These are the Nerf blasters ruling gardens this summer
An easy, straightforward guide to these must-have toys
Are you a parent trying to hunt down Nerf blasters for your kids? It's not an easy job; there are countless options to choose from, and all these toys seem to do the same thing. Where should you start?
I've been reviewing and writing about toys for many years now, so I know exactly where you should start regardless of whether you're buying Nerf blasters for siblings, younger kids, or older children. (I'm also a parent myself, so finding the best Nerf blasters is a subject I've given a lot of thought to.) That's why you'll find my top three recommendations below.
Are there other, flashier options available? Of course. But if you're a parent just looking for good Nerf guns their children will enjoy, this is what I'd suggest.
✅ Very affordable
✅ Good accuracy
✅ Lightweight
❌ Only 2 darts
❌ Pull to prime
✅ Easy to use
✅ Small & light
✅ Very accurate
❌ Only 8 darts
❌ Harder to prime
✅ 2 identical blasters
✅ Pretty accurate
✅ Punchy
❌ Only 2 darts
❌ Short range
✅ Easy to prime
✅ Lightweight
✅ Includes targets
❌ Carries 8 darts
❌ Lacks accuracy
✅ Holds 40 darts
✅ Very accurate
✅ Cool design
❌ Heavier
❌ Unwieldy
✅ Motorized
✅ High-speed
✅ Loads of ammo
❌ Uses batteries
❌ Quite large
Naturally, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are countless Nerf blasters out there to choose from, each with a different use-case (I'm personally quite fond of the Nerf N-Series Pinpoint due to its sniper-like accuracy, for example). However, these are the ones I default to when recommending Nerf toys for parents; they're a great starting point.
- See all Nerf deals at Amazon
Want to make the most of the warmer weather? Don't miss the best water guns. As for more general suggestions, why not drop in on our guide to the best toys?
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

I've been writing about games in one form or another since 2012, but these days you'll find me managing GamesRadar+'s tabletop gaming and toy coverage (I spend my time here handling everything from board game reviews to the latest Lego news). I've also been obsessed with Warhammer since the 1990s, and love nothing more than running tabletop RPGs like D&D as a Dungeon Master.
