Which Rowing Machines Have Games?

Games and virtual racing can make indoor rowing less of a grind. Here are the machines that offer them, how the games actually work, and what to check before you pay.

How games work on a rowing machine

Rowing games turn the numbers your machine already measures into targets. Your stroke rate, power or pace moves a character or a boat on screen. Some games reward holding a steady rhythm. Others reward bursts of effort. That means they can double as proper training if you use them sensibly. A pace-holding game is a steady-state session in disguise, and a racing game is a set of intervals.

The catch is that games are only as good as the rowing underneath. If your technique falls apart chasing a score, you lose the benefit. Keep the stroke the same as you would row without the game.

Simple games: Concept2

The Concept2 PM5 monitor has a games menu with simple options such as Fish Game, Darts and Target Training, where your stroke controls the action. They are basic, but free. You can also race online and in virtual events through the ErgData app and Concept2’s online logbook. The RowErg costs around £990 with standard legs (checked 30 Oct 2026). See Concept2 RowErg review.

These games suit short warm-up sessions and younger family members. They are not a reason to buy the machine.

Game-led training: Ergatta

Ergatta is built around games. Your workouts are shown as races, where you must hold a target pace to stay ahead. It is a water rower with a touchscreen. Fitshop lists it at around £2,495 (checked 30 Oct 2026). Check the UK membership price before you buy. Given the price, the cost of ownership over three years depends heavily on that membership, so do the sum: machine price plus monthly fee x 36.

Scenic and live racing: Hydrow

Hydrow focuses on coached sessions and scenic rows rather than games, though it offers challenges and leaderboards. The Origin is around £1,515 and the Wave around £1,435 at Fitshop (checked 30 Oct 2026), with a monthly membership on top. See the Hydrow review.

Other options

• Aviron. Known in the US for its gaming-style rowing, but we could not confirm an official UK channel. Check before assuming you can buy one here.
• Echelon, NordicTrack and ProForm. These offer screens and app-based classes or scenery, typically with a subscription. Check what the subscription includes before buying.
• Kinomap and EXR. Apps that work with many rowers and offer virtual routes and races. Their costs vary, so check them. Some budget machines list support for them. The Xterra ERG780, for example, lists Kinomap.
• Your own tablet. If your machine has a Bluetooth monitor, apps on a phone or tablet can add games for much less than a built-in screen.

What to check before you buy

• Membership cost. Games and content often need a subscription. A £30 monthly fee, for example, comes to £360 a year. See rowing machines without a subscription.
• Rowing quality. Games do not matter if the rower feels poor. Look at the resistance type and build. Our JTX Ignite Air page shows what to check on a budget air rower.
• Screen and space. Large screens add height and bulk.
• Will you use it? Some people enjoy games for a few weeks. Others prefer plain numbers. If you are unsure, borrow time on a friend’s or gym’s machine.
• What happens without the subscription? Some machines work as plain rowers without it. Others become much less useful. Ask before buying.

Using games without losing the plot

If you want games to help your fitness, set yourself a rule. For example: play for the first ten minutes of a steady 30-minute row, then switch to plain numbers. Or use a pace-based game as your interval session, with the target at the pace you would row in a normal interval. Our best apps for indoor rowing sessions guide covers other app options.

For general recommendations, see the best rowing machine guide.