In recent years, fitness apps have increasingly adopted gamification to make workouts more engaging. Run the Realm, a newly re-released fantasy-themed fitness app available on Google Play and the iOS App Store, is the latest to join this trend. This app transforms your fitness routine into an epic adventure, where you play as a survivor of an otherworldly attack, navigating through quests by jogging, running, or cycling.
In Run the Realm, you embody a fantasy warrior reminiscent of characters from Dungeons & Dragons. Your fitness activities directly influence the narrative, allowing you to advance the story and complete quests. Choose from three distinct character classes—knight, mage, or thief—and earn points to enhance your abilities as you progress. The backdrop of your journey is a home city destroyed by an otherworldly force, with a disgraced knight as your only ally, compelling you to keep moving forward through exercise.
The app offers several engaging features, including a bardic radio and narrative segments that weave into your personal music playlist, enriching your workout experience. However, some elements, such as the use of AI-generated art, may detract from the overall visual quality upon closer inspection. Yet, the primary goal of a fitness app is to motivate and enhance your fitness journey, and if Run the Realm successfully delivers an engaging story while helping you get fit, it fulfills its purpose.
For those interested in exploring more fitness and gaming apps, be sure to check out our regular feature on the top five new mobile games to try each week.
