GoKawiilIt's officially spring, and for those who made it their New Year's resolution to spend more time at the gym, like I did, this time of year is when it gets less crowded, since fewer new gym people are still going. This means there's less pressure to rush off a machine because a line of people is waiting to use it. With that extra time, I'm also maximising my time at the gym to improve my health and getting in some gaming.
Thanks to improvements in both handheld gaming and cloud streaming, you can play practically any game you can think of away from home on your phone or on slightly bigger devices. So what better way to take advantage of this tech than to use it to help pass the time at the one activity everyone needs more of: exercise.
Read more: Getting Older Messed With My Gaming. So I Changed How I Play
Cloud gaming vs. handhelds
There are two options for playing games at the gym: cloud streaming and handheld gaming consoles. The advantage of streaming games is that all you need is your phone, although some sort of gamepad is ideal, since touch controls are not ideal for playing a complex game like Cyberpunk 2077. However, there is an issue with the internet speed.
Cloud gaming requires a minimum speed to play smoothly, and depending on your carrier and location, that might not be available. Many gyms have their own Wi-Fi, but even then, it might not cover the whole area the same way, for example, if the lockers or some workout equipment are in a sublevel.
If you're going to go with cloud gaming, here are some controllers and other items to consider for optimum gaming.
Jason Cockerham/CNET Backbone One When it comes to mobile controllers, the Backbone One is hard to beat when looking for the balance of size and functionality. It handles the controls for any game, and it doesn't take much space in your pocket. It's also compatible with many phones, so it'll be ready to go with the next phone you purchase. $100 at Amazon
Genki Genki x 8BitDo PocketPro Portable Wireless Game Controller While mobile controllers like the Backbone offer a solution to gaming on a phone, there are those people who just don't like it for various reasons. If you're one of those who simply want a controller, check out the 8BitDo PocketPro. It's smaller than the standard game pads, making it easy to fit in your pocket, and yet it still has a full layout with dual analog sticks and trigger buttons. $50 at Amazon
Also vital for streaming games is the actual subscription to the service. The primary game streaming services are Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, PS Plus and GeForce Now. Those who own a PS5 or an Xbox Series console can also remote play their console via the internet using their respective apps.
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