FitXR, formally known as BoxVR, is a game available for most virtual reality headsets. I’ve been using it for a while on the Oculus Quest 2. Here’s my review of FitXR
At it’s core, this is a rhythm game similar to Guitar Hero or Just Dance. The format works really well in VR. There’s a number of other VR rhythm games, but FitXR is specifically designed to give you a workout.
The boxing workouts are where the game really shines. It’s very similar to Fitness Boxing for the Nintendo Switch, except it has all the benefits of VR. In addition to recording whether you hit or missed the target, the game actually records the velocity of your punches. More powerful punches means higher scores. For instance, I now know that my best punch is my right hook. Your movement tracks pretty well. Unlike Fitness Boxing, you can’t get away with throwing a straight punch when the game wants an uppercut. In addition to the punches, there are barriers that you need to dodge and squat under. So FitXR works your legs as well as your arms.
Like most rhythm games, there’s a streak counter for how many well timed punches you land in a row. On power mode, if your punch isn’t powerful enough the counter starts over even if you land it in time. It really makes you want to push yourself.
There are also dance workouts, which truthfully I didn’t end up using much. It’s not that it was bad, it is just boxing was too much fun. It’s similar to Just Dance except the VR set up makes it much harder to cheat. There’s an instructor with you and you emulate the dance moves. There is a bit of learning curve, but you pick it up the as moves repeat. I’m not much of a dancer, but after trying this out, I learned some pretty good moves and improved my balance and coordination.
One thing that really made FitXR stand out to me is the music. I had never heard any of the songs before I started playing this game. I had never even heard of any of the artists, and I consider myself a bit of a music nerd. Now, many of those tracks have become Spotify staples for me even when I’m not working out. A couple favorites include, Tyrone Briggs and Jay Ray. There’s a Spotify playlist for both BoxVR and FitXR with a few of the tracks. In all of the workouts, I have yet to come across a song I didn’t want to hear again. That said, I have not gotten any of the DLC.
There is also a multiplayer mode, that lets you play with friends and/or internet strangers. It basically just puts the other players in the same room with you doing the same workout. That said, you’ll be so busy paying attention to your own timing, that you probably won’t be paying much attention to the others. For competitive types, there’s a leaderboard that shows the player with the high score.
On December 18, 2020, the developers released an update with a few new features. The game now lets you choose a rooftop setting as an option for where to work out. You can also set it to Training Mode which allows your streak to continue regardless of your punch power. According to the developers, they also improved punch tracking, but I never had much trouble with that in the first place.
The Workout
FitXR is primarily a cardiovascular workout for getting your heart rate up, but it definitely works the rest of the body too. The day after my first workout, my arms and legs were pretty sore from all the punches and squats. The VR Institute of Health and Exercise found BoxVr was about the equivalent workout as playing Tennis.
How to Make it Better
The game is a bit minimalist, other than workouts, there’s not much else to it. I’d like to see some unlockables and rewards. They could give badges for workouts completed, days worked out consecutively and that kind of thing. And more stats, like total punches thrown etc. Of course, I always want to see story elements in fitness games, but I understand that isn’t really what this game is about. The feel is more like attending a really fun class at a gym, but in VR.