Whether it's an FPS, a strategy game, or something else entirely when it comes to video games, there is a good chance weapons are involved. And while recreations of real-world weaponry might be good enough for many, video games also open up the possibility of creating weapons that would never work in real life.
It's that creative freedom that has led to energy weapons becoming a staple of video games. Whether it's firing superheated plasma or laser beams, energy weapons are sure to have something for everyone and they're usually pretty powerful too. After all, once you start ignoring the rules of reality, making obscenely powerful weapons gets a whole lot easier, so here are some of the best.
10 Gatling Laser - Fallout 4
Fallout's energy weapons get a lot of stick for not being particularly satisfying to use no matter which game you use them in. But there are exceptions, the most notable of which is Fallout 4's Gatling Laser, because who doesn't want to fire hundreds of laser rounds a minute?
Like all Fallout weapons, it appears somewhat crudely constructed with its barrel being made of a rotating mechanism of four laser rifle barrels. But don't let that construction put you off as this is one of the few energy weapons in the game that can defeat any foe it is used against. Just make sure you have enough fusion cores to power it.
9 Collector Particle Beam Rifle - Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect has plenty of great weapons, but of the limited array of energy weapons you get to use, the Collector Particle Beam Rifle is the best. Not only does it let you use the Collector's own technology against them, but it's also incredibly effective against all the other enemies you'll encounter in Mass Effect 2.
Also, compared to the other heavy weapons in the game, the ammunition for the Particle Beam Rifle is measured in the hundreds, meaning you don't have to time your shots for maximum efficiency. Instead, you can just pull the trigger whenever you need to hit something hard.
8 Energy Sword - Halo
Unlike most the weapons on this list, Halo's Energy Sword is a melee weapon - but don't let that fool you into thinking you can avoid it. Not only is it one of Halo's most powerful weapons, with a one-hit kill on nearly every opponent in the series, but it also allows players to lunge forwards and cross a short distance between themselves and their opponent almost instantaneously.
So despite it not being available to players in Halo: Combat Evolved, it's easy to see how this weapon became such an icon of the series. Especially in multiplayer where anyone who doesn't see you coming won't even have the chance to react before you take them out.
7 Plasma Beam - Red Faction: Armageddon
Despite not quite living up to the lofty standards of its predecessor, Red Faction: Armageddon still had plenty to enjoy, and most importantly, it retained the destruction mechanics the series is renowned for. And the Plasma Beam is the perfect weapon to enjoy them with.
The focused beam of plasma this rifle fires will disintegrate even the strongest armor, which means any building you come across won't stand a chance either. Think of it as a plasma cutter except it disintegrates things instead of cutting through them, which is infinitely more fun when you're using it to blast your way across Mars.
6 YCS/186 - Fallout: New Vegas
As mentioned earlier, Fallout's energy weapons can sometimes be a little lackluster, but the Gauss Rifle is a longstanding exception to that rule. In particular, Fallout: New Vegas featured a unique variant of the gauss rifle called YCS/186 which is one the best energy weapons in the entire game.
Unlike the laser and plasma-style energy weapons of the series, the YCS/186 packs a real punch and feels more like you're firing a cannon than an energy weapon. And with increased damage and ammo efficiency over the standard Gauss Rifle, YCS/186 is a clear star in Fallout's energy weapon lineup.
5 Lightsaber - Star Wars
The lightsaber was always going to feature on this list. Pretty much every Star Wars game gives you the opportunity to play around with this pop culture icon and it always packs a punch. Able to cut down most enemies in a single strike, the lightsaber is a weapon worth savoring whenever you get a chance to use one, especially as few weapons are as powerful as it.
So whether you're playing a classic like Knights of the Old Republic or a modern title like Jedi Fallen Order, it's obvious why the lightsaber is on this list. Just make sure you're using its defensive abilities too, otherwise you might never get close enough to use this almighty weapon.
4 Spartan Laser - Halo
In the Halo universe, the Covenant more or less has a monopoly on energy weapons, but that didn't stop the UNSC from making one of their own in the form of the Spartan Laser. This is a weapon that turns its user into a walking cannon capable of destroying even the most heavily armored enemy vehicles.
The only thing that gives your opponents any hope of surviving is the slow charge of the Spartan Laser before each shot is able to fire. But unless they can find cover in that short window, there's nothing they'll be able to do to survive the destructive power of this weapon.
3 Ryno 8 - Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
If you've ever played a Ratchet & Clank game then you're sure to have encountered the mighty Ryno in one of its many forms. This colossal weapon has come a long way since that first rocket launcher-style weapon. In Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, the Ryno is on its eighth iteration and is a powerful area of effect energy weapon capable of destroying your foes and ripping open portals to other dimensions.
So if you need something to clear a route to your goal and you don't have the patience to fight your enemies individually, just pull out the Ryno 8 and you'll have no problem dealing with your opponents. You might even see a cameo by characters and objects from other games when you use it.
2 Killstar - Far Cry Blood Dragon
Far Cry Blood Dragon was a fantastic game that brought a refreshing aesthetic to the well-established formula of the series, and along with that aesthetic came some amazing weapons. Most notable of all is the Killstar, a laser that is powered by the vitality of protagonist Rex "Power" Colt, draining his health slowly as the weapon is fired.
Fortunately, the sheer power of the Killstar means you're not in danger of losing too much health as your opponents will be vaporized well before that happens. Even the titular Blood Dragons can be killed with just a few seconds of concentrated fire from this amazing laser.
1 BFG - DOOM
No list of energy weapons would be complete without including DOOM's least family-friendly weapon. The BFG is arguably one of the most famous weapons in gaming history and there's a good reason for that. It is by far the most powerful weapon the player can carry in DOOM and all its many sequels, regardless of what weird device you're playing on.
But no matter how many games it appears in, the gun remains constant - a huge piece of metal that spews green plasma capable of killing just about anything it hits. There's even a superpowered version of it called the BFG 10000 in DOOM Eternal, but you only get to use that once, so it's not quite as fun as the handheld version.