Home » Games » Gaming Consoles » Xbox

Best Kinect Games (By Genre)

2 Comments
- What Is the Best Kin…
- Thoughts on Kinect G…

19 Like

Like 19

Pin It

Ranked #1,404 in Games, #46,985 overall

Whether You Prefer Fighting, Dancing, Fitness, or Something Else

Even though the Kinect is a relatively new advancement in gaming technology, there are already plenty of game genres available for this unique motion controller. Whether you're into fighting games, dancing games, or just want something fun to play at your next party, you'll find something that's right for you.

Below, ou can visit the several Kinect game genre sites I've created, and take a look at the user polls where people have voted on your favorites. If you're in a hurry, don't worry; I've included the best Kinect games in each genre in the list below so you can see at a glance what's the most popular.

Want to see the overall best Kinect games instead? Check out The 10 Best Kinect Games (Voted on by You!)

What Are You Looking For?

Fighting Games

Put 'Em Up!

The Kinect really shines when it comes to fighting games. You're no longer stuck twiddling buttons with your fingers: now you can get right into the action. For a taste of what Kinect fighting games are like, you can check out the boxing part of Kinect Sports. Games such as Fighters Uncaged delve even more deeply into this genre.

#1 Best Kinect Fighting Game

Fighters Uncaged

Amazon Price: $17.57 (as of 05/29/2012)
List Price: $39.99

The decent motion capture capabilities, the ability of this game to hold player's interest, and the range of available actions to perform have all drawn users to this game. It's much preferred over Kinect Sports Boxing and UFC Personal Trainer (at least as far as fighting games are concerned).

What Is the Best Kinect Game Genre?

Vote Here!

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Share this poll
- Stumbleupon
- Facebook
- MySpace
- Twitter
- Digg
- Delicious
- Email

Dance Games

Shake Your Bootie!

Here's a genre that was poorly lacking before the Kinect was invented. Okay, so games such as DDR and the Wii version of Just Dance were plenty of fun to play; it's just that neither of those games were capable of tracking your entire body's movements. This genre is great for really letting the Kinect shine in all its glory.

#1 Best Kinect Dance Game

Dance Central 2

Amazon Price: $35.95 (as of 05/29/2012)
List Price: $49.99

There's no contest when it comes to the favorite Kinect dance game: the Dance Central franchise is firmly in spot one, with almost 70% of the votes. Luckily for us gamers, the recently released Dance Central 2 takes everything that was awesome about the original and makes it even better (unlike some other sequels, such as Kinect Sports Season Two, which haven't fared as well).

Fitness Games

The Next Level of Exergaming Has Arrived

Who would have thought that video games could actually make people healthier? Another benefit of the Kinect is that it's allowed for the creation of a whole genre of fitness and exercise games to spring up that would never have been possible without a motion controller. These games track your progress towards getting fit, encourage you with built-in trainers, and keep you motivated with a variety of activities.

#1 Best Kinect Fitness Game

Your Shape Fitness Evolved, 2012

Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012

Amazon Price: $33.95 (as of 05/29/2012)
List Price: $39.99

With nearly 44% of the votes, the Your Shape Fitness franchise is far and away the favorite Kinect fitness game. (EA Sports comes in a distant second with almost 25%). Of the original "big three" fitness games, The Biggest Loser is the clear loser, with only 8% of votes.

Party Games

Fun For the Whole Group

The Kinect has managed to integrate video games and large groups in a way that only the Wii has achieved to date. It's easy for people to take turns on the Kinect: all they need to do is jump in and out of the playing field. And the casual nature of most of the games means that just about anyone can play.

#1 Best Kinect Party Game

Kinect Sports

Amazon Price: $24.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
List Price: $49.99

This race was actually a close one. For a while, Dance Central was in the lead, but then Kinect Sports pulled ahead. I can attest to the universal appeal of this collection of addictive and deceptively simple minigames: a friend who'd never played video games before or bowled in his life won the Kinect Bowling trophy by a landslide.

Sports Games

Be Active Indoors

Sports is another genre that's been adapted to the Kinect motion controller, with varying levels of success. For example: Kinect Sports was also voted as the best Kinect sports game (surprise, surprise!) However, the original MotionSports game was pretty universally panned. Just make sure that if you're playing a sports game on Kinect, you choose one that's relatively well-reviewed.

Kids Games

Family-Friendly Gaming

Yet another positive mark for the Kinect comes from its kid-friendliness. All it takes is watching a kid gleefully play Fruit Ninja (a game in which you move your hands back and forth to chop up fruit) to see why children love the Kinect so much. As an added bonus, it's a great way to help them get rid of any extra energy that might have stored.

#1 Kinect Kids Game

Kinectimals

Kinectimals - Now with Bears

Amazon Price: $28.88 (as of 05/29/2012)
List Price: $49.99

Okay, so technically Kinectimals tied with Carnvial Games for first place, but Kinectimals is just so darn cute that I had to showcase it here. Kinectimals is about as close as you can get to owning a real, live pet, except you don't have to worry about cleaning up after it or forgetting to feed it.

Shooter Games

Bang, Bang

I'll be the first to admit that shooter games aren't the Kinect's strong suit. For a while, Heavy Fire Afghanistan was slated to come out with Kinect connectivity. And then it got pushed back. And then it was supposed to use a peripheral gun instead of the Kinect. And now it looks like it might not even be coming out for the Xbox at all.

A Kinect Shooter Game

The Gunstringer

Gunstringer

Amazon Price: $19.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
List Price: $39.99

Until I figure out what's going on with Heavy Fire, I'm going to say that The Gunstringer is the best shooter game currently available for the Kinect. In it, you control a puppet who is, for whatever reason, an undead skeleton. And also, a cowboy.

Racing Games

Need for Speed

Racing is another Kinect genre that definitely needs some work. There is a car racing game, and other games in which you can race non-car things (such as snowboards, hoverboards, or bikes).

#1 Kinect Racing Game

Adrenalin Misfits

Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 05/29/2012)
List Price: $29.99

Race down the side of a mountain on a snowboard as one of a collection of colorful characters. The body tracking of the Kinect makes you feel like you're really in the action, controlling your racer with the slightest move of your shoulders, hips, or torso.

Miss Something?

Click To Go Back

Fighting Games
What Is the Best Kinect Game Genre?
Dance Games
Fitness Games
Party Games
Sports Games
Kids Games
Shooter Games
Racing Games

Thoughts on Kinect Game Genres?

Share Them Here!

For example, is there a genre you think Kinect should explore? Do you have a favorite Kinect genre?

Alternately, just say hello :)

Reply

Edutopia Jan 1, 2012 @ 10:12 pm | delete

Its interesting how the games have been evolving since the Kinect first launched. Great lens.

Reply

WriterJanis Dec 9, 2011 @ 5:28 pm | delete

Nice assortment.

Show All

Share this Guestbook
- Stumbleupon
- Facebook
- MySpace
- Twitter
- Digg
- Delicious
- RSS
- Email

19 Like

by BestGamesQuest

Here I've compiled a list of Kinect games genres, so that you can more easily find the types of games that are best for you.

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!