Few things can make or break a game like its combat. And along with combat come weapons. Whether you like the biggest gun in a first-person shooter or prefer to swing a sword that will slash through your enemies, some of the best moments in gaming center around its weaponry. Personally, I’m partial to a bow and arrow or magic, but I’m not immune to a solid grenade launcher, either. Though there have been many iterations on weapons in video games over the years, a few truly overpowered icons loom large in gaming history.
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These days, overpowered items tend to get nerfed thanks to the popularity of balance patches. That certainly helps things feel a bit less frustrating when you’re dealing with PvP or looking for more of a challenge. But in analog days of gaming, broken weapons stayed broken. And that means we’ve got some truly overpowered weapons from gaming history to contend with.
5. The Energy Sword from Halo
Some of us might have sought out the elusive Halo 2 Energy Sword because we have bad aim (ahem, not me). But this weapon was also legitimately overpowered, if you used it right. Swinging the Energy Sword against an unaware opponent often resulted in a one-hit KO. So long as you could manage to get up close before they shot you down, getting ahold of the Energy Sword on a Halo 2 map could be a real game-changer.
The Energy Sword does return in newer Halo games, including the 2021 Halo Infinite. It remains a powerful weapon even in modern games, though as with any overpowered gaming weapon these days, it has gotten a few nerfs. So, nothing will quite match the high of finding an energy sword in Halo 2, even if it remains an iconic weapon whenever it appears.
4. The Master Sword from The Legend of Zelda
The Master Sword is, naturally, an essential part of The Legend of Zelda lore. This legendary sword supposedly has the ability to repel evil itself, and getting it is an essential part of truly embodying the game’s story. But the Master Sword is also a strong weapon in its own right.
Once upon a time, the Master Sword was fully indestructible. In the newer Zelda games, it’s a bit less OP. But where most weapons break, the Master Sword never truly does. It can run out of charge, but you won’t need to worry about it fully breaking down. And it can become more powerful through upgrades, making it one of the best weapons in the games even now. That said, its overpowered status definitely harkens back to some of its earlier appearances in games like Windwaker.
3. Golden Gun from GoldenEye 007
Even if you aren’t a big James Bond fan in general, the early James Bond games were fun. Before I had ever seen the movies, I developed fond memories of playing GoldenEye 007 death matches. But there was one weapon in this game you never wanted your opponent to find – the Golden Gun.
The Golden Gun is overpowered due to its ability to kill almost any NPC character or multiplayer opponent in one shot. There are a few in-game exceptions, including some tough boss fights and oddly specific deathmatch scenarios. But even so, the Golden Gun as it first appeared was truly a must-have weapon that almost couldn’t be beat. It has since returned in subsequent games, including the 2010 GoldenEye 007 remake, but nothing quite lives up to the thrill of its first appearance.
2. The BFG 9000 from DOOM
Technically, BFG stands for “Bio Force Gun” according to DOOM movie lore, but we all know what those letters really mean. This massive gun has been a part of the Doom game from the very beginning. It fires off huge plasma blasts and is widely considered the most powerful gun in the games.
The original BFG 9000 was so powerful, you had to access a secret area just to get your hands on it. It deals the highest damage of any weapon in the first DOOM game, and it has maintained its powerful legacy throughout subsequent entries. Though it gets a crossover makeover in DOOM: The Dark Ages as a Ballistic Force Crossbow, its power remains unchanged. The BFG 9000 is among the most powerful video game weapons to this day.
1. Blue Turtle Shell from Mario Kart
A weapon that basically can’t miss its target, no matter how far away you are? Talk about overpowered. The Blue Turtle Shell has been a staple since Mario Kart 64. It has been in every game since its debut, much to the frustration of whoever happens to be in first place when someone lets this puppy loose on the racecourse. Newer versions aren’t quite as OP as that N64 nightmare, as the game has added more ways to get around the blue shell. But getting smacked by one of these is a core gaming memory for many, including myself.
Even though savvy racers have more options to dodge the Blue Shell these days, it’s tricky and requires perfect timing with the right item or on-course obstacle at hand. Given that Mario Kart games dish out their best boosts to players further behind in the race, the Blue Turtle Shell tends to hit its target. And often, that means devastating consequences for your racing career.
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