If there’s one thing gamers adore more than playing their favorite titles, it’s engaging in heated debates online about gameplay. Occasionally, a question arises that has such a clear answer that it barely invites argument. Like, of course, Doom 2’s Super Shotgun reigns supreme as the greatest FPS weapon of all time. Even the legendary John Romero, who helped design Doom, isn’t shy about admitting this.
This past weekend, the Twitter account of the revived Apogee Entertainment brand tossed out a simple question: “What’s the most satisfying weapon in gaming history?” Given the account’s heritage, it’s no surprise that many of the responses highlighted classic FPS weapons. Fans mentioned iconic tools like Half-Life 2’s Gravity Gun, Doom’s BFG, and the Quake railgun.
But one weapon, with its dual barrels of sheer devastation, consistently emerged: the Super Shotgun. Romero echoed this sentiment in the most straightforward way: “Super Shotgun.” As pointed out by our colleagues at PC Gamer, this beloved Doom 2 weapon probably serves as the closest thing we have to an unbiased choice for this accolade. It’s iconic, powerful, and has been part of FPS history since nearly the beginning. Sure, you might have your personal favorites, but how do you argue against the supremacy of the Super Shotgun?
Of course, Romero could have been credited as the “System Shock designer,” but he got the chance to co-found id Software “just a week before” another opportunity with what ultimately became Looking Glass.
On another note, there are “a lot of companies” eager to revive Romero’s new FPS project, which Microsoft allegedly pulled funding for. As he quipped, “If you move and start working with somebody else, they get $50 million for free.”
Doom: The Dark Ages update 2 has been revealed and looks like a significant improvement overall, introducing a horde mode and slow-motion toggle, among other enhancements. Romero declared, “This ain’t an update… This be a BUFFET!!!”
It feels a bit self-serving for Romero to name a weapon from his own game as the top choice, but let’s be honest—he’s spot on. He’s been vocal about this very topic before, stating in response to a similar inquiry in 2023 that the Super Shotgun is the “most iconic weapon in gaming.” He even took the time to correct a fan with misguided opinions about other weapons by asserting, “the Super Shotgun is the GOAT.” At this point, it seems futile to argue with a legend.
For more on the genre, check out our roundup of the best FPS games you can dive into today.