Are fitness games good for your health?

By Talofa Games · Updated

Short answer

Fitness games are good for your health to the extent that they get you moving more often, because regular physical activity is what the evidence rewards. The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity a week for adults, lists walking among the most popular ways to be active, and says any amount of physical activity is better than none. A game is a motivation tool, not a treatment: if you have a health condition, talk to a clinician before changing how much you move.

What public health guidance says

The World Health Organization's physical activity fact sheet (dated 26 June 2024) says adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, and that any amount of physical activity is better than none. It lists walking, cycling, wheeling and sports among popular ways to be active, and points to the full WHO guidelines for age-specific detail.

Nothing in that guidance is about games. It is about moving regularly, and the question for any fitness game is simply whether it helps you do that.

Where games help

  • A reason to go. Most people do not lack information about exercise; they lack a reason today. A quest to finish, a monster to save or a date to unlock is a reason.
  • Counting the movement you already do. Phone games that read Apple Health or Health Connect reward errands, commutes and pacing, not only planned workouts. That matches guidance that any amount counts.
  • Progress you can see. A map clearing or a level rising is easier to stay attached to than a number on a dashboard.
  • Company. Playing with friends, as in Run Legends's co-op missions, adds the accountability of a walking partner.

Where games stop

  • A game is not medical advice. It cannot diagnose, treat or tell you what is safe for your body. If you have a condition, are pregnant or are returning from injury, ask a clinician first.
  • Phone step counts are estimates. Your phone or watch infers steps from motion. Treat the number as a trend, not a measurement.
  • Volume is not intensity. Step-powered games reward how much you move, not how hard. If your goal is cardio fitness or strength, you still need some effort, whether from a brisker pace, a running game that uses your pace, or a console or VR game played at home.
  • Screens can cut both ways. Pick games you can put away while you move; step-powered games count steps you took with the app closed.

What to look for in a game for your health

  1. It counts everyday movement, ideally from the step count your phone already keeps, so the barrier to starting is zero.
  2. It rewards consistency, not punishment. Missing a day should cost nothing but a day.
  3. Goals scale to you. Challenges should work whether you walk a little or a lot.
  4. It does not need GPS or a camera if you move indoors or want to keep your location private.
  5. It is honest about data. Read the privacy policy to see what the game reads from your health service and why.

How Talofa games fit, and a disclosure

Talofa Games makes fitness games, so take this as our view. Monster Walk reads daily steps from Apple Health or Health Connect with no GPS or camera, and its challenges are sized for a little walking or a lot. Run Legends uses your pace on a walk or run, so effort matters there, and friends can join in real time. Pulse Match turns steps and workouts into a romance story for people who want motivation more than competition. All three are free to download. Compare them in which Talofa game should you play, or see the wider field in the best fitness games to play right now.

FAQ

Do walking games count as exercise?

Walking is physical activity, and the World Health Organization lists it among popular ways to be active. Whether a walk counts toward moderate-intensity minutes depends on your pace and effort, but WHO also says any amount of physical activity is better than none.

How much should adults move each week?

The WHO fact sheet recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week for adults, with more detail by age in the full WHO guidelines.

Can a fitness game replace advice from a doctor?

No. A game can help you move more often, but it cannot assess what is safe for you. Ask a clinician before changing your activity if you have a health condition.

Talofa Games is a games-for-good company that makes fitness games: Monster Walk, Run Legends and Pulse Match. See key facts and sources.