History Main / SightedGunsAreLowTech

Therefore, fictional guns don't bother with gun sights of any kind, since [[NoScope nobody really uses them anyways]]. A HandWave common in SF settings is that some sort of {{HUD}} allows the shooter to aim without actually lining up a bead. A variation of this is when modern weapons that normally ''do'' have iron sights excise those because of an attached optic of some variety, like a scope. While this can be TruthInTelevision (some dedicated sniper weapons only have a scope with no iron sights underneath), it's not ''nearly'' as common as media would have you believe; the vast majority of weapons keep their normal iron sights, even with scopes and the like attached, [[CrazyPrepared just to be ready if something knocks that optic out of commission]].

** Played straight with the E-5 blaster rifle that was standard-issue for the Separatists' battle droids in the prequel trilogy. This gun was intended solely for use by robots that have their own built-in targeting systems, so the fact that humans or other biological life forms would be unable to do any kind of precision aiming if they picked one up was irrelevant. Though the droid army was built on the cheap, so [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy their targeting sensors weren't very good]]. Notably, the more advanced [[EliteMooks BX commando droids]] introduced in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' use the exact same rifles but are far more lethal.

* Franchise/RoboCop's [[MoreDakka super-charged]] Beretta has iron sights, but due to his cyborg nature he never actually uses or even needs them.

* ''Series/{{Babylon 5}}''[='=]s PPG, the laser pistol carried by Earth forces, has what appears to be a front sight but seems to lack rear sights.

* ''VideoGame/{{Battlefield}}'' played this straight with ''Battlefield 1942'' and ''Vietnam'', where anything without a scope just had a generic zoom mode. Averted for most weapons from ''Battlefield 2'' onwards (which had one interesting variation where the front sight of the USMC Spec Ops' M4 would disappear when looking through the attached red dot sight).

* In an inversion, the earliest firearms didn't have sights of any kind. Early hand cannons did not have shoulder stocks, so could only be fired by holding the weapon under your shoulder and hoping you are aiming at what you are shooting. Even after the invention of shoulder stocks, muskets generally just had a tiny piece of metal at the end of barrel to indicate aim, and most flintlock pistols had no such aiming assistance. To be fair, at the range a ironsight would be helpful, the flintlock pistol was unlikely to hit its target anyway.

* In an inversion, the earliest firearms didn't have sights of any kind. Early hand cannons did not have shoulder stocks, so could only be fired by holding the weapon at your side by your stomach and making a guess for your aim. Even after the invention of shoulder stocks, muskets generally just had a tiny piece of metal at the end of barrel to indicate aim, and most flintlock pistols had no such aiming assistance. To be fair, at the range a ironsight would be helpful, the flintlock pistol was unlikely to hit its target anyway.

[[folder: Comic Books]]
* The Lawgiver from ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' at first glance appears to have no sights. Turns out that the lens on the rear is a "Fast Focus" scope down either the line of the barrel on the Mk 1 or, [[DependingOnTheArtist sometimes]], another lens beneath the barrel on the Mk 2. [[VoodooShark Not that this would work in reality]], since there'd be a bullet, firing pin, the magazine, and all other sorts of goodies in the way, but [[RuleOfCool it doesn't really need to]].

** Played straight with the E-5 blaster rifle that was standard-issue for the Separatists' battle droids in the prequel trilogy. This gun was intended solely for use by robots that have their own built-in targeting systems, and the fact that humans or other biological life forms would be unable to do any kind of precision aiming if they picked one up was irrelevant. Though the droid army was built on the cheap, so [[ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy their targeting sensors weren't very good]]. Notably, the more advanced [[EliteMooks BX commando droids]] introduced in ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' use the exact same rifles but are far more lethal.

* ''Series/{{Babylon 5}}'s PPG, the laser pistol carried by Earth forces, has what appears to be a front sight but seems to lack rear sights.

*** Bear in mind that both Space Marines and their Chaotic counterparts have the option to directly link their weapon with their helmet optics. Of course, with a heavy bolter, [[MoreDakka not much aiming is required in the first place]]...

* The Tavor TAR-21 CoolGuns/{{assault rifle|s}} was actually initially designed without ironsights, instead meant solely for use with the ITL MARS red dot sight. The production version does have regular ironsights, but there's still hints that it was meant to use the MARS, such as the fact that the battery for that sight is within the body of the rifle, rather than the sight.

** Focus on scopes over ironsights isn't limited to bullpups, either. Heckler & Koch put out special-forces versions of their [=HK13=] and [=HK23=] machine guns, the [=GR6 and GR9=], which had no provisions for the improved G3-style sights the originals used but instead had a 4x scope permanently mounted. Most variations of the later G36 also use optics integrated into the carry handle, a red dot on top and a higher-magnification scope below for their own military and export versions with just the lower scope. That said, the more famous [=G36C=] version uses a lower-profile handle with a rail and sights on top, which can also be attached to any of the other variations (and are, on some export variants).

** ''Videogame/Doom2016'' averts this with the Heavy Assault Rifle and Gauss Cannon can be upgraded with sights, and sighted gun fire increases damage for the former and able to be charged and induce chain reaction explosion for the latter.

* Averted in ''VideoGame/PerfectDark Zero''. Although Joanna will almost never actually directly looks down them when zooming unless the weapon has a scope or reflex sight of some form, ''every'' weapon has sights of some variety - even the plasma rifle that almost any other game would have never bothered putting sights on ''because'' it's a plasma rifle, thanks to being more or less a direct copy of the real-life FAMAS assault rifle.

** As a general rule, low tech guns (revolvers, small automatic pistols, simple rifles, and the classic plasma defender, for example) have good iron sights, but the high tech weapons like the high-end autopistols and nearly all energy weapons lack them unless you add a scope on your own. Generally the low end weapons seem to be designed to work well, and the high end weapons seem designed to look cool. ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'''s hunting rifle has no iron sights at all (which is funny, given that in every other game you can attach a scope to the hunting rifle) but it's strangely one of the more accurate long-range guns in the game. Given that you can only aim so well with the crosshairs anyway at long-range, you may or may not be using V.A.T.S. to help you. {{Game Mod}}s specialized in iron sight aiming exist, however, and add sights to all unsighted guns in addition to correcting crappily-designed ones like the 10mm pistol's (which has a tall front sight that does not align at all with the low rear ones).

** ''F.E.A.R. 2'' for the most part went away from this due to changing the zoom mode into a proper ironsights mode, but still has a few oddities. One of the most bizarre ''aversions'', however, is the Seegert [=ACM46=] pistol, a [[AKA47 renamed USP]] with ''two'' sets of iron sights... one of which is set on a rail system that blocks the other set, and which no one to this day has figured out how to use properly (if you look, you'll see the aim mode doesn't even line up ''either'' set of sights with where the crosshair would center, instead shoving the model a little ways below and forcing you to aim a few inches below your target). Other oddities include the [=Ultra92=] shotgun only having a front sight, a small handful of other ballistic weapons not having proper ironsights because they have some variety of powered optic like the [=PK470=] assault rifle with its red dot scope[[note]]There were initially two versions of the weapon, one of which had ironsights instead of the scope, though the final game dumped that version.[[/note]] and the Hammerhead with its reflex sight, and heavy or energy weapons (except for the scoped Type-12 {{BFG}} and [=SR5=] missile launcher) still following this trope to the letter. The FL-3 laser weapon at least has a LaserSight alongside the actual laser, but that one has [[DepthPerplexion the added confusion of not actually aiming towards your crosshair past a certain distance]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Blood}}'' plays this almost absurdly straight. The only gun in the game with a visible set of full ironsights is the Tommy Gun - so, naturally, as the analogue to the classic ''Doom'' chaingun, it's among the least-accurate weapons in the game even without the SecondaryFire that sweeps it in a wide arc to shoot at everything that happens to be on-screen at the time. The flare gun is perfectly accurate despite only having a rear sight, and the SawedOffShotgun is also pretty good at surprising ranges (at least with primary, single-barrel shots) ''without'' any sights at all. None of the sci-fi type weapons have sights either, nor do the magical weapons since they're not even really guns (a voodoo doll that targets whoever's in front of you and a skull on a stick that shoots magic fire which [[LifeDrain drains their life to heal you]]). ''Blood II'' gets even worse about this - most ballistic weapons like the pistol or the assault rifle all have sights of some variety (the only one that doesn't is the vulcan cannon, which compensates via MoreDakka), though it doesn't stop the ones that aren't the SniperRifle from firing in a fixed cone where even the first round is likely not to hit dead center of your aim. Meanwhile, energy and heavy weapons like the Napalm Cannon or the Death Ray are entirely sightless, but are accurate on par with that sniper rifle. Interestingly, the new version of the Tesla Cannon, which as a non-bullet-firing weapon is also perfectly accurate (so long as you can deal with the {{Painfully Slow Projectile}}s) does have a scope attached - not that anyone uses it.

** Focus on scopes over ironsights isn't limited to bullpups, either. Heckler & Koch put out special-forces versions of their [=HK13=] and [=HK23=] machine guns, the [=GR6 and GR9=], which had no provisions for the improved G3-style sights the originals used but instead had a 4x scope permanently mounted.

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' generally averts this, being the TropeCodifier for the need to aim down the sights of a weapon to get it to shoot straight, but starting with the attachment system in ''[[VideoGame/ModernWarfare Call of Duty 4]]'', the series has been playing the caveat about ditching regular ironsights in favor of optics painfully straight - even for weapons whose sights are required for them to work properly (for instance, the M16 and M4's front sight acting as the gas block for its direct-impingement gas system), the instant you put a red dot sight or ACOG on it, the ironsights are gone entirely. This comes to a head in ''Modern Warfare 2'' after an EMP strike renders powered aftermarket sights useless, forcing the player to either scrounge up the one M4 they can find with just ironsights or shift through various dropped weapons and try to aim their sights without the targeting reticule.[[note]]A real EMP wouldn't do anything to knock out optics at all, let alone for any meaningful period of time, because [=EMPs=] really only destroy more delicate electronics like transistors. Red dot sights are simple devices powered by batteries. ACOG sights don't need electricity at all; they use radioactive decay of tritium to provide illumination at night. Holographic sights might have some issues because they use laser diodes.[[/note]] This does, however, illustrate a rather troubling fact that the American military has a potentially crippling dependence upon fancy gadgets and electronic equipment, though only by accident since outside of the aforementioned single scopeless M4, ''none'' of the weapons dropped in that section, even by enemies, go with regular ironsights.

** In an odd aversion, one campaign level of ''Call of Duty: World at War'' has an easter egg Ray Gun from VideoGame/NaziZombies. Said gun has a reflex sight, unlike the rest of the game's guns which are all from UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, making it noticeably easier to aim than any other gun in the game. Multiplayer does allow for the addition of telescopic sights for the automatic weapons and scopes for the rifles; otherwise, you'll be using the default iron sights.

** ''VideoGame/Battlefield4'' interestingly allows one to play to both extremes. You can unlock not only optical attachments like red dot or holographic sights, scopes of varying powers (from 2x with a red dot and magnifier behind it, up to 20x on some weapons), and even upgraded iron sights for guns that otherwise don't get those optics, like more open and visible ghost-ring sights. Then you play the third mission in the campaign and pick up the collectible SPAS-12, and for some reason it is missing sights entirely - fortunately, between it being a shotgun and the cramped quarters of most of the level, you can make do without them.

** One amusingly frequent attempt at an aversion when it comes to video games revolves around the French FAMAS rifle. The weapon is one of the few bullpups from its era that does come with integrated ironsights, but they're shrouded along the top of the large carry handle and essentially only able to be seen when you're actually aiming down them. Most video game developers, as such, come to the conclusion that either A) the real FAMAS does not have ironsights, or B) just assume they would be too difficult for most gamers to work with, and will shove rails on top of the carry handle (their attachment point completely blocking the existing ones in the latter cases) and then place aftermarket sights on that.

* Excluding the scoped version used by Private Watkins and the Mk II variant with a front post briefly shown near the end of the film, the Morita assault rifles in TheFilmOfTheBook ''Film/StarshipTroopers'' lack sights of any kind. Combined with [[ArtisticLicenseGunSafety a complete lack of any sort of safety protocols at the firing range]], this is [[http://www.imfdb.org/wiki/Starship_Troopers#The_Completely_Unsafe_Live_Firing_Exercise taken to its logical conclusion]] when the recruits are training with live ammo.

* ''Franchise/StarTrek'' phasers have no sights at all. The official HandWave is that don't actually ''need'' sights: all the one-handed phasers are designed specifically to be point and shoot, where your index finger points if it were extended would be where you shoot. In practice, actors had so much trouble aiming their guns (so that the effects team could add in the beams coming straight out of the weapons and still hit the target) that the weapons were redesigned with gun sights for ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]''.

** [[http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/sidearmenergy.php#id--Lasers--Targeting The phasers have scopes.]]

** Likewise, the [[RedShirtArmy Imperial Guard's]] [[FrickinLaserBeams lasguns]] have sights (and sometimes bayonets)- and so do the rifles of the highly advanced Eldar and Tau. Figures that the setting that [[UsedFuture deliberately goes for outdated designs]] would get something right that nearly all settings don't.

** This is actually averted with almost all other human projectile weapons, which either have a scope or recognizable iron sights. The other major exception is the pistol, which has a special sighting system that is [[DiegeticInterface connected to the user's helmet]]. With it they can zoom in on targets digitally and pinpoint their shots. Even the alien-designed Brute Spiker has iron sights, at least in ''VideoGame/HaloReach''. Even some of the [[{{Precursors}} Forerunner]] guns have sights.

** Partially [[HandWave handwavable]] since all characters controlled by the player in the games [[note]]and thus presumably all Spartans, [=ODSTs=], and Elites, and implicitly Brutes and regular human troops as well[[/note]] have targeting systems independent of the weapons. This doesn't explain how everyone else aims with sightless weapons, though in the case of the Covenant, it might just be a case of preventing their SlaveMooks from becoming too rebellious and/or their typical religious dogma being an obstacle to sound weapon design.

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' generally averts this, being the TropeCodifier for the need to aim down the sights of a weapon to get it to shoot straight, but starting with the attachment system in ''[[VideoGame/ModernWarfare Call of Duty 4]]'', the series has been playing the caveat about ditching regular ironsights in favor of optics painfully straight - even for weapons whose sights are required for them to work properly (for instance, the M16 and M4's front sight acting as the gas block for its direct-impingement gas system), the instant you put a red dot sight or ACOG on it, the ironsights are gone entirely. This comes to a head in ''Modern Warfare 2'' after an EMP strike renders powered aftermarket sights useless, forcing the player to either scrounge up the one M4 they can find with just ironsights or shift through various dropped weapons and try to aim their sights without the targeting reticule.[[note]]A real EMP wouldn't do anything to knock out optics at all, let alone for any meaningful period of time, because [=EMPs=] really only destroy more delicate electronics like transistors. Red dot sights are simple devices powered by batteries. ACOG sights don't need electricity at all; they use radioactive decay of tritium to provide illumination at night. Holographic sights might have some issues because they use laser diodes.[[/note]] This does, however, illustrate a rather troubling fact that the American military has a potentially crippling dependence upon fancy gadgets and electronic equipment, though the point is kind of rendered moot when none of the enemy weapons go with regular ironsights in this portion either.

** In an odd aversion, one campaign level of ''Call of Duty: World at War'' has an easter egg Ray Gun from VideoGame/NaziZombies. Said gun has a reflex sight, unlike the rest of the game's guns which are all from UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, making it noticeably easier to aim than any other gun in the game. Multiplayer does allow for the addition of telescopic sights for the automatic weapons and scopes for the rifles, otherwise, you'll be using the default iron sights.

** The later ''VideoGame/{{ARMA}}'' games take this further, with different weapons available with different sets of optics. ''ARMA II: Operation Arrowhead'' in particular gives the player the ability to zero in long-range optics to compensate for bullet drop or sight along backup iron sights above them for close-range or night-time shooting, while ''ARMA III'' lets you carry extra optics for your weapon and switch them on the fly, almost all options either able to be zeroed or having markings to determine where the shot will land at certain distances.

** ''F.3.A.R.'' averts this further for the ballistic weapons. While the shotgun only has a generic zoom mode because [[ShortRangeShotgun even shots from a foot away aren't a guaranteed instant kill]], ''every'' regular gun has iron sights - even that shotgun that doesn't need them, even those with other optics attached like the Briggs SMG and [=G3A3=] burst-fire rifle (the only exception is the sniper rifle, and even then it still has a visible rear sight and backups built into the top of the scope), even the [[GunsAkimbo dual machine pistols]] you ''can't'' properly aim with. Energy weapons still play this straight, however, complete with generic zooms even for the few of them that look like they do have sights.

** One amusingly frequent attempt at an aversion when it comes to video games revolves around the French FAMAS rifle. The weapon is one of the few bullpups from its era that does come with integrated ironsights, but they're shrouded along the top of the large carry handle and essentially only able to be seen when you're actually aiming down them. Most video game developers, as such, come to the conclusion that either A) the real FAMAS does not have ironsights, or B) just assume they would be too difficult for most gamers to work with, and will shove rails on top of the carry handle and then place aftermarket sights on that.

** Zig-zagged in ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown''. Sniper rifles always have a scope (the plasma sniper has a hard light-like set of concentric rings as a sight). Every other non-ballistic weapon is sightless.

* ''VideoGame/{{Blood}}'' plays this almost absurdly straight. The only gun in the game with a visible set of full ironsights is the Tommy Gun - so, naturally, as the analogue to the classic ''Doom'' chaingun, it's among the least-accurate weapons in the game even without the SecondaryFire that sweeps it in a wide arc to shoot at everything that happens to be on-screen at the time. The flare gun is perfectly accurate despite only having a rear sight, and the SawedOffShotgun is also pretty good at surprising ranges (at least with primary, single-barrel shots) ''without'' any sights at all. None of the sci-fi type weapons have sights either, nor do the magical weapons since they're not even really guns (a voodoo doll that targets whoever's in front of you and a skull on a stick that shoots magic fire which [[LifeDrain drains their life to heal you]]). ''Blood II'' gets even worse about this - most ballistic weapons like the pistol or the assault rifle all have sights of some variety (the only one that doesn't is the vulcan cannon, which compensates via MoreDakka), though it doesn't stop the ones that aren't the SniperRifle from firing in a fixed cone where even the first round is likely not to hit dead center of your aim. Meanwhile, energy and heavy weapons like the Napalm Cannon or the Death Ray are entirely sightless, but are accurate on par with that sniper rifle. Interestingly, the new version of the Tesla Cannon, which as a non-bullet-firing weapon is also perfectly accurate (so long as you can deal with the PainfullySlowProjectile[=s=]) does have a scope attached - not that anyone uses it.

* Being that it takes place after an apocalyptic event and [[JustifiedTrope most of the guns are made from scavenged scrap metal]], the guns of ''VideoGame/{{Metro 2033}}'' all use iron or laser sights, though some (namely, the revolver and some Kalash rifles) have sights with dots of glow-in-the-dark paint.

-->-- ''A Fistful of Mammary Gland''

Therefore, fictional guns don't bother with gun sights of any kind, since [[NoScope nobody really uses them anyways]]. A HandWave common in SF settings is that some sort of {{HUD}} allows the shooter to aim without actually lining up a bead. A variation of this is when modern weapons that normally ''do'' have ironsights excise those because of an attached optic of some variety, like a scope. While this can be TruthInTelevision (some dedicated sniper weapons only have a scope with no ironsights underneath), it's not ''nearly'' as common as media would have you believe; the vast majority of weapons keep their normal ironsights, even with scopes and the like attached, [[CrazyPrepared just to be ready if something knocks that optic out of commission]].

[[folder:Comic Books]]

* The Smart-Guns from ''Film/{{Aliens}}'' have computer assisted aiming, and don't need iron sights. However, the more basic weapon, the M41-A Pulse Rifle, has a channel down the top of the shroud that acts as a set of iron sights.

* Ditto all of the alien weapons in the ''Franchise/StargateVerse''. Though the earthlings suspect that they're [[JustifiedTrope weapons of terror rather than weapons of war]], and such is borne out in the hordes of ImperialStormtrooperMarksmanshipAcademy graduates that almost universally wield them; a demonstration in season 5 sees Rak'nor, "one of our most skilled marksmen", hitting a stationary target with two out of three blasts from the staff, while Carter, after the target is set swinging, cuts it in half in full-auto, then shoots out the rope holding it up with one shot in semi-auto. The fact remains that some characters (such as Teal'c) are still superb shots with the things. This gets ridiculous to the extent that Goa'uld [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Death Gliders]] lack any sort of targeting systems, requiring their pilot/gunner to aim the staff cannons manually. Mostly, they just [[StandardHollywoodStrafingProcedure strafe their targets]], though.

* Averted in ''Franchise/DeadSpace'' if you look closely. The pulse rifle, which is the only weapon in the game that was actually designed to be used ''as a weapon'' rather than a mining tool, does indeed have iron sights on it (although like all weapons in the game, you aim it from third-person using a LaserSight instead).

* In the majority of real life firefights, there is no time to aim. [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_shooting Point shooting]] is a method of armed self-defense which accepts this fact, and so focuses on using a fighter's natural instincts and reflexes, rather than the weapon's sights, to hit the target at close range. A gun designed specifically for point shooting would not need sights.

** This has been a common idea for bullpup weapons, probably as part of some sort of belief that, since bullpup weapons are "futuristic", they don't need to rely on old-fashioned, not-futuristic ironsights. The Steyr AUG was initially designed for use with an integrated 1.5x scope, as was the ST Kinetics SAR-21, and the Enfield L85, though able to take regular ironsights, was initially issued standard with a 4x SUSAT optic, with the sights removed entirely. Note though that some of these, like the AUG's Swarovski scope and the L85's SUSAT, do have a rudimentary set of backup ironsights along the top for use if the scope breaks or at ranges where the magnification is more of a hindrance than a help. Note as well that most such weapons were quickly redesigned and/or issued with actual, regular ironsights after seeing real combat.

** The rise of Picatinny rails allowing for a gun's user to attach whatever accessories suit their likes or needs has lead to a variation on this trope, especially in civilian markets - several weapons, particularly those by Kel-Tec like the KSG and RFB, now do not come with integrated ironsights at all, instead having a rail along the top for the user to attach what ''they'' like or need.

->There was a high-pitched whine like a Colt .45 in a {{spaghetti western}}. With a speed and accuracy that only comes from cybernetic hand-eye co-ordination and a computer-controlled aiming system, Seven fired three times from the hip, cutting them down in an instant.

* ''VideoGame/{{Blood}}'' plays this almost absurdly straight. The only gun in the game with a visible set of full ironsights is the Tommy Gun - so, naturally, as the analogue to the classic ''Doom'' chaingun, it's among the least-accurate weapons in the game. The flare gun is perfectly accurate despite only having a rear sight, and the SawedOffShotgun is also pretty good at surprising ranges (at least with primary, single-barrel shots) ''without'' any sights at all. None of the sci-fi type weapons have sights either, nor do the magical weapons since they're not even really guns (a voodoo doll that targets whoever's in front of you and a skull on a stick that shoots magic fire which [[LifeDrain drains their life to heal you]]). ''Blood II'' gets even worse about this - most ballistic weapons like the pistol or the assault rifle all have sights of some variety (the only one that doesn't is the vulcan cannon, which compensates via MoreDakka), though it doesn't stop the ones that aren't the SniperRifle from firing in a fixed cone where even the first round is likely not to hit dead center of your aim. Meanwhile, energy and heavy weapons like the Napalm Cannon or the Death Ray are entirely sightless, but are accurate on par with that sniper rifle. Interestingly, the new version of the Tesla Cannon, which as a non-bullet-firing weapon is also perfectly accurate (so long as you can deal with the PainfullySlowProjectile[=s=]) does have a scope attached - not that anyone uses it.

* The Lawgiver from ''ComicBook/JudgeDredd'' at first glance appears to have no sights. Turns out that the lens on the rear is a sight down the line of the barrel. [[VoodooShark Not that this would work in reality]] (since there'd be a bullet, firing pin, and all other sorts of goodies between the barrel and that lens), but [[RuleOfCool it doesn't really need to]].
** Although the Mark II model thats been around since the ‘90s [[DependingOnTheArtist sometimes]] has a little lens ''beneath'' the barrel with no obvious purpose that could be for the sight.

* Interesting variation in Videogame/EYEDivineCybermancy, where while generally this trope is averted, it is played straight where one of the high end sniper rifle has no sight, and thus, if you try to aim down sight, you use [[DiegeticInterface your helmet or augmented vision]] instead to zoom.

* Averted in ''VideoGame/HalfLife2''. The [=MP7=] has an open reflex sight and the [=AR2=] Overwatch Standard Issue Pulse Rifle has tiny iron sights. Nobody uses them and they latter are hardly noticeable, though, and on top of that the [=MP7=] sprays all over the place anyway, so precision aiming wouldn't do much good.

* ''VideoGame/CallOfDuty'' generally averts this, being the TropeCodifier for the need to aim down the sights of a weapon to get it to shoot straight, but starting with the attachment system in ''[[VideoGame/ModernWarfare Call of Duty 4]]'', the series has been playing the caveat about ditching regular ironsights in favor of optics painfully straight - even weapons whose sights are required for them to work properly (for instance, the M16 and M4's front sight acting as the gas block for its direct-impingement gas system), the instant you put a red dot sight or ACOG on it, the ironsights are gone entirely. This comes to a head in ''Modern Warfare 2'' where, after an EMP strike which renders powered aftermarket sights useless, the player has to deliberately look for weapons with regular sights, which are in the minority.[[note]]A real EMP wouldn't do anything to knock out optics at all, let alone for any meaningful period of time, because [=EMPs=] really only destroy the more delicate electronics like transistors. Red dot sights are simple devices powered by batteries. ACOG sights don't need electricity at all; they use radioactive decay of tritium to provide illumination at night. Holographic sights might have some issues because they use laser diodes.[[/note]] This does, however, illustrate a rather troubling fact that the American military has a potentially crippling dependence upon fancy gadgets and electronic equipment.
** [=EMPs=] are available in multiplayer of ''Modern Warfare 2'' and ''3'', too, and will disable all Red Dot and Holographic sights (among other things) for a time... [[GoodBadBugs except for that of the F2000's unique Red Dot]] (modeled after the real F2000's specialized sight, though it is actually a 1.6x scope). ACOG scopes in the second game are also largely unaffected except in darkness as well, as the crosshairs are still ''there'', just not illuminated.
** In an odd aversion, one campaign level of ''Call of Duty: World at War'' has an easter egg Ray Gun from VideoGame/NaziZombies. Said gun has a reflex sight, unlike the rest of the game's guns which are all from UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, making it one of the most accurate guns in the game. Multiplayer does allow for the addition of telescopic sights for the automatic weapons and scopes for the rifles, otherwise, you'll be using the default iron sights.

* ''VideoGame/OperationFlashpoint'' is notable for being one of the first {{FPS}} games to thoroughly avert this. Each firearm had working sights and using them was essential for hitting anything properly at all, especially if you maxed up the difficulty by disabling things like the small context-sensitive targeting reticule.

* Averted in ''Franchise/DeadSpace'' if you look closely. The pulse rifle, which is the only weapon in the game that was actually designed to be used ''as a weapon'' rather than a mining tool, does indeed have iron sights on it (although like all weapons in the game, you aim it using a LaserSight instead).

** Bandit (scavenged and often jerry-rigged parts, quite low-tech) and Tediore (cheap but still high-tech given the digistruction reload mechanic) pistol and SMG barrels have no front sights at all. Not very useful beyond close range.

** ''F.3.A.R.'' averts this further for the ballistic weapons. While the shotgun only has a generic zoom mode because [[ShortRangeShotgun even shots from a foot away aren't a guaranteed instant kill]], ''every'' regular gun has iron sights - even that shotgun that doesn't need them, even those with other optics attached, even the [[GunsAkimbo dual machine pistols]] you ''can't'' properly aim with. Energy weapons still play this straight, however, complete with generic zooms even for the few of them that look like they do have sights.

** ''F.E.A.R. 2'' for the most part went away from this due to changing the zoom mode into a proper ironsights mode, but still has a few oddities. One of the most bizarre ''aversions'', however, is the Seegert [=ACM46=] pistol, a [[AKA47 renamed USP]] with ''two'' sets of iron sights... one of which is set on a rail system that blocks the other set, and which no one to this day has figured out how to use properly. Other oddities include the [=Ultra92=] shotgun only having a front sight, a small handful of other ballistic weapons not having proper ironsights because they have some variety of powered optic like the [=PK470=] assault rifle with its red dot scope[[note]]There were initially two versions of the weapon, one of which had ironsights instead of the scope, though the final game dumped that version.[[/note]], and heavy or energy weapons (except for the scoped Type-12 {{BFG}} and [=SR5=] missile launcher) still following this trope to the letter. The FL-3 laser weapon at least has a LaserSight alongside the actual laser, but that one has [[DepthPerplexion the added confusion of not actually aiming towards your crosshair past a certain distance]].