History Main / ExplodingBarrels

* Exploding barrels are common in ''VideoGame/AlienTrilogy''. They are impervious to small arms fire and thus require a Shotgun or stronger to detonate. Their blast radius is deceptively small however so careful timing is required to use them to take out enemies.
* The ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' series. ''VideoGame/DoomII'' had an entire level packed with them named "Barrels O' Fun". As the first FPS to feature exploding barrels, ''Doom'' also bears honorable mention for filling them with something other than implied gasoline. They were filled with ''nuclear waste'' instead... [[MadeOfExplodium that somehow explodes when shot]].
** ''Videogame/{{DRL}}'' keeps them, adding [[HollywoodAcid acid barrels]] and [[LavaPit lava barrels]] to the mix, both of them leaving a pit of their respective liquids after exploding. They also destroy any items that are caught in their explosion, meaning plenty of players utterly despise them.
** They're present in two flavors in ''VideoGame/{{Doom 3}}'': the red ones labeled HIGHLY VOLATILE, that explode instantly when damaged in any way, and the yellow FLAMMABLE ones that catch fire and explode a fair few seconds after if they're shot, but go boom right away if caught in an explosion. They tend to be placed most often in places where demons teleport in, for added fun. ''[[ExpansionPack Resurrection of Evil]]'' introduces the [[WreakingHavok Grabber]], with which you can pick up and throw the barrels for an instant dose of kablooie.
** ''{{WebVideo/Ahoy}}'' decided to email John Romero about why explosive barrels were included in ''Doom''. [[https://youtu.be/LMYEE8lvlvA?t=560 Romero's response?]] "We felt that shooting a barrel full of toxic waste should explode, and that it would be another great way to kill demons, so we made that happen." [[RuleOfFun He wasn't wrong]].
* ''VideoGame/DukeNukem3D'' has explosive barrels in the form of somewhat more realistic explosive gas canisters, as well as less realistic fire-extinguishers.
* ''VideoGame/{{Descent}} 3'' had several different verisons of these somewhat justified in that the series took place in a futuristic mine so it makes sense there would be explosives lying around. The second game used [[SpaceMine mines]] instead and the first didn't have any at all.
* The ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' series. In ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' the Gravity Gun opens up the possiblity of using the exploding barrels as a makeshift impact-fused grenade. The Combine also makes much use of the barrels: Civil Protection's tactic is to light them on fire and roll them down into the canal you're in.
* ''[[VideoGame/GrandTheftAuto Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'' and ''IV''.
** They appear in III and Vice City too.
* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateDarkAlliance'' had gunpowder barrels scattered throughtout a few levels.
* ''VideoGame/LordOfTheRingsTheTwoTowers'' has an entire level with explosives (And Orc suicide bombers!). Moreover, these items will explode when hit by swords or arrows...

* Exploding barrels feature in ''VideoGame/{{Diablo}}''.
* Seeing as he likes to [[BreakingTheFourthWall Break the Fourth Wall]] so much, ''VideoGame/{{Deadpool}}'' mocks this trope in his game. [[SarcasmMode "How convenient,"]] he says, before blowing them up.
* ''VideoGame/BionicCommando: Rearmed'' has a exploding red barrels littered all throughout the stages, which you can use to take out enemies, blow objects at a distance to take out enemies, throw to take out enemies, blow up bridges to both take out enemies and gain access to the areas below them, and on occasion activate puzzles and take out enemies and such.
* ''VideoGame/{{Heretic}}'' has exploding green pod things which can be pushed around. Some are ExplosiveBreeders as well, creating semipermanent barrier/minefields.
* ''VideoGame/{{Bulletstorm}}'s'' developers [[http://www.peoplecanfly.com/blog/2011/01/we-had-to-use-red-barrels/ found that making them]] not red doesn't really work.
* ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}'' has these in Plain Explosive, Fire, Electric, and Corrosive flavors. And as of the sequel, Slag barrels. ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands 2}}'' also gives you the option of driving a Catapult Technical, which is basically a bandit runner with a catapult that flings explosive barrels.
%%* ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank''
%%* ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' -- The Eco barrels.
%%* ''VideoGame/PerfectDark''
* Spoofed in the ''Half-Life 2'' webcomic ''Webcomic/{{Concerned}}''
** Not only does the main character accidentally order 100,000 explosive barrels for the Combine instead of just [[http://www.screencuisine.net/hlcomic/index.php?date=2005-06-24 100]], thus explaining their abundance, but the Combine soldiers are specifically [[http://www.screencuisine.net/hlcomic/index.php?date=2005-10-07 instructed]] to stay near them. [[note]]The author's notes on one of the strips after this even mentioned that he had originally planned on putting the barrels in every single page from that strip forward, though this running gag was forgotten about within that week.[[/note]]
** Several strips later, he uses them to launch his boat over a barrier. Instead of creating a ramp with weighted barrels.
* Played with in [[http://comics.phwonline.info/archive/single/45/ one PHW comic]]. Apparently, people just love shooting [[RedShirt red]] barrels.
* The ''Franchise/JamesBond'' game ''VideoGame/GoldenEye1997'' not only has exploding barrels, but nearly [[DieChairDie every other prop explodes too,]] including such things as office chairs and monitors. Apparently [[MadeOfExplodium C-4 is common building material]]. Only barrels, however, tend to be used for the "please shoot me and blow up a whole squad of enemies!" variety. Not that you can't engineer your own fun with other objects, of course. Future 007 games would use this trope as well.
* The ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry'' series is full of different kinds of barrels, so of course one variety is explosive. Said variety is labeled 'TNT' in bright white letters, has a wick, and [[HairTriggerExplosive explodes when thrown (or, in the original game's case, when put back down)]].
* The Flash animation game ''[[http://www.gamerival.com/index.cfm?play=23E94579&fromint=1 Goldminer]]'' and its semi-sequel ''[[http://gamerival.grab.com/index.cfm?play=C82B78FE&fromint=1&randint=8 Goldminer SE]]'' both have levels where barrels of dynamite are scattered among the gold and jewels for which you are "fishing". Hitting one with your grapple sets it off, destroying not only the barrel but anything too close to it.
* The arcade LightGunGame ''VideoGame/{{Area 51}}'' has brightly-colored jerrycan-like objects which explode when shot, liberally scattered throughout the infested complex.
* ''VideoGame/ElViento'' features some barrels you have to push around and then hit for them to explode and take away lots of enemies with them. Then again, in El Viento almost everything is MadeOfExplodium...
* ''Franchise/ResidentEvil'' has made frequent use of red-colored exploding barrels, and occasionally similar "shoot to harm enemies" objects in the game.
** Exploding barrels were introduced in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis''. Usual use applied -- shoot barrel, make enemies explode in a shower of blood and flying limbs. You could also kill yourself with these although Jill and Carlos were nowhere near as willing to detatch body parts and explode as readily as the undead. Wall-mounted explosive charges can be targeted for the same effect. There are also two obscure variants of this trope that many fans never realized existed: the hanging pallets in the industrial area where the Brainsuckers appear can be shot down to crush whatever is under them, whilst the lamps in the park can be shot to generate sprays of flaming pellets, similar to a fire grenade.
** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' curiously decided that the best location to place almost every explosive barrel found in the game was the military base. They can be found lying everywhere, even in places where shooting them has absolutely no purpose aside from the pyrotechnics. In the Village and Castle areas, colorful glass oil lamps hanging from the ceiling can also be shot down to create short-lived walls of flame that fatally ignite any Ganado that touches them.
** The opening cutscene of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'' features Claire Redfield infiltrating Umbrella HQ and coming into a room chock-full of guards with guns trained on her. She puts her hands above her head, drops her gun...and then dives down, catches the gun before it hits the ground, and shoots the exploding barrels behind the guards. [[RuleOfCool It's pretty awesome]]. She then gets captured anyway, but you can't have everything. Exlosive barrels proceed to show up in the game proper.
** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil5'' also has a type that doesn't explode, but lights the surrounding area on fire. Transformers can also be shot down to electrocute enemies.
** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil6'' sees the classic exploding barrels. Fire extinguishers can also be shot to create smokescreens.
* The levels of ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' are littered with exploding {{crate|Expectations}}s, including ones which would explode if you so much as touch them.
* They're barrel-shaped, at least: all of the wildlife and livestock that appear in the ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' RealTimeStrategy games are explosive if you [[EasterEgg click on them enough times]]. The Frozen Throne expansion added actual explosive barrels which are used in the classic way in some missions. While it seems logical that the dwarves would carry around gunpowder, their placement is more than a little suspicious.
* ''VideoGame/{{Roboblitz}}'' has three levels with these, in which you have to activate the fuel production to power your moon base's gigantic cannon. In the final of the three levels, you have to throw the explosive barrels at the boss to stun him, allowing you to land a hit. It's one of the harder fights, especially once he TurnsRed and starts [[IncendiaryExponent Breathing Fire]], causing the barrels to explode near- instantly.
* In ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'', there's the Barrel Spider heartless, which is [[ActionBomb an animated version]]. The [=PS2=] remake of ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsChainOfMemories'' adds the more conventional type, which can be chucked at enemies in the field in order to stun them (And yourself if you're too close). They reappear in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'' and ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance Dream Drop Distance]]'', where they can be used for a similar purpose.
* The video game ''Tai Fu Wrath of the Tiger'' also has a boss battle with exploding barrels appearing out of thin air. It has no explanation as to why the Rat Pirate loses his invulnerability when slapped upside the head with an exploding keg, or why he can even go invulnerable in the first place.
* Subverted in the [=PS2=] videogame ''VideoGame/ThePunisher''. Certain levels, such as the Chop-Shop, have barrels clearly marked as "Flammable" or "Gasoline" standing around, including a few that happens to be standing right next to entrenched enemies. What happens if you shoot them? Nothing. Realistic, and potentially dangerous, since your gunshot just alerted those entrenched enemies to your position...
* In ''VideoGame/DirgeOfCerberus'', these barrels are all over. In one particularly idiotic case, some friendly soldiers decide, for some reason, to take cover behind one of them. Kaboom.
* Some boxes in ''VideoGame/JadeEmpire'' are trapped to explode, but if your Focus is high enough you can do a cool backflip or a leap backwards to avoid the blast. The evasions are random. Having a high Focus just increases the chance that you'll avoid it. Which makes it ''unnecessarily annoying''.

* The ''VideoGame/CommandAndConquer'' series often uses them, usually in missions that place emphasis on your commando units. Most bizarrely, ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert2 Red Alert 2]]'' had several defence missions where a TooDumbToLive friendly [=NPC=] would add some fluff to your efforts to reinforce the area by heroically placing several of the things next to each of his buildings and parked units.
** In the ''Commander's Challenge'' for ''[[VideoGame/CommandAndConquerRedAlert3 Red Alert 3]]'', there's a challenge map where explosive red barrels keep teleporting into existence, until there's over 600 of them dotting the map, making most of the city a powder keg.
* The ''VideoGame/{{Crusader}}'' games have what you might call a suspicious amount of explosive barrels (and [[StuffBlowingUp explosive everything else]], for that matter). And then you realize [[NoOSHACompliance none of those workplaces are OHSA-compliant]], and it all makes sense...
* ''VideoGame/MassEffect1'' has various kinds of Exploding Barrels: various "containment units" which have various effects that are suspiciously similar to those of grenade upgrades. At least unlike most examples, they need to take a shot or two from a hyper velocity military grade kinetic weapon to explode. ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' doesn't have the containment units, but it ''does'' have (white, not red) explosive crates. And explosive containers which look suspiciously like the containment units from the first game. Using the 'overload' power on either one, will significantly increase the radius and amount of damage they cause, over just shooting them.

* ''VideoGame/DungeonSiege'': If you see a red barrel, chances are shooting it will open up a "secret" room.
* ''VideoGame/DungeonsAndDragonsOnline'': Most quests have crates and barrels that the players can destroy for extra XP, but you have to watch out for barrels marked with little red Xs. When struck they explode causing fire damage to any nearby creatures (enemies or allies), so you generally want to shoot them from a distance instead of whacking them with a melee weapon. A cause of some annoyance if an "ally" shoots one that you happened to be standing next to!
* [[http://www.arminbwagner.com/crates_and_barrels/barrels.html This website]] has a collection of video game barrels.
* Found in the ''VideoGame/CannonFodder'' series of run-and-gun games. Made some sense when you were in the jungle/desert and there were oil barrels lying around for (presumably) fueling vehicles, but less so when they were replaced by exploding ''[[BaaBomb sheep]]'' in the farmland areas.

* ''VideoGame/InfiniteUndiscovery'' for the Xbox 360 has many exploding red barrels in the opening dungeon (complete with Achievement for detonating them all). Given that the setting seems to have no gunpowder (or anything else similarly advanced) and the dungeon in question is a prison, one has to wonder what's in the barrels that would make them blow up.
* ''VideoGame/MetalSlug'' has quite possibly the most blatantly enormous Exploding Barrels of any game ever, and setting them off does some rather impressive damage, such as demolishing entire buildings in chain reactions.
* ''VideoGame/KingdomOfLoathing'' has a variant in the "Barrel Full of Barrels'' zone. There are 36 barrels each day. Most give small items if you click on them. A couple of them, however, randomly explode and damage you for a huge percentage of your hit points.
* Justified in ''VideoGame/DynastyWarriors''. In the various Nanman campaigns, there are usually exploding barrels. But these barrels have actually been placed with the intent to explode, so as to take out flammable enemy troops. This is loosely based off of something that happened in the books.
* ''Webcomic/TheAdventuresOfDrMcNinja'' lampshades this trope in the AltText for [[http://drmcninja.com/page.php?pageNum=41&issue=13 this comic.]]
* ''VideoGame/Left4Dead''

* Tequila encounters lots of explosive barrels during the Tai-O mission in ''{{VideoGame/Stranglehold}}'', first in the form of Golden Kane drug labs (real life drug labs can be quite dangerous, particularly meth labs, as any cop who's had to deal with one can tell you), but later on when Tequila takes the gunner's seat on a chopper, he can blast away at barrels that are all over the place for some massive John Woo style explosions that can blow the crap out of lots of mooks.
* ''VideoGame/MirrorsEdge'' has exploding barrels. Blowing them up is rarely helpful, however, as enemies are almost never anywhere near the things. They pose a much greater risk to ''you'', as enemies love to shoot the barrels when you're near them.
* ''VideoGame/XCom'' uses exploding barrels as fuel storage in your base, exploding gas pumps in urban maps, and a few explosive tank thingies in alien bases. Fun times with Blaster Bombs clearing out aliens in the hanger. Those things have a ''wide'' blast radius.
* ''VideoGame/Disgaea3AbsenceOfJustice'' adds exploding barrels that detonate when thrown.
** Beginning with this game, Thieves are now able to create said barrels on their turn.
* Exploding powder kegs are a common feature in ''VideoGame/Rayman2TheGreatEscape''.
* ''VideoGame/{{Worms}}'' has oil drums that explode and also rain down fiery death. ''VideoGame/{{Worms}}'' has ''[[MadeOfExplodium everything]]'' that explodes.
* ''VideoGame/MonsterHunter'' has exploding rocks. In a volcanic area. Also, the game features several flavours of handy ''portable'' exploding barrels which you can plant just about anywhere.
* In ''VideoGame/RedFactionGuerrilla'', this is {{lampshaded}} in a side-mission. "If the [[TheFederation EDF]] didn't want us shooting their fuel tanks, they wouldn't keep leaving them around, right?"
* In ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'', there are explosive barrels around places where it seems sensible to do so, like on the outer walls of a castle or in a mine. Somewhat unusually for this trope you need fire to trigger them, hitting them with anything else just breaks them.
** Of course, upon entering a room filled with explosive barrel, you'll VERY often have a conveniently placed enemy toss a fire bomb or a fire spell into the room to blow you to smithereens. One of the rare examples where the barrels are an obstacle.
* Believe it or not -- Xbox 360 Magazine actually awarded the exploding barrel their 'Best Friend in a videogame' award, since no matter how little ammo you have left, they will ''always'' clear out the enemy.
* ''[[VideoGame/LegacyOfKain Legacy Of Kain: Blood Omen 2]]'' has a particularly baffling kind of exploding barrels: they explode when a switch ''on the barrel'' is pulled.
* ''VideoGame/MaxPayne''
** The original ''Max Payne'' aims for a degree of realism. It used tanks of acetylene or some other flammable gas instead of barrels, and only putting them on levels where someone might plausibly need welding equipment or a gas cooker. When hit, the tanks react by shooting off a lengthy plume of fire from the valve, much as a gas cylinder might plausibly act if you clipped the valve off with a gunshot... and then [[MadeOfExplodium explode a few seconds later]] for [[RuleOfCool no readily apparent reason]]. Occasionally you'll even find one [[NoOSHACompliance that's not been chained upright]] and has fallen over, ready to be turned into a field-expedient cruise missile for a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome.
** ''VideoGame/MaxPayne2TheFallOfMaxPayne'' includes the classic Exploding Barrels and fuel canisters, which catch fire once shot a few seconds before going kaboom, and also includes ammo boxes which blow upon taking enough damage. Either method is a very nice way of clearing out cleaners or other bad guys.
* ''VideoGame/{{Wet}}'', like a lot of other games, is a proud user of this trope. Rubi often gets the opportunity to shoot up lots of them (as well as lots of bad guys) during the minigun segments of the game. They also appear as a common hazard later on in the game.
* ''[[VideoGame/{{Crackdown}} Crackdown: Pacific City]]'' is full of these, ''everywhere''. In the Keys to the City mode you can make them by the hundreds and make a kind of exploding dominoes.
* In some ''VideoGame/AceCombat'' games there are fuel-containing vehicles or what-not that will take out adjacent targets when destroyed.
* ''VideoGame/BioShock1'' features hundreds of oxygen cylinders and oil drums scattered around Rapture. These can be picked up with Telekinesis (or punted with Sonic Boom) and flung with enough force to rupture them. You can add some proximety mines to them for a little more "''Oomph''".
** ''VideoGame/BioshockInfinite'' has red white and blue barrels filled with fireworks in early levels. The Result of shooting them is a rather spectacular light show that deals deceptively high damage.

* ''VideoGame/{{Scribblenauts}}'' takes this a step further. Yes, you have the exploding barrels. Then you have ''[[BigFreakingGun a gun that shoots out exploding barrels,]]'' [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin aptly named the exploding barrel gun, or EBG.]]

* ''VideoGame/DeadlyPremonition'' also has exploding barrels, although they are grey in color instead of the usual red.
* ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' has both exploding barrels and crates of dynamite (as well as barrels of poison gas). Crates of TNT are so volatile that simply dropping them on the floor from chest height will cause them to explode. And these crates are frequently just left lying around in city environments!
* ''VideoGame/BattlefieldBadCompany 2'' has explosive crates and barrels as well as gas tanks scattered around the maps causing great damage on the destructible scenery (and players) when destroyed. However, for some reason, many players seem to think they are great to hide behind, with predictable results.
** Lampshaded in the campaign, with one of the conversations between Haggard and Sweetwater: "So here we are, in South Americastan or wherever, all SpecOps'd up... and we're still blowin' up barrels." "What would you rather be doing?" "I'm just sayin'... rescuin' hostages, doin' slo-mo weapons kills on terrorists, tellin' people to 'Get off my plane'." "You wanna be Harrison Ford in Film/AirForceOne?" "Don't you?"
* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'':
** ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'' fulfills this trope with its phazon containers. Should a space pirate be standing next to one while Samus destroys it, they will be promptly evaporated.
** The first ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' takes it a step further by having exploding ''plants''.
* {{Lampshade}}d in ''VideoGame/HarryTheHandsomeExecutive'': the instructions state that toxic waste barrels ([[NoOSHACompliance found in your office building]]) explode when hit, "as strictly regulated by game design law."
* ''VideoGame/SonicAdventure'' has these in Twinkle Park. [[MalevolentArchitecture One wonders what exploding barrels, spike balls of varying sizes, and other various dangers are doing in]] a [[AmusementParkOfDoom theme park]]...
* ''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'' single player games have lots of barrels that explode.

* ''VideoGame/{{Odium}}'' has these showing up during many battles. One of the battles takes place near a truck filled with these. One of your teammates even warns you to not use firearms during the battle, lest you blow yourself to kingdom come--though it's not true, as you can shoot at your leisure without anything bad happening; the truck is nothing more than scenery.
* ''Webcomic/TropeOverdosedTheWebcomic'' [[http://tropeoverdosed.pcriot.com/?p=19 has Bob blowing himself up with a collection of these.]]
* ''VideoGame/JetForceGemini'', right there in the tutorial level; though they themselves need no explination.
* Something of a central game mechanic in ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures''. "Fuel barrels" are used to break walls, hold switches and later defeat a boss. This is actually the first item introduced in the game and the only weapon Krystal ever gets a hold of.
* In ''VideoGame/SplitSecond'', Survival mode has you racing around a track while semis drop an endless supply of these.
* In ''[[Franchise/NeedForSpeed Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2]]'', if you attract enough police attention, they'll start sending out helicopter which drop these; if you hit one, it stops your car for a few seconds.
* Normally not present in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' due to technical limitations, kegs of blasting powder were added to the new remake of the Deadmines, which can make nice crowd control devices when detonated properly.

* ''VideoGame/ScarfaceTheWorldIsYours'' has context-sensitive exploding barrels. Play as Tony, who doesn't like hurting the innocent and the barrels will only cause bruises and confusion to civilian bystanders. Play as one of his henchmen? Barrels are fatal.
* Every single ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' game has exploding fuel barrels. Sometimes the placement is logical like at a fuel depot, but most the time they're somewhat random.
** Ditto for ''VideoGame/MedalOfHonor'', and any game using the ID Tech 3 engine. The research facility level in ''Frontline'' has lab vials that explode violently when shot, as well as gas cylinders.
* The first level of ''VideoGame/SoldierOfFortune II'' has an exploding propane tank, although utilizing it will [[TeleportingKeycardSquad cause extra enemies to spawn]]. The first RailShooter level has several more towards the end. In the first game, shooting the backpack tank of a [[GasMaskMooks gas-masked mook]] causes it to explode and light them and passersby on fire.
* Even ''VideoGame/LANoire'' has them in some shooting sequences.
* ''VideoGame/TheBindingOfIsaac'' has wooden barrels in some of the rooms. These will explode when damaged enough.
* In ''VideoGame/OrcsMustDie'', you get to use these as traps after completing the first two levels. You can hurl them at oncoming orcs, or set them and shoot at them with your crossbow to reduce a group of orcs to a shower of LudicrousGibs.
** In the sequel, a wall trap exists which spawns these (on their side and rolling). One upgrade path gives the barrels proximity triggers.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Crysis}}'', they are spread around as expected, and when shot burst into flames and then explodes. But what deserves the mention are a few facts together: the game is highly mod-able, Crytek provides the map editor and the physics engine is very advanced. Cue user created maps filled with kilometer high buildings made of barrels and then set to explode, or a tornado throwing barrels around and then set to explode, the sky's the limit. Just search Website/YouTube.
* ''VideoGame/DCUniverseOnline'' contains three kinds of barrels, all which can be thrown or destroyed on the spot. First is the regular exploding variant. Second is a freezing barrel that creates an icy wind for a few seconds which freezes any enemies that enter it. The frozen enemies can then be picked up and used as weapons. Finally, there are healing barrels, which create a maelstrom of healing energies that will regenerate your HP as long as you stand in it.
* Aside from the bomb birds, ''VideoGame/AngryBirds'' has exploding crates of TNT that increase the damage done if hit just right.
* Appears in the ''VideoGame/{{Commandos}}'' series, where they sometimes have to be used to destroy some objectives. The Green Beret can carry them.
* ''Videogame/TeslaTheWeatherMan'' has specially marked exploding crates that can be used to break certain walls.
* ''Videogame/IronBrigade'' features a mine-layer that deploys a constant stream of explosive barrels. Also present is an artillery cannon that launches explosive barrels and is hand-loaded by a tiny man living in the weapon.

* In the 2013 ''VideoGame/SimCity'', one of the low tech industry buildings is "exploding barrels corp."
* Present in ''VideoGame/BatmanDarkTomorrow,'' though- admittedly- triggering an exploding barrel is pretty much the ''only'' practical use for Batarangs in the game.
* Lampshaded in ''VideoGame/{{Deadpool}},'' where the player can not only operate a machine that generates exploding barrels, but can use the machine so often that the machine's code breaks and the machine disappears, only to appear in a future level for revenge. Also lampshaded in one scene where he uses them to blast through a door, saying, "Explosive barrels, how ''convenient!''" (Seeing as there was really no reason for them to be there.)
* In ''Videogame/JulyAnarchy: Prologue'', exploding barrels are scattered all around the outside areas of the game. This is lampshaded during a dialog, in a late part of the game:
-->I'll just drag over a few of those explosive barrels that inexplicably seem to be everywhere.
* The ''Literature/{{Doom}}'' novels, like the original game, have exploding barrels scattered throughout Phobos and Deimos. Fly learns about them by accident while pinning down by enemy fire, one gets hit and starts a chain reaction that clears the room.
* In the ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'' series, the countless abandoned nuclear-powered cars act like these, exploding with miniature mushroom clouds. In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', the generator room at Nellis Air Force Base is littered with howitzer shells that will go off in a massive explosion if shot, possibly starting a chain reaction killing everyone in the room, AND it is infested with [[ActionBomb exploding giant ants]] that can set them off as well.
* ''VideoGame/FirstEncounterAssaultRecon'' gives us not only barrels, but fuse boxes and fire extinguishers, all of which deal more damage than a frag grenade upon detonation. They're one of the most reliable ways to kill more than one enemy at a time, moreso than even the bombs you can carry. DummiedOut parts of the game, like unused Replica EnemyChatter lines, imply that [[ArtificialBrilliance the AI should have been able to use them against the player]]; fortunately, they never do so on purpose (an enemy grenade may set one off, though).
* The ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' episode "Missing In Action" has a climactic OneManArmy battle waged via conveniently arrayed barrels of volatile fuel.
* Barrels in all but name, Power Generating Units in the ''VideoGame/DarkForcesSaga'' are glowing blue-white pods with a vaguely lantern-like appearance that explode with the power of a concussion rifle blast when damaged. Enemies are inexplicably fond of them and the devs like to hide power ups in clusters of them, encouraging players to shoot every PGU they come across (while a safe distance away, of course). Interestingly, they are fragile enough to explode when punched as well, so don't go blindly swinging around them either.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' added rules for these in the 6th edition. They [[GenreBlind can be used for cover]], but if a model ''passes'' a cover save while hiding behind a barrel, there is a chance of the barrel exploding.
* ''VideoGame/TheAdventuresOfLomax'' takes this to a different level by having walking barrel enemies who [[SuicideAttack explode when you get close]].
* In the ''VideoGame/{{Shantae}}'' series, [[PirateGirl Risky Boots]] loves to pack a lot of Explosive Barrels in her ships to toss at Shantae. This tends to backfire on her since said Exploding Barrels are usually the only way for Shantae to damage those ships.

* ''VideoGame/{{Claw}}'' features barrels filled with gunpowder that the titular pirate can shoot with his pistol, or [[ThrowABarrelAtIt pick up and toss]]; they explode when hitting the ground, [[MadeOfExplodium no matter the height]]. They're a viable alternative when you're low on dynamite.
* In ''VideoGame/StickFight'', a number of stages have large barrels which swell and then violently explode after being shot or struck.
* The Challenger class in ''VideoGame/GrandKingdom'' launches explosive barrels and cases as his main method of attack. He can also set them down on the battlefield to trick enemies in attacking them, or launch himself at an enemy with a barrel in his hand as a form of SuicideAttack.

* ''{{VideoGame/Warframe}}'' features many barrels scattered throughout the missions that will explode and scatter their contents around when destroyed. You can also find large variants of barrels which will usually open a way to a hidden room when destroyed; these must be dealt with from afar as they are a guaranteed OneHitKill.
* ''VideoGame/{{Spelunky}} HD'' features powder boxes that will explode and destroy a good chunk of their surroundings if hit by ''[[HairTriggerExplosive anything]]'', even a blood drop.
* Every barrel in ''VideoGame/HypeTheTimeQuest'' will explode at any sword strike, hurting Hype in the process is he stands too close. And no, none of them contain any actual explosives.
* "Chemfuel" in ''VideoGame/{{Rimworld}}'' might or might not be kept in literal ''barrels'' (the in-game icon is a jerrycan, but containers for fuel and other liquids are abstracted in-game) but it will explode rather violently if hit by enough gunfire or set alight. Leaving it lying around unsecured in a warehouse full of other goods or in a wooden shed next to the generator is the kind of mistake few players make twice.
* ''VideoGame/MadAgeAndThisGuy'': Well, "Exploding Oil Drum" might be more accurate, but if a bomb goes off next to one, it starts swelling, then explodes. Plus, they have a bigger blast radius than bombs do.

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!!In Real Life:

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* Exploding powder kegs are a common feature in ''VideoGame/{{Rayman 2}}: The Great Escape''.

* The ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' series. ''Doom 2'' had an entire level packed with them named "Barrels O' Fun". As the first FPS to feature exploding barrels, ''Doom'' also bears honorable mention for filling them with something other than implied gasoline. They were filled with ''nuclear waste'' instead... [[MadeOfExplodium that somehow explodes when shot]].

** ''{{WebVideo/Ahoy}}'' decided to email John Romero about why explosive barrels were included in ''Doom''. [[https://youtu.be/LMYEE8lvlvA?t=560 Romero's response?]] "We felt that shooting a barrel full of toxic waste should explode, and that it would be another great way to kill demons, so we made that happen."

** ''Videogame/DoomTheRoguelike'' keeps them, adding [[HollywoodAcid acid barrels]] and [[LavaPit lava barrels]] to the mix, both of them leaving a pit of their respective liquids after exploding. They also destroy any items that are caught in their explosion, meaning plenty of players utterly despise them.

* ''Franchise/ResidentEvil''
** Exploding barrels were introduced in ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil3Nemesis''. Usual use applied -- shoot barrel, make enemies explode in a shower of blood and flying limbs. You could also kill yourself with these although Jill and Carlos were nowhere near as willing to detatch body parts and explode as readily as the undead.
** ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil4'' curiously decided that the best location to place almost every explosive barrel found in the game was the military base. They can be found lying everywhere, even in places where shooting them has absolutely no purpose aside from the pyrotechnics.
** The opening cutscene of ''VideoGame/ResidentEvilCodeVeronica'' features Claire Redfield infiltrating Umbrella HQ and coming into a room chock-full of guards with guns trained on her. She puts her hands above her head, drops her gun...and then dives down, catches the gun before it hits the ground, and shoots the exploding barrels behind the guards. [[RuleOfCool It's pretty awesome]]. She then gets captured anyway, but you can't have everything.

->''Snipers on ledges wearin' bulletproof apparel.\\

They must spend a fortune on the fuel bill!''

In some action games and many first-person shooters, explosive barrels or [[CrateExpectations crates]] are present. Generally [[ColorCodedForYourConvenience red]] and marked with some sort of warning, [[HairTriggerExplosive they will explode when shot]] and kill any nearby enemies. They are sometimes located conveniently near a horde of enemies. Sadly, your own AI comrades may decide to take cover behind the barrels too, if they're as dumb as the enemies.

* Even non-industrial games have this. ''VideoGame/BaldursGateDarkAlliance'' had gunpowder barrels scattered throughtout a few levels, and ''VideoGame/LordOfTheRingsTheTwoTowers'' has an entire level with explosives (And Orc suicide bombers!). Moreover, these items will explode when hit by swords or arrows...
* A staple of [[RailShooter Rail Shooters]], such as ''Maximum Impact''.

* The ''Franchise/JamesBond'' game ''[[VideoGame/GoldenEye1997 GoldenEye]]'' not only has exploding barrels, but nearly [[DieChairDie every other prop explodes too,]] including such things as office chairs and monitors. Apparently [[MadeOfExplodium C-4 is common building material]]. Only barrels, however, tend to be used for the "please shoot me and blow up a whole squad of enemies!" variety. Not that you can't engineer your own fun with other objects, of course. Future 007 games would use this trope as well.

* The levels of ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' are littered with exploding [[CrateExpectations crates]], including ones which would explode if you so much as touch them.

* ''Franchise/MassEffect'' has various kinds of Exploding Barrels: various "containment units" which have various effects that are suspiciously similar to those of grenade upgrades. At least unlike most examples, they need to take a shot or two from a hyper velocity military grade kinetic weapon to explode.
** It gets a bit ridiculous, though, when you find Fusion and Cryo cells in the ''civilian structures'' of a colony.
** ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' doesn't have the containment units, but it ''does'' have (white, not red) explosive crates. And explosive containers which look suspiciously like the containment units from the first game. Using the 'overload' power on either one, will significantly increase the radius and amount of damage they cause, over just shooting them.

* ''{{VideoGame/XCOM}}'' uses exploding barrels as fuel storage in your base, exploding gas pumps in urban maps, and a few explosive tank thingies in alien bases. Fun times with Blaster Bombs clearing out aliens in the hanger. Those things have a ''wide'' blast radius.

* In ''VideoGame/{{BioShock|1}}'', there are hundreds of oxygen cylinders and oil drums scattered around Rapture. These can be picked up with Telekinesis (or punted with Sonic Boom) and flung with enough force to rupture them. You can add some proximety mines to them for a little more "''Oomph''".

* ''{{VideoGame/Warframe}}'' usually has the Grineer have several in their tilesets, complete with red barrels. Orokin containers with a red glow will also explode if shot. The Corpus, in contrast, have barrels filled with coolant, and blowing them up will inflict a nasty cold proc onto nearby targets.
** The recent update for Jupiter's new Gas City tileset now has barrels that explode with a nasty toxin. Gas City, indeed.

* ''Series/{{Mythbusters}}'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20ZLefQC_oU took this one on]], citing the scene from ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'' where James Bond shoots a propane tank with his pistol. The team found that they were unable to replicate this with a standard 9mm pistol or even a weapon loaded with tracer rounds. Eventually, they do manage it, but it takes [[GatlingGood a minigun]] [[MoreDakka loaded with]] [[KillItWithFire incendiary rounds]], making it AwesomeButImpractical.

* The game series ''VideoGame/{{Marathon}}'' has a variation of this trope. Some enemies exploded messily when hit by fusion pistol bolts or with enough explosive projectiles. Chain reactions are FUN.

* A unique variation in ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'': the Volcano enemies in Azala's Lair will erupt violently and rain down lava on the ''enemy'' of whoever attacks them. While you can smack them around to defeat the rest of the foes, sometimes the enemy party will attack the Volcano to make it erupt on ''you''.

** ''"Barrel of Laughs: You annihilated 30 enemies using explosive barrels. Isn't it nice how conveniently placed they are?"''

** They are also present in certain areas of the Great Sea in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', where their sole purpose is to be obstacles that has Link fly off The King of Red Lions if not dodged carefully.

* Seeing as he likes to [[BreakingTheFourthWall Break the Fourth Wall]] so much, VideoGame/{{Deadpool}} mocks this Trope in his game. [[SarcasmMode "How convenient,"]] he says, before blowing them up.

* ''VideoGame/{{Heretic}}'' has organic exploding barrels in the form of those exploding green pod things which can be pushed around. Some are ExplosiveBreeders as well, creating semipermanent barrier/minefields.

* The video game ''Tai Fu Wrath of the Tiger'' also has a boss battle with exploding barrels appearing out of thin air. It has no explination as to why the Rat Pirate loses his invulnerability when slapped upside the head with an exploding keg, or why he can even go invulnerable in the first place.

* Played straight in ''VideoGame/DungeonSiege''. If you see a red barrel, chances are shooting it will open up a "secret" room.

* Found in the ''VideoGame/CannonFodder'' series of run-and-gun games. [[JustifiedTrope Made some sense]] when you were in the jungle/desert and there were oil barrels lying around for (presumably) fueling vehicles, but less so when they were replaced by exploding ''[[BaaBomb sheep]]'' in the farmland areas; RuleOfFunny may apply in this case.

** The Flood Carrier Form might qualify as a mobile exploding crate; you can even shoot them to take out nearby enemies.
** ''VideoGame/{{Halo 3}}'' is particularly notable for having them scattered liberally in multiplayer levels; they also respawn. Thanks to a plentiful grenade supply, you WILL get toasted for inadvertently standing too close to them. The sniper position on "Guardian", the shotgun location on "Snowbound", and the ones next to lifts on "Construct"/"Valhalla" come to mind.
* In an uncommon RPG example, ''VideoGame/InfiniteUndiscovery'' for the Xbox 360 has many exploding red barrels in the opening dungeon (complete with Achievement for detonating them all). Given that the setting seems to have no gunpowder (or anything else similarly advanced) and the dungeon in question is a prison, one has to wonder what's in the barrels that would make them blow up.

* ''VideoGame/MirrorsEdge'' plays it straight, but only in a cutscene. When cornered by a group of machine gun toting enemies, Faith grabs a pistol and unloads it into a nearby barrel, which explodes, allowing her to escape.
** Played straight in other parts of the game, as well. Blowing them up is rarely helpful, however, as enemies are almost never anywhere near the things. They pose a much greater risk to ''you'', as enemies love to shoot the barrels when you're near them.

* In ''VideoGame/DemonsSouls'', there are explosive barrels around places where it seems sensible to do so, like on the outer walls of a castle or in a mine. Somewhat unusual for this trope is that you need fire to trigger them, hitting them with anything else just breaks them.

* Believe it or not - Xbox 360 Magazine actually awarded the exploding barrel their 'Best Friend in a videogame' award, since no matter how little ammo you have left, they will ''always'' clear out the enemy.
* ''VideoGame/HypeTheTimeQuest'' is an obvious example of this. The weird thing is the barrels don't have anything explosive in it.

** VideoGame/BioshockInfinite has red white and blue barrels filled with fireworks in early levels. The Result of shooting them is a rather spectacular light show that deals deceptively high damage.

* For some weird reason, ''VideoGame/WillRock'' features several large wooden barrels in ''Ancient Greek Ruins'' scattered around.

* ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' has both exploding barrels and crates of dynamite (as well as barrels of poison gas).
** Crates of TNT are so volatile that simply dropping them on the floor from chest height will cause them to explode. And these crates are frequently just left lying around in city environments!

* Franchise/StarWarsLegends:
** Non-videogame example: ''Literature/StarWarsAllegiance'', some pirates set out exploding barrels and then set them off in an attempt to kill Mara Jade.
** The sequel, ''Literature/ChoicesOfOne'', also features exploding barrels used against Mara Jade; she is in an abandoned mine which still has fuel for vehicles sitting around, and the villains move those.

* ''Series/KaizokuSentaiGokaiger'' uses this in a rare non-videogame instance (and an even rarer live-action television instance) by having [=GokaiGreen=] take out several {{mooks}} in episode 2 by shooting the barrels they're standing near.

* TabletopGame example: ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' added rules for these in the 6th edition. They [[GenreBlind can be used for cover]], but if a model ''passes'' a cover save while hiding behind a barrel, there is a chance of the barrel exploding.

* ''Series/{{Mythbusters}}'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20ZLefQC_oU took this one on]], citing the scene from ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'' where James Bond shoots a propane tank with his pistol. The team found that they were unable to replicate this with a standard 9mm pistol or even a weapon loaded with tracer rounds. Eventually, they do manage it, but it takes [[GatlingGood a minigun]] [[MoreDakka loaded with]] [[KillItWithFire incendiary rounds]], making it AwesomeButImpractical.
* Recently, there has been a series of propane tank explosions in Indonesia, which is troublesome because the cost of burn wound treatment in Indonesia is... unpayable.

* ''VideoGame/RoboBlitz'' has three levels with these, in which you have to activate the fuel production to power your moon base's gigantic cannon. In the final of the three levels, you have to throw the explosive barrels at the boss to stun him, allowing you to land a hit. It's one of the harder fights, especially once he TurnsRed and starts [[IncendiaryExponent Breathing Fire]], causing the barrels to explode near- instantly.

''VideoGame/PhantasyStarOnline2'' has purple containers which explode after being hit a few times. Unlike most examples these give off smoke and glow for a few seconds before exploding giving players a fair warning. They are considerably more hazardous to players than enemies though due to the massive difference in health between player characters and enemies.

* ''VideoGame/Roboblitz'' has three levels with these, in which you have to activate the fuel production to power your moon base's gigantic cannon. In the final of the three levels, you have to throw the explosive barrels at the boss to stun him, allowing you to land a hit. It's one of the harder fights, especially once he TurnsRed and starts [[IncendiaryExponent Breathing Fire]], causing the barrels to explode near- instantly.

* [[VideoGame/Roboblitz]] has three levels with these, in which you have to activate the fuel production to power your moon base's gigantic cannon. In the final of the three levels, you have to throw the explosive barrels at the boss to stun him, allowing you to land a hit. It's one of the harder fights, especially once he TurnsRed and starts [[IncendiaryExponent Breathing Fire]], causing the barrels to explode near- instantly.

* RealLife example: Recently, there has been a series of propane tank explosions in Indonesia, which is troublesome because the cost of burn wound treatment in Indonesia is... unpayable.

* ''Series/{{Mythbusters}}'' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20ZLefQC_oU took this one on]], citing the scene from ''Film/CasinoRoyale2006'' where James Bond shoots a propane tank with his pistol. The team found that they were unable to replicate this with a standard 9mm pistol or even a weapon loaded with tracer rounds. Eventually, they do manage it, but it takes [[GatlingGood a minigun]] [[MoreDakka loaded with]] [[KillItWithFire incendiary rounds]], making it AwesomeButImpractical.

Red containers of death make for easy kills.\\