Motivating Physical Activity Through Location-Based Augmented Reality Exergames: A Review of Trends and Design Opportunities

Physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle have become significant health issues, requiring creative approaches to encourage physical activity (PA). In recent years, there has been increased research attention on the role of exergames for promoting PA and keeping an active lifestyle. In this paper, we provide an overview of existing studies within the last 10 years on location-based augmented reality (AR) exergames aimed at promoting PA. We reviewed 22 papers from 6 major electronic databases that met the inclusion criteria. Our results show that (1) location-based AR exergames are effective and able to promote PA in an engaging and enjoyable way, (2) various aspects motivate people to start playing exergames, including competitive features, enjoyment, augmented reality features, curiosity, and social interactions, (3) boredom or a lack of new content was an important demotivating factor for quitting, and (4) competition emerged as the most heavily used persuasive strategy in location-based exergames that promote PA. We propose practical recommendations to design exergames that offer captivating and immersive experiences, ultimately promoting PA and addressing the growing public health concern of sedentary lifestyles.