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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsYes—but the game has to get you moving. Seated controller play usually expends little more energy than other seated screen activities; active games can raise energy use, but the amount depends on the game, effort, player and study conditions. Gaming is not a dependable calorie-burning workout by itself.
How many calories do video games burn?
There is no universal calorie rate for gaming. A 2015 systematic review and meta-analysis by Nirjhar Dutta and Mark A. Pereira estimated that active video games used an average of 1.81 kilocalories per kilogram of body weight per hour more than traditional video games. For a 60 kg (about 132 lb) person, that comparison works out to roughly 108 extra kilocalories per hour. It is a study average, not a personal prediction.
The same review reported a mean of 2.62 metabolic equivalents (METs) for active-game play, which it classified as light activity. The underlying studies varied in games and participants, and the review included research published through April 2012, so these figures describe broad activity categories—not a current ranking of consoles or titles. Read the 2015 review.
Why active games burn more than seated play
Traditional gaming generally involves sitting and small hand movements. Dance, boxing and other motion-based games can recruit more of the body and keep a player moving, increasing energy expenditure during the session. That does not mean every motion-controlled game creates a substantial workout: the movement required and the effort a player puts in matter.
#1 Best Overall
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In a 2009 study, researchers measured energy expenditure during Wii Boxing and other activities. For Wii Boxing, the mean increase over resting expenditure was 189 ± 63 kilocalories per hour among children and 148 ± 71 kilocalories per hour among adults in that study’s sample. Those results apply to that game and protocol, not to gaming generally. The authors concluded that “Activity-promoting video games have the potential to increase movement and energy expenditure in children and adults.” See the study in The Journal of Pediatrics.
Which kinds of games involve the most movement?
Research comparing activities in children tested Dance Dance Revolution at two skill levels, Wii bowling and boxing, and treadmill walking. The activities produced different results; the study does not establish one calorie figure that applies to all dance, sports or motion-controlled games. See the activity comparison.
Rank #2
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- Dance games: A dance mat or pad can make stepping part of play. Check that any equipment you use is compatible with your current console; the cited study is not a guide to present-day hardware compatibility.
- Boxing or fitness-style games: These can require repeated arm, leg or whole-body movement, but the intensity depends on the game and how actively you play.
- Handheld or seated games: These usually require much less movement than games built around stepping, dancing or full-body actions.
These are practical distinctions based on the movements involved, not a verified ranking of current titles or systems.
Can active gaming count as exercise?
It can provide physical activity, particularly when the game keeps you moving, but short-term exertion does not prove lasting fitness gains. A 2024 systematic review of 23 youth studies—10 longitudinal and 13 cross-sectional—reported that active games could reach moderate intensity in short-term measurements. However, studies of programs lasting at least six weeks did not find significant follow-up effects on young people’s energy expenditure or activity profiles. Find the 2024 youth review.
Rank #3
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Walking is a useful comparison: in a small study of experienced college-aged men, treadmill walking expended more energy than active drumming, while handheld drumming was not significantly different from seated control. Active gaming should not be assumed to match or outperform walking. See the drumming and walking study.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can gaming help with weight loss?
Calorie expenditure during play is only one part of energy balance; food and drink matter too. In a one-hour trial involving 120 young adults, participants were provided food and drinks while watching television, playing traditional video games or playing motion-controlled games. Mean energy surplus—the intake minus energy used during the session—was 638 ± 408 kilocalories for television, 655 ± 533 for traditional games and 376 ± 487 for motion-controlled games. The motion-controlled group’s average surplus was lower, but all three group averages were positive. These figures describe the trial’s snack-provided protocol, not calories burned by the games alone or evidence that gaming causes weight loss. See the one-hour trial.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【Arm & Leg Mini Exercise Bike】AGM pedal exerciser can be used for arms and legs exercises to improve muscle strength, joint range of motion and coordination. You can use it on table top as an arm exerciser or placed on the floor to your legs exerciser while sitting.
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Rank #4
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How to interpret calorie claims about gaming
- Check what was compared. An increase over rest is different from an increase over seated gaming.
- Look for the specific game and participants. A result from Wii Boxing in one sample does not predict another player’s session.
- Notice the study duration. A laboratory measurement during one session cannot establish a lasting change in fitness or daily activity.
- Treat calorie estimates as approximate. Body size, effort, duration and measurement methods affect expenditure.
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