Family Trainer

A series of exergaming sports video games developed by Bandai Namco, utilizing a specialized pressure-sensitive mat controller.

Games

2008–2021

Years

Platforms

$11.48

Ø CIB

-15.2%

24M change

About

The Family Trainer series, known as Active Life in North America, is a franchise of athletic minigame collections. It began on the Wii with Family Trainer (2008) and was followed by titles such as Family Trainer: Extreme Challenge (2009), Family Trainer: Treasure Adventure (2010), and Family Trainer: Magical Carnival (2011). The series was later revived on the Nintendo Switch with a new Family Trainer release in 2021 utilizing Leg Strap controllers.

Bandai Namco Entertainment developed the franchise as a modern spiritual successor to the Nintendo Entertainment System's Power Pad accessory. The initial release of Family Trainer (2008) required a specialized eight-button floor mat peripheral that plugged directly into the console's GameCube controller ports. To facilitate multiplayer and ease of access, the publisher released the Family Trainer [Game Mat Pack] (2009), bundling the software with the essential hardware.

Subsequent entries expanded the gameplay variety. Family Trainer: Extreme Challenge (2009) introduced street sports like skateboarding and BMX, while Family Trainer: Treasure Adventure (2010) focused on adventure-themed quests, including ancient ruins and underwater exploration. Family Trainer: Magical Carnival (2011) shifted the aesthetic toward fantasy amusement park attractions. After a decade-long hiatus, the series transitioned away from the floor mat with the release of Family Trainer (2021), adapting the physical gameplay to utilize motion sensors for hands-free lower-body tracking.