More than any other medium of entertainment, video games excel at portraying satisfying weaponry. Games not only allow players to wield iconic armaments from films, books, and comics, but they introduce their own stunning implements of war that change the way players think about the digital worlds they inhabit.Portal’s titular portal gun and Samus Aran’s ever-evolving arm-cannon introduce mechanics that open new avenues of exploration, whileBloodborne’s vicious saw-cleaverand Mario’s magic mushrooms have become visual shorthand for their respective franchises.
Great weapons empower players with new forms of agency, solve problems creatively, and act as engines for new types of fun within their games. The very best of these wonderful toys are not merely effective enemy-slaying machines but innovative tools that can completely alter the way players experience a given digital world.In no particular order, here are the top 10 best video game weapons released in 2023.
Baldur’s Gate 3: Everburn Blade
From its very first act,Baldur’s Gate 3inundates players with compelling magical weaponry that can completely alter a character’s build or give classes a crucial advantage in specific fights. In fact, one of the best early weapons lies at the end of the game’s introductory sequence aboard the Nautiloid.AcquiringBG3’s Everburn Bladewill provide melee characters with an outstanding two-handed sword out of the gate. With its various enhancements, the Everburn Blade reliably metes out punishment and can carry players for quite some time.
The most important aspects of the Everburn Blade, though, arethe lessons it teaches players aboutBaldur’s Gate 3.Even though companions and NPCs encourage players to exit the Mind Flayer ship as soon as possible, players who commit to an imposing boss-like fight against Commander Zhalk are rewarded with his mighty brand. Players can either beat down Zhalk with the help of their party and a freed Intellect Devourer ally or have Shadowheart make him drop the sword with a lucky Command spell. No matter how players come to claim the blade though, the act of acquiring it demonstrates the merits of deviating from the obvious path and triumphing over borderline insurmountable odds.
Baldur’s Gate 3
WHERE TO PLAY
Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. Forge a tale of fellowship and betrayal, sacrifice and survival, and the lure of absolute power. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you and your party will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms.THE ULTIMATE D&D EXPERIENCEChoose from a wide selection of D&D races and classes, or play as an origin character with a hand-crafted background. Adventure, loot, battle, and romance as you journey through the Forgotten Realms and beyond. Play alone or as a party of up to four in multiplayer – and select your companions carefully.A CINEMATIC STORYTELLING EPICForged with the new Divinity 4.0 engine, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you unprecedented freedom to explore, experiment, and interact with a world that reacts to your choices. A grand, cinematic narrative brings you closer to your characters than ever before, as you venture through our biggest world yet. Romance, deceive, aid, obstruct, and grow alongside your friends thanks to Larian’s next-generation RPG engine.
Final Fantasy 16: Ultima Weapon
TheFinal Fantasyfranchise is known for some ofthe most iconic swords in all video gamesfrom Buster Swords to Gunblades.Final Fantasy 16served as a return to form established by the series' earlier installments. Consequently, Clive’s weapons don’t have the same evocative bells and whistles of the series' more modern settings, but they still comprise one of the most impressive arsenals in 2023. The Ultima Weapon, boasting an impressive 700 in its Attack and Magic stats, is arguably the crown jewel of the collection.
Controversially, players cannot lay claim toUltima Weapon until they begin theFF16’s New Game Plus mode, which is atypical for most “final weapons” inFinal Fantasygames. At the same time, it is a franchise custom to require heroic deeds from players hoping to kit out their party with the finest steel the game has to offer, especially where the main character is concerned. To craft the cerulean-bladed Ultima Weapon, Clive will need to topple a number of challenging boss fights and complete the Blacksmith’s Blues side quest chain, proving that only the strongest players are worthy of wielding the sword.
Final Fantasy 16
An epic dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them.This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.
Hi-Fi Rush: Chai’s Guitar
Few weapons are more iconic and gleefully irreverent than objects that have no business being used as weapons, such is the case of Chai’s guitar inHi-Fi Rush. Using a guitar as a bludgeon in a rhythm-based game results in a pleasing and anarchic ludo-narrative harmony that mergesthe best aspects ofGuitar Herowith platformer brawling. In 2023, taking out megacorp goons with an instrument that is synonymous with rock and roll was arguably the most punk rock experience video games had on offer.
It is also fitting that a title contending forBest Score and Music in the Game Awards 2023would have an Epiphone brand guitar as its iconic armament. And like any good weapon, there is more to the guitar than meets the eye, making it well-suited for raging against machines.
Hi-Fi Rush
Feel the beat as wannabe rockstar Chai and his ragtag team of allies rebel against an evil robotics enhancement megacorp with raucous rhythm combat! From Tango Gameworks, the studio that brought you The Evil Within® and Ghostwire®: Tokyo (no, really) comes Hi-Fi RUSH, an all-new action game where the characters, world and combat stylishly sync to the music!CHAI VERSUS THE WORLD: Labeled ‘defective’ after a shady corporate experiment mistakenly fuses a music player to his heart, Chai must now fight for his freedom in a slick animated world where everything – platforming puzzles, enemy attacks and even the colorful gags & banter - are synced to the beat.OPEN UP THE MOSH PIT!: Take on armies of corporate drones (read: actual robots) in satisfying, rhythm-amplified combat. Time your moves to pull off flashy Beat Hits, hard-hitting special abilities and even combination attacks with your allies! Want to show off? Go further and tap into the beat to amp up your skills and earn those covetous S-rank scores.ROWDY REBELS VS. BADASS BOSSES: Lead a squad of colorful teammates and take the fight to the heart of an, er, heartless corporation. Square off with each department’s boss, from Production to Marketing to Finance, each more ready to protect the company’s bottom line than the last in over-the-top battle sequences accompanied by their own music tracks!GRAB YOUR HEADPHONES: Tap your toes to a killer mixtape of original music, as well as songs by Nine Inch Nails, The Prodigy, The Joy Formidable and more! Want to show off your skills to a live streaming audience? Fret not: Hi-Fi RUSH includes a streamer-friendly alternate audio mode which replaces those licensed songs with original tracks made especially for streaming Hi-Fi RUSH.
Hogwarts Legacy: Wand
Few weapons are more evocative, creative, and powerful than the wands from the Potterverse. The arsenal of spells available to given a witch or wizard range from the flash and fun of Expelliarmus tothe fearsome, one-hit-kill spell of Avada Kedavra. Getting such a versatile and powerful tool to feel mechanically right is no mean feat, but developer Avalanche Software managed to catch the Snitch and delivered players a deeply satisfying weapon of wizardry.
Wands are as central to theHarry Pottermythos as Lightsabers are toStar Wars, andHogwarts Legacyhandles them with the appropriate reverence and ceremony. Players can customize every aspect of their spell-slinger, from its style and length, to its wood and core. Players can even modify the weapon’s flexibility to suit their tastes. Smartly, these cosmetic options hold no sway over how effective the wand is, which is rather left up to the players' spells. And again, theHogwarts Legacyteam stayed true to its iconic spell list.
Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you can take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.Explore an Open WorldThe wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to beLearn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be Experience a New Wizarding World AdventureExperience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
Lies of P: The Golden Lie
Lies of Phas a broad arsenal of blades, bludgeons, and fencing weapons that allow P to take on the Puppet Menace afflicting the metropolis of Krat. The most iconic of these tools, however, isThe Golden Lie. Obtaining this staff-like weapon requires P to gain a sufficient amount of Humanity throughout the game by consistently leveraging the game’s lying mechanic. Despite the challenges associated with acquiring it, The Golden Lie isn’t a particularly overpowered weapon, boasting a meager 94 attack stat to start, but its Fable Arts, Storm Attack and Furious Golden Hits, are flashy, satisfying, and effective crowd control tools. Furthermore, the Golden Lie stands apart as the only example of a weaponized version of Pinocchio’s nose, bringing the fairy tale full circle.
Lies of P
Lies of P is a thrilling soulslike that takes the story of Pinocchio, turns it on its head, and sets it against the darkly elegant backdrop of the Belle Epoque era.You are a puppet created by Geppetto who’s caught in a web of lies with unimaginable monsters and untrustworthy figures standing between you and the events that have befallen the world of Lies of P.You are awakened by a mysterious voice that guides you through the plagued city of Krat - a once lively place that has been poisoned by madness and bloodlust. In our soulslike, you must adapt yourself and your weapons to face untold horrors, untangle the unfathomable secrets of the city’s elites and choose whether to confront predicaments with the truth or weave lies to overcome them on the journey to find yourself.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: Spider
Kiryu’s latest title,Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, is in many ways a return to theYakuzaseries' roots, featuring traditional beat ‘em up combat starring the series’ long-standing protagonist, bridging the gap to the main series' new turn-based approach to combat and different characters. Innovation comes to Kiryu’s fighting tools, more than any other element ofLike a Dragon Gaiden’s combat. The Spider gadget is a particular stand out, with its ability to rope up enemies where they stand, whipo them around, and more, allowing Kiryu to control the crowd via entirely new means.
The Spider is genuinely a powerful piece of equipment that is fun to use. Enemies can be snared and yanked into brutal combos, thrown at each other like wrecking balls, or chucked into a nearby river. WhileLike a Dragon Gaidenis a small course on theYakuzamenu, combat gadgetry like the Spider guarantee it is a filling meal indeed.
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
ERASE YOUR PAST TO PROTECT YOUR FUTURE: Once a legendary yakuza, Kazuma Kiryu faked his own death and abandoned his name for the sake of protecting his family. Now, he is thrust into conflict by a mysterious figure attempting to drive him out of hiding. Under the codename “Joryu,” Kiryu embarks on a gripping action narrative with bone-shattering combat in vibrant locations filled with exciting characters and activities.ULTIMATE COMBAT WITH TWO HIGH-IMPACT FIGHTING STYLES: Dynamically switch between the Yakuza and Agent fighting styles in visceral melee combat. With the Yakuza style, strike fear into enemies by unleashing wildly aggressive moves powered by Kiryu’s unparalleled strength and flair. Or up the ante with the Agent style by delivering blows with absolute speed and precision, while using an array of high-tech gadgets like electrified bind wires to stun enemies then send them flying. Strategically adapt to the situation and leverage both styles to dominate and destroy hordes of enemies.ENDLESS ENTERTAINMENTWhether you’re brawling in the secret Battle arena, singing a new karaoke song, enjoying a drink at the live-action cabaret club, or racing in the pocket circuit, the world offers a variety of immersive experiences. An intriguing informant named Akame also provides thrilling sub-missions, drawing you into an epic showdown that unfolds the more you explore and enjoy Sotenbori and Yokohama.
Spider-Man 2: Symbiote
Insomniac achieved tremendous things withMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, but its greatest triumph may have been its treatment of the series' symbiotes. As shared enemies for Miles and Peter, and as a powerful ability tree for Peter, the alien symbiotes feel suitably powerful, alien, and faithful to their best outings in the comics. Peter’s symbiote suit powers include several fun abilities, including mass tentacle slams and skewering tentacle explosions, as well as a cool collection of unique finishers. The narrative behind and surrounding this “weapon” are what really makes it stand out, however. Peter’s symbiote powers set up the character’s downfall, leading to one of the coolest and most surprising boss fights in the game.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Spider-Men Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength inside and outside the mask as they fight to save the city, each other and the ones they love, from the monstrous Venom and the dangerous new symbiote threat.Explore an expansive Marvel’s New York with faster web-swinging and the all-new Web Wings, quickly switching between Peter and Miles to experience different stories, epic new abilities and high-tech gear.Wield Peter’s symbiote abilities and Miles’ explosive bio-electric powers in battle against new and iconic Marvel Super Villains – including an original take on a symbiote-infused Venom, the ruthless Kraven the Hunter, the volatile Lizard, and more from the Marvel Rogues’ Gallery.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - Crossguard Saber
Star Wars Jedi: Survivorbuilt on its predecessor in every appreciable way, especially when it comes to lightsabers. For instance,Star Wars Jedi: Survivor’s Blaster Stancegives Cal a lot more in the way of ranged combat options without diminishing the civilized principles of lightsaber combat. But the Crossguard Lightsaber introduces something that the subfranchise’s combat never had before: Heft.
It is reasonable to expect a laser sword to be lightweight and agile, which is why it is so delightful to see a heavy contrast to that trope. The slow but hard-hitting stance—involving two-legged jumping kicks, tomahawk-style saber throws, and broad, cleaving swings capable of downing multiple enemies at once—is incredibly satisfying. It makes the player feel like Cal is hitting the enemy with the Force as well as the Lightsaber’s blade with every hit. This slower play style may not be for everyone, but it boasts powerful single-target damage and good crowd-clearing ability.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
The story of Cal Kestis continues in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor™, a third person galaxy-spanning action-adventure game from Respawn Entertainment, developed in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. This narratively-driven, single player title picks up five years after the events of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ and follows Cal’s increasingly desperate fight as the galaxy descends further into darkness. Pushed to the edges of the galaxy by the Empire, Cal will find himself surrounded by threats new and familiar. As one of the last surviving Jedi Knights, Cal is driven to make a stand during the galaxy’s darkest times - but how far is he willing to go to protect himself, his crew, and the legacy of the Jedi Order?Explore an Untamed Galaxy – Discover new planets and familiar frontiers in the Star Wars galaxy, each with unique biomes, challenges, and enemies. Master new skills, equipment, and abilities that will augment the ways you explore, fight, and roam. With larger areas to explore and more to discover off the beaten path, players who adventure beyond the horizon will find hidden rewards.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder: Elephant Fruit
Super Mariohas enjoyed some of the best power-upsin all of gaming from the Fire Flower and Super Cape to the Frog, Bee, and Cat Suits. Upping the stakes on a man who has done almost everything is a tall order, butSuper Mario Bros. Wonderrises to the challenge with the Elephant Fruit. The fruit transforms characters into an anthropomorphic elephant form, capable of bashing Goombas and Koopas with their trunk, breaking blocks, charging across double-wide gaps, and more. The Elephant Fruit also comes with its own musical accompaniment when equipped. Upon transformation, the level’s lead instruments will be switched to brass horns that scream “elephant trumpet.”
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
The next evolution of Mario fun: Classic Mario gameplay is turned on its head with Wonder Flowers in the Super Mario Bros. Wonder game! These game-changing items can make some wonderfully weird stuff happen. Witness pipes coming alive, wreak havoc as a giant Spike-Ball, and lots more!Loca: Up to 4 players can tackle courses together, share power-ups, and revive each other. Yoshis can also carry other players on their back to help each other overcome challenging courses!Online: With a Nintendo Switch Online membership**, you can share your adventure with players from all over the world or play online with up to 12 friends in a Friend Room, with 4 players per course. Help each other out or see who can finish first! If you place a standee while you’re playing online, other players can use them to revive!
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - Link’s Fuse Arm
Link’s new arm inTotK, which allows him to fuse different objects into almost anything players can imagine, is one of the storied series' greatest abilities yet. This ability opens the door to a number ofnew traversal options forTears of the Kingdom,but it also opens up the series' combat like never before.
Tears of the Kingdom’s fusion abilitiescan augment combat incredibly, only limited by a player’s imagination. Link can create bespoke deathtraps for certain enemies, including Ganondorf. The recipe for a staggeringly meaty hammer is as simple as affixing a boulder to a weaker melee weapon. Players can ameliorate their weapon durability woes through fusion. Those in need of a quick escape can fuse a rocket to a shield for a fast launch. Few games manage to celebrate creativity so comprehensively with their entire suite of weapons and tools, butTears of the KingdomreinventsThe Legend ofZeldawith just one magical hand.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is the sequel to the beloved open-world adventure, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This installment once again sees Link and Zelda battling to protect Hyrule from falling to Ganondorf. This new adventure takes place in the same land of Hyrule as Breath of the Wild but sees something called the Upheaval, which allows link to travel to Sky Islands, as well as deep into the Depths beneath Hyrule. Players can use special abilities to fuse together weapons, and build items to help them progress through the release.
