Liar's Bar

A bluffing game sounds like an odd workout companion, but Liar’s Bar might keep your attention better than another game that asks you to stare at a map while you jog. I’d play it at an easy pace, because trying to read a table full of liars while bouncing around sounds like a lot of work for my brain.

Gameplay

The part I like on paper is that both Liar’s Dice and Liar’s Deck make you pay attention to what other people are saying and doing, rather than just asking you to repeat the same action. You have to decide when somebody’s bluffing and when you can get away with one yourself, which is a nice little problem to carry through a workout. I enjoy games that make you feel clever for a moment, even when the moment is probably just luck.

Liar’s Dice sounds like the easier one to follow while exercising, since the central decision is whether to believe the claim in front of you or call it out. Liar’s Deck also depends on bluffing, but I think I’d need a bit more focus to track what’s happening at the table and decide when to push back. I don’t know how much of that comes down to the players you get matched with, but a good table sounds like it could make a short session feel lively.

The online setup is also the thing that makes me hesitate. Playing with other people gives the bluffing a reason to matter, but now your pace is tied to three other people and whatever they feel like doing with their turn. I’d be fine with a little waiting if I was catching my breath, and less fine if I was standing on a treadmill staring at somebody’s turn for a while. It’s a social game, which is nice, and social games have people in them.

Since it’s in Early Access, I’d go in expecting the experience to keep changing rather than treating it like a finished package. That can be fun if you like seeing a game develop, but I’d be more cautious about buying it just because you want a reliable workout routine. The two game types give it a clear idea, and I think that’s more appealing than a game that’s trying to be five different things at once.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

The big question is whether you can comfortably make the decisions and use the controls without stopping your workout. I can imagine the actual bluffing being manageable at a steady walking pace, because you have time to think and you’re not aiming at a moving target. I’d keep the pace gentle, though, since catching a lie is harder when your attention is split between the table and the belt.

I can’t confirm controller support from the information here, so I’d check that before planning a session around it. If you’re using a keyboard and mouse, I’d test whether the controls feel comfortable before getting on the treadmill, because learning where everything is while moving sounds like how I’d end up making the wrong kind of accusation. A bike may be easier for keeping your hands steady, but I don’t think you need one if you can play comfortably while walking.

The multiplayer format is where I’d be careful. You can’t count on the other people at your table to wait while you slow down, adjust your position or take a break, and that puts a little pressure on what is otherwise a calm game. I’d skip it for a hard run or a workout where you need to stay focused on your pace. A relaxed ride or walk seems much more reasonable.

I’d also start with a casual session rather than deciding this is your new workout game before you know how the tables feel. If the other players keep things moving, that could be a nice way to pass the time. If they don’t, well, you’re still exercising, but you may be exercising your patience.

Category Score: 1 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The minimum graphics requirement points to a computer with a modest dedicated graphics card, not just an older office machine with integrated graphics. I’d check the graphics card first, and make sure you have a stable broadband connection since this is an online multiplayer game. Fifteen gigabytes of storage is manageable, at least.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

Liar’s Bar could work for easy walks or relaxed rides if you enjoy bluffing with strangers and don’t mind a little waiting. I’d skip it for fast treadmill workouts, and I’d check the controls before buying it for exercise. If you want a workout game that keeps you constantly moving, this probably isn’t the one.

Overall Score: 1.67 out of 3