The Wolf Among Us

I’d put The Wolf Among Us on for an easy walk, not the part of a workout where you’re trying to keep a steady pace and also make a decision before a timer runs out. The murder mystery is a good way to make the miles pass, but it does ask you to pay attention.

Gameplay

I think this is one of those games where the story does most of the work, and it does that well enough that I’d be happy to keep going even when I’m mostly watching people talk. You play Bigby Wolf, and the murder investigation gives the conversations a reason to keep moving, rather than making every scene feel like it’s waiting for you to admire the wallpaper. Mostly.

The choices are the part I’d enjoy arguing with myself about. You’re deciding what Bigby says and how he treats people, and the game presents those decisions as important, so I’d probably stop and think longer than I meant to. That can make a run feel like it has a little story in it, but it can also turn into me staring at the screen while the treadmill keeps doing its job without me.

There are action sequences with quick time events, and those are a change of pace from the conversations. I like having something to do besides read dialogue, but I wouldn’t pretend the action is the reason to play. A few quick button prompts are fine; they just ask for more attention than I want to give when my feet are moving and my hands are trying to stay calm.

The mystery and the characters are what I’d come back for. Bigby has a lot of rough edges, and the game lets you decide how much you want to lean into them, which is more interesting to me than a story where every answer is obviously the nice one. I don’t know that every choice feels equally big once you’ve made it, but the moment of deciding still works. I can be indecisive over a sandwich, so this gives me plenty to work with.

It’s also an episodic story, so you’re not getting a constant stream of gameplay. There are stretches where you’re listening, looking around, and choosing what to say, and if you want a game that keeps your hands busy every second, I’d look elsewhere. For me, that quieter pace is useful on an easy workout, where I don’t need another thing trying to make me move faster.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

I’d start with a slow treadmill walk or a comfortable bike pace, because the dialogue choices and investigation are easier when you aren’t bouncing around trying to keep your eyes on the screen. Full controller support helps a lot here, and most of the game gives you room to listen and think. I wouldn’t choose it for intervals.

The quick time events are where I’d pay closer attention. You may need to react to prompts during action, and I think that’s manageable at an easy pace, but I wouldn’t want to be jogging hard while also trying to hit a button on time. That combination sounds like a very small problem until you miss a prompt and then suddenly care about the fictional situation more than your feet.

A bike may suit you if you want to stay seated and keep your hands steady, but I don’t think it’s automatically better for everyone. The important thing is picking a pace where you can read the dialogue and make choices without rushing, because the game is built around those choices and not around how quickly you can work a controller. If a scene gets busy, ease up for a minute. The bike can wait.

I’d skip this on a hard run, and I wouldn’t use it when I’m too tired to follow a conversation. There’s no point pretending every game has to be played at maximum effort. This one is better when you can pay attention.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The minimum asks for an older dedicated ATI or Nvidia graphics card, and the store page specifically says Intel integrated graphics aren’t recommended, so I’d check the graphics hardware before anything else. You don’t need a recent high end gaming computer, but I wouldn’t assume a basic integrated chip will handle it comfortably.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

The Wolf Among Us is a thoughtful workout companion for easy walking or cycling, especially if you want a crime story more than constant action. Skip it for intense treadmill sessions, but give it a try when you’re happy to slow down and listen.

Overall Score: 2.33 out of 3