BFG

Lore & Background

The BFG has been a fixture of the Saints Row world since the very first game, embodying the franchise's core philosophy that violence should be as loud and conspicuous as possible. In the gritty streets of Stilwater, the weapon is treated with the same casual familiarity as a switchblade or a baseball bat, yet its sheer size and destructive payload set it apart from the rest of the heavy-weapons shelf. Saints do not crouch behind cover when they pull one out; they plant their feet, aim with one hand, and let the recoil do the talking.

Across sequels, the BFG has evolved in presentation—gaining new finishes, alternate textures, and the occasional ridiculous skin—but its fundamental identity remains unchanged: a big gun that hits like a small nuke. In Saints Row IV, where the Saints face off against alien invaders and the laws of physics become negotiable, the BFG fits right in alongside gravity-defying vehicles and absurd power-ups. It is the weapon that says the Saints have not lost their appetite for excess, no matter how far the setting stretches.

The weapon's cultural footprint within the franchise extends beyond gameplay. It is the go-to prop for promotional art, the default choice for players who want their character to look like they walked out of a comic-book cover, and the weapon that, when fired in a crowded street, turns a routine turf war into a pyrotechnic display that onlookers will be talking about for the rest of the playthrough.

In Their Own Story

The rain had just stopped over Stilwater, leaving the asphalt slick and the neon signs of the strip district smeared into long color streaks. Johnny sat on the hood of a parked muscle car, boots crossed, watching the 3rd Street Saints file out of the warehouse two blocks east. One of them—the big one, the one who always wore the red bandana even in winter—was dragging something heavy behind him. The BFG. He set it on the curb with a metallic thud that made a passing taxi driver swerve.

"You sure about this?" the driver called out, window half-down.

The Saint racked the charging handle with one gloved hand, gave a nod, and shouldered the thing like it was a duffel bag. "Depends on what you mean by sure."

The next forty seconds were mostly sound and light. The BFG's first shot punched a hole through a parked sedan and detonated in the alley behind it, sending a shower of sparks and shattered glass into the wet night air. The second round took out a stack of shipping containers. By the third, the Saints had cleared the block and were already walking away, the weapon slung over one shoulder, the barrel still faintly glowing. The taxi driver finished his sentence, then changed his mind and drove on.

Reader's Guide

Saints Row (2006): The BFG is available as a heavy weapon in the original game. It can be purchased from gun shops or obtained through mission rewards. It fires a large explosive round with significant splash damage, making it effective against groups of enemies and lightly armored vehicles. Its size makes it a visual centerpiece on any character model.

Saints Row 2: The BFG returns as a top-tier heavy weapon, purchasable from gun shops in Stilwater. It deals heavy explosive damage in a wide radius. In the Saints' aesthetic, it is the weapon you equip when you want the camera to shake and the enemies to scatter before the round even lands.

Saints Row: The Third: Available in Steelport, the BFG slots into the heavy-weapons category. It benefits from the game's more exaggerated physics and slow-motion takedowns, making each shot a small cinematic event. Customization options allow players to apply different finishes and textures.

Saints Row IV: The BFG is present in the alien-invasion setting of Stilwater. It remains a single-shot explosive weapon with high area damage. In a game where you can also wield a giant wrench or a rocket launcher, the BFG occupies the middle ground of 'reasonably proportioned but still absurdly destructive.'

Most iconic entry: The BFG in Saints Row 2 is widely regarded as the franchise's most iconic heavy weapon, owing to the game's tighter combat feel and the weapon's satisfying, screen-shaking detonation. It is the weapon that best captures the series' blend of gang violence and cartoonish excess.

Did You Know?

• The BFG has appeared in every mainline Saints Row title since the 2006 original, making it one of the most consistent weapons in the franchise's arsenal.
• In Saints Row IV, the BFG can be used alongside far more absurd weapons like a giant wrench, underscoring the game's escalation of over-the-top combat.
• The BFG's single-shot, high-explosive design makes it a crowd-control weapon: one well-placed round can clear an entire street of enemies, fitting the Saints' preference for finishing a fight in seconds rather than minut
• The weapon's name is a direct nod to the long-standing pop-culture trope of the 'Big F*ing Gun,' a concept the Saints Row franchise embraces with characteristic irreverence.