We’re approaching the end of the year, so it’s that time where, barring something hitting shelves on Black Friday or later, we nod towards the best blasters of the year. These are our opinions, of course, and you might find some blasters from this past year more appealing than others. But where available, there are what we’d recommend throwing under the tree this year!

I’ll do my best to link the review as well as a purchase link (in the case of Dart Zone blasters, that is admittedly an affiliate link).

Caveats

This end-of-year list focuses on blasters that were specifically released this year; simple recolors are not going to be included. Granted, sometimes a rework or rerelease does happen (see the Nexus Pro X2 or the Bass Pro Q-Factor QR-Stryker, releasing at lower price points), and those might be worth a look. Bur for the master list and the pretty pictures, they’re getting left off.

Also note that, pending surprise releases or a really good review of other 2026 releases I have yet to do, I may update this list. It’s been known to happen before!

Ages 8+: DOOM ON YOU! And Other Notables

Nerf might be undergoing a revamp this year (with some questionable decisions), but they do get at least one winner on this list, before Dart Zone and others dominate.

Nerf Rebel Ops Doom Cannon – ($35 to $45) (Review Link)

Shotguns are back, and this one takes the job seriously. It was so much fun to try out at Toy Fair, and it’s been even more fun using it at wars and HvZ events. Plus, we have 3D printed shells and other parts that make the blaster even more versatile, if you have access to a printer.

The MSRP is $45, but I’ve seen it for as low as $35. And who knows how low the price might go for the holidays?

Adventure Force Strike Force ($20, Affiliate Link) (Review Link)

The Strike Force is the newest flywheel blaster in the Adventure Force line, replacing the Spectrum. It’s also far more versatile, with plenty of attachment options and the ability to (relatively) quickly convert into a short dart blaster. Even if you don’t go that route, it’s a great blaster for both kids and adults. Just remember the 6 AA batteries!

Adventure Force Wrist Gauntlet ($20, Affiliate Link) (Review Link)

Wrist blasters are usually a novelty, but here we have one that’s actually quite useful and fun! And I’m a sucker for fun, so this one is getting put on the list, even if it didn’t score quite as highly  as other blasters from this year.

There’s one other blaster that’s stupid fun because of the mechanism, though…

Xshot Shell Ejector ($13 MSRP) (Review Link)

To be fair, Xshot’s naming scheme on their packaging and listings seems to vary widely, so you might see “Ejector Shell” instead. But for a simple blaster, there’s a lot of fun to be had. I converted one of mine to use short dart magazines, but I still like getting out the other one to use the shells – there’s a fun factor you just can’t achieve with making everything a magazine-fed blaster, after all. And if you need a less expensive gift, this is hard to beat. It’s also available at a wide variety of stores, to boot!

Xshot Insanity Dartstorm ($100 MSRP) (Review Link)

This is a fun one, but it’s also the most expensive blaster Xshot has ever sold. Twin rotating barrels, two 40-dart magazines, and a ton of darts? Add in 8 AA batteries, and you can either put dozens of darts downrange, or have an insanely high endurance in battle.

I believe you can order them from much cheaper from Costco, but there might be other sales for the holiday season. We’ll see!

Ages 14+: Going Pro!

We had quite a few rereleases this year – Dart Zone by themselves had a lot of recolors or re-tweaked blasters – but the new stuff? The new stuff was good.

Dart Zone Max Repeater Pro ($70 Affiliate Link) (Review Link)

This was not a pro blaster I expected to see anytime soon. But Dart Zone not only decided to make a Winchester in blaster form, they also decided to design a loading mechanism that can feed varying lengths of short darts from dual internal magazines! It’s fun to use, but still has the performance to accurately hit opponents or targets from a distance. It’s still only available from Dart Zone, however. Hopefully that can change in the future.

Xshot Skins Pro Longshot 2.0 ($40 MSRP) (Review Link)

I’m glad that Xshot updated the Longshot to compete with Dart Zone. While the Nexus Pro X is a stable of any collection, I’ve grown fond of the Longshot 2.0. The priming motion is easy, and the entire blaster is comfortable to use. And the times I’ve brought it with me to games, it’s been one of the best blasters to use.

Xshot Skins Pro Barrel Break ($15 MSRP) (Review Link)

Another fun addition to the Pro collection! These blasters have become popular with hobbyists because, to put it simply, a revolver for $15 is a steal.

Adventure Force Axis Switch Pro ($70 Affiliate Link) (Review Link)

To round off the list, let’s throw in one of the more unique blasters on shelves. The Axis Switch comes with its own battery, twin 20-dart magazines you can switch between, both semi and full-auto firing, a BCAR, AND adjustable FPS. There’s a ton of features for the price, and I know a few Walmarts have marked them down locally, if you you don’t want tot grab them online.

That rounds off the list for now!