A: I guess it depends. Define “workout.”
Honestly, I can’t call it. I don’t use them. I mean, I own a playstation 2, but I purchased it with the express purpose of stealing cars.
Really, all gaming systems approach this differently, and all games are going to approach this differently. I can give you my thoughts on what a workout can and should entail, and you can decide whether or not your gaming system and game are what you, in particular, really need. All of that is to say, take what I have to say with a grain of salt… or maybe a carrot, instead.
First of all, can it count as activity? Yes. Human beings weren’t initially built to withstand sedentary lifestyles. Any activity – be it bouncing on a trampoline, playing laser tag, or stealing cars for real (which I don’t advocate, by the way) – is going to help counter that sedentary behavior. So if your definition of workout is simply something that gets – and can keep – you active? Then you’ve probably got exactly what you’re looking for, there.
There are games that provide some calisthenics and yoga – two things that I’ve always advocated for in at-home workouts – and while you don’t necessarily need a video game to take advantage of those, having that voice to guide you through can definitely help.
That being said, I’d like to open this up to y’all. What systems do you use? What games do you use? Share your experiences!