Though some will no doubt prefer a protagonist who wields a blade, there's an awful lot to love about a good old-fashioned gunslinging hero or villain. They can evoke vivid memories of classic western movies, while also demonstrating skills that many players can only dream of possessing. There's a lot more to a great gunslinger than just their proficiency with a firearm though.

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The very best gunslingers in video games possess an air of confidence about them that's befitting of their skills and usually carry themselves in a calm and professional manner. They don't always have to be doing so in games set in the old West either, with many demonstrating that the character archetype can be just as effective when dropped into a more modern or fantasy-based setting or environment.

10 Xigbar

Sometimes referred to as the Fresshooter, Xigbar is one of the most prolific antagonists in the Kingdom Hearts series. He shows up in five of its entries, with his first appearance coming in the franchise's second installment almost two decades ago. As anybody who's played the games will already know, he's incredibly dangerous and is able to hold his own in almost any situation.

He fights using a unique type of weapon known as an Arrowgun, many of which are named after demons or enemies from the Final Fantasy series. Though his appearance might suggest otherwise, Xigbar is incredibly laid back and loves cracking wise and taunting his enemies. He's generally incredibly accurate, but even when he's not, his ability to manipulate space allows him to redirect his bullets after firing them as and when he needs to.

9 Irvine Kinneas

There have been plenty of great gun-wielding party members throughout the mainline Final Fantasy games, but few adhere to the general gunslinger image quite as well as Irvine. There is perhaps an argument for Vincent in this regard, but his sullen and brooding persona and lack of overall characterization just about tip the scales in Irvine's favor.

Irvine is an expert marksman and is widely regarded as being the best shooter in Galbadia Garden. This is all the more impressive considering he typically wields a shotgun, a weapon that is not generally known for its accuracy. Though often portrayed as being overly cautious, he is far from a coward, demonstrating his bravery on numerous occasions during the party's struggles against Ultimecia in Final Fantasy VIII.

8 Silas Greaves

Silas Greaves used to ride with Billy the Kid during his early years and claims to have gotten the better of notorious outlaws like Jesse James, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in duels. Like so many other video game protagonists, he's driven primarily by revenge and will seemingly stop at nothing until he's got it.

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His ability with a Colt Walker and his impressive combat record make him one of the most feared bounty hunters in the Old West, while his no-nonsense attitude makes him one of the most likable. His appearance and attire, though perhaps a little generic, is also exactly what one might expect from a man of his standing.

7 Max Payne

When most people hear the word "gunslinger," it's far more likely to evoke images of cowboys and frontiersmen than somebody like Max Payne. He may not ride a horse, nor is it ever suggested that he knows how to ranch cattle, but if there's one thing that Max is good at, it's busting caps in the asses of his many enemies. Well, that and dropping depressing quotes.

Driven only by his unquenchable thirst for vengeance, the former cop is capable of dishing out some serious damage to those who stand in his way. The bullet time mechanic, which was first popularized by the series, allows him to slow down time as he leaps through the air, giving him all the time that he needs to pick out the perfect shots.

6 Raul Tejada

There have been some fantastic companion characters in the Fallout series over the years, but none more so than Raul Tejada. Raul is one of several ghoul companions to show up throughout the franchise, with players able to recruit him in Fallout: New Vegas by busting him out of prison during the Crazy, Crazy, Crazy side quest or heading to Black Mountain and picking the lock on his cell door.

Armed with his trusty .44 Magnum, Raul is able to dish out some serious damage, but he's perhaps best remembered for his sarcastic quips. He's one of the best traveling partners in the game as a result, but can also grow a lot through his time with the courier. If players complete the Old School Ghoul quest, he'll return to his past life as a gunslinger at the end of the game and set about punishing those who prey on the weak.

5 Dante

Though some of Dante's best moments have come while he's been hacking and slashing away with his sword, he's also incredibly proficient with guns. With his customized M1911s Ebony and Ivory in his hands, Dante is able to effortlessly chain together his shots and sword swings to rack up some ridiculously large combos and obliterate his enemies.

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Dante has appeared in all five of the mainline Devil May Cry games in some capacity, serving as the main protagonist in all but one. Despite the character now being more than two decades old, his design has remained largely unchanged, with the exception of the 2013 spin-off title, DmC: Devil May Cry, in which he sports a much younger look.

4 Jesse McCree

When it comes to heroes in Overwatch, most consider McCree to be top-tier. He serves as a reliable source of damage in most situations and also boasts decent mid-range damage meaning that he rarely needs to over-commit. He's so effective, in fact, that Blizzard has nerfed him multiple times over the years, most recently increasing his reload time and shortening the distance of his combat roll.

Despite the effects of the latest patch, he's still able to reload his Peacekeeper Revolver in just one and a half seconds. Granted, the gun only holds six bullets, but it's still incredibly impressive nonetheless. He's even faster when it comes to unloading the gun, with the sharpshooter needing only two-thirds of a second to fire off all six shots.

3 Bayonetta

While the number of female video game protagonists has been gradually increasing since the turn of the century, it's not often that one who is quite as capable as Bayonetta comes along. Granted, Tomb Raider's Lara Croft and Ellie from The Last of Us certainly know their way around a firearm, but they fall some way short of matching Cereza in the deadliness department.

The fluidity of the series' combat is a little reminiscent of games like Devil May Cry, but it's all made infinitely more badass by the protagonist quad-wielding four guns instead of one or two. Her signature set is known collectively as Scarborough Fair, with each one named after one of the herbs that are repeatedly mentioned throughout the old English ballad of the same name. They're actually based on the Derringer, although were heavily modified to match the style of both the games and the protagonist.

2 Revolver Ocelot

Solid Snake may be the main protagonist of the Metal Gear series, but Ocelot actually shows up in more games and is even playable in a few of them. He also plays a pivotal role in both the Solid Snake and Big Boss arcs of the overarching story, something that no other character can claim. Of course, he likely would not have survived as long as he did were it not for his incredible combat skills.

Ocelot fought in several wars before his eventual death, becoming renowned for both his sadism and his unfathomable accuracy. As his name might suggest, he's at his most deadly with a Revolver in hand and usually wields a pair of Single Action Army Revolvers. In his early life, however, he preferred modified Tornado-6 Heavy Revolvers, as evidenced by the events of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain.

1 John Marston

Both of the Red Dead Redemption games feature excellent protagonists, to the point where it's very difficult to choose between John and Arthur. While the latter arguably demonstrates more depth and personal growth throughout his character arc, however, John definitely has the edge when it comes to survivability, which is a vital trait in the outlaw world.

With the help of Dead Eye, John is able to make what many would consider to be impossible shots and can fire off rounds at a lightning-fast pace. He's also an excellent hunter, a skilled horse rider, and one of the most feared duelists in the old west. Even when staring death in the face, he shows no fear whatsoever; ultimately taking down many of his pursuers as they gun him down in front of his family home.

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