Trailmakers

Building a vehicle out of blocks and then immediately driving it into a rock is a pretty good way to spend a workout, as long as you’re okay with stopping to rebuild it. I’d play Trailmakers on an easy pace, because the driving is fun and the tinkering can take over your whole attention.

Gameplay

The vehicle building is the reason this works for me. You start with a basic idea, add wheels or wings or whatever seems useful, and then take the thing out to see if your confident little engineering plan can make it over an obstacle. Sometimes you make something that works. Sometimes you’ve made a very heavy box with wheels.

That trial and error gives the campaign a nice rhythm, because getting across the open world is less about following a road and more about figuring out what kind of vehicle can deal with what’s in front of you. I think that’s genuinely fun, and it’s a good excuse to keep moving instead of standing in a menu for the whole game. But you can’t avoid the menu for long, because building is a big part of the point.

A ground vehicle is the easiest place to start, and I’d keep the first builds simple enough that you can tell what went wrong. If you add every part you’ve got and the thing tips over, you’ve learned that it tips over, which is useful but not exactly a scientific breakthrough. I like that the game lets you turn a bad idea into a slightly less bad idea without making you start over from nothing.

Sandbox play is there if you want to build without the campaign pushing you toward challenges, and multiplayer lets you team up with friends. I’d choose the campaign if you want a reason to keep exploring, but sandbox is probably better if the vehicle building itself is what you came for. I don’t know how long I’d spend building before I remembered I was supposed to be exercising. It’d be a while.

The slower moments aren’t long cut scenes or pages of dialogue, which is good, but they are moments where you stop and think about the vehicle. You might try a route, see that your design can’t handle it, and spend time changing the build before setting out again. That’s satisfying if you like tinkering, but it’s not the sort of game I’d pick when I want to forget the controller and just jog.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

Full controller support is a big help, and driving a simple vehicle doesn’t ask for especially complicated inputs. I’d keep the build basic and aim for steady exploration instead of making a tiny rocket with a steering problem. That’s the sort of choice that feels clever right up until you have to drive it.

The campaign is the mode I’d start with, and I’d save major rebuilds for when I’ve stopped moving. Even with a controller, lining up blocks and adjusting a vehicle takes more attention than steering it, so trying to build while running sounds like a good way to lose track of both the machine and the treadmill. The game doesn’t need you to do all the thinking at once.

On a bike, I’d expect the driving to feel comfortable once the vehicle is moving, especially if you’re using something stable on the ground. On a treadmill, I’d keep the pace easy and avoid treating every obstacle like a race, because a quick correction with your thumb is harder when your whole body is bouncing along. There’s no reason to prove you can do precision vehicle construction while jogging.

I’d skip competitive racing during a workout, and I wouldn’t make multiplayer the plan unless everyone playing is relaxed about stopping and regrouping. The game is better suited to exploring at your own pace than trying to react perfectly while your legs are doing their own thing. I don’t know whether flying would be comfortable on a treadmill for me, so I’d leave the fancy aircraft for when I’m sitting down.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The minimum asks for a GTX 660, so this isn’t a game I’d count on running well with just integrated graphics. I’d check the graphics card first, then make sure the computer has the required 64 bit version of Windows and enough memory. It’s not asking for a modern top end machine, but it does want a real graphics card.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

Trailmakers makes sense for you if you like building things, testing them, and being willing to stop for a little tinkering between stretches of driving. I’d suggest the campaign and a simple vehicle for an easy workout, but I’d skip it when you want a game that keeps you moving every second.

Overall Score: 2 out of 3