Nintendo has lifted the lid on the mysterious Ring device seen just several days ago, announcing Ring Fit Adventure for Nintendo Switch.

Ring Fit Adventure will have players exploring "an expansive world, battling enemies along the way", but rather than using Link's trusty Master Sword or Mario's jumping prowess, you'll be using real-life fitness exercises.

The Ring which we had seen previously is actually called the Ring-Con and it, along with the Leg Strap, are accessories which will come included with the game. They detect and measure the player’s real-world movements and turn them into in-game actions, like jogging in place to move your character through the world using the attached Leg Strap, or squeezing the Ring-Con and turning that strength exercise into a powerful attack.

A press release has detailed the game much better than we ever could:

Ring Fit Adventure turns a typical adventure game on its head as players squat, press and flex their way through challenges designed for a wide range of body types and levels of fitness experience. To play the game, players attach the Joy-Con controllers from their Nintendo Switch system to the included accessories – one to the Ring-Con and one to the Leg Strap. The Leg Strap is attached to the player’s upper left leg, while the Ring-Con is held in both hands. The Ring-Con is a flexible electronic device that provides resistance, and features a sensor that detects exertion and reacts to changes. Ring Fit Adventure can be tailored to the player’s level of skill, so even if players don’t have experience with fitness, they can adjust the exercise intensity to suit their ability. This will let them continue every day at an activity level that’s comfortable for them.

The Adventure mode featured in Ring Fit Adventure takes place in a colourful world where adventure meets fitness. To travel through more than 20 different worlds in the game, players jog in place to move forward, using the Ring-Con accessory to perform different in-game actions, like jumping, hovering in mid-air, or steering a raft on a river. Along the way, enemies will appear, ready for battle. Players can attack and defend using more than 40 Fit Skills, which are exercise moves divided into arms, abs, legs and yoga categories. The game provides direction to players about how to perform the exercise correctly, with proper form and posture dealing more damage to enemies. Every action that the player performs in-game will earn experience for their in-game character, with level-ups boosting stats and unlocking new Fit Skills that can be used in battle. Adventure mode is designed as a natural way to motivate players to keep playing and exercising regularly, progressing through the game world while also levelling up their real-world fitness.

LegRing

Outside of the main adventure, Quick Play mode is a great way to enjoy Ring Fit Adventure in shorter bursts, allowing players to jump in and out of play. This lets everyone enjoy a quick workout in different ways, like taking turns with friends and family in mini-games to compete for high scores. Mini-games cover a wide range of activities, from breaking boxes with gusts of air triggered by the Ring-Con to shaping pottery by performing squats.

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Nintendo is describing this as "a new type of adventure game", and seems to be attempting to bridge the gap between the hugely popular Wii Fit series and more traditional gaming. It launches at retail on 18th October at a suggested retail price of $79.99 (European pricing to be confirmed), with the Ring-Con and Leg Strap accessories included.

We also have a gallery full of new images right here if you want to see more.

Quite a lot to take in, huh? Share your initial thoughts with us in the comments below.