Ring Fit Adventure elicited moderate average exercise intensity with periods of vigorous intensity, reductions in capillary blood glucose, stable postexercise blood pressure, and high enjoyment among 20 adults with stable chronic diseases, suggesting it may be a feasible and engaging home-based exercise option, though the small sample, lack of control condition, and single-session design limit generalizability.
All 20 participants completed the Ring Fit Adventure (RFA) gameplay sessions with no adverse events or missing data.
The sample had a mean age of 54.3 years, was evenly split by sex, and hypertension was the most common condition.
Average heart rate during RFA gameplay corresponded to moderate intensity, while peak heart rate reached vigorous intensity.
Heart rate rose significantly after each stage of gameplay.
Rate of perceived exertion increased significantly after each stage.
Capillary blood glucose decreased after each stage of gameplay with no hypoglycemic events.
No significant changes in systolic or diastolic blood pressure were observed after gameplay.
Participants reported high enjoyment of RFA.
The authors conclude RFA may be a feasible, engaging home-based exercise option for adults with stable chronic diseases but note important limitations.
This small pilot study looked at what happens in the body when adults with long-term health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, or diabetes, play Ring Fit Adventure, a video game that combines aerobic and strength-style exercises. Twenty adults aged 40 to 65 played two stages of the game while researchers tracked heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, how hard the exercise felt, and how much they enjoyed it. The game raised heart rate to a moderate level on average, with peaks in the vigorous range. Participants felt they were working harder as play went on, and blood sugar dropped after each stage without any low blood sugar events. Blood pressure did not change significantly right after play. Participants rated the game as enjoyable (about 78 out of 100), and everyone finished without adverse events. This research suggests that the game could be a feasible and enjoyable way to do home-based exercise for people with stable chronic conditions. However, the study was small, had no comparison group, and tested only a single session, so it cannot show whether people would keep playing or whether it would improve health over time. Larger, longer studies with control groups are needed.
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Upload Your LabsHaron M, Ismail S, Yeo G. (2026). Physiological Responses, Exercise Intensity, and Enjoyment During Ring Fit Adventure in Adults With Chronic Diseases: Single-Arm, Pre-Post Experimental Study.. JMIR formative research. https://doi.org/10.2196/92345