As far as tools go, crowbars are among the more reliable. They can pry open crates and help someone gain entry into a blocked passage. For more violent-minded individuals, they also make convenient weapons. Game developers have picked up on that.

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The crowbar has shown up in several titles. Though often serving in melee combat, it occasionally fulfills its intended use. Such a multitude of purposes makes it an oddly iconic inclusion in the industry. How ironic that, with all the extravagant weapons in the video game realm, one of the most famous would be one that fans could buy at a hardware store. Sometimes, it's just fun to swat people around.

7 Agent 47's Crowbar - Hitman

A Crowbar in Hitman 3

Their lack of subtlety doesn't stop crowbars from showing up in stealth games. In fact, they're a recurring tool in the Hitman series. Agent 47 frequently finds them hidden around environments, and they aid him in influencing said environments. Not only can they unlock doors and crates, but they can also distract enemies. However, players can accomplish the former with a lockpick, which is less noisy.

That said, lockpicks can't take down foes like a crowbar. With such an object, 47 can knock out mooks with short-range strikes or long-range throws. They can even get past those pesky frisks. For assassins barreling through to their targets, the crowbar is perfect. That's practically what it was made for.

6 Majima's Crowbar - Yakuza

Majima and Fei Hu in Yakuza 0

Though the combatants in Yakuza primarily fight with their fists, they can spring for melee weapons to get a leg up. One of these is a crowbar. Players can buy it at several shops around Tokyo and Osaka. Ordinarily, it blends into the other blunt instruments these brawlers have at their disposal.

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That changes when it gets special attention in Yakuza 0. Goro Majima acquires a crowbar here, but there's a catch. To use it, he must train under the mysterious Fei Hu. He then wields it like a tonfa. Oddly enough, earning the right to use a crowbar makes it more fulfilling.

5 Zipline Crowbar - Sunset Overdrive

The Crowbar Zipline in Sunset Overdrive

The gray tool may not stand out amid this collage of color, but Sunset Overdrive still dedicates multiple gameplay functions to it. Once again, melee weapons serve as alternatives to shooting; the crowbar is the first of these that players acquire. Also like other games, it can open new avenues in the environment. That may sound trite, but traversal here goes beyond opening doors.

Characters can speed around the city, using crowbars to ride ziplines across the rooftops. Even if players have another melee weapon equipped, they retain the crowbar for navigation purposes. This, combined with the thrilling novelty, ensures this tool never fades from memory.

4 The Saints' Crowbar - Saints Row

A Crowbar in Saints Row

The titular Saints mainly make their mark with guns. Like the yakuza, though, they sometimes spice things up with melee weapons. The original Saints Row includes a crowbar among the options in this area. It's actually the top melee tool. One would think the baseball bat or nightstick would outclass it, but no. The crowbar is the king of close-range combat.

That tragically changes in Saints Row 2 and the 2022 reboot. In these follow-ups, the crowbar doesn't have the range or damage of other instruments. That said, it's still a reliable option for brawlers, one which longtime fans likely embrace. After all, they still remember it as a melee gem.

3 Moira's Crowbar - Resident Evil: Revelations 2

The Crowbar in Resident Evil Revelations 2

Fans doubtless remember the crowbar as Moira's signature weapon in this Resident Evil title. That's because it's her only weapon. The doctor doesn't carry guns due to a tragedy in her past. She prefers to avoid violence, which is why she opts for the crowbar's intended use: prying things open. In this case, those things are doors to new areas, but the tool's use obviously doesn't end there.

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Moira's metal companion comes into combat against the zombie hordes. Its long reach is ideal for keeping the creatures away, and the unique ground attack ensures they stay down. The drawback is that it can't execute stealth attacks. That's frustrating, but players nevertheless cling to the crowbar for dear life. As a result, it lives rent-free in their heads long after the game ends.

2 Joker's Crowbar - Arkham & Injustice

Joker and Jason Todd in Batman: Arkham Knight

The Joker is infamous among Batman fans for his flamboyant gags, so it's ironic how iconic the crowbar is in his repertoire. The Clown Prince of Crime uses this blunt tool to beat the stuffing out of Jason Todd--the second Robin--in the comics. Arkham Knight hearkens back to this dark chapter with its revisionist flashbacks. Here, the Joker tortures the obnoxious sidekick with the same crowbar (without blowing him up afterward). This isn't the only DC game where it shows up, though.

It also appears in the Injustice series. The Joker is a playable fighter here, with many melee combos and special moves involving the crowbar. Fans can change most of his other gear, but this weapon remains a constant. That's a testament to how recognizable this hardware tool is within the clown's gaggle of jokes.

1 Gordon's Crowbar - Half-Life

Gordon Freeman in Half Life

One can't discuss crowbars in gaming without Half-Life. It's the first weapon that protagonist Gordon Freeman gets, and Half-Life 2 brings it back. Fans can easily see why, as it's a solid melee option that deals decent damage relative to its hit rate. It's not just helpful in combat, however.

The crowbar also aids in navigating this foreboding world. Players can destroy obstacles blocking the path and unlock gates. In addition, they have the tried-and-true function of opening supply boxes. These ensure they make the most of the humble hardware.

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