Please remember that the handguns and revolvers on this list are just my opinion.
Often looked at as the weakest weapon in shooters, it’s pretty much understood that you should get rid of the humble pistol the second you can, but in this list I’ll be looking at the top 10 handguns and revolvers in gaming that proves otherwise.
It might seem odd that I’m grouping handguns and revolvers together since handguns are often looked at as the faster ,weaker gun when compared to the revolvers slow power, but that’s actually part of the reason there together in this list. Despite being opposites these guns have the same basic one-handed weapon design.
For the purpose of this top 10 handguns and revolvers list I’ll only be allowing one weapon per series, and it must be a gun first so no hidden guns from the Assassins Creed series.
Now that I got that out-of-the-way, lets start this list off with a gun you may have forgotten about.
10: Redeemer Revolver: (Darkwatch)
Hands up if you remember Darkwatch.
Starting this list at number 10 we have the Redeemer, prove that not all revolvers follow the high power, low firing rate trend that I mentioned above.
The Redeemer Revolver is unique in that it actually has a 24 round magazine thanks to it being cylinder loaded. These cylinder magazines mean that they can be reloaded very quickly and that’s a very good thing, when it’s also one of the only revolvers in gaming that you can fan the hammer of.
Fanning the hammer refers to when you hit the hammer on a revolver back after you shoot. This resets it allowing you to fire again. In Darkwatch this allows you to fire the Redeemer at an extremely fast rate allowing you to cause a ton of damages to enemies and bosses alike.
It’s design is also pretty cool and suits the game it’s in, but it lands at number 10 because while fanning the hammer is pretty cool, you’re not going to hit anything at a distance, limiting its use.
9: Silverballers (Hitman series)
Hitman 2 was the first game where it was simply called the Silverballer.
Moving onto number 9 we have a weapon you’ll most likely only ever used as a last resort, the Silverballer from the Hitman series.
The Silverballer or AMT Hardballer is a stainless steel clone of the Colt M1911A1, and is Agent 47s signature weapon. The reason for this is because they’re very easy to conceal and in a pinch can be dual wielded. They also pack one hell of a punch, often sending people flying, though this can cause them to go flying into the view of more people/witnesses.
They are also very versatile because since Bloodline, they can be upgraded to suit your play style. More aggressive players will want to buy magnum ammo for even more damage, recoil and the bonus ability to shoot through doors, while stealthy players will want the various silencers as well as a long slider for accuracy.
As much as I’d like to place the Silverballer higher (and trust me I wanted to) there here because if you’re using them, it’s usually because you screwed up and even firing them pushes you further away from that elusive Silent Assassin rank. Dispute this they’re still fun to use and are perfect for those times you’ll want to make your assassinations more personal.
8: T-Zero Pistol: (Urban Chaos Riot Response)
Landing here at number 8 we have the insanely accurate T-Zero Pistol. Originally designed for use by military personal, these lethal pistols came into the hands of the worlds most dangerous riot response team, T-Zero due to suspect means and are now very violent tools of justice.
The T-Zero pistol is a good example on how pistols can be one of the best weapons in a game, and with the help of its ability to zoom in, will make getting does headshot medals a breeze.
Those medals are worth getting too since you’ll need them to unlock upgrades which include bigger magazines, more power and oddly enough attaching a flash-light to the end of your pistol.
The T-Zero Pistol is a blast to use. It sounds great, has great range and a decent damage output but it only lands here at number 8 because the next 7 in my opinion are just better.
7: Golden Gun (Goldeneye)
It’s the most feared gun in Goldeneye by far.
Power isn’t everything, especially when it comes at the expense of versatility and no gun represents this facr better than our number 7 pistol, the Golden Gun from Goldeneye.
The Golden Gun for those of you who don’t know, is a powerhouse that is a one hit kill no questions asked. This lead to the Golden Gun mode where every player gets there own Golden Gun, turning the games already chaotic multiplayer matches into tales of misses and so-called lucky shots by annoyed players.
But with all this power the Golden Gun has two problems. For starters you needed to reload after every shot hence the tales of epic misses and lucky shots I mentioned earlier and boy was it ugly in the Wii version, Goldeneye Reloaded.
In the game it looks like it was made out of Lego, so it felt like you were shooting people with a toy. For these two reasons I’ve placed the Golden Gun at number 7, please don’t kill me Goldeneye fans.
6: Ebony and Ivory (Devil May Cry series/DmC Devil May Cry)
Ebony and Ivory, shoot together in perfect harmony.
Made famous by the demon hunter Dante, Ebony and Ivory are almost as iconic as the man himself. Originally created for Dante because he destroyed every other set of pistols he used, Ebony and Ivory have been with him since the series started back in 2001.
Ebony and Ivory designwise are heavily modified versions of the M1911 Handgun, modified with Dante’s needs in mind. Ebony was designed with long-range shooting and comfort in mind while Ivory is the rapid-firing one.
Their names aren’t just references to piano keys either because there names actually come from the two females on the guns handles. Ebony has darker hair while Ivory has a fairer hair colour.
Ebony and Ivory are best used to keep enemies at bay or to juggle them in the air since their damage output is kind of crap. You can charge their shots to increase the damage output though and bonus points for having infinite ammo. They would have been higher if it wasn’t for the damage however, hell Bayonetta referred to them as toys during the opening level of her game.
5: Colt Python .357 Magnum (Half-Life series)
When aliens are taking over your world and you don’t know who you can trust any more, you’re going to need something big and preferably loud, your going to need your very own Colt Python .357 Magnum.
The Colt Python has been a faithful addition to Freeman’s arsenal since the Half-Life series started back in 1998, and like any good revolver packs one hell of a punch.
For some odd reason it also has a laser sight on it that you can only use in the multiplayer, but even without it the Colt Python is still one of the best ranged options in the game, tied with the pistol and the crossbow.
The Colt Python .357 Magnum lands here at number 5 because of its reliable damage output and because it’s a blast to use. However it also falls into the usual revolver trap of having a little amount of ammo littered throughout the game, so try to not waste it on the headcrabs okay.
4: Scorpion Revolver (Red Dead Revolver)
It’s not everyday that someone kills both your parents and leaves you for dead because of a revolver, but that’s exactly what happened to poor Red in Red Dead Revolver.
The Scorpion Revolver earned its name because of the emblem of the scorpion on its grip and there are only two of these revolvers in the world, hence the murder. It’s based on the 1860 version of the Colt Army Model and the scorpion grip does offer a unique twist to the design.
Sadly you won’t be able to use the Scorpion Revolver till after you clear the game on normal mode at least though it’s so worth the hassle. Along with being the strongest weapon in the game, it’s also the most accurate and has the quickest reloading speed, putting everything else to shame.
The Scorpion Revolver lands here at number 4 because it’s just a all-round great weapon. Sure you’ll have to wait till you clear the game before you can use it, but more games need unlockable toys. The only reason it’s not in the top 3 is because the next three guns where just too tough to beat.
3: Plasma Pistol (Halo series)
If you have ever taken on a Halo game on Legendary mode or jumped online for a few matches, you’ll understand how the Covenant Plasma Pistol landed here at number 3.
When used like any other gun the plasma pistols is pretty decent, sure your not going to kill anything in a hurry, but like the other plasma weapon can easily shoot through enemy shields. However if your firing it normally your either not using it right or your low on ammo because the Plasma Pistols trump card (and why its this high) is its charge shot.
The Plasma Pistols charge shot drains your pistol for ten shots worth of ammo, but one charge shot is strong enough to completely destroy your opponents shields and can completely stall vehicles.
This means that it’s almost necessary for Legendary mode because enemies get ridiculously powerful shields and vehicles are a real pain. You can also dual-wield them in Halo 2 and 3 though have fun trying to aim the damn things.
The Plasma Pistol lands here at number 3 due to just how useful it is. It’s charge shot can rip through shields, stall vehicles and it’s pretty easy to find due to the amount of grunts Halo tends to throw at you.
2: Deagle (Scarface: The World is Yours)
Amazing that something so small can send a man’s arm flying so far.
It only stands to reason that if you’re a fool-mouthed drug lord with way more money then sense, that your going to want the very best in fire power, and that’s exactly what you get with our number 2 weapon, the Deagle from Scarface: The World is Yours.
The Deagle’s name and design both come from the Desert Eagle, a real life handgun which is used by the Israeli army. Interestingly enough in real life it’s treated more like a rifle rather than a handgun due to its weight, stopping power and more importantly recoil.
In Scarface however the Deagle has the handling and recoil of a normal handgun, but it kills everybody in the game in one shot guaranteed, and is powerful enough to remove whatever limb you shot. This gun is so good, it’s the only gun Tony brings with him to the final level, though to be fair you’ll wish he’d brought more.
The Deagle lands here at number 2 due to its ridiculous power, but it misses out on the number 1 spot because our number 1 gun combines ridiculous fire power with one other little thing.
1: Fully Upgraded Handcannon (Resident Evil 4)
Damn right you’ve gotta love it!
You know what sucks, having to reload your gun. It really breaks up the action and leaves you an open target. Well our number 1 choicr the fully upgraded Handcannon doesn’t have to worry about this problem at all.
The Handcannon can only be unlocked by getting 5 stars in all the stages in “The Mercenaries” mode. After doing so you’ll need 790,000₧ to fully upgrade it but it’s worth it to unlock this monsters true strength. Fully upgraded the Handcannon has unlimited ammo and a firepower rating of 99.9, which is massive when compared to its original rating of 30.
When fully upgraded the Handcannon can kill everything with extreme ease, including the El Gigantes in only two shots. The reason for this power is because of its unique ammo, the Ultimate Mighty Z is a unique type of ammo that actually fires 5 bullets very quickly when you pull the trigger and the only way you can tell this is by shooting it into the water.
The fully upgraded Handcannon is gamings best revolver in my opinion. Got enemies in armour, it doesn’t matter because it can destroy even the armour wearing Armadura in one shot. Ammo doesn’t matter anymore and with it’s laser sight, range isn’t much of a issue either.
The only downside the Handcannon has is that you need to master “The Mercenaries” Mode and spend 790,000Pts to fully upgraded it, which requires you to play through the story mode at least twice if you don’t have the unlimited Chicago Typewriter on hand.
With all this in mind the Handcannon is my number 1 revolver in gaming but again this is just my opinion so what’s your favourite gun. Did I forget a great weapon or should something else have placed higher or even lower? Tell me in the comment section below, I’d love to hear your opinions.