History Main / ExplodingBarrels

-->--'''Music/MiracleOfSound''', ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALd0ILisKvI Shooter Guy]]''

* Red explosive barrels can be summoned with a spawner arm in ''VideoGame/{{ULTRAKILL}}''. They do not appear in the game naturally.

* ''VideoGame/PirateHunter'' contains gunpowder barrels in several levels, on the deck of pirate ships, which explodes after a few hits doing massive damage to anyone within their blast radius. There are even barrels with skulls and crossbones painted on them, where getting caught in it's blast leads to a OneHitKO.

* ''VideoGame/BloodOmen2LegacyOfKain'' has a particularly baffling kind of exploding barrels: they explode when a switch ''on the barrel'' is pulled.

* ''VideoGame/BaldursGateDarkAlliance'' had gunpowder barrels scattered throughtout a few levels.

* ''VideoGame/LegacyOfKainBloodOmen2'' has a particularly baffling kind of exploding barrels: they explode when a switch ''on the barrel'' is pulled.

** 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/{{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/SystemShock'' has radiation and bio-hazard safty barrels that can be exploded.

** 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.

* The levels of ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' are littered with exploding {{crate|Expectations}}s, including ones which would explode if you so much as touch them.
* 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)]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Gift|2001}}'': With TNT sign on them. They can be exploded via burning gunpowder.

* Exploding powder kegs are a common feature in ''VideoGame/Rayman2TheGreatEscape''.

* The video game ''VideoGame/TaiFuWrathOfTheTiger'' 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.

* ''VideoGame/MetaloidOrigin'': The game is full of red barrels that will explode if shot.

*** The bomb flowers (what you use to blow stuff up before you get your own bombs) are especially a barrel-like hazard. If struck, they go boom and don't take ''nearly'' as long to do so as when you pluck one and place it near a big rock in your way (they actually have a longer time limit than your own bombs). In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks''m they blow up the ''instant'' they're struck, no delayed reaction.

* 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]].

* 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.)
* {{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."

* Present in ''VideoGame/BatmanDarkTomorrow,'' though- admittedly- triggering an exploding barrel is pretty much the ''only'' practical use for Batarangs in the game.

* 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.
* Even ''VideoGame/LANoire'' has them in some shooting sequences.
* ''[[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.

** Exploding Barrels appear in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess'', where they assisted in taking out enemies in a Western sequence.
** They are also present in certain areas of the Great Sea in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', where their sole purpose is to be obstacles that make Link fly off the King of Red Lions if not dodged carefully.
** There is a type of bomb in ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaMajorasMask'' that is just a Barrel filled with gunpowder. You can wait for its fuse to run down, or just shoot it with a bow. Also bomb flowers, bombchu and bomblings take the place of barrels in many games.
** The bomb flowers (what you use to blow stuff up before you get your own bombs) are especially a barrel-like hazard in ''The Wind Waker,'' where if struck, they go boom and don't take ''nearly'' as long to do so as when you pluck one and place it near a big rock in your way (they actually have a longer time limit than your own bombs.) In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaPhantomHourglass'' and ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaSpiritTracks,'' they blow up the ''instant'' they're struck, no delayed reaction.
** ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaBreathOfTheWild'' frequently has explosive barrels around enemy camps. By sneakily repositioning these and detonating them with Fire Arrows or Bomb Arrows, Link can take out all the monsters without them ever detecting him.

** The first ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' takes it a step further by having exploding ''plants''.

* 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.

* Stuart Brown, aka ''{{WebVideo/Ahoy}}'' ended up doing [[https://youtu.be/LMYEE8lvlvA an entire video on explosive barrels]]. He mainly points to the original ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' as the main reason why this trope is so prominent, though he tries to find the ur examples, though he couldn't find a ''definitive'' inspiration for them, only a definitive first game for the prominent use of barrels in general, that being the original VideoGame/DonkeyKong. He considers ''Doom'' to be the primary trope maker, as it was ''the'' main reason why so many games after it started using the trope.

In RealLife, storing explosives requires special permits, separation of batches and so forth to prevent [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEPCON_disaster "Pepcon"]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AZF_(factory) AZF]] type explosions. Video game environments are [[NoOSHACompliance not required to comply with such regulations]]. Furthermore, usually one would actually have to go out of their way to make a barrel's contents so volatile as to explode from getting shot. But even on the rare occasion where you've got a material on your hands that's ''already'' that volatile to begin with, 1)it'd be stored far more securely than in random barrels strewn haphazardly (emphasis on hazard) out in the open, and 2) nobody with a gun would be allowed to get anywhere near it to begin with.

* ''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.

* 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 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.

In RealLife, storing explosives requires special permits, separation of batches and so forth to prevent [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEPCON_disaster "Pepcon"]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AZF_(factory) AZF]] type explosions. Video game environments are [[NoOSHACompliance not required to comply with such regulations]]. Furthermore, usually one would actually have to go out of their way to make a barrel's contents so volatile as to explode form getting shot. But even on the rare occasion where you've got a material on your hands that's ''already'' that volatile to begin with, 1)it'd be stored far more securely than in random barrels strewn haphazardly (emphasis on hazard) out in the open, and 2) nobody with a gun would be allowed to get anywhere near it to begin with.

In RealLife, storing explosives requires special permits, separation of batches and so forth to prevent [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PEPCON_disaster "Pepcon"]] and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AZF_(factory) AZF]] type explosions. Video game environments are [[NoOSHACompliance not required to comply with such regulations]].

* In ''VideoGame/SplitSecond'', Survival mode has you racing around a track while semis drop an endless supply of these.

[[caption-width-right:350:Those were clearly filled with [[MadeOfExplodium toxic explodium]].]]

* In ''[[VideoGame/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.