With the great talk about the metaverse, we tend to believe that virtual reality will enter our lives to give us parallel bodies, but right now, VR can be used to take care of our physique in the real world. We have tried different experiences related to fitness and wellness and compatible with Quest and Quest 2 viewers, the subsidiary of Meta. The peculiarity of these headsets is that they do not need to be connected to a computer or a console to work: the hardware is all in the helmet, which provides wireless audio and video and can be recharged like a mobile phone. Interactions with the virtual world take place with controllers, also wireless ones, and in some cases even hands alone can be used. This ease of use allows you to use Quest also for training, and it is no coincidence that on the official store there are several solutions in this regard. Let’s see which are the best.
Beat Saber (29.99 euro)
Beat Saber is the most popular virtual reality rhythm game of recent years, and still today the best choice to sweat it out while playing. It’s about hitting bright shapes in time to the music with lightsabers, and the concept is as simple as it is fun. A session of Beat Saber it will leave you breathless and will train both arms and legs, since you are moving on the spot but you have to be very quick to hit the targets. The expandability of the title is remarkable, since 19 songs are included in the basic package but there are many extra song packages that can be downloaded for a fee. They include all styles from electronic to pop by famous artists such as Lady Gaga and Imagine Dragons.
OnShape (19.99 euro)
Another game based on music, but with a completely different concept: the walls will meet us with shapes that we will have to reproduce to pass through them, but we will also have to move the walls with the arms and the movement of the whole body. With four difficulty levels and 32 maps, OnShape it also has a thought mode exclusively for the workout. You can also challenge friends online. If the included songs are not enough, you can also buy additional packages here, at the moment there are two available and one of them is dedicated to electronic music, perfect for sweating it out.
Holofit (free with in app purchases)
The idea behind Holofit is to row, run or cycle in 14 immersive worlds, from Paris to Antarctica passing through the Tropics, Saturn and the underwater world. Holofit is equipped with more than 100 workout options and is updated regularly, as well as being suitable for use with stationary bikes, ellipticals, and treadmills. The game sheet states that up to 400 calories can be burned in a single session, and indeed among the fitness apps on Quest it seemed to us the most complete. It’s free to download, and comes with seven days of free use. Thereafter, you will need to pay an annual subscription (114.85 euros).
The Climb 2 (19.99 euro)
The adrenaline-fueled game developed by Crytek is a breathtaking experience: we will have to climb mountains, volcanoes, ruins but also skyscrapers with the strength of our virtual arms but also of the real ones. With the help of the Touch controllers we will have to shoot up with the necessary readiness not to fall, since in the scenarios it is possible to choose different paths and the stairs or the ground under our hands can give way. Visually, The Climb 2 is one of the best experiences you can have on any virtual reality system: the scenarios are very well done, and the sense of three-dimensionality is exceptional. Immersion in such a game is total, and is definitely not recommended if you suffer from vertigo.
FitXR (free, with in app purchases)
A new workout a day for this app that allows HIIT, dance and boxing workouts. It has hundreds of pre-loaded sessions dedicated to all levels of experience, and is based on the mechanics of timed movements involving the whole body. FitXR relies on the collaboration of professional trainers, who design the workouts adding one every 24 hours. The app is free to download, and after a trial week you pay 9.99 euros per month for the subscription.
Carve Snowboarding (19.99 euro)
It may seem like a snowboard game like so many others, except that it is completely virtual reality and that the programmers are the same as 1080° Snowboardinga classic of the genre for Nintendo 64. It starts from the chalet but soon goes down to the track, where we can enjoy the best tricks to accumulate points and defeat the opponents. Winter sports lovers will love the immersion of the gamewhich allows you to unlock new accessories like gloves and boards as you go along, as well as new songs to add to your playlist for racing.
Tripp (free with in app purchases)
Tripp is an app designed for mindfulness and meditation, created with the intention of providing fantastic and relaxing scenarios in which to devote oneself to the breath and mind. There are more than 75 lessons, and new exercises for concentration and calm are added every day. You can also interact with virtual universes, unlock medals and customize your VR immersion in detail. By downloading the app you can try a free lesson, then you need to pay a monthly subscription of $ 4.99. If you pay $ 34.99 now, you have unlimited access forever.