There are plenty of great virtual reality fitness games targeting every part of the body, but the most competitive space is arm workouts. After all, with a virtual reality controller in each hand, it’s only natural that players would be targeting their arms as they move around the virtual environment and burn calories. While there are plenty of options, not all arm workouts are created equal To make this as easy as possible, we here at VR Fitness Insider have come up with a list of the best arm workout VR games 2020. These will make sure that you can get rid of any flab and get a great arm exercise in.
If you’re looking to target other body parts and get a full body work out in, check out our list of the 25 best VR fitness games 2019 for some other recommendations. Also, make sure not to skip leg day by checking out the top 10 VR leg workout VR games.
Top 15 Virtual Reality Arm Workouts Games
Audica
Developed by the rhythm game specialists over at Harmonix, Audica is a unique blend of pulse-pounding music and first-person shooting. Players alternate between using blue and orange guns to shoot targets of the same color as they come into the player’s field of vision to the rhythm of a soundtrack filled with 33 fun songs (and even more as downloadable content). Once you get the hang of the mechanics, you can get a fantastic arm workout in playing expert difficulty. If that isn’t intense enough, there’s also custom beat map modding support, which means that there’s no shortage of replay value and difficulty levels to master.
Audica is available on Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Windows Mixed Reality, PlayStation VR, and Oculus Quest. It has been given a fitness rating comparable to walking by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise.
Bardo
There are a lot of archery titles available, but Bardo is the best one for a virtual reality workout. This wave-based shooter is one of the best arm workout VR games as it forces players to shoot enemies in rapid succession if they want to be successful. Later levels can get particularly intense, as players will want to duck in order to avoid enemy attacks, but it’s beginner-friendly early on. It’s currently in Steam Early Access, but there is more than enough to enjoy currently.
Bardo is currently available on Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift. It has been given a fitness rating comparable to walking by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise.
Beat Saber
Beat Saber has a reputation as one of the best virtual reality games in general and it’s well-deserved. Beat Games’ fantastic rhythm title has the player using two katana beams to slice beats in specific directions and dodge oncoming walls and has been supported well ever since it originally released. It’s a full-body workout and your arms will be feeling tired after you’re done playing. Beyond its default soundtrack, there’s also DLC featuring bands such as Panic! at the Disco, Imagine Dragons, and Green Day.
Beat Saber is available on Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, and PlayStation VR. It has been given a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. Beat Saber was awarded our VR Fitness Game of the Year in 2018 won our Best Arm Workout VR Fitness Game of the Year in 2019.
Bitslap
If you’re looking for an intense arm workout then look no further than Bitslap. The game is rather simple as it has players punching cubes in the order that they appear in, but it quickly becomes a stellar test of reflexes. Each round only takes a few minutes to complete, and there are short rest periods afterward, but it becomes a real test of endurance.
Bitslap is currently available on Valve Index and HTC Vive. It has been given a fitness rating comparable to an elliptical by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise.
BoxVR
You can’t get a better fitness experience in virtual reality than BoxVR. As you can guess from the name, this rhythm boxing game provides a great arm workout. The post-launch support for it has been outstanding as new exercises mapped out by fitness experts and music has been regularly added for free. It’s easily one of the best ways to stay in shape, and despite it being focused around punching there are plenty of leg workouts included as well.
BoxVR has been given a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It won VR Fitness Insider’s Best VR Cardio Fitness Game of the Year in 2018 and our Best VR Fitness Game of the Year in 2019. It’s currently available on Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, and PlayStation VR.
Creed: Rise to Glory
Based upon the “Rocky” sequel, Creed: Rise to Glory brings all of the thrill and drama of the iconic film franchise to virtual reality. Players get to play the role of Adonis Creed and will get quite the full body workout while learning to duck punches and box with proper technique. It provides an intense upper body workout that will help you burn plenty of calories in no time.
Creed: Rise to Glory is available on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, and PlayStation VR. It has been given 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.
Holopoint
Despite being older than most of the titles on this list, Holopoint remains one of the best arm workout VR games. It set the standard that all archery games strive to meet and remain one of the best. The wave-based survival title has players moving around and rapidly firing their bow and arrow at ninjas that are trying to attack them. It’s a high-intensity workout for your arms, so sessions might be pretty quick at first, but once you build up some resistance you’ll get a really great sweat in.
Holopoint, and its sequel Holopoint: Chronicle, is available now on Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift. It has been given a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise.
Knockout League
If you’re looking for a more arcade-like boxing game that still packs in quite the workout then you will want to check out Knockout League. Modeled after Nintendo’s iconic Punch-Out! series, it manages to always stay fun by featuring some outlandish foes such as a boxing octopus. If you’re really looking to target your arms then we recommend checking out the in-game training alley as the enjoyable mini-games can be quite the challenge.
Knockout League is available now on Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Windows Mixed Reality, and PlayStation VR. It has been given a fitness rating comparable to rowing by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise.
Ninja Legends
Ninja Legends will definitely test your reaction speed as it waves of fast-moving ninjas have to be taken out using melee combat. There’s a decent amount of variety as players can use a katana, claws, staff and even a chain dart as a special ability. With four separate difficulty modes, this is perfect for anyone be it someone just starting on their fitness journey or a full-fledged fitness enthusiast that is looking to put the work in.
Ninja Legends is available on Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, and Windows Mixed Reality. It has been given a fitness rating comparable to an elliptical by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise.
PowerBeats VR
One of the most enjoyable rhythm titles, PowerBeats VR has players punching incoming objects and then squatting to avoid walls. It’s an intense workout that targets all aspects of your body and keeps your arms active throughout. It’s been built to appeal to fitness enthusiasts as it includes a level editor and calorie tracker that makes it easy to see how much of a workout you’ve had without any third-party apps.
PowerBeats VR is available now on Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality. It has been given a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise.
Song Beater: Quite My Tempo!
Despite the silly name, Song Beater: Quite My Tempo! provides a serious arm workout. The highly enjoyable VR rhythm game has players using their fists and a variety of weapons to get through different songs as they bat down objects to the tune of the music. It also has custom song and video support, so there’s plenty of variety and players can enjoy their usual workout playlist if they want.
Song Beater: Quite My Tempo! is available now on Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, and Windows Mixed Reality. It has been given a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise.
Soundboxing
Soundboxing differentiates itself from other punching-based titles as it has an unparalleled selection of music. It achieves this by using YouTube videos and this results in a really fun experience. The title also has leaderboards that will make sure that players have a good reason for continuing to play.
Soundboxing is available now on Valve Index, HTC Vive, and Oculus Rift. It has been given a fitness rating comparable to tennis by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise.
Sprint Vector
While you might think it’s built around leg exercises due to its name, Sprint Vector is actually one of the best VR arm workout games. This is because players have to use their arms in order to move quickly through its obstacle courses. The game also requires quite a bit of core and balance coordination, so it winds up being a good workout in all areas except for the legs. It’s also a highly replayable title thanks to its multiplayer focus, so don’t be surprised if you keep finding yourself back in the game.
Sprint Vector is available now on HTC Vive, PlayStation VR, and Oculus Rift. It has been given a fitness rating comparable to an elliptical by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise. It won our Best VR Arm Workout Game of the Year in 2017.
Synth Riders
Synth Riders provides a highly intense workout that has players blocking and punching targets, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself drenched in sweat. It also has players moving their legs a surprising amount, so this isn’t an arms-only title. Just be ready for a synth-heavy soundtrack, though, as it musical selection is great for those that dig it but doesn’t offer much in terms of variety.
Synth Riders is available now on Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, and Windows Mixed Reality. It has been given a fitness rating comparable to an elliptical by the VR Institute of Health and Exercise.
The Thrill of the Fight
Despite being one of the earliest VR boxing titles, The Thrill of the Fight is still easy to recommend in 2020. This is due to the realism of its simulation and how much care went into crafting the title. Players will learn proper boxing techniques such as how to jab and hit a speed bag. While all the fights are virtual, players will learn about the dedication that top boxers have. There are plenty of alternatives that provide licenses and more arcade-like experiences, but nothing else comes close to this VR classic by Ian Fitz when looking for a realistic offering.
The Thrill of the Fight is available now on Valve Index, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, and Windows Mixed Reality. It has been given 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.
That does it for VR Fitness Insider’s list of the top 15 best arm workout VR games. With these great titles, you’ll begin to tone your arms and get in better shape in no time.
