Get fit with these Xbox Kinect exercise games

by Stephen_Danos · October 4, 2013

By Phil Hornshaw

One of the most successful things about Microsoft’s Xbox 360 was its Kinect motion controller, which opened up a whole lot of new gameplay possibilities to players. The Kinect lets users control games with their whole bodies, engaging in games in a lot of new ways — and it has led to the creation of plenty of games focused on helping users increase their fitness levels.

When Microsoft’s Xbox One launches in November, it’ll bring a whole new, even more powerful Kinect along with it, but in the meantime, there are lots of fitness games for Kinect that are available right now with no waiting. You can find all kinds of different games, along with Xbox 360 and Kinect, at Amazon.

What you’ll need

Before you turn your living room into a workout space, you’ll need to start with essential materials — namely, an Xbox 360 and a Kinect. You can find them bundled together for $250, or get the Kinect separate from the Xbox, at about $90 and $180, respectively. You’ll also get Kinect Adventures to get your Kinect game library started.

Fire up your fitness

Once you’re set on your consoles, it’s time to find the right fitness games for you. A quick look through Amazon’s library of Kinect games will turn up plenty of diverse offerings, like Nike + Kinect Training ($25) and Zumba Fitness ($32). Fans of TV’s “The Biggest Loser” will want to grab The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout for $19 and Jillian Michaels Fitness Adventure for $17.

For something a little more fun, there’s Dance Central 3, which has players dancing along with music and on-screen prompts, for $30. Or if dancing isn’t your think, you might check out UFC Personal Trainer for $15 and Self Defense Training Camp for $9. Whatever your style and preferences, a new Kinect can help you get into shape.

If you’d rather hold off for the much-improved Kinect 2.0 sensor that comes with the Xbox One, you’ll be waiting a couple months, but you can try to get a preorder in for the new console now — just note that it’ll run you $500.