Is Virtual Reality a Gym Substitute?

The start of a new year often brings a desire for self-improvement.

While the idea of completely reinventing myself is far-fetched, I can’t help but entertain thoughts of healthy changes, like hitting the gym or eating better.

Although I’m not a believer in diets, I know my job keeps me seated for long stretches—ten hours most days—getting up only occasionally to make tea or stretch.

These brief changes in position don’t count as real physical activity, so it’s clear that my routine isn’t ideal.

I don’t enjoy exercise in the conventional sense. I love team sports like football, but there aren’t local amateur teams I can join.

A gym membership feels like money wasted, as I know I won’t use it, and running—especially on a treadmill—seems unbearably dull.

But last year, I discovered a way to make workouts more enjoyable.

The game Shardfall on the Quell platform introduced me to a hybrid of gaming and exercise that didn’t feel like a chore.

Combining roguelite mechanics, demanding levels, and muscle-engaging resistance bands, it felt like a next-level fitness experience, similar to Ring Fit Adventure but more intense.

However, my streak fizzled out during a busy holiday season and work-related travel.

Desiring a fresh start, I turned to my Meta Quest 3 for motivation, hoping it could provide the variety I needed to stay active and engaged.

Fitness Experiments on the Meta Quest 3

To jumpstart my routine, I noticed that Meta was advertising a New Year fitness challenge. With no specific goals beyond "get healthier," I downloaded several recommended fitness games to try.

FitXR was my first choice. A boxing-inspired game, it combines punching movements with music, somewhat similar to Beat Saber but geared toward crossfit enthusiasts.

While I appreciated the music and an engaging virtual trainer, the gameplay heavily lacked precision.

The system didn’t reward proper form, so lazily tapping at targets registered as much as a fully committed punch.

This made me worry about reinforcing poor techniques or even causing injuries.

Another attempt was Cleansheet Football, which was disappointing. Given my love for football, my expectations were high, but the repetitive motions of punching, catching, or saving balls became monotonous.

Weak design choices—such as dull, cyber-themed backdrops instead of energizing stadiums full of cheering fans—left me disheartened.

On a brighter note, Les Mills Body Combat impressed me, improving upon FitXR’s formula. The brutalist-style backgrounds weren’t visually inspiring, but the gameplay was more polished.

Mistimed or weak punches were penalized, encouraging full effort during workouts.

The Kiwi trainers kept me engaged, and I found myself returning to it every time I used the Quest for exercise.

Even though Beat Saber might still be my go-to for cardio fun, Les Mills provided enough variety to keep things exciting (and yes, punching a wall by mistake proved how immersed I was).

When Games Do Fitness Best

Interestingly, the more traditional "game-oriented" titles like Pistol Whip and Beat Saber turned out to be the most enjoyable ways to stay active on the Quest 3.

These titles didn’t brand themselves as fitness-specific, but their gameplay naturally incorporated movement.

I often found myself so caught up in their entertainment that I worked up a sweat without realizing it. For me, this was far more motivating than the structured feel of typical fitness games.

Eventually, I stumbled upon Shardfall again—now available on the Quest 3.

This game had already been my favorite blend of gaming and fitness.

Adding compatible resistance bands allows you to recreate much of the experience that was previously exclusive to Quell’s hardware.

However, some elements, like the chest-based tracking for jumps and ducks, don’t translate as smoothly.

Despite these limitations, Shardfall on the Quest remains unrivaled among fitness games.

Its relentless mix of cardio and combat challenges, paired with a roguelite progression system, hooks you into playing "just one more round," even when you’re out of breath after a boss fight.

Final Thoughts

While I'll likely return to Quell’s dedicated platform for future workouts due to the more comprehensive experience, the Meta Quest 3 is a fantastic alternative for those already invested in VR hardware.

Adding affordable resistance bands to play Shardfall might just be the perfect introduction to gamified fitness for anyone reluctant to start exercising.

Whether you’re seeking VR-based cardio or a reason to move, Shardfall on the Quest could be exactly what you need.

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The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.