difficult because it requires:

• Faster decisions
• More complex patterns
• Better timing
• Greater accuracy
• Memorization
• Higher score targets

These changes may not substantially increase physical effort.

Evaluate intensity using:

• Breathing
• Ability to speak
• Heart rate when appropriate
• Perceived effort
• Movement speed
• Continuous activity time
• Recovery between rounds

During moderate-intensity aerobic activity, breathing and heart rate should increase while conversation generally remains possible. Vigorous activity requires more effort and makes extended conversation difficult.

Do not classify a game as vigorous solely because it feels competitive or produces a high score.

Evidence for Exergaming

Research suggests that exergames can support physical activity and selected fitness outcomes, but results vary according to population, game, intervention length, comparison group, and outcome.

A systematic review of exergaming among young adults examined exercise intensity, perceptual responses, and adherence, illustrating that active games should be assessed as specific exercise experiences rather than one uniform intervention.

A 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized studies evaluated exergame-based behavior-change interventions designed to promote physical activity. Such research supports considering gaming as one possible method of encouraging movement, while not establishing that every commercial game produces lasting activity changes.

Research involving children and adolescents has similarly examined active video games as a way to increase movement, but game design, supervision, enjoyment, age, and the amount of sustained activity remain important.

Treat exergaming as an exercise-delivery method, not a separate physiological category.

Common Exercise-Game Categories

Motion-Controlled Sports

These may simulate:

• Tennis
• Bowling
• Golf
• Boxing
• Soccer
• Volleyball
• Badminton

The player may swing or move a controller to create an in-game action.

The digital result may depend more on controller speed and direction than on realistic sport technique.

Dance Games

Dance games may use:

• Camera tracking
• Controller tracking
• Floor pads
• Phone tracking
• Visual choreography

They can provide continuous aerobic movement when the player follows with the whole body rather than moving only the tracked hand.

Rhythm Games

Rhythm games ask the player to respond to:

• Music
• Lights
• Notes
• Targets
• Timed patterns

They may involve stepping, reaching, striking, or dodging.

Fitness Adventures

These combine exercise with:

• Story progression
• Exploration
• Enemies
• Equipment
• Levels
• Collectible items

The exercise may be divided into short tasks rather than continuous activity.

Balance Games

Balance games may use:

• Pressure board
• Camera
• Controller
• Body tracking

They may encourage controlled weight shifting, stepping, or single-leg positions.

Camera-Based Exercise Games

These use a camera to estimate:

• Body position
• Repetitions
• Movement direction
• Timing
• Interaction with virtual objects

Their reliability depends on lighting, camera angle, clothing, space, and software.

Mobile Exercise Games

A phone may detect:

• Steps
• Location
• Accelerometer movement
• Camera movement
• Touch input

A mobile game may encourage walking or outdoor exploration, but it also introduces road, weather, traffic, and location-sharing considerations.

Choose the Goal Before the Game

Complete this sentence:

I want an exercise game that helps me ________.

Examples include:

• Move more after work
• Complete short cardio sessions
• Exercise with family
• Practice coordination
• Add low-impact activity
• Make indoor cycling more engaging
• Follow music-led boxing rounds
• Support selected balance exercises
• Replace some sedentary game time

Then determine whether the game provides that function.

A game designed around upper-body controller movement may not provide meaningful leg activity. A dance game may provide cardio but little progressive strength training. A balance game may not create enough aerobic intensity.

Game Score Versus Workout Quality

Scores may reward:

• Timing
• Accuracy
• Speed
• Combo length
• Difficulty setting
• Completion
• Virtual distance
• Opponent performance

A higher score may result from better familiarity with the game rather than improved physical fitness.

The player may learn to:

• Use smaller movements
• Move only the tracked hand
• Anticipate patterns
• Exploit scoring behavior
• Avoid full-body effort

Track separate workout variables such as:

• Session duration
• Active minutes
• Rounds
• Perceived effort
• Heart rate
• Movement quality
• Rest
• Resistance used

Do not chase a score by sacrificing balance, joint position, or control.

Avoid Minimum-Movement Play

Many motion systems can be activated with less movement than the game appears to show.

For example, a virtual tennis swing may register through a small wrist motion even though the on-screen character performs a full-body stroke.

To obtain more activity:

• Use the intended stance.
• Move within safe range.
• Include controlled leg movement.
• Avoid sitting unless using seated mode.
• Follow full-body cues.
• Maintain technique.

Do not exaggerate movements beyond the room or user’s safe range merely to increase exercise.

Progression

A good exercise program becomes appropriately more challenging over time.

Exercise-game progression may involve:

• Longer sessions
• Additional rounds
• Fewer rest periods
• More complex movement
• Faster cues
• Greater resistance
• Larger controlled range
• More frequent weekly sessions

Not every game includes safe progression.

A game may increase difficulty mainly through:

• Faster graphics
• More obstacles
• Reduced reaction time
• Stricter scoring

That may increase cognitive demand more than exercise load.

Create an external progression plan when needed.

Example:

Increase one variable at a time.

Strength-Training Limitations

Many exergames provide little external resistance.

Repeated arm movements may improve:

• Coordination
• Local muscular endurance
• Movement confidence
• Activity volume

They may not replace progressive resistance training for major muscle groups.

Do not hold:

• Dumbbells
• Kettlebells
• Weighted gloves
• Weight plates
• Improvised household weights

while playing an ordinary motion-controlled game unless the exact program and equipment are designed for that use.

Adding external weight can increase:

• Joint stress
• Controller speed
• Collision force
• Loss of balance

Use a separate resistance-training plan when strength development is a goal.

Room Setup

The game area must include:

• Foot position
• Full arm reach
• Controller length
• Side steps
• Forward steps
• Backward recovery
• Turning
• Other players

Clear:

• Tables
• Chairs
• Lamps
• Weights
• Bands
• Toys
• Cables
• Fans
• Pets
• Fragile objects

Also check above the player for:

• Ceiling fans
• Lights
• Shelves
• Hanging decorations

A game that requires one person to stand in a small tracking zone may still require a much larger controller-swing zone.

Screen Placement

Place the display where the user can see it without:

• Turning the neck excessively
• Looking sharply upward
• Stepping toward glass
• Standing too close
• Moving into a doorway

Protect the screen from:

• Controllers
• Balls
• Resistance bands
• Punches
• Other equipment

Do not position a television directly behind the intended movement target.

A user should not be encouraged to swing toward the display.

Controller Wrist Straps

Use approved wrist straps when the game and controller provide them.

Nintendo’s current safety information advises users to secure controller straps and maintain a clear play area.

The importance of controller restraint is demonstrated by a 2006 CPSC replacement program involving about two million Wii controller wrist straps. The original cords could break when a controller was released during forceful movement, potentially allowing the controller to strike a person or object. Three minor injuries had been reported.

Before each session:

1. Inspect the strap.
2. Attach it correctly.
3. Tighten it around the wrist.
4. Dry the hands.
5. Keep the controller shell clean.
6. Confirm adequate space.

A wrist strap does not make it safe to play beside a person, television, window, or fragile object.

Controller Grip

Do not grip so tightly that the hands, wrists, or forearms become painful.

Stop when:

• The controller slips
• A strap loosens
• The hand becomes numb
• The wrist becomes painful
• Buttons stick
• The controller housing cracks

Do not tape a damaged controller to the hand.

Replace damaged straps and accessories according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Leg Straps and Body Accessories

Some games use a controller mounted to the thigh or leg.

Follow the exact attachment procedure.

The accessory should:

• Remain secure
• Avoid restricting circulation
• Stay outside knee motion
• Avoid contact with sharp fasteners
• Hold the sensor in the required orientation

Nintendo provides model-specific instructions for placing a controller in its leg-strap accessory for compatible games.

Stop if the strap:

• Slides
• Twists
• Causes numbness
• Causes pain
• Interferes with squatting
• Contacts damaged skin

Balance Boards and Platforms

A balance board or pressure platform should be placed on a surface permitted by its instructions.

Check:

• Maximum user weight
• Foot placement
• Board stability
• Floor level
• Nearby support
• Required shoes or bare feet
• Battery compartment
• Sensor condition

Do not place a balance board:

• Near stairs
• On a loose rug
• On thick unstable foam
• On a wet floor
• Beside sharp furniture

Step on and off under control.

Older users or people with balance limitations may need:

• Stable nearby support
• Another adult
• Lower difficulty
• Reduced stepping
• A professionally selected program

Exergaming for Older Adults

Research has examined active video games for balance, mobility, physical function, and other outcomes in older adults.

A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated active video games for health-related physical fitness in older adults, while another overview combined findings from previous reviews and meta-analyses. These studies suggest potential benefits in selected outcomes but also reflect differences in interventions, populations, and study quality.

A game used in a supervised research program is not automatically equivalent to unsupervised commercial play.

For an older user:

• Begin with seated or supported activity.
• Keep the area clear.
• Use large, understandable cues.
• Reduce game speed.
• Provide time to change positions.
• Avoid rapid backward stepping.
• Keep a stable chair nearby.
• Stop when balance becomes uncertain.

The game should support—not replace—an appropriate balance and strength program.

Children and Family Play

Exercise games can provide enjoyable family activity.

However, younger players may:

• Enter another player’s movement area
• Ignore controller straps
• Focus on winning
• Use excessive force
• Make unapproved purchases
• Communicate with strangers
• Share personal information

Use separate profiles and age-appropriate settings.

FTC guidance recommends evaluating game content, chat functions, location sharing, advertising, purchases, and parental controls. Available controls may restrict ratings, play time, communication, spending, and access to adult profiles.

An adult account should not be left unlocked on a shared console.

Multiplayer Safety

Before multiplayer exercise:

• Assign each player a zone.
• Confirm that zones do not overlap.
• Remove spectators.
• Use separate controllers.
• Adjust straps.
• Select movements suitable for the available room.
• Decide how turns will change.

Do not place two players side by side when both must swing toward each other.

Turn-based play may be safer than simultaneous play in a small room.

A player leaving the game should move outside all active zones.

Competition

Competition may improve motivation but may also encourage:

• Excessive speed
• Forceful controller swings
• Ignoring fatigue
• Unsafe jumping
• Poor technique
• Continuing through pain

Use family rules such as:

• Control is more important than score.
• A player may stop at any time.
• No contact between players.
• No moving another person’s equipment.
• The round ends when someone enters the zone.

Do not use punishment exercise for losing.

In-Game Purchases

Exercise games may sell:

• Songs
• Levels
• Avatars
• Virtual clothing
• Equipment
• Currency
• Training plans
• Subscription access
• Randomized rewards

FTC guidance advises parents to disable in-app purchases, require a password, or set spending limits to reduce unexpected charges.

Review whether a “free” fitness game requires payment to access:

• Full workouts
• Progression
• Music
• Multiplayer
• Data history
• Higher difficulty

Do not link a child’s unrestricted profile directly to a stored payment method.

Ads and Commercial Content

Advertisements may appear:

• Before the game
• During loading
• After a workout
• In reward screens
• Inside virtual environments

The FTC notes that children may have difficulty distinguishing advertising from game content and recommends reviewing games directly, reading ratings and reviews, and using controls to reduce purchases.

Separate fitness guidance from advertising.

A promoted supplement, diet product, or exercise accessory is not automatically appropriate because it appears inside a fitness game.

Chat and Social Features

Online exercise games may include:

• Voice chat
• Text chat
• Friend requests
• Public rankings
• User-created rooms
• Shared video
• Competitive events

For children:

• Restrict communication to approved contacts.
• Disable public chat when unnecessary.
• Hide real names.
• Disable location sharing.
• Review report and block tools.
• Monitor friend requests.

Do not share:

• Home address
• School
• Workout schedule
• Travel plans
• Medical information
• Images showing private areas of the home

Fitness competition does not require public personal information.

Children’s Privacy

COPPA gives parents control over personal information collected by covered online services directed to children under 13, and services with actual knowledge that they collect such information from children.

Exercise games may collect:

• Name
• Age
• Voice
• Image
• Location
• Movement
• Device identifiers
• Friends
• Purchases

Parents should review:

• Minimum age
• Parental-consent process
• Camera and microphone use
• Advertising
• Data sharing
• Account deletion
• Social features
• Third-party software

Do not bypass age limits by entering a false birth date.

Camera-Based Exercise Games

Camera systems may estimate:

• Body position
• Limb movement
• Repetitions
• Distance from the screen
• Player identity
• Number of players

Performance may be affected by:

• Lighting
• Shadows
• Clothing
• Background
• Camera angle
• Occlusion
• Room size

The camera may miss movements or assign them to the wrong person.

Do not increase speed or range merely to satisfy a tracking score.

The next chapter examines camera-based fitness in greater detail.

Mobile and Location-Based Games

Mobile exercise games may encourage walking by using:

• Maps
• GPS
• Destinations
• Virtual items
• Timed events

Do not look continuously at the phone while:

• Crossing streets
• Using stairs
• Cycling
• Walking near traffic
• Entering unfamiliar property

Disable public or unnecessary location sharing.

Children should not broadcast real-time location through a public game profile.

FTC guidance recommends reviewing location settings and limiting sharing with unknown people.

Medical and Rehabilitation Claims

Some exercise games are marketed for:

• Rehabilitation
• Balance disorders
• Neurological conditions
• Pain
• Fall prevention
• Cognitive health

FDA distinguishes general-wellness software from software intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or mitigate disease. Low-risk software intended only to encourage a healthy lifestyle may fall outside active medical-device oversight, while disease-related functions may require different consideration.

When a game makes a medical claim:

• Identify the exact claim.
• Check the intended users.
• Review the applicable regulatory status.
• Confirm the software version.
• Follow professional guidance.
• Do not substitute a general commercial game for prescribed rehabilitation.

A high game score does not establish recovery or reduced fall risk.

Accessibility

Exercise games may offer:

• Seated mode
• One-handed mode
• Difficulty adjustment
• Slower cues
• Subtitles
• Audio cues
• Color adjustment
• Reduced jumping
• Automatic timing
• Simplified controls

Potential barriers include:

• Small text
• Rapid reaction demands
• Color-only cues
• Required standing
• Required bilateral arm movement
• Complex menus
• Fast position changes
• Hearing-dependent prompts

Test the complete game rather than only its introductory screen.

A seated option should still provide enough arm clearance and chair stability.

Fatigue and Overuse

Games may encourage repetition through:

• Streaks
• Daily rewards
• “One more round”
• Leaderboards
• Timed events
• Unlockable content

Stop when movement quality declines.

Warning signs include:

• Shoulder pain
• Wrist pain
• Knee pain
• Dizziness
• Loss of balance
• Headache
• Unusual shortness of breath
• Difficulty controlling the controller

Schedule rest and vary activities.

Do not repeat the same high-volume punching, jumping, or reaching game every day merely to preserve a digital streak.

Privacy and Data Collection

Connected exercise games may collect:

• Profile information
• Movement data
• Camera images
• Voice
• Location
• Scores
• Purchases
• Friends
• Device identifiers
• Advertising data

Review:

• What is collected
• What is required
• What can be disabled
• Whether information is used for advertising
• Whether data are shared
• Whether history can be exported
• Whether the account can be deleted

A game does not need access to contacts, precise location, microphone, and photographs simply because it involves exercise.

Account and Device Security

Consoles, cameras, phones, and connected exercise-game accessories are consumer connected products.

NIST’s consumer IoT profile identifies commonly needed capabilities involving secure configuration, data protection, controlled access, software updates, product identification, and cybersecurity-status communication.

Protect the system by:

1. Using a unique password.
2. Enabling multifactor authentication.
3. Creating separate household profiles.
4. Updating the console and games.
5. Restricting purchases.
6. Reviewing connected devices.
7. Removing former users.
8. Securing the home router.
9. Disabling unused chat, camera, and microphone features.
10. Factory-resetting equipment before resale.

Do not use one unrestricted administrator account for every family member.

Software Updates and Support

Updates may:

• Add content
• Remove songs
• Change scoring
• Change tracking
• Fix security problems
• Change subscriptions
• End support for older accessories

FTC guidance recommends finding out how long a smart product will receive software updates and considering how it will function after support ends.

Ask:

• Will the game continue offline?
• Are purchased songs downloaded permanently?
• Does the controller require a supported console?
• Can exercise records be exported?
• What happens when servers close?
• Can local multiplayer continue?
• Is a replacement sensor available?

Do not assume that a digital purchase remains usable indefinitely.

Subscription Costs

An exercise-game subscription may include:

• Song library
• New workouts
• Online competition
• Coaching
• Progress history
• Multiplayer
• Seasonal events

Calculate:

Console or device

• game
• controllers
• accessories
• subscription
• downloadable content
• replacement straps or batteries
• online service

Review what remains after cancellation.

A game that loses most of its content without a subscription should be evaluated as a continuing service rather than a one-time purchase.

Offline Use

Test the system without internet access.

Determine whether the user can:

• Start the game
• Access downloaded content
• Use motion tracking
• Play local multiplayer
• View records
• Adjust difficulty
• Save progress

Also determine whether periodic online authentication is required.

An offline mode may be important for:

• Weak Wi-Fi
• Children’s privacy
• Travel
• Service outages
• Long-term ownership

Buying Used Exercise-Game Equipment

Inspect:

• Controllers
• Wrist straps
• Leg straps
• Balance boards
• Cameras
• Cables
• Battery compartments
• Charging docks
• Sensors
• Recall status

Confirm:

• Exact model
• Console compatibility
• Account removal
• Factory-reset process
• Software support
• Required subscriptions
• Replacement parts

Do not buy:

• Swollen batteries
• Frayed straps
• Cracked controllers
• Corroded battery compartments
• Damaged camera cables
• Unstable platforms
• Account-locked equipment

The previous owner should remove the system from personal accounts before transfer.

A Seven-Day Exergame Trial

Day 1: Setup

• Clear the room.
• Configure profiles.
• Restrict purchases.
• Review privacy.
• Inspect controllers.

Day 2: Easy Session

• Select beginner mode.
• Test tracking.
• Use short rounds.
• Record perceived effort.

Day 3: Full-Body Test

• Determine whether the game encourages whole-body movement.
• Check space and controller clearance.
• Observe whether the player minimizes movement.

Day 4: Multiplayer Test

• Mark individual zones.
• Test turn-taking.
• Check household noise.

Day 5: Progression Test

• Review later levels.
• Identify how physical difficulty increases.
• Confirm that modifications remain available.

Day 6: Offline and Purchase Test

• Disconnect internet.
• Review available content.
• Locate subscriptions and purchase controls.

Day 7: Ownership Review

• Calculate the three-year cost.
• Review data deletion.
• Check update support.
• Search recalls.
• Decide whether the game supports the original goal.

Buying Checklist

Exercise

• What movements are required?
• Is effort sustained?
• Does the game support progression?
• Does it include strength or only cardio?
• Can intensity be reduced?

Space

• Is full arm reach clear?
• Is footwork clear?
• Are stairs excluded?
• Is the display protected?
• Can children and pets be kept out?

Equipment

• Are controller straps included?
• Is a balance board required?
• Is a camera required?
• Are accessories adjustable?
• Are replacements available?

Family Use

• Are separate profiles available?
• Can purchases be blocked?
• Can chat be disabled?
• Are age ratings appropriate?
• Can multiplayer zones remain separate?

Privacy and Security

• What movement, voice, image, and location data are collected?
• Can unnecessary permissions be disabled?
• Is multifactor authentication available?
• Can data and accounts be deleted?
• How long will updates continue?

Cost

• Is the game purchased once?
• Is a subscription required?
• Are songs or levels sold separately?
• What remains after cancellation?
• What is the multiyear total?

Common Exergaming Mistakes

Treating Game Difficulty as Exercise Intensity

Measure the body’s effort.

Counting Every Minute as Active Time

Exclude menus, loading, and long rests.

Moving Only the Controller

Use safe full-body movement when intended.

Chasing Scores With Poor Technique

Control is more important than points.

Using External Weights

Do not add weights to ordinary motion games.

Playing in a Furnished Room

Clear the full movement area.

Ignoring Controller Straps

Inspect and secure them.

Allowing Multiplayer Zones to Overlap

Use turn-based play when space is limited.

Leaving Purchases Unrestricted

Use passwords and parental controls.

Assuming a Child Rating Covers Privacy

Review chat, location, advertising, and data collection separately.

Treating a Balance Game as Complete Fall Prevention

Use appropriate supervised training.

Ignoring Software Lifespan

Confirm offline and end-of-support behavior.

When to Stop Playing

Stop immediately when:

• A player loses balance
• A controller strap breaks
• A controller slips
• A person or pet enters the movement area
• Tracking fails
• A balance board moves
• A cable enters the footpath
• Pain develops
• Dizziness begins
• Vision changes
• Unusual shortness of breath occurs
• The screen or console overheats
• An unknown person enters a child’s chat
• An unexpected purchase occurs
• An account appears compromised
• A recall applies

Seek urgent medical assistance for:

• Chest pressure
• Fainting
• Severe breathing difficulty
• Seizure
• Serious head injury
• Sudden neurological symptoms

Do not continue a round merely to preserve a streak or score.

Chapter Summary

Exergaming and exercise games combine body movement with digital feedback, music, challenges, stories, targets, and competition.

An exercise game can contribute to physical activity when the user performs meaningful movement at a suitable intensity for enough time.

Evaluate:

• Movement type
• Intensity
• Duration
• Frequency
• Technique
• Progression
• Recovery
• Safety
• Accessibility
• Long-term access

A game score is not automatically a fitness measurement. Points may reward timing, accuracy, memorization, or minimal controller movement.

Use separate records for:

• Active minutes
• Rounds
• Perceived effort
• Heart rate when appropriate
• Resistance
• Movement quality

Many exergames provide aerobic or coordination activity without adequate progressive resistance. Use a separate strength program when needed.

Clear the entire movement area. Include arm reach, controller length, stepping, turning, multiple players, children, and pets.

Use approved controller straps. A historical CPSC replacement program involving about two million Wii controller wrist straps demonstrates how a released controller can injure people or damage property.

Older adults may benefit from selected supervised exergaming programs, particularly involving balance and physical function, but research programs should not be treated as interchangeable with every commercial game.

For children, use separate profiles, age-appropriate content, purchase restrictions, chat controls, location limits, and adult supervision.

COPPA provides protections involving personal information collected from children under 13 by covered online services. Parents should still review camera, voice, movement, advertising, social, and third-party data practices.

Exercise-game systems are connected products. Protect them with unique passwords, multifactor authentication, updates, restricted profiles, limited permissions, and a secured network.

Calculate the complete cost of the console, game, controllers, accessories, subscriptions, downloadable content, and replacement parts.

Ask what works offline and what happens when updates, subscriptions, music licenses, or online servers end.

The best exercise game is not necessarily the one with the most movement, highest score, or most aggressive daily streak. It is the game that provides enjoyable, repeatable activity while preserving physical control, household safety, privacy, affordability, and the user’s ability to stop.

Related Chapters

• Virtual Reality Fitness at Home
• Camera-Based Fitness Workouts
• Music and Gamification in Home Fitness
• Visual Cues and Reaction Training
• Choosing Interactive Boxing Equipment for Home Use
• Best Music Boxing Machines for Home Workouts

Sources and Further Reading

All external links are intentionally marked nofollow.

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Physical Activity Recommendations
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Child Activity Guidelines
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Activity Recommendations for Older Adults
• PubMed — Exergame-Based Behavior-Change Interventions
• PubMed — Exergaming for Physical Activity
• PubMed — Exergames in Children and Adolescents
• PubMed — Active Video Games and Physical Fitness in Older Adults
• PubMed — Active Exergames and Physical Performance in Older People
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — Wii Controller Wrist-Strap Replacement Program
• Nintendo Support — Nintendo Switch Health and Safety Precautions
• Nintendo Support — Nintendo Switch 2 Health and Safety Precautions
• Federal Trade Commission — Kids and Video Games
• Federal Trade Commission — Video-Game Ads and Unexpected Payments
• Federal Trade Commission — Children’s Privacy and COPPA
• National Institute of Standards and Technology — Consumer IoT Cybersecurity Profile
• Federal Trade Commission — Smart-Device Software Support
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration — Digital Health Guidance