Summary
- Whips are underrated weapons with unique gameplay opportunities and a satisfying crack sound.
- Games like Darksiders 3, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, and Dead Cells feature whips as iconic weapons.
- The history and legacy of the whip in games like Indiana Jones, Castlevania, and Elden Ring are influential and beloved.
Whips are usually the last thing that comes to mind when talking about weapons (ranking just above boomerangs). They rarely show up outside of some cough cough kink-ridden scenarios, but when they do, their presence can be surprisingly powerful.
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Not only do whips offer unique gameplay opportunities by striking a balance between long-range and close-quarters combat, but there’s also no denying the intensely satisfying, sound-barrier-breaking crack they produce. Let’s not forget that whips were the weapon of choice for Indiana Jones, and a man with that much swagger surely knows the most stylish method of delivering a beating. Thankfully, these games got the memo and followed suit, allowing their players to wield whips to great effect.
10 Darksiders 3
Miracle Whip
Darksiders 3
- Released
- November 27, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
For the third installment in the Darksiders series, Gunfire Games introduced fresh mechanics to shake up the formula. One standout addition was the whip. It was so iconic that it even earned a place on the game’s cover.
Wielded by Fury, one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, the whip became her signature weapon as she set out to vanquish the physical embodiments of the Seven Deadly Sins. However, players weren’t limited to just the whip in Darksiders 3—Fury’s arsenal also included swords, flails, daggers, and a touch of magic, but the whip was definitely the highlight.
9 La-Mulana
The Indie Version Of Indy
La-Mulana
- Released
- June 27, 2005
WHERE TO PLAY
Indiana Jones is like the J.R.R. Tolkien of whips. If developers include a whip in their game, they have to reference him or go out of their way to set themselves apart. Or they can just do what GR3 Project did with La-Mulana and make a loving bootleg version of Indy without any attempts to change a thing. Well, except for the name.
Despite all this, La-Mulana is a whip-cracking good time, offering challenging platforming and a heartfelt tribute to classic MSX games. It was even beloved enough to warrant both a sequel and a full-blown remake.
8 Bloodstained: Ritual Of The Night
2.5D-Style Whipping
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
- Released
- June 18, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Metroidvania, Side-scroller
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is an unabashed spiritual successor to Castlevania, and if a game is following in the footsteps of such a legendary franchise, it had better bring a whip. Otherwise, what’s the point?
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Indie studio ArtPlay understood this perfectly. Their 2019 Metroidvania-inspired hit lets players wield whips—along with an arsenal of other weapons—to battle monsters and demons. Set in 18th-century England during the Industrial Revolution, the game tasks players with stopping a dark force before it makes the country even more dark and miserable (sorry, England).
7 Bloodborne
Part Walking Stick, Part Serrated Whip
Bloodborne
- Released
- March 24, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Wait, there’s a whip in Bloodborne? Yes, but chances are, many players never gave it a second glance. That’s because it’s disguised as the very dapper “Threaded Cane,” the weakest of the game’s three starting weapons. For a game as brutally difficult as Bloodborne, who can blame players for choosing the path of least resistance?
However, beginner players shouldn’t shrug this choice off. With its incredible reach, ability to hit multiple enemies, and sheer speed, the Threaded Cane is a solid choice for anyone taking on the eldritch horrors of Yharnam.
6 Vampire Survivors
Antonio Belpaese’s Weapon Of Choice
Vampire Survivors
- Released
- December 17, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike
Combine an addictive roguelike with a dopamine-fueled shoot ‘em up, and the result is the sleeper hit Vampire Survivors. For players just picking up this game, the first weapon they’ll be dealt is none other than a whip.
It’s a solid starting choice, simple to use, with decent reach and respectable damage. However, as the horde grows and the chaos ramps up, players may want to swap it out for something a bit more devastating, such as magical projectiles or rapid-fire weapons.
5 Dead Cells
Whipping Up A Solid Roguelike Metroidvania
Dead Cells
- Released
- August 7, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike
It seems Metroidvania games have a soft spot for whips, and honestly, it makes perfect sense. One of the finest examples of this trend is Dead Cells, a roguelike masterpiece that blends fluid gameplay, ever-changing levels, and the dreaded yet exhilarating permadeath mechanic.
When it comes to whips, Dead Cells offers plenty of choices. The most iconic is Valmont’s Whip, a name that sounds suspiciously close to Castlevania’s Belmont heroes. However, the real standout is the Whip Sword, which masterfully combines the bonking power of a sword with the long-range finesse of a whip.
4 Spelunky
Climbing Ropes And Whipping Tropes
Spelunky
- Released
- October 21, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Platformer
The godfather of roguelites and one of the best platformers of all time, Spelunky is yet another title on this list that wears its influences on its bomber jacket sleeve. Except this time, Indy is spelunking sideways through procedurally generated tunnels.
The whip in Spelunky isn’t just for show; it’s an essential tool for fending off enemies, deflecting objects, and cracking open treasures. With a trusty whip in hand, rescuing damsels and exploring the unknown becomes child’s play. Scratch that; it's probably not a good idea to give children whips.
3 Indiana Jones And The Great Circle
Multi-Purpose Tool
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- Released
- December 9, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
When Bethesda first unveiled its Indiana Jones game, some fans were skeptical about its first-person perspective. Fortunately, those concerns were quickly put to rest. What fans got with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is, without a doubt, one of the best Indiana Jones games in the franchise’s 40+ year history.
Of course, no Indiana Jones adventure would be complete without his signature whip, but in this case, Indy's signature weapon isn’t just for cracking at Nazis. It’s a multi-purpose tool for swinging through levels like Spider-Man and solving intricate puzzles. Think of it as a Swiss Army whip.
2 Elden Ring
Now Watch Me Whip
Elden Ring
- Released
- February 25, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Elden Ring is overflowing with weapons. We could count them (and someone definitely has), but take our word for it: there’s a lot. So, naturally, with that many options to choose from, the game was bound to include a solid selection of whips.
Whether crafted from candlesticks, braids of giant's hair, or even teeth, FromSoftware put serious thought into these unique weapons. They’re particularly suited for Dexterity-focused builds, but for those craving a truly chaotic playthrough, dual-wielding whips is an absolute blast and is wholeheartedly recommended. As a bonus fact, all three Dark Souls games let players use whips, but they don't have the same "oomph."
1 Castlevania: Symphony Of The Night
A Whip Lovingly Handed Down From Generation To Generation
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
- Released
- October 2, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Animated Blood and Gore, Animated Violence
- Genre(s)
- Metroidvania, Action RPG
The Belmont clan sure loves a good whip. In fact, their weapon of choice, the legendary “Vampire Killer,” has been a vampire-slaying staple for generations. Add a Morning Star to the mix, and the result is the quintessential Castlevania tool. So when Simon Belmont joined the Super Smash Bros. Roster, it was only fitting that he brought his iconic whip along for the fight.
If there’s one Castlevania game that truly honors the whip’s legacy, it’s Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. Even though this classic shifted away from a whip-wielding protagonist, the “Vampire Killer” still makes a well-earned appearance in one of the greatest action RPGs of all time.
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