With both the Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Evil Dead franchises promising us brand new videogame adaptations in 2022, it appears that horror gamers have a lot to look forward to in the near future. At the very least, we’ll be having a lot of virtual chainsaw-related fun later this year, and that got me thinking about the popularity of chainsaws in the horror genre, especially when it comes to gaming.
From Leatherface’s unfortunately phallic-looking weapon in his 1983 outing on Atari consoles to to the online flash sensation Skull Kid, chainsaws just feel right as badass power-ups and are almost always satisfying to use. That’s why they’ve become so prevalent in gaming despite their real-world impracticality when it comes to anything other than boring old hard labor.
Of course, despite this popularity, not all digital chainsaws are created equal, so we’ve decided to come up with this list celebrating six of the best chainsaws in gaming! Since there are so many to choose from, we’ll be limiting our selection to player-controlled in-game weapons only. That means no Dr. Salazar from Resident Evil 4 or that limited edition PS2 controller shaped like a chainsaw. We also won’t be including any hybrid weapons, which excludes items like the iconic Lancer from the Gears of War series.
As usual, don’t forget to comment below with your own favorites if you think we missed an important one.
Now, onto the list of the best chainsaws in gaming!
6. Splatterhouse (2010)
Namco’s Splatterhouse reboot has a lot going for it. Sure, the engine is a bit janky and the levels can get irritatingly repetitive, but there’s a solid story by comic writer Gordon Rennie that keeps things interesting, and I just can’t get enough of Jim Cumming’s charming performance as the Terror Mask.
Of course, it’s the over-the-top violence that really makes a Splatterhouse title, and that’s where this virtual chainsaw comes in. First acquired after literally ripping it off the bloody arms of the infamous Biggy Man, this deadly weapon is actually a little bit too fun, as the gore-induced particle effects are so exaggerated that they often make the game lag. That’s why it’s on the bottom of this list despite being such a genuinely fun power-up.
5. Dead by Daylight (2016)
While it’s now known for its impressive array of licensed murderers, Dead by Daylight has always put a lot of effort into its original killers. Of the three playable antagonists that initially shipped with the game, I think the Hillbilly stands out as one of the most fun to control due to his absolutely devastating chainsaw attack.
While the saw has to be revved up in order to be used and players have to deal with an annoying cool-down period, it’s still one of the most insanely powerful weapons in the game, able to take down several survivors in a single hit if you can catch them all in a closed space. This insanely satisfying attack also gets bonus points for being featured in the game’s Leatherface add-on, which makes a lot of sense when you consider that the Hillbilly was directly inspired by Tobe Hooper’s iconic cannibal.
4. Silent Hill 2 (2001)
Silent Hill 2 is fascinating and hard to put down (not to mention one of my favorite games of all time), but I don’t think I’d call this depression simulator a traditionally “fun” experience. At least not during your first playthrough. When it comes to a New Game Plus, however, SH2 allows James Sunderland to re-enact his favorite Evil Dead moments with a familiar chainsaw that only spawns if you managed to get your hands on some fuel during your previous playthrough.
The Silent Hill 2 combat system may not be especially entertaining, but the sheer absurdity of wielding a weapon traditionally associated with B-movies inside an interactive adaptation of a Dostoyevsky novel is absolutely priceless. The chainsaw would show up again in later entries in the franchise, but I’ll never forget cutting down demonic nurses like a maniac while James cries about his dead wife.
3. Lollipop Chainsaw (2012)
With a name like that, it’s obvious that James Gunn (yes, that James Gunn) and Suda 51’s Lollipop Chainsaw would be making it onto the list. While this oddball hack n’ slash title is kind of an acquired taste, there’s something to be said about the schlocky thrills of chainsaw-ing zombies while taking control of a scantily clad cheerleader with a possible blood fetish.
Not only does Juliet’s titular chainsaw sport a custom pink finish, but the shaft is charmingly decorated with a tiny heart to let zombies know that they’re being killed with kindness. The title also gets bonus points for likely containing the most amount of dedicated chainsaw combos in any action game ever.
2. Mad World (2009)
There’s no denying that the Nintendo Wii was one of the most successful videogame consoles of all time. However, the Wii was also cursed with a reputation as “baby’s first console”, with most releases being targeted towards a younger audience. Of course, leave it to PlatinumGames to prove the critics wrong with their incredibly gory Mad World, a game that appropriately features a protagonist that can turn his arm into a freakin’ chainsaw.
Boasting Sin-City-inspired visuals, addicting gameplay and more action one-liners than you can shake a stick at, Mad World makes it onto this list because of how fun it is to set up chainsaw executions with the Wii’s motion controls. While the movements aren’t exactly precise, it’s a lot of fun to simulate a kill with your real hands and see it reproduced in beautifully bloody glory on the screen.
1. Doom (1993) to Doom Eternal (2020)
Present in every entry of this long-running series, I don’t think anyone will disagree about having Doom’s recurring ‘saws as our number one pick for the best chainsaws in gaming. After all, how can you say no to the franchise that created the double-barreled chainsaw?
Referred to as “the great communicator” by Doom-Guy in that infamous tie-in comic, this memorable weapon has been entertaining gamers for nearly three decades now. Not only does it break up the monotony with some close-quarters fun, but the constant revving also makes the badass soundtrack hit that much harder while you’re joyously eviscerating hell-spawn.