Video Game Knives 

I was asked to write an article about video game knives, and I AM SO READY FOR THIS. All of my training has prepared me for this moment. Today, the nerd in me will rise like a phoenix from the ashes. Let’s break down some video game knives! 

The Role of Knives 

Video game knives are a balancing act between high risk and high reward. They require you to get really close and execute a single attack before you get what’s coming for you. If you’ve got the skill, there is no better assertation of dominance and telling someone they mean NOTHING to you than knifing them in-game and sending them in shame back to spawn. Rinse and repeat for added effect. 

The video game knife is the tool of the sweaty try-hard. If you play with a knife, it tells the world "guns are too easy for me, and I eat noobs for breakfast." People who get knifed are known to controller spike, punch monitors, and commit verbal hate crimes in the chat. Knives are extremely memorable in video games! 

Notable Video Game Knives 

In this section, I’ll break down some iconic knives from popular video games, as well as their real-life counterparts (or at least whatever’s closest to them). Let’s go! 

The Last of Us 

I haven’t played The Last of Us at all, but from what my coworkers say, playing as Ellie in The Last of Us 2 with the knife is some of the most fun you can have with a controller in your hand. Her knife is a large stiletto, just like the mob bosses used in the mid-1900’s. 

Some makers in Italy are still carrying the banner, making the famous switchblades to this day. Unlike most knives on this list, you can get a perfect copy of Ellie’s knife. If you want to embrace your inner post-apocalyptic stealth archer, pick up a stiletto for yourself! 

Call of Duty 

Few moments in all of video games are as memorable and satisfying as the knife throw to defeat Shepherd in Modern Warfare 2. Something about button-mashing to pull a knife out of your own chest, flipping into reverse position, and then throwing it perfectly at the twist villain just does it for you.  

What makes it even cooler is the fact that that knife is based off the real-world Cold Steel GI Tanto. Not only is it a potent tactical blade, but it’s also strangely affordable for how good it is. It’s a must-have for all you Call of Duty fans! 

Team Fortress 2 

When it comes to cartoony shooters, TF2 made the blueprint that gaming icons like Overwatch, Borderlands, and Fortnite all followed. It’s also got some of the most memorable characters in all of gaming. But none gets you more tilted than the cracked Spy main who camps your spawn and trick-stabs you the second you show your ugly face. That, or the paranoid Pyro who burns over the entire map while you play Spy. 

The Spy’s stock knife is a simple butterfly knife, and the conniving Frenchman is pretty decent at flipping. If you’re feeling classy, throw on a suit and pick up a butterfly knife of your own! It might just surprise you with how fun it is! 

The Elder Scrolls 

There are a ton of knives/daggers in these games, but none is more iconic than Mehrune’s Razor. In Oblivion (which is my favorite video game ever, jank and all), its Daedric Banishing feature gives you a chance of insta-kill with every hit, plus a counter telling you how many souls Mehrunes Dagon has claimed through the blade. 

A few years ago, I was posting a new knife at Blade HQ called the Paragon A-2 Fighter. Its wide guard and long dagger blade gave me some serious Mehrune’s Razor vibes. 

Assassin’s Creed 

Few knives are as iconic as the Assassin’s Creed hidden blade. Its blade launches out the front of the frame when the user tilts his wrist back, and snaps back in when he tilts his wrist back again. Whether or not they’re willing to admit it, everyone thinks this blade is the epitome of cool. 

Luckily for you, double-action out-the-front knives exist! They’re every bit as awesome but also can fit in a pocket to save you from the exhaustion and unwanted attention of carrying a giant steel rail system on your arm! 

Read Dead Redemption 

In a game that immerses players so deeply in the wild west, you’d be surprised if you didn’t see a Bowie Knife. This iconic blade does more utility work than any other video game I can think of. It skins animals, processes meat for the stew, crafts stuff, and more. You also can’t lose it, which makes it a reliable fallback in a fight. 

And lucky for you, there’s a world of high-quality Bowie knives out there. Go old-school with something with a wooden handle, or bring it to the 21^st century with modern laminates and fancy sheaths. Choose your own adventure! 

Game On! 

The list of great video game knives is far longer than I can fit into one article. I tried to fit in a mix of genres and settings, but there’s so much I didn’t cover. My invitation to each of you is to spend some quality time with your favorite video game, and then find a knife you can carry with you to bring your virtual adventure to the real world. 

Or, in the immortal words of a gray-bearded sage in an 8-bit cave, "It’s dangerous to go alone! Take this!"