10 Best Shotguns In Gaming History - Ranked

5. M90 (Halo: Combat Evolved)

Resident Evil 4 shotgun kick
Bungie

When modern FPS fans think of the classic, prime example of a shotgun, their minds typically turn to the M90 CAWS shotgun from the original Halo: Combat Evolved. And with good reason, as it's the perfect example of a shotgun being perfectly suited for the situations the game throws at you, while also just being really damn cool all on its own.

Sure, this thing is great for getting Elites off your back when they come after you with those laser swords, but let's be real, that isn't why people remember this weapon. They remember it because it's the only reason that Master Chief survived first contact with the eldritch horror known as the flood.

When swarms of these little bugs and their zombified hosts are running towards you, you could use your assault rifle if you aren't too attached to that esophagus they're about to chew out. Or you could whip out the M90 and blast five of them into paste at once.

The main drawback is that after the first Halo, the M90 just isn't as useful. Still great for dealing with flood, of course, but without the tight enclosed spaces of the Halo ring facilities you originally encountered them, it isn't as in demand as it used to be.

Contributor
Contributor

John Tibbetts is a novelist in theory, a Whatculture contributor in practice, and a nerd all around who loves talking about movies, TV, anime, and video games more than he loves breathing. Which might be a problem in the long term, but eh, who can think that far ahead?