Realm Royale

A battle royale where you’re trying to jog and aim at the same time sounds like a good way to spend a lot of time staring at the grass, but Realm Royale has enough running around between fights that I think it could work for the right workout. I’d start with a bike, where a sudden turn of the camera doesn’t make your feet join the decision.

Gameplay

The class choice gives each match a little more shape than “find a weapon and hope,” because you’re also picking abilities that change how you want to approach a fight. I think that’s cool, though it does mean you have to learn what your class can do while also keeping track of everybody else. It’s a lot to juggle before you’ve settled into a rhythm.

Forging weapons is the mechanic I’d be most curious about. It gives you a reason to head somewhere specific instead of wandering until the fog pushes you along, and that kind of goal can keep a match moving. But stopping to make a plan while other players are looking for you sounds like trying to put together a shelf while someone keeps asking if you’re done.

The map and mounting up give you stretches where you’re moving through the fantasy world without being in a fight every second. That’s useful for a workout, since you get a chance to settle into a pace, but I don’t know how long I’d enjoy searching for another player before the next interesting thing happens. The fog at least gives the match a direction, which is more than I can say for me when I’m trying to find the right aisle at a grocery store.

Solo play and teams seem like they’d have different kinds of pressure. With a team, I’d expect the match to feel less lonely and maybe a little more forgiving when I’m still learning, but I’d also be thinking about what everyone else is doing. Solo sounds cleaner, though I’d probably spend too much time wondering if that noise was a player or just the game making a noise.

There’s a lot to like in a battle royale that lets you pick a class, use abilities, and work toward better weapons, and I can see how a good match could keep your attention for a whole workout. I just wouldn’t expect every minute to be exciting. Sometimes you’re going to be traveling and waiting for the next fight, which is still better than a long cut scene, but not exactly a constant stream of decisions.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

The aiming is what makes me hesitant about using a treadmill. A controller works for this, and I’d use one, but fights ask you to turn, aim and react while another player is trying to do the same thing to you. Loose inputs are fine when you’re riding around. They matter a lot more when the other person has already found you.

On a bike, I think I’d have an easier time keeping my hands steady, especially if I kept the resistance comfortable and didn’t try to turn the workout into a sprint every time I heard trouble. I’d start with a class whose abilities feel straightforward to me, then leave the more complicated choices for when I’m sitting down and can focus. There’s no special achievement for making a hard thing harder.

A treadmill sounds more manageable during the quieter parts, when you’re mounting up and moving across the map, but the match doesn’t wait for you to get your footing. You can’t pause a fight because the belt is moving and you need to adjust your speed, and I’d rather not have my exercise equipment making tactical decisions for me.

I’d also skip team play while I’m still figuring out the controls if I know I’ll get distracted by other people depending on me. That might be more fun once the game feels familiar, but on a workout I’d rather be able to make a questionable choice without needing to explain it over voice chat. I don’t know how much I’d enjoy a close fight when my hands are bouncing around, and that’s the part I’d plan around.

Category Score: 1 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The minimum graphics card is old enough that the game doesn’t look like it needs a new gaming computer just to get started. I’d check that your computer meets the basic requirements and has room for the 30 GB install, then give it a try before worrying about upgrades. Your storage might have more to say about this than your graphics card.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

Realm Royale seems like a fun choice if you want a free to play battle royale and you’re comfortable aiming during a workout, especially on a bike. I’d skip it for a treadmill if fast fights make you lose your balance or your focus.

Overall Score: 2 out of 3