Ring Fit Adventure for Nintendo Switch

The Premise

In Ring Fit Adventure, you get to play a video game and get fit at the same time. Your character travels through over 100 levels scattered through more than 20 worlds using a pilates ring to fight monsters, beat mini-games and move through the story. The game is set up like an old school Mario game, where you choose which level you want to do from the map screen. You unlock more levels by beating the levels available. Everything you do is a workout that gains you experience points you can use to upgrade your character, RPG style. As you progress through each stage by jogging, squatting, jumping, pulling and squeezing the ring,  you’ll occasionally run into monsters.   You do damage to the monsters by doing exercises. In addition, each world has one or more boss battles and several side quests that have you helping characters from that world or playing mini-games.

There are over 40 unlockable exercises that target every part of the body. It has 30 different difficulty levels so anyone can jump in and get a good workout regardless of fitness level. There’s also a silent mode that allows you to play without having to anger your downstairs neighbors. Additionally, the game includes a more pure fitness mode, where you can choose a pre-set routine or create a custom one with all the different exercises and mini-games available in the game. 

The Good

Ring Fit Adventure is by far the best fitness gaming experience out there today.  It is more than just a workout game and right now there’s nothing else like it. The depth of RPG elements are comparable to many of the best non-fitness RPG games.

Where the game really shines though is in its ability to motivate the player to keep playing. The story mode isn’t exactly Skyrim, but there’s enough to keep you interested in whats going to happen next. It has an excellent stats system that awards “Titles” based on total reps of each exercises, days played, total distance run etc.  With a Nintendo online account, you can compare your stats to online friends and see where you rank among every other player in the world born the same year as you. Each day you play, you get a unique tip about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.   

The Bad

The only real downside of this game is that it requires some extra equipment. In addition to the Switch, you need the ring and leg strap that come with the game. Because you need that equipment, the game cannot be downloaded online. This has created some scarcity and it may be hard to find. 

How to Make it Better

This is one of the best-selling games for the Switch console period. It has shattered all the expectations of what a fitness game could do in terms of sales. Given the demand, Nintendo would be foolish not to make some kind of sequel. In a new edition I’d like to see more open world type elements. I’d also like to see more online options including co-op. Another idea is to add in a bonus for supersets that string together two exercises that work the same area. Nintendo could also make it so individual exercises are upgradeable with more reps. I’d also like to see a boxing rhythm component for boss battles. 

Bottom Line

If you are looking to get into fitness gaming, this is the best option available.