Home workouts can be a great way to get in shape without having to drive to a gym or brave the elements — but man, home workouts can get boring.

Enter VR workouts.

VR is here, it’s affordable, and it's ready to help you with your fitness goals. (I mean, it has other uses too and there are great games that aren’t just for fitness. But today we’re focusing on your health.)

And no matter where you are on your fitness journey, VR workouts can play a key role.

In this article, we’ll answer the most common questions about VR exercise and share the best VR apps, games, and even in-person gyms to get your started.

(One final note before we jump in: Always check with your doctor before starting a new fitness program.)

Answers to Your Biggest VR Workout Questions

What is a VR workout?

Virtual reality workouts utilize cutting-edge, immersive technology to build a brand new workout environment in your own home.

VR workout games require VR headsets (like the Oculus, which we’ll cover later), which block out the outside world's light and sound. Many of the current VR games are active — some are explicitly fitness games, others just inadvertently double up as fitness games because you move around so much.

So push the coffee table to one side, tighten your safety straps (I learned this the hard way and had to chip in for a new TV after a VR javelin nightmare), and immerse yourself in VR workouts.

Also, there can be VR workouts that don’t require a headset. They may be slightly less immersive but can incorporate your current home exercise equipment. We’ll cover those later in this article as well.

Is VR good for exercise?

VR can be an excellent form of exercise when done correctly. Many experts have suggested that VR exercise can be absolutely great for training and lead to significant health benefits. [1]

For many of us, the gym can be a very intimidating place, packed full of prying eyes and random (and somewhat unnecessary) grunting.

But VR offers us the potential to exercise from the comfort of our own home, on our own, making whatever noises we fancy, wearing what we want without judgment. Plus, video games are as popular as they are because they’re fun — so VR workouts can definitely be more fun than some more traditional exercises.

Can you lose weight with VR?

You can absolutely lose weight with VR.

Of course, a simple way to look at it is that you will lose weight by taking in fewer calories than you burn. VR workouts are a fun way to help create that calorie deficit. [2]

So even when you are flapping your arms around like a lunatic, missing all the cues, and failing every level, you can take comfort knowing you’re still doing your health a favor.

Can you build muscle with VR?

Yes, you can build muscle with VR exercise games. It’s a common misconception that you need to lift heavy weights to build muscle. [3] If you are consistently moving your body, using light weights, or doing bodyweight movements, you can build muscle.

Just try playing the VR game Carve Snowboarding for 30 to 45 minutes and tell me how your quads feel.

Do I need to use VR exercise games to get a VR workout?

No. You'll work up a sweat playing almost any VR game. However, VR exercise games are more focused on making sure you get a proper workout; with other VR games, the exercise benefits are more of a side effect.

After spending an hour or so exploring the open world of Wander — which is not a fitness game — I was surprised to realize I had already burned more than 200 calories. (I also racked up several other exercise-related stats, which I measured using a VR fitness tracker called a YUR.)

I was less surprised to find my partner fast asleep on the couch behind me. Evidently, my in-game narration became mundane after 15 minutes, and I had been talking to myself for the rest of the time I was playing. This is not a game built for spectators.

The 14 Best VR Workout Games, Apps, and More

Oculus - the system you'll (probably) need for VR fitness

Via: UploadVR

Oculus Quest 2, from $299 

Oculus Quest and Oculus Quest 2 by Meta (formerly known as Facebook) are the leading VR headsets on the market today, and an Oculus is essential to start your VR fitness journey. Otherwise, you'll just be doing star jumps in your living room with a blindfold on, and that's the kind of behavior that makes your family concerned about you.

Oculus immerses you in VR games with an adjustable headset that blocks out all external light, headphones that block out noise, and controllers that contain motion sensors. These tools are necessary for you to get moving and become a VR fitness expert.

There are other VR headsets out there, but none has reached Oculus's popularity just yet.

Supernatural - best VR fitness video game

Via: Techcrunch

Supernatural, $19 per month

Do you ever get that feeling at work where all you can think about is punching someone in the face? No? Just me?

Well, even if you don't have deep-rooted psychological issues with violence, Supernatural is a fantastic boxing VR game.

Boxing is one of the best ways to burn calories, but if your local gym is anything like mine, there is only one punching bag, and there is always one guy with 50 sweatbands and headbands on grunting as he shows that bad boy who’s boss.

With Supernatural, you can be the Rocky Balboa of your own home, sidestepping punches and throwing hooks and jabs like there's no tomorrow.

Just don't expect anyone to be ready with your water bottle and a chair in the corner after each round.

VZFit - best VR fitness game to pair with your bike

Via: Virzoom

VZFit, $9.99 per month

If you're like me, you fancy yourself as a bit of a cyclist. But you don't like cycling in the cold. Or when it's wet. Or outside.

Before I got VZFit, my exercise bike had a significant fall from grace. Gone were the days when it took center stage in the garage, all shiny and ready to ride. Instead, it was serving as a clothes hanger.

My bike needed VZFit as much as I did.

With VZfit, you can ride to any corner of the earth, getting a great workout along the way. Take on in-game challenges, unlock rewards and badges, and try new courses and objectives as you go.

Zwift and ROUVY - best no-goggles VR fitness to go with your home cardio equipment

Via: Zwift

Zwift, $14.99 per month

If you would prefer to try VR fitness without the goggles — and you already have home exercise equipment like a stationary bike — then Zwift or ROUVY could be the best options for you.

Zwift has more than 1,000 immersive workouts to choose from, each created by elite coaches — and all of which you play on your TV. You have the power to jet across the desert, climb a mountain, or careen down the side of a volcano.

Via: Cyclingnews

ROUVY, $12 per month

If you're looking for another cycling option that doesn't require a VR headset, ROUVY is here to help. Not only that, but with ROUVY, you can also compete in VR running challenges if you have a treadmill.

YUR - best fitness tracking for every VR game

Via: Steam

YUR, free

Why even bother working out if you can't gloat about it to your friends? I mean, if they don't know about the calories you are burning and the hard work you are putting in, then what's the point?

Okay, so maybe you have some internal fitness goals you are chasing, but even then, it’s important to track your data and progress.

YUR is an app that you can use with any VR game. As you play the game, YUR shows you a live tracker of the key fitness statistics you’ll want to keep an eye on.

Holodia - best VR fitness game for your cardio equipment

Via: VRFitnessinsider

Holodia, $9.99 per month

You might have tried training from home before, and now you're stuck with a rowing machine or an exercise bike, hiding behind your couch in the living room, collecting dust.

But with Holodia, you can instantly upgrade your old cardio equipment — by giving it a digital refresh.

HOLOFIT by Holodia works with any rowing machine, elliptical machines, or stationary bikes — just strap on your VR headset and transport yourself to a different world while you exercise in your basement.

Black Box - best VR fitness gym

Via: UploadVR

Black Box VR, $199 per month

Many people start the new year with the best fitness intentions but often struggle to stick with a consistent workout routine.

Going to the gym, running on a treadmill, or waiting in line to lift weights or use a machine isn't fun for anyone.

Black Box VR is trying to change the entire concept of gyms — by turning them into places you go for full-body, transformative virtual reality workouts. 

Black Box has six locations as of press time in California, Arizona, and Idaho, and they’re planning to continue expanding across the U.S.

FitXR - best dance VR fitness game

Via: FitXR

FitXR, $10 per month

With FitXR, you can dance the night away until your heart's content. Or the morning. Or the afternoon.

That is the beauty of VR dance fitness games; you can play them whenever you want. (And you don’t have to be a good dancer. I can’t dance to save my life, but I had a ton of fun doing the VR dances.)

FitXR gives you an excellent opportunity to practice your moves at home and burn calories simultaneously. Just don't expect these skills to translate to your dance skills in the club. I learned that one the hard way.

You can also take HIIT (high-impact interval training) classes and test your boxing skills on FitXR if dancing isn't your thing.

Other VR fitness games to check out

• Dance Central - Designed specifically for VR, Dance Central pulls you into a digital dance experience, where you can dance like no one is watching, except for when you have the in-laws over for a game night.

• Space Pirate Trainer - Yo ho ho-my goodness, this space pirate game will have you sweating as you sail the high… galaxseas? (I’m so sorry about that one.)

• Ohshape - Ohshape is another dance game with three difficulty levels and support for custom songs.

• The Thrill of the Fight - VR Institute of Health and Exercise estimates this fighting game among the most strenuous workout options on the Oculus platform. [4]

• Racket: NX - Channel your inner Williams sister as you try to destroy targets with your racquet and ball.

VR Workout: Conclusion and Takeaways

So in summary, yeah, you never need to go outside to exercise again. VR workout games are the next step toward the metaverse, where we are elite dancers, professional cyclists, and world-renowned heavy hitters — and all from our living rooms.

• Oculus - the system you'll need for VR fitness

• Supernatural - the best VR fitness boxing game

• VZFit - the best VR fitness game to pair with your bike

• Zwift and ROUVY - the best no-goggles VR fitness games to go with your home cardio equipment

• YUR - the best fitness tracking app for every VR game

• Holodia - the best VR fitness game for your cardio equipment

• Black Box - the best VR fitness gym

• FitXR - the best dance VR fitness game