Use your favourite features in-game with our Desktop AppThis article was adapted from our video, Top 25 Most ICONIC Video Game Weapons of All Time.
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Throughout video game history, there’s been no shortage of epic and badass weapons to get your hands on, but which are the weapons that left the biggest impression? What weapons are those that have made their mark on gamers all around the world, whether that’s from their appearance, their power, or the stories that lie behind them
We’re kicking it off with an absolute classic from Perfect Dark with the Laptop Gun.
This one stands out as one of the most innovative and memorable weapons in video game history, especially for its time, because of its futuristic design and dual-purpose functionality. It’s not just a sub machine gun camouflaged as a laptop, which is badass enough already, but you could also deploy it as a sentry turret.
There’s not much more that needs to be said here. It's a laptop and an SMG. Perfect when you’ve got a board meeting at 9, and a shoot out at 10! This was a unique, clever addition to a fantastic game and really feels like it defines those Nintendo 64 FPS Glory Days we all remember so fondly.
Next up, we have the Ray Gun from the Call of Duty Zombies games, which was a complete 180 from the dark and gritty themes these games were set in, with its futuristic sci-fi appearance and pew-pew sound effects. The instant kill power of this was insane and was the one thing you always hope would pop out of that Mystery Box.
It first arrived with Call of Duty World at War back in 2008 and has featured in countless zombies games and sequels over the years since, remaining a staple in the series, and really cementing its legacy as one weapon you always hope to find.
Coming up next, we have a nostalgic sword that holds a special place in any gamer's heart. The Terra Blade from Terraria.
The Terra Blade is simply a super-strong melee weapon which fires green beams of energy at everything in front of you, but what really cements its place in this list is how everyone who plays can’t wait to obtain it.
It’s the culmination of hours of exploration and boss fights, and the journey to forge it becomes an adventure in itself. Its green glowing design makes it instantly recognisable, and finally equipping it after the grind behind it makes it feel so rewarding.
Up next, we have Scorpion’s very own Kunai from Mortal Kombat. Scorpion is without doubt one of the most recognisable characters from the series, and his famous quote ‘Get over here’ is synonymous with the franchise.
This iconic weapon allows him to Stab, Grab and Pull enemies towards him before unleashing his ever-growing arsenal of extremely brutal finishers that Mortal Kombat fans will never get bored with. For such a small blade on a chain, it’s one of those weapons you'd never want to be on the wrong side of, that’s for sure.
Mario is not necessarily a franchise you would typically associate with big badass weapons; however, the blue shell would like to have a word with you. This legendary power-up in the Mario Kart games is not one you’ll see quite as often as others, but it’s likely to spawn at least once during each race.
This spiny little sucker has earned a ridiculous reputation over the years of racing, with its ability to seek out the player on top, and give everyone else a chance to take that 1st place instead. This weapon, disguised as a power-up, is one of the most frustrating items to ever exist in video game history.
Coming in hot we have Turok 2’s Cerebrel Bore, a crazy weapon that literally drills into your enemies skulls. The reason this weapon is so iconic is that it’s gotta be up there with one of the most brutal and creative ways you can kill your victims, and with its lock on targeting system and tracking ability, it’s just so much fun to use.
You can’t help but let out an evil giggle every time you pull the trigger, as you sit back and watch your enemies' brains spool out onto a puddle on the floor. This weapon didn’t actually work against enemies with tiny brains or no brains at all, so maybe for the first time in history, there’s a plus side to not having one.
Next up, we have a weapon that defined the chaotic era of arena shooters in the late 90s and early 2000s, the Flak Cannon.
The Unreal Tournament series brought countless weapons we cannot forget, but the Flak Cannon's combination of shells and shrapnel made it one of the most memorable and creative guns you could get your hands on.
It’s undeniably satisfying to use, with the heavy feel of each shot and its ability to simply vaporise your enemies, and it rewarded both aggressive gameplay and some tricky ricochet shots too, giving it some solid skill expression that just felt awesome getting the hang of.
The Soul Edge is not a typical weapon; it corrupts and consumes the souls of all who wield it, and with just one glance at its malevolent appearance, you’ll know that it’s not good news. This Sentient Sword is the central antagonist throughout the fighting game series, and is the polar opposite of the holy weapon, Soul Calibur, with the theme of the two fighting between good and evil.
The Soul Edge can shapeshift and take different forms depending on its current wielder; it radiates chaos and even drains the health of those who possess it in exchange for power. It’s tied to some of the most difficult fights and epic storylines and has become a menacing yet memorable Icon in fighting game history.
This recurring iconic weapon not only looks as epic as it sounds, but is always tied to significant lore moments throughout the Soulsborne games by FromSoftware, originally appearing in King’s Field in 1994, and has since appeared in every title they’ve produced, with the exception of Sekiro.
Its appearance and sizes have changed slightly over the years, but it’s always been an aesthetically pleasing weapon that feels extremely satisfying to wield. The Sword now carries a weight of inevitability and expectation as players all around the world are always hoping to get their hands on it
Visually, my favourite has to be the one from Bloodborne, but honestly, I’m not that fussy; it’s an epic and iconic weapon through and through, and let’s hope for many more years of acquiring it.
Up next, we have the Vampire Killer Whip from Castlevania. This unique signature weapon goes hand in hand with the Belmont family legacy, as it can only be used by those with the name.
The Vampire Killer is a holy whip passed down through generations, imbued with the power to take down Dracula and all his minions. The story behind the weapon is as powerful as the gameplay itself. It brings a dynamic combat style with long-range attacks with its wind-up encouraging spacing and skill, and over time, as the series progressed, it received upgrades with extensions and enhancements, but still kept its Iconic feel.
Its name is the perfect description of this generational heirloom that we will definitely never forget.
Up next, we have the Golden Gun from everyone's favourite split-screen shooter from 1997, GoldenEye 007. This gun originated from the James Bold film appropriately named the "Man with the Golden Gun", so before we even played with it, it already carried a weight of prestige.
This gold-plated pistol was a one-shot kill, and it quickly became renowned for its power in multiplayer, with all players wanting to wield it. Everyone knew the sound of its shot and, of course, its shiny appearance, and if you were playing in split screen, you could see that someone had it, and just had to hope you didn’t get one tapped.
Decades later, the Golden Gun still holds its reputation as one of the most Iconic guns from one of the most iconic split-screen multiplayer games of its generation.
This weapon is simply part of the main character himself, you don’t get one without the other, and for a relatively simple design and concept, it’s executed so well, and just so memorable, with its rapid fire energy missiles or charged up power blasts.
Aside from copying and using enemies abilities throughout the games, the Mega Blaster is a fundamental part of the gameplay, and to be honest, you just don’t get bored of it. The original Mega Man came out almost 40 years ago now, and this weapon and character have held their own reputation ever since. There’s just something about having a giant blue plasma cannon attached to you that we’ll never get bored with.
Originally named the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device, this weapon completely defined the series with its creativity and unique design.
The Portal Gun doesn’t deal damage in the traditional sense like many weapons in this video; instead, it lets players create portals on surfaces to get around, solve puzzles and outsmart enemies. Its sleek white design is so recognisable with the glowing lights inside, and just oozes that futuristic flair.
Whether you’ve replayed the Portal games 100 times or it’s the first time you use it, this piece of kit always surprises you as to how much you can do with it, but also how much fun it is to use at the same time.
Up next, we have Dante’s trademark pistols from the Devil May Cry franchise. Ebony and Ivory. These games have no shortage of incredible weapons you can wield, from the Yamato to the Cerberus, but the personalised pistols come out on top for us. They perfectly capture Dante's style and philosophy and are integral to the game's fast-paced combo-driven gameplay.
Ebony and Ivory bring flair, flavour and fun to an exceptional series of games with a mixture of precision and personality, and have become a symbol of Devil May Cry itself. The games are all about over-the-top action and style in combat, and these engraved handguns are the perfect complement.
Coming in next, we have one of the juicest gore-inducing weapons from a legendary co-op campaign franchise in Gears of War, The Lancer.
This assault rifle with a twist is both mechanically unique and suits the theme of the Gears games perfectly. It not only delivers the standard firepower you would expect from an AR, but also brings brutal finishers to any enemy that gets too close.
Gears of War brought plenty of unique weapons to our screens, like the exploding arrows in the Torque Bow or the headshot pops of the Longshot, but in terms of the most recognisable and memorable weapon, it had to be the Lancer. Chainsawing the Locust Horde, really, never gets old.
Up next, we have the weapon which all players wanted, and even if you sucked with it, you had to pick it up anyway; it’s the Energy Sword from Halo. This Beautiful, futuristic yet simple sword brings deep cultural recognition, and in a game with plenty of fantastic plasma weapons, this one takes the cake.
The illuminated twin blades define an appearance worth fighting over, and their high-risk, high-reward gameplay makes it all the more fun to use in-game. It brought a signature lunge mechanic exclusive to this weapon, and there was nothing more fun than hearing those multikill announcements whilst going on a rampage with this elegant creation and enjoying the swishing plasma sound effects it brought too.
Up next, we have Half Life 2’s Gravity Gun, or as it’s actually named, the Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator.
The Gravity gun is just epic amounts of fun, it’s super creative, and you can use it in so many different ways to take down enemies, you can literally experiment with it whilst you’re fighting, and you’ll always find new ways to yeet your way through.
It literally turns the environment and everything around you into a weapon, making it one of the most unique weapons in video game history, not for its complexity itself or any kind of crazy appearance, just because physics are fantastic.
Moving on, and here we have the weapon, which belongs to one of the best storylines in the history of gaming. Frostmourne. From first appearing in Warcraft 3, to defining WoW’s 2nd Expansion in the Wrath of the Lich King, Frostmourne is not just a sword.
Warcraft has no shortage of Iconic weapons with items like the Twinblades of Azzinoth, Ashbringer, and, of course, Thunderfury. Due to the deep, dark narrative and storyline behind it, Frostmourne is our pick as the most Iconic weapon from Warcraft, and one of the most Iconic video game weapons of all time.
Moving on, and here we have The Hidden Blade from Assassin’s Creed. This weapon perfectly embodies all the core elements of this incredible franchise: stealth, precision and history.
This blade was introduced in the very first Assassin’s Creed game back in 2007 and has become synonymous with the franchise. Over time, it has been changed and upgraded with various enhancements, such as poisons and rotating blades, allowing for it to be used differently, but the core identity of the weapon will always remain.
Up next, we have Doom’s BFG 900, the Bio Force Gun is its official name, even though we all know what its real name is.
THE BFG’s sole duty is to help you clear rooms of demons with big, devastating blasts of green plasma, which basically evaporates everything in sight. Both its power and its appearance play a big part in why it’s the most iconic weapon from the Doom franchise, and with its slow fire rate but undeniable impact, it’s left an impression on all gamers far and wide ever since we first had it in our hands.
Over the years of Doom games, we’ve had Ballistas, Super Shotguns, Rocket Launchers and of course Chainsaws, but the BFG 9000 is the best of the bunch.
Next, we’ve got the Keyblade from Kingdom Hearts. At just one glance, everybody knows where this iconic weapon is from, and although it may just look like an oversized tool, it carries so much power and potential.
Kingdom Hearts is all about its magic and charming storytelling, focused on friendship and destiny and fighting away the darkness, and this weapon became a symbol of the series. It doesn’t just represent the games, but every story and memory behind them, too.
The Keyblade is not just for combat, as it literally unlocks doors between worlds, and it’s more than just a weapon; it’s an emblem of one of gaming's most beloved franchises.
Coming in next we have Kratos’ Blades of Chaos from the Original God of War Trilogy. God of War is one of the most badass gaming series of all time, and these Blades merge satisfying gameplay and incredible narrative significance.
Being offered from Ares himself, these weapons, chained to your flesh, demonstrated the power of the gods' manipulation, and we’re pretty grateful for it, because hacking and slashing with these bad boys never gets old.
They first appeared in the first God of War in 2005, and returned in 2018’s God of War and Sequel Ragnarok. We also wanted to throw a quick Mention to the Leviathan Axe too, but you can’t deny that the Blades of Chaos and Kratos go hand in hand, literally.
Up next, we have a weapon where gamers of all ages will instantly know where it comes from. The Diamond Sword from Minecraft.
Minecraft is all about exploration, survival and crafting, funnily enough, and with a bunch of weapons you can equip, the Diamond Sword is the OG most sought-after weapon for all veteran players.
It’s got a charming yet simple appearance, which is basically Minecraft in a nutshell, and it’s just synonymous with the game itself. It’s just not the original strongest weapon to use, and one that is rewarding to craft, but genuinely, anyone who’s ever touched a video game will be able to tell you what it is, from just one look.
Maybe it’s time for your next 2-week Minecraft era, but be careful, you’ll blink and it’ll be Christmas.
Final Fantasy has brought some seriously epic weapons over its lengthy and memorable history. Still, Cloud’s Buster Sword takes our runner-up spot in our most iconic video game weapons of all time.
Final Fantasy has had its fair share of unique and memorable weapons, with the Gunblade, Sefuroph’s Masamune and the Recurring Ultima Weapon, but Cloud Strife’s Buster Sword is the one we all resonate the most with.
From its sheer size, to its minimalistic design, it’s the perfect weapon for the perfect Protagonist. It symbolises strength and determination that genuinely fills you with confidence when you wield it.
The Buster Sword is more than just a sword that’s almost as tall as its owner; it’s cultural, it’s inspiring, it’s over the top but in the best kind of way, it’s Iconic.
And finally we have the most iconic video game weapon of all time, it has many names like The Blade of Evil’s Bane or the Sword that Seal’s the Darkness, but most people know it as the Master Sword.
Link’s Trademark weapon takes our top spot! From one of the most beloved franchises in video game history, the Legend of Zelda. It’s not just a powerful sword to use in combat, it’s a sword that’s woven into the history of the series, appearing across multiple timelines and games. It’s the symbol of Link's fight against the Darkness and obtaining this sword is a moment of Triumph in itself, with the familiar yet cinematic act of claiming it being one many gamers favourite moments.
This sword summarises the success of the games' nearly 40-year lifetime, and has helped cement a legacy that will last for many more generations to come.
