While the Valve Index has been one of the most impressive virtual reality headsets released so far, it’s been a distant third on PC to the Vive and Oculus Rift in terms of popularity. Thanks to it receiving exclusive content for Half-Life: Alyx, the platform will see more virtual reality fitness enthusiasts picking up Valve’s headset. The good news is that many VR games on Steam are compatible with multiple headsets, and the Index provides plenty of great workouts that gamers can use to sweat off the pounds. Since it will receive more of a spotlight soon, we here at VR Fitness Insider have gathered together the 15 best Valve Index fitness games to help out any owners of the luxury headset. Not only do these titles guarantee you a better body through exercise, but they provide an enjoyable time as well.
If you’re looking for VR fitness games for other virtual reality headsets, then be sure to check out VR Fitness Insider’s list of the 25 best VR fitness games 2019 and our list of the 10 best PSVR fitness games.
15 Best Valve Index Fitness Games
Audica
Harmonix Music Systems is a developer that is famous for their innovative rhythm games and Audica is no different. Featuring a great soundtrack with 33 different songs, this rhythm game has players shooting and slapping away objects to the beats of the music. It provides a fast-paced arm workout and there’s plenty of great downloadable content available for purchase as well featuring music from stars such as Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Fall Out Boy, Post Malone, and Sia featuring Kendrick Lamar. With enjoyable gameplay and an expansive soundtrack, there is plenty of replay value to keep players coming back for more.
Audica has a fitness rating comparable to walking by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It costs $29.99 on Steam.
Audio Trip
One of the best dancing games in all of virtual reality, Audio Trip has a star-studded soundtrack featuring the likes of Lady Gaga, Skrillex, and Deadmau5. The game directs the movement of the player by tasking them with using their hands to catch gems, riding rails and needing to dodge barriers. It provides a full body workout as players are constantly moving their bodies around and punching the oncoming notes. Each song has three different difficulty levels, so it can provide a suitable challenge for beginners or even the most fit participants. The game is currently in Early Access with 10 songs, but will be expanded to 20 tracks once it is fully released.
Audio Trip has a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It costs $19.99 on Steam.
Beat Saber
Beat Saber doesn’t need much of an introduction as it has been one of the few virtual reality games that have been able to infiltrate the mainstream, but it is worth highlighting as an excellent workout option and one of the best Valve Index fitness games. Even if you aren’t pairing the game with weights, it provides a great total body workout as players slice beats with their katana beams, squat in order to dodge horizontal barriers, and regularly move around to get into position. There are even 360-degree levels that really have the player moving. The default soundtrack is catchy even if it doesn’t have many big names, although there are also some Imagine Dragons, Panic! at the Disco, and Green Day songs available as paid downloadable content.
Beat Saber has a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise and was awarded our VR Fitness Game of the Year in 2018. It costs $29.99 on Steam.
BoxVR
One of our most highly recommended fitness titles, BoxVR is an excellent cardio boxing game that will help you get fit in no time. All of the in-game workouts have players boxing to music, and have been curated by professional fitness instructors. The game is regularly supported with free updates that include new exercises, so it never grows old. The most recent content update added in 140 minutes of additional music and 12 new workouts. It also has an in-game fitness tracker to help players measure how many calories they have been able to burn by using the title.
BoxVR has a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It won our Best VR Cardio Fitness Game of the Year in 2018 and our Best VR Fitness Game of the Year in 2019. It costs $29.99 on Steam.
Creed: Rise to Glory
While gamers know to be weary of licensed properties, Creed: Rise to Glory is a fantastic boxing game that is made better by using characters from the “Rocky” successor. Players get to relive the ascent of Adonis Creed as he works his way up the boxing ranks and fights can get truly intense as players start to feel fatigue from punching. Much like real boxing, players have to learn to pace themselves and fight intelligently. With online multiplayer and a story-based career mode to check out, this is filled with exciting content to master.
Creed: Rise to Glory has a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It won our Best VR Boxing Fitness Game of the Year in 2018 and costs $29.99 on Steam.
Hot Squat 1 & 2
Due to the use of motion controllers, most of the best Valve Index fitness games focus on arm workouts. Thankfully, there are some great titles for legs too and Hot Squat is one of the best of them. The straightforward exercise game has players squatting in order to make their way through barriers and players can test themselves by getting a new high score. The original is a bit bare bones but is still excellent for exercise purposes, while the sequel adds in cosmetic items and custom workout routines.
Hot Squat has a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. The original is available for free on Steam, and if you like what you play then you can pick up the paid sequel (whose profits go to charity) for $6.99.
Pistol Whip
One of the most recent releases to make our list, Pistol Whip is an excellent first-person shooter that allows players to live out their wildest Hollywood action flick fantasy. Players get to take out dozens of armed and dangerous enemies in each stage and it plays out like a scene from “John Wick.” Players will have to use quick reflexes to get through levels unscathed, and it winds up being a great total body workout as players are constantly moving to dodge gunfire and hit foes. With an online leaderboard and fantastic gameplay, there are plenty of reasons to keep coming back to the action title.
Pistol Whip has a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It won our Best New VR Fitness Game of the Year and our Best Action VR Fitness Game of the Year in 2019. It costs $24.99 on Steam.
PowerBeats VR
One of the most intense offerings in virtual reality, PowerBeats VR is a great boxing game that has players blocking objects with their hands, dodging barriers, and doing a lot of squats. It offers up a great arm and leg workout for players and also supports heart rate monitors. With a VR level editor and custom song support, the fun never has to stop. It also features three different difficulties and four weapons that each offer up a unique playing experience.
PowerBeats VR has a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It costs $19.99 on Steam.
Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR
Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR isn’t just the best table tennis game on the market, but also one of the best Valve Index fitness games. Thanks to its incredible physics simulation, players will essentially learn real-life table tennis skills as they attempt to defeat the 16 robotic opponents in the game. It’s an excellent arm workout even if it will only target one of them. Beyond the great single player campaign, players can also test their skills against other humans online.
Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR has a fitness rating comparable to an elliptical by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It costs $19.99 on Steam.
Racket Nx
A fun blend of the Atari classic Breakout and the sport of racquetball, Racket Nx provides an experience that is only possible through virtual reality. Players use their racket to bat a ball around and to destroy targets in a fully 3D dome, while also using its tractor beam to fetch the ball back at any given moment. With plenty of power-ups and waves of targets to clear, this becomes quite the intense arm workout.
Racket Nx has a fitness rating comparable to an elliptical by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It won our Best VR Sports SIM Fitness Game of the Year in 2018 and 2019. It costs $19.99 on Steam.
Song Beater: Quite My Tempo!
Another great rhythm game for VR, Song Beater: Quite My Tempo! has players wielding a variety of weapons (ranging from blades to a staff and saw) in order to destroy beats. It’s nothing groundbreaking, as the arm workout is similar to several other games on this list, but the implementation is fantastic. It has support for custom songs, tracks calories that players have burnt, and each song can be played in several different modes. Those looking for some bang for their buck will find a lot on offer here.
Song Beater: Quite My Tempo! has a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It costs $14.99 on Steam.
Sparc
Most of the best Valve Index fitness games are meant to be played solo, but Sparc shows that multiplayer titles can be a great workout as well. Essentially a VR version of the arcade classic Discs of Tron, players are throwing and deflecting balls at each other trying to score points. It’s a fast-paced upper body workout and the friendly online community help make it one of the most rewarding experiences you can have in virtual reality. Matches can be intense and you’ll be surprised by how much your heart rate goes up.
Sparc won our Best VR Competitive Fitness Game of the Year in 2017. It costs $19.99 on Steam.
Superhot VR
It’s good to have some workouts that are lower intensity in nature, and Superhot VR fits that bill wonderfully. More of a puzzle game than a test of reflexes, this first-person shooter relies on the gimmick that time only moves when the player does. This bullet time effect allows players to feel like an action hero while dodging bullets and clearing out rooms filled with enemies. Players won’t be moving super quickly, but they will be squatting and moving all over to get into position to attack. It’s a great overall workout and one that players can enjoy at their own pace.
Superhot VR has a fitness rating comparable to walking by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It won our Best VR Shooting Fitness Game of the Year in 2017 and costs $24.99 on Steam.
Synth Riders
A fast-paced rhythm game that has players dancing their way through neon-colored obstacle courses, Synth Riders is a real blast to play. Getting a good score requires players to punch oncoming objects, dodge vertical and horizontal obstacles (so get ready to squat), and show off a whole lot of movement. With a fitness calorie tracker and 31-song soundtrack filled with synthwave and electro-rock, it provides a unique fitness experience. There are online leaderboards to test your skills on and custom song support, so there are plenty of reasons to keep coming back for more.
Synth Riders has a fitness rating comparable to using an elliptical by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise and costs $19.99 on Steam
The Thrill of the Fight
The best boxing game for those looking for a serious experience is the excellent The Thrill of the Fight by Ian Fitz. Players will learn real boxing skills as they master jabbing and learn to dodge strikes. It teaches players that a good defense is often the best offense, so it’s time to fully appreciate the Philly shell and learn how to shoulder roll. With a number of different challengers equipped with different fighting styles, this is one of the most rewarding experiences in all of virtual reality.
The Thrill of the Fight has a fitness rating comparable to rowing by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It won our Best VR Sport SIM Fitness Game of the Year in 2017 and our Best Boxing VR Fitness Game of the Year in 2019. It costs $9.99 on Steam.
That does it for VR Fitness Insider’s list of the 15 best Valve Index fitness games. You won’t find a better way to get in shape and lose some weight while using a virtual reality headset.
