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Fitness Game Genre Reviews

Self Improvement Genre

Here are the genres we use. And below is a list of all out Self Improvement game coverage:

Alphabetical List

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z top

A
Active Health with Carol Vorderman DS
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B
Big Brain Academy Wii
Blogging My Fitness Coach Wii
Bookworm Adventures Deluxe PC
Brain Training DS
Buying Best Fitness Game
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C
Challenge Me: Brain Puzzles DS
Cheaper than the Gym
Cooking Guide DS
Cooking Mama Wii
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E
EA Sports Active Wii
EA Sports Active Month One Wii
EA Sports Active More Workouts Wii
Everybody Votes Channel Wii
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F
Fritz Chess Wii
Future of Exergaming
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G
Gardening Guide DS
Garmin Forerunner 405 Gadget
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H
Horrible Histories Ruthless Romans Wii
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I
Imagine: My Restaurant DS
Imagine: My Secret World DS
Imagine: Teacher DS
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J
Jamie Oliver What's Cooking DS
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M
Magic Made Fun DS
Math Blaster DS
Mind Your Language: French DS
More Touchmaster DS
My Cooking Coach DS
My Do It All DS
My Fitness Coach Wii
My Fitness Coach: Cardio Workout Wii
My French Coach DS
My Health Coach DS
My Secret Diary DS
My Spanish Coach DS
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N
Nintendo Crossword Collection DS
Nutrition Matters Wii
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P
Pass Your Driving Theory Test DS
Personal Trainer: Math DS
Personal Yoga Training DS
Picross DS
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S
Shape Builder iPhone
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T
The Biggest Loser Wii
The Times Crossword Challenges DS
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W
Walk With Me DS
We Cheer Wii
Wii-Fit Wii
Wii-Fit Plus Wii
Wii-Fit Plus Solus Wii
Wii-Fitness Round Up
Wii-Sports Resort Wii
Word Fu iPhone
top

Y
Yoga Wii
Your Shape Wii
top

I
iWriteWords iPhone
top

J
jOG Wii

Self improvement games tap into the popular trend in exercise, workouts and therapy. Experiences as diverse as Brain Training on Nintendo DS and Wii-Fit on the Nintendo Wii have popularised the idea that games can be about more than just having fun - they can improve your brain, body and even mental outlook on life.

Fitness games are only recently becoming a genre in their own right. Previously, rhythm action games would cover these titles. With the release of the Wii and related peripherals however, a new Exergaming genre is emerging. Games that motivate you to exercise by making it entertaining, and tracking your progress, are usually intended to supplement existing exercise routines rather than replace them.

Educational titles combine the fun of play with the self improvement of education. As recent research and educational approach in schools shows, these two bedfellows work very well together. Titles usually consist of a series of mini-tasks around a particular subject. Some games in this genre simply use the topic as a theme for its games, whilst others are more obviously education or coaching based. They all track various stats from the player's performance each day. This enables the game to provide feedback and advice about their progress or lack thereof.

Health games provide both a means to record the health of your lifestyle as well as information on how to improve it. This instant feedback provides motivation to work towards long term health benefits that often seem unobtainable. Add to this the variety of interactive exercises and play experiences around the health theme and you have a package that is not trivial in the healthy living scene.

We Cheer turns Wii-mote flailing into an artform with genuine exercise value. Not as precise a game as All Star Cheerleader, and because of this a lot more challenging. Either way though, there is still fun and exercise a plenty here.

Sat, 27 Feb 2010

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Your Shape on the Wii is workout game with a new idea - a camera. This means it comes at things from a new 'Motion Tracking Camera' angle. The game does away with any need to hold for a Wii-mote, stand on the Balance Board or use other motion sensing paraphernalia.

Wed, 24 Feb 2010

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Nintendo Crossword Collection doesn't just offer the little black and white squared variety, but also word searches and anagrams too.

Wed, 27 Jan 2010

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EA Sports Active More Workouts builds more fun and variety into what was already a leading fitness game on the Wii. Even with strong competition on Nintendo's Wii console, EA Sports Active More Workouts is the best all round performer for those serious about getting fit.

Thu, 21 Jan 2010

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Fritz Chess for the Nintendo Wii is one of a handful of games that mirror recent fitness games with brain training - boosting your mental power with puzzles. If you are looking to work-out your grey matter, Fritz will certainly help you learn, enjoy and play chess.

Mon, 04 Jan 2010

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Wii Yoga sets out to offer the hardcore Yoga fan an authentic at home experience, enhanced by the use of the Wii and Wii Fit board. Although there is plenty here to challenge and stretch, for newcomers like me it's all a little daunting - and doesn't all that pretty.

Thu, 24 Dec 2009

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The Garmin Forerunner 405 packs a lot into a small wristwatch, but what makes this special is the whole package from online web app, to virtual partner, to run markers. Although you need to get back to base to see in detail how your run has panned out, the quality of the web experience make it a great investment for a new or experienced runner, and without the bulk of previous devices.

Thu, 24 Dec 2009

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The Biggest Loser is the second Nintendo Wii game spin-off from the TV Show. After the unconvincing Jillian Michael's Fitness Ultimatum, Biggest Loser Wii has clearly had the active involvement of Bob Harper, the other trainer from the show, and is a good attempt at bringing the its message and ethos into your home. To give it a fair review I've been using as my main fitness game for over a while now.

Thu, 03 Dec 2009

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Active Health on the Nintendo DS follows in the footsteps of games like Nutrition Matters on the Wii and Walk With Me on the DS in encouraging us to get active and eat more healthily. Well present and sharp witted, Active Health with Carol Vorderman manages to combine elements of both these games with much greater success though.

Tue, 24 Nov 2009

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It's been two years since Nintendo released Wii-Fit and created an entire fitness,health and exercise genre that has dominated the charts. Since then a whole host of competitors have appeared focusing on Wii-Fit's weaknesses. Now Nintendo has responded with Wii-Fit Plus which fixes many of the problems in the original, while adding whole new kinds of exercise, ramping up the fun, and making it much more effective as a fitness tool.

Sun, 15 Nov 2009

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