Mortal Kombat X

Mortal Kombat X could make a treadmill session go by quickly, but I’d play the towers rather than the story, because a fight is a lot easier to keep up with than a long scene between fights. The punches are the fun part, and the timing is the part that may ask more of you than your legs signed up for.

Gameplay

The fights are fast and direct, which is exactly why I think this works well as an exercise game when you pick a mode that keeps you moving. You’re paying attention to your opponent, trying to land a hit, and reacting when they come in, so there isn’t much room for the workout to feel like a separate chore. It’s a lot more engaging than watching a little character walk toward the next objective.

The character variations give you a few different ways to play each fighter, and I like that the choice can change how a match feels without making you stop to read a pile of menus. It can still take a little practice to understand what your character is good at, though, and if you’re trying to learn a new fighter while moving, you may spend a match pressing buttons with confidence and learning nothing. That is a familiar feeling.

The story mode has fights I’d be happy to play, but the cinematic scenes keep stopping the action. I don’t know how much patience you have for sitting through a story while the treadmill keeps going, but I’d probably start with the towers and save the story for a time when you’re not trying to keep your pace. The scenes give the fights a reason to happen, which is nice, but they don’t help the workout.

Towers are the easier recommendation. You can get straight into a run of fights, and the setup lets you spend more time playing than deciding what to do next. There are still pauses between matches, and some opponents can make you slow down and think instead of just keeping your hands moving, but most of the time it’s a pretty clean trade: pay attention, fight, and move on.

I also think the game’s dramatic presentation works better in short pieces than it does as something to watch while exercising. There’s plenty of big theatrical violence, and then you’re back to trying to land a useful hit before your opponent takes half your health. It has a little bit of everything, including moments where I’d be wondering why I keep walking into the same attack.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

On a treadmill, I’d keep the speed comfortable and play a familiar character in a tower, because Mortal Kombat X expects quick reactions and fairly precise button timing. Full controller support makes it straightforward to pick up, but the controller doesn’t make the timing less demanding. You still have to block, react, and put the right buttons together while your hands are moving around.

A bike is probably easier for me to imagine here, since your upper body can stay steadier while you work the controls. I don’t know if that would make the tricky parts feel easy, though. A close fight can ask for a quick decision at exactly the time you’re trying to remember which button starts the move you meant to use, and that’s not ideal for either activity.

I’d avoid online matches during a workout. Playing against another person adds pressure to react quickly, and there’s no reason to turn a session that should be fun into a job interview where the other person is also trying to hit you. The single player towers give you room to choose your own pace and stop between fights.

If you’re set on the story, I’d save it for a slow walk or a separate gaming session, since the cutscenes break up the exercise. For the workout itself, pick a fighter you already understand, stick with one variation for a while, and don’t be afraid to play on an easier setting if that’s available in the mode you choose. You’re there to move and have a good time, not to prove you can do a complicated combo while the belt is carrying you away.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The minimum graphics card is old enough that you probably don’t need a new gaming computer just for this, though the game still asks for a dedicated card rather than integrated graphics. I’d check your graphics card first, since stuttering during a fight would make the timing feel pretty rough.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

Mortal Kombat X is a fun workout option if you like fighting games and can keep your pace comfortable while reacting quickly. I’d point you toward the towers, and away from the story mode or online matches while you’re exercising.

Overall Score: 2.67 out of 3