Nintendo's Peloton: Ring Fit Adventure

Back in 2006 the Nintendo Wii took the world by storm, inspiring millions of people to wave the plastic remotes around to Wii Bowling and Tennis and who can remember what the other options were.

That it took Nintendo over a decade to submit is surprising, but no matter: it was worth the wait. Ignore what the box looks like. Don't fret about the fact that the main character's hair is a stark orange (which you can't change, other than to set it aflame).

What matters is that it will kick your ass, and you will like it and come back for more.

The mechanics look like this:

Unlike most video games these days, you can't buy Ring Fit Adventure digitally — you need to buy the box, which comes with a robust exercise circle thing which is as versatile as it is durable. During the course of your journey, you will squeeze and pull this in ways that will make Gumby proud. It's addictive, and there's a nifty feature that lets you tally your 'squeeze' count even when you aren't actively playing the game; your labors will be synced the next time you play.

The game has a lot of information to convey — instructions for the exercises themselves, corrective guidance when it detects that you're moving too quickly, or in the wrong way. And of course: praise.

The marquee feature is Adventure mode, in which you battle legions of not-so-evil looking monsters.

Much of that praise comes from a genie, probably a eunich, who may embarrass you at first but you get over it. This is a Nintendo, after all — the fact that they've designed a game that will get adults and kids alike into better shape is reason to overlook the juvenile