Have you ever wanted to run or jog in VR? Is sitting down at work all day making your legs and core weak? Thank goodness for locomotion and real movement in virtual worlds — without it, some games wouldn’t feel as realistic or immersive. Here are some great running VR games that will help you achieve your cardio goals, get your circulation flowing, and will make your heart happy as you move in real life to move in a virtual game.
Tip: These are not games that can be controlled by tilting or moving your head. You’re going to need to keep a towel nearby for all the sweat!
Sprint Vector
Play Sprint Vector by yourself or get all your friends together for a VR game night. Rapidly run through courses trying to beat each other’s best or worst times. Swing your arms and gain boosts to travel faster or to break down structures and obstacles.
Fitness Potential
You’ll be pumping your arms wildly to run but you’ll also be jumping, flying, and even climbing motions to challenge your muscles. It’s up to you to jog or run as quickly as you can inside this virtual track. You’ll be getting a full-body cardio workout from this game as you cheer on your friends for support during regular play, or crank up the difficulty level for more cardio.
Developer/Publisher: Survios
Compatible with: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, PlayStation VR, with tracked controllers
Price: In Beta
Link: Sprint Vector
Hot Runback – VR Runner
Run on the football field and then run through the streets as you throw footballs at officers looking to stop you. Aim and throw a spiraling football at oncoming or parked cars and gather coins for more points. If you look behind you you’ll see football players chasing you. Use that as motivation for your workout.
Fitness Potential
Running in place isn’t as great as sprinting or running up hills but you will get a good workout from playing Hot Runback. Running and throwing footballs will get your entire body moving. Your upper body will be throwing footballs and other silly objects like a fish, hotdog, or other things in the game. Your midsection will benefit from running and twisting to throw while your lower body gets the benefit of running and maneuvering around obstacles.
Developer/Publisher: Yode group
Compatible with: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, with tracked controllers
Price: $4.99
Link: Hot Runback – VR Runner
The Path of Greatest Resistance
Playing this first-person shooter with advanced locomotion capabilities will have you so engulfed in your game that you’ll forget that you’re even exercising. You’ll be given several missions to play as you shoot monsters, collect weapons like a crossbow or machete, and gather abilities like slowing down time and your enemies to defeat them.
Fitness Potential
You’re free to jog or run in place, use a self-powered treadmill while you use VR (if you’re brave!), or play seated if you are unable to jog or walk. Play in a harder mode to get a harder physical challenge or play in the Endless mode for a longer cardio experience. Don’t forget to gather red crystals to stop lasers from blasting you to death.
Developer/Publisher: RealityRig
Compatible with: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, with tracked controllers and 3 Vive Trackers on your shoes and belt for body tracking with HTC Vive only
Price: $3.99
Link: The Path of Greatest Resistance
Freedom Locomotion VR
You’re free to climb, jump, crouch, run, and shoot in this VR game. If you walk or jog, you’ll move around in the virtual space. If you need to sit for health reasons you can use the controller to walk, dash, and teleport that way as well. Running and pumping your arms will get you to move faster in the game. Track how fast or slow you’re moving by looking at the speedometer at the bottom of the screen.
Fitness Potential
This is a great starter game for anyone who’d like to try out a VR runner game. Go for a jog or a run on a mountain trail, through a city street, or in a robotic world. Run forward and backward or left and right, as you make your way around obstacles like pillars to improve your stamina. If you want to practice your balance walk across thin beams on top of virtual structures. Free climb up the side of buildings and stairs, or get down on your stomach and crawl around to mix your workout up.
Developer/Publisher: Huge Robot
Compatible with: HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, with tracked controllers
Price: Free
Link: Freedom Locomotion VR