Does Playing VR Burn Calories? A Deep Dive into Virtual Fitness

VR games are taking the gaming world by storm, delivering immersive, awe-inspiring experiences that unite the body and mind. The interactive native of VR means that a player can harness the power of their body to navigate and transform their virtual setting. So is VR good exercise? Absolutely! Is VR good for weight loss? It can definitely help when paired with a healthy diet. The team at VR Space has explored data from the VR Fitness Institute to rank the VR games that burn the most calories:

How Many Calories Does VR Burn?

Virtual reality is emerging as a powerful tool in the fight against sedentary lifestyles and obesity: An estimated 15% of VR games burn enough calories to qualify as medium to intense exercise. The amount of calories burned by VR games depends on many factors, such as the type of game, how engaged the player is, and how much a player weighs. But overall, the calories burned by virtual reality games can range from 13 calories per minute to 1 calorie per minute. Any movement is better than no movement at all, so have fun and get playing!

What VR Game Burns the Most Calories?

Here are the top ten VR games that give you a workout ranked by how many calories they burn per minute:

1. AudioShield Modded calories burned range from 10.66 to 11.85 per minute.
2. Thrill of the Fight calories burned range from 9.74 to 15.32 per minute.
3. PowerBeatsVR calories burned range from 72 to 8.59 per minute.
4. Knockout League calories burned range from 7.54 to 8.33 per minute.
5. Audio Trip calories burned range from 7.29 to 8.94 per minute.
6. Holopoint calories burned range from 7.46 to 12.69 per minute.
7. Pistol Whip calories burned range from 7.17 to 7.69 per minute.
8. Hot Squat 2: New Glory calories burned range from 7.07 to 8.57 per minute.
9. Song Beater: Quite My Tempo!calories burned range from 7 to 8.86 per minute.
10. Soundboxing calories burned range from 6.72 to 7.49 per minute.

Is Beat Saber a Good Cardio Workout?

Definitely! Not only is Beat Saber a fun dancing game, but it’s great for VR fitness, as it can burn as many calories per minute as playing tennis. Beat Saber calories burned can reach 6.55 to 7.45 per minute for someone who weighs around 175 pounds.

You can check out the methodology used to determine calories burned by VR games here. You can also explore these articles from authorities in health, fitness, and technology exploring the use of VR for exercise:

• VR Fitness Is a Serious Workout, Seriously
• Exercise by Accident: VR Games to Help You Work Out at Home
• The Best Way to Get a VR Workout (That’s Also Fun)
• Why People Are Playing Beat Saberand Other Virtual Reality Games to Exercise
• Exercise and Virtual Reality
• The Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Exercise on anIndividual’s Physiological, Psychological, and Rehabilitative Outcomes

Which Virtual Reality Games Burn the Most Calories per Minute?

Rank	Game	Calories Burned per Minute
1	Audioshield Modded	10.66 to 11.85
2	Thrill of the Fight	9.74 to 15.32
3	PowerBeatsVR	7.72 to 8.59
4	Knockout League	7.54 to 8.33
5	Audio Trip	7.29 to 8.94
6	Holopoint	7.46 to 12.69
7	Pistol Whip	7.17 to 7.69
8	Hot Squat 2: New Glory	7.07 to 8.57
9	Song Beater: Quite My Tempo!	7 to 8.86
10	Soundboxing	6.72 to 7.49
11	Creed: Rise to Glory	6.62 to 7.80
12	Hot Squat	6.56 to 7.25
13	Beat Saber	6.55 to 7.45
14	Fastest Fist	6.24 to 8.02
15	Final Soccer VR	6.07 to 6.75
16	Audioshield	5.95 to 7.69
17	SpaceFrog VR	5.93 to 6.75
18	BoxVR	5.7 to 6.89
19	Nightstar: Starfighter	5.64 to 7.14
20	Katana X	5.64 to 6.64
21	Hotel Transylvania Popstic	5.45 to 7.04
22	Bitslap	5.34 to 5.41
23	Space Pirate Trainer	5.16 to 5.22
24	Cross Country Skiing VR	5.17 to 5.46
25	Sprint Vector	5.15 to 5.51
26	Music Escape	5.12 to 7.07
27	HoloBall	5.01 to 6.18
28	GoalkeepVR	4.89 to 5.5
29	Drunkn Bar Fight	4.84 to 4.89
30	Dance Collider	4.78 to 6.25
31	Sword Master	4.73 to 5.44
32	Blade and Sorcery	4.7 to 5.32
33	Fruit Ninja	4.68 to 4.99
34	Acan’s Call: Act 1	4.62 to 4.8
35	Chop It	4.5 to 5.67
36	Ninja Legends	4.43 to 5.5
37	Until You Fall	4.39 to 5.06
38	Racket Fury: Table Tennis VR	4.38 to 4.85
39	Synth Riders	4.32 to 5.27
40	Hellsplit: Arena	4.28 to 5.3
41	Racket: Nx	4.23 to 4.58
42	Orc Hunter	4.12 to 4.46
43	Arcade Saga	4.12 to 4.4
44	Sweet Escape 2	4.07 to 4.45
45	Dash Dash Run!	4.06 to 4.22
46	Superhot VR	4.06 to 4.07
47	VirZOOM Arcade	4.05 to 4.58
48	Singularity 5	3.93 to 4.44
49	Eleven Table Tennis	3.9 to 4.31
50	Rec Room	3.9 to 3.94
51	Blasters of the Universe	3.87 to 5.41
52	Karnage Chronicles	3.8 to 4.26
53	Vector Velocity	3.79 to 4.29
54	Space Channel 5	3.77 to 4.78
55	Loco Dojo	3.71 to 4.38
56	The Wizards	3.68 to 6.24
57	Goalie VR	3.68 to 3.72
58	Deus Vult	3.61 to 4.2
59	Vindicta	3.6 to 3.61
60	Wave Circles	3.52 to 3.85
61	Sairento VR	3.43 to 3.91
62	Audica	3.41 to 3.87
63	ThunderGod	3.41 to 4.22
64	Late for Work	3.41 to 4.1
65	Gates of Nowhere	3.38 to 4.13
66	OrbusVR	3.37 to 4.4
67	DrumBeats VR	3.31 to 4.35
68	To the Top	3.29 to 3.8
69	Holoception	3.2 to 4.03
70	Raw Data	3.13 to 3.58
71	Tiltbrush	3.12 to 3.18
72	Windlands 2	3.11 to 3.68
73	The IOTA Project	3.06 to 3.35
74	Bardo	3.05 to 3.2
75	Everyday Golf VR	3.03 to 3.29
76	Flappy Arms	3.03 to 3.15
77	Vanishing Realms	3.01 to 3.29
78	Omni Arena	2.96 to 3.28
79	Undead Development	2.92 to 3.3
80	Climbey	2.92 to 3.01
81	Pavlov VR	2.91 to 3.38
82	QuiVr	2.87
83	Eclipse @ CineQuest	2.63 to 2.9
84	Dungeons & Treasure VR	2.53 to 2.72
85	Electronauts	2.43 to 2.94
86	Mace and Grace	2.33 to 2.69
87	Cricket Club	3.29 to 3.62
88	Crystal Reign	2.28 to 2.51
89	Job Simulator	2.26 to 2.3
90	VR Regatta	2.15 to 2.16
91	Big Breezy Boat	2.11 to 2.49
92	Flappy Flappy VR	2.08 to 2.28
93	Conveyor VR	2.07 to 2.47
94	CYCOM: Cybernet Combat	2.04 to 2.24
95	Animal Force	1.86 to 2.12
96	Detached	1.85 to 1.91
97	Smashbox Arena	1.79 to 2.11

Brought to you by VR Space custom virtual reality spaces.

Virtual reality (VR) is a growing tool in the fitness sector in addition to being a doorway to immersive gaming experiences in the modern digital era. One often posed query is, “Does playing VR burn calories?” The response is unquestionably positive, and this article will discuss how playing virtual reality games can be a pleasurable and efficient approach to stay in shape in addition to burning fat.

The Caloric Burn of VR Activities

When it comes to burning calories, VR gaming offers a unique blend of physical activity and immersive gameplay. Studies and user feedback indicate that the caloric expenditure during VR activities varies based on the game’s intensity and duration of play. Let’s delve into the details:

Light VR Games

These games, characterized by their low-intensity gameplay such as puzzles or exploration, still contribute to calorie burning, albeit to a lesser extent. Comparable to a leisurely walk, light VR games typically enable users to burn approximately 100-200 calories per hour.

Moderate to Intense VR Games

On the other hand, more physically demanding VR games offer a substantial caloric burn akin to vigorous cardio exercises. Here’s a breakdown of some popular intense VR games and their calorie-burning potential:

• Beat Saber: Renowned for its rhythmic gameplay, Beat Saber requires players to slash through blocks with virtual lightsabers to the beat of music. Users can expect to burn between 6-8 calories per minute, comparable to the caloric expenditure of a moderate-paced rowing session.
• Thrill of the Fight: As a VR boxing simulator, Thrill of the Fight immerses players in intense one-on-one boxing matches. With its demanding gameplay, users can burn an impressive 10-15 calories per minute, equivalent to the caloric output of a vigorous boxing workout.
• Supernatural: This VR fitness app combines immersive environments with full-body workouts designed by professional trainers. Caloric burn in Supernatural varies based on factors like workout duration, intensity, and individual fitness levels, but it typically offers a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) experience.

Comparing VR with Traditional Exercises

Here is a simple table to illustrate how VR stacks up against traditional exercises in terms of calorie expenditure:

Activity	Description	Calories Burned per Hour
Watching TV	This sedentary activity burns minimal calories, with an estimated expenditure of 70 calories per hour. It serves as the baseline for comparison against more physically active endeavors.	70
Walking (3 mph)	Walking at a moderate pace of 3 miles per hour increases calorie burn significantly compared to sedentary activities. It’s a common form of low-impact exercise, burning around 280 calories per hour.	280
Beat Saber (Moderate)	Engaging in moderate-intensity VR gaming sessions, such as playing Beat Saber, elevates calorie burn to levels comparable to more traditional forms of exercise. Players can expect to burn between 420 to 480 calories per hour, making it a viable option for cardio workouts.	420-480
Jogging (5 mph)	Jogging at a moderate pace of 5 miles per hour is a staple of cardiovascular exercise routines, burning approximately 590 calories per hour. While traditional jogging offers higher calorie burn than moderate VR gaming, the immersive nature of VR can enhance enjoyment and motivation for some individuals.	590
Thrill of the Fight	High-intensity VR experiences like Thrill of the Fight offer calorie burn rates that rival or exceed those of traditional exercises. With estimates ranging from 600 to 900 calories burned per hour, this intense VR boxing simulation provides a vigorous cardiovascular workout comparable to jogging or other high-intensity activities.	600-900

How Does VR Burn Calories?

Engaging in VR involves a lot of physical movement which is the primary driver of calorie burn. Here’s how different types of movements in VR help burn calories:

• Arm movements: Swinging, punching, or throwing motions in games.
• Core engagement: Balancing and stabilizing the body during dynamic game play.
• Leg movements: Ducking, dodging, or dancing movements require significant energy expenditure.

Calorie burn in VR also depends on individual metabolic rates and the intensity level each player brings to their session. Players who move more vigorously will experience a higher calorie burn.

Benefits of VR Fitness

Aside from calorie burn, VR gaming has several other fitness benefits:

• Improved cardiovascular health: Regularly playing energetic VR games increases heart rate and helps improve cardiovascular health.
• Enhanced motor skills: VR games can help improve coordination and balance.
• Motivation and engagement: The immersive nature of VR keeps participants engaged and motivated to exercise, which is a key component in consistent physical activity.

Conclusion

Does playing VR burn calories? Absolutely, and it does so while providing an enjoyable and engaging way to exercise. Whether you’re slicing beats in a rhythmic game or boxing against a virtual opponent, VR has proven to be a valuable tool for those looking to burn calories and enhance their overall fitness. As VR technology continues to evolve, it will likely become an increasingly integral part of fitness regimes worldwide.

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