EA SPORTS FC 25

A football match gives you something to keep your eyes on every few seconds, which is a lot better for a workout than reading a wall of dialogue while your legs do all the work. I’d play EA SPORTS FC 25 on a lower difficulty for an easy run, because trying to defend perfectly while bouncing along sounds like a good way to pass the ball to the wrong team.

Gameplay

The match itself should keep you busy, and that’s the main reason I think this works as an exercise game. You’re watching for a pass, trying to make space, and then suddenly defending a counterattack, so there isn’t much time to drift off and check how much longer your run is. Football is a useful game for this because the action keeps moving even when you’re not doing anything especially clever.

The 5v5 Rush mode sounds like the part I’d try first, especially if you’ve got friends you can play with. Smaller teams mean you’re involved more often, which is great when you want the game to pull your attention away from the treadmill, but it also means there’s less room to stand around and think through every move. I’d probably enjoy that more when I’m feeling alert than when I’m trying to get through a low effort workout.

FC IQ offering more tactical control sounds interesting, but I’m not sure I’d want to make a whole project out of it. I like being able to shape how a club plays, and I can see that making managing your club more interesting, but I’d keep the tactics simple if I were playing while exercising. There’s a point where I’m meant to be keeping my legs moving and not arranging a meeting about midfield shape.

That’s the tradeoff with FC 25. The actual football gives you plenty to do, but menus and management decisions can turn a quick workout into a session where you’re standing still and adjusting things. I’d keep a match ready to go, make the choices I care about before starting, and avoid fiddling with tactics between every game. It’s still a soccer game, so the ball is going to do most of the distracting.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

On a treadmill, I’d expect the running itself to be easy to pair with the game, but close defending and quick changes of direction ask for more attention than a slow moving game does. Full controller support helps a lot, and I’d lower the difficulty until I could make passes without having to stare at every button press. There’s no shame in making the computer a little more generous. I am not trying to get called up.

An offline Kick Off match would be my first choice for a workout, since I could pause when I needed to adjust something or take a drink. I’d skip online matches when I’m doing a harder run, because a match with other people can make you care a lot more about every mistake than you meant to. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not have a bad pass become the most important thing happening in my afternoon.

Rush with friends could be a fun change of pace, but I think it’s easier to lose track of your effort when you’re trying to follow what everyone else is doing. On a bike, that might feel more manageable because you can keep both hands steady and don’t have the belt moving under you, though the quick inputs are still there. I’d save the more competitive play for when I’m not moving.

For a treadmill, I’d set the difficulty low enough that I can look up at the screen and make a decision without sprinting through a panic attack in my head. The matches are active, but they don’t ask for aiming or precision movement with a mouse, and a controller is a natural fit. You’ll still need to pay attention. Just not every second.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The minimum graphics card is an older dedicated card, so I’d check that before assuming a basic laptop can handle it. You’ll also want plenty of storage available, because the game asks for a large install, which is a fair amount of space for a ball and some grass.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

This is a fun choice for a workout if you like football and can keep the match casual, especially with Rush or a straightforward Kick Off game. I’d skip the competitive matches on a hard run, but for a bike ride or an easy treadmill session, it should keep your attention.

Overall Score: 2.33 out of 3