The Meta Quest 2 VR headset is a great way for people to play games that can be physically demanding – so it’s no wonder people are using the device to try and get fit.
Quest 2 is full of sports and fitness-focused experiences, all vying for your attention. But how do you know which ones will become part of your daily workout routine, which will only be turned on once and then discarded — like the Ring Fit Adventure set you forgot all about on the Nintendo Switch?
To find the answer to your question, we tried Quest 2’s large library of fitness games. Thanks to our tests, we’ve identified the best games for those looking to stay active with VR. here they are.
Saber won
Not only is Beat Saber one of the best virtual reality games out there, but it’s also one of the best ways to get fit with a VR headset like Quest 2.
Addictive gameplay makes you cut red and blue blocks in time to popular music tracks, using dual laser swords; It’s like the aggressive version of Guitar Hero. You are also forced to dodge and under floating barriers that veer your way.
As you ramp up the difficulty, note blocks will fly thicker and faster at you. You’re sure to feel the burn all over your body, but thanks to the amazing array of music that Beat Saber has to offer, it’s easy to keep pushing yourself further until you can hit your goals.
middle dance
Traditional sports aren’t for everyone, so why would that be any different in VR? If you are looking for a fun fitness game to play with Quest 2, you may want to try Dance Central over anything else on this list.
Dance Central takes you and your friends to your very own club where you can choose exactly which songs to dance with. With a decently sized and varied playlist – with the option to buy more songs for your library – you’re sure to find something you’ll love to do and that will make you forget all about your workout.
However, unless you really do it with your dance moves, you may not find yourself working out much of a sweat. After a while (especially on the harder difficulty level), you can start to feel the fatigue settle down – but this is definitely one of the more casual Quest 2 fitness games on this list.
hollowpoint
Have you ever wanted to feel like Hook or Katniss Everdeen? Holopoint arms you with a simple bow and arrow as you try to clear waves of targets that come at you as you destroy them – or if you don’t destroy them fast enough.
This combination of upper-body and lower-body movement is sure to make your heart beat faster — an effect compounded by the need to aim and shoot quickly to beat the increasingly difficult levels.
Targets can appear anywhere, so you have to stay alert if you want to clear all 30 waves in its challenge mode and get the highest score possible.
What starts out as a fairly gentle warm-up quickly turns into an intense Quest 2 workout that is sure to test your mental and physical skills.
pistol whip
We know what you’re thinking, how can a shooting game be beneficial for your fitness? Well, from our tests, we actually found that the Pistol Whip gave us a more intense workout than the Beat Saber.
First, you have to maintain a semi-steady stance that keeps your arms raised and ready to shoot the enemies that come your way. You’ll need to move your arms quickly to shoot at or knock down enemies and re-raise them in a jiffy to reload mid-fight.
In areas full of bad guys, you’ll also find yourself having to move your whole body as fast as you can to dodge the incoming fire and keep your avatar alive.
The action of the game on the rails can take a while to get used to – which makes this experience more suitable for those who don’t suffer from severe motion sickness – but if you can bear it, Pistol Whip offers one of the best virtual reality exercises out there.
Sports scramble
Move over Nintendo Switch Sports, this family-friendly sports game for Quest 2 is the best way to enjoy virtual sports from the comfort of your own home.
Sports Scramble allows players to enjoy bowling, tennis and baseball games in virtual reality, but it has some surprises in store. The game’s scramble mode will see balls, rackets, and even pitches shift randomly in the middle of a match.
One minute you’ll be playing tennis regularly, and in the next minute you’ll hit a basketball over the net with a fish. While you can choose to play more traditional versions of sports, choosing to play with random items gives Sports Scramble a lovable, childlike nature that we just can’t get enough of.
You’ll just need to make sure you give yourself an adequately large playing area from then on. As your equipment changes, so does your position, and it’s easy to skip obstacles if you don’t give yourself enough space. About 2 meters (6.5 feet) in each direction should be sufficient.
climbing 2
If you are not a fan of heights, you may want to steer clear of this next sports game. Featuring amazing and dynamic environments, The Climb 2 is one of the best fitness games for Quest 2; But although the landscape is virtual, it is no less intimidating to see the landing below you.
Although The Climb 2 isn’t as physically demanding as the real thing, it will still test your physical and mental resolve as you try to scale the challenging and hurried climb. The mechanics are incredibly attractive, and while they can take a little getting used to (may leave those with motion sickness feeling dizzy at first) the experience is well worth it.
A word of caution though, you’ll want to make sure your VR space has a high ceiling that you can’t even touch when jumping. There are some sections that you will have to reach and jump to grab the next handle. On more than one occasion, we’ve finished beating our Quest 2 consoles because instinctively we’re hitting as high as possible.
Mini golf tour
Sport doesn’t always have to be about maximizing physical fitness, it can also help facilitate social interaction. This is no less true than Walkabout Mini Golf.
The online multiplayer mode runs smoothly, and the excellently designed courses are an ideal VR destination to head to if you want to meet friends and family online. Plus, thanks to the incredibly realistic controls, you are sure to hone your skills in realistic mini golf by playing a few rounds here.
You might not put in as much effort as in some of these other entries, but if you’re looking for a relaxing way to get active with Quest 2 – and you want to do it with a friend – this is the sports game for you.
