Gun game weapon variations and comparison

A comparison between the different wargame weapons & gun game types: all you need to know

 

Wargame lovers all over will be quick to tell you that the game is complex, strategic, and takes a huge amount of both physical and mental fortitude to play well. But the complexities of wargame go beyond the game mode, arena, and your personal skills. The type of weapon you choose has a huge effect on how wargame is played and how much fun it can be for certain individuals.

 

The truth is, wargame does not refer to one single game. A bit like how “ball games” refers to football, basketball, and countless other sports, wargame refers to airsoft, archery tag, nerf battles, and much more. In fact, here at War Zone we have several different weapon choices that combatants can pick before entering one of our hyper-realistic arenas to battle it out with friends and foes.

 

This article will go into detail about 6 of the most popular types of gun game types including who they’re targeted towards, how the wargame weapons work, and much more.

 

Airsoft

 

Airsoft is perhaps the most well-known gun game type. The wargame weapons used in airsoft look and operate similar to real guns, but fire small plastic pellets known as BBs. These pellets are completely harmless, as long as proper face gear is worn to protect the eyes, but will leave a sting depending on how much protective clothing is worn and how powerful the guns are. At War Zone, our airsoft gun game weapons are effective up to a range of about 20 meters, making them perfect for indoor arenas and a wide range of ages. However, some guns are much more powerful and perfect for larger and more spacious outdoor wargame areas.

 

If you’re after a bit of realism as you play with your friends or competitors, airsoft is the way to go. There’s also a huge range of different gun types you can pick from as you play the game, including rifles, pistols, sniper rifles, and many more.

 

Our summary:

• Ages: 12+
• Effective range: 20m (at War Zone)
• Ammunition: BBs

 

Gel blasters

 

If you’ve always wanted to play airsoft but aren’t too sure about the hard plastic pellets, which can be painful for some people and younger kids, then gel blasters are the ideal gun game weapon. Gel blasters are weapons that look and feel the same as many airsoft gun types, but shoot much less painful water-filled or ‘gel’ pellets to make the game hurt less and safer for younger children.

 

In some sense, gel blasters are a mix between the realism of airsoft and the paint-filled pellets of paintball.

 

Our summary:

• Ages: 10+
• Effective range: 15m
• Ammunition: Water BBs

 

 

Archery tag

 

Archery tag, while still very much a wargame, is quite different to the other options commonly found. Instead of a gun, you’ve got a bow and quiver filled with arrows. Archery tag requires a great deal of skill to aim properly as you only have one shot before needing to reload. Knowing this is the same about your foes, however, leads to a different pace of game whereby you can bolt to new areas of cover knowing your enemy can’t fire for another few seconds.

 

Getting hit by an arrow in archery tag feels similar to being hit by a small ball. Again, with some secure face protection archery tag is completely harmless and can be a huge amount of fun for kids and adults alike.

 

Our summary:

 

• Ages: 10+
• Effective range: 10-20m
• Ammunition: Foam-tipped arrows

 

 

Nerf

 

Nerf is the perfect wargame weapon for younger kids who just want to have a bit of fun shooting each other (safely, of course!). Nerf blasters are colorful gun game weapons which shoot foam darts or balls. They don’t hurt at all and are only effective at smaller ranges of around 10 meters.

 

That being said, nerf battles can still be heaps of fun for adults who want to join in on the fun as well. Nerf blasters come in many shapes and forms and have accrued a huge fan base around the world for how fun they are to use.

 

Our summary:

 

• Ages: 4+
• Effective range: 10m
• Ammunition: Foam darts

 

Laser tag

 

Laser tag is a bit of a more unique form of wargame since no physical ammunition is fired. However, the same principles of strategic wargame apply to this mode. In laser tag, all players are required to wear a receiver on their body to register the hits from other players’ guns.

 

Laser tag is completely harmless and lots of fun. However, many players prefer the tactility of shooting real ammunition. Lastly, laser tag is typically only playable in dark arenas to make the lasers more visible.

 

Our summary:

• Ages: 6+
• Effective range: 100m+
• Ammunition: None (laser)

 

Paintball

 

Paintball is the last form of wargame on our list. It’s similar to airsoft in terms of the strategy and strength of the guns, and there’s no chance of cheaters when there is a clear paint splat on their clothing.

 

However, paintball is also a much messier game and the pellets are more expensive, leading some players to be more sparing with them. Not to mention, paintball weapons require a loader on top of the gun to store the pellets, making them appear less realistic to some wargame fans.

 

Our summary:

• Ages: 12+
• Effective range: 20m
• Ammunition: Paint-filled balls

 

Book your day at War Zone today

 

War Zone offers wargame weapons including airsoft, gel blasters, nerf, and archery tag in our realistic indoor arenas here in Hong Kong. Book your team building event, birthday party, or simply a day out with your wargame friends today.

Written by warzonehk