Best Nerf Gun For 12 Year Old: Top 10 For Nerf War

Best Nerf Gun For 12 Year Old

What is the best Nerf gun for 12 year old kids? They are almost teenagers and want a gun that looks cool and is powerful to play Nerf war games with their friends. 

With our reviews, we provide you with a guide and details for finding the ideal model for your 12 year old. These are the top-rated Nerf guns for kids who enjoy participating in Nerf war games.

CategoryNerf Gun
Best Overall Nerf Gun For 12 Year OldNerf Zombie Strike FlipFury Blaster
Best Budget Nerf Gun for 12 Year OldNerf N-Strike Elite SurgeFire
Runner Up Nerf Gun For A 12 Year OldNerf Modulus Tri-Strike

Which is the best nerf gun for 12 year old kids? It is a gun that offers reasonable safety, and it has a solid build made with quality materials. It is also the gun that offers the best value for the price regarding features that a 12 year old would find fun and appealing.

Today we highlight the 10 best Nerf Gun for 12 year old kids that are the right choice for Nerf wars. 

These are some of the more deluxe models that fire multiple rounds in rapid succession, as well as those that offer unique features that give kids an advantage in playing Nerf wars games.

We offer a guide for what to look for when choosing the best Nerf Guns for 12 year old kids for playing the game, as well as interesting features and functions as well as a review that provides you with interesting facts about each gun including what makes it a great choice along with the downside for each. 

This gives you complete information about each product so you can decide which is the best choice for your child.

Nerf Guns For Nerf Wars

Nerf gun wars have become the new trend in playing games with this fun and moderately safe toy. The competition can be fierce when playing Nerf gun wars and it calls for guns that offer the most projectiles that will shoot with a fair amount of accuracy, and a decent distance.

What Is A Nerf Gun War

Nerf wars are games that kids and adults play with one another and it involves choosing the Nerf gun that offers the most shots so you can score the most hit points. 

People who play Nerf gun wars take it to the limit with tactile strategies to take out the enemy. Large groups of players can participate in this game making it fun for teams or for individuals to play.

Nerf Gun War Kid vs Dad

Nerf Gun Wars is great fun for kids and their dads to play together. It’s a time when a child can bond with a parent in a game that involves planning, skill, and strategy. 

It’s important that both guns are equal to make the playing field fair. At the age of 12, a child can usually handle and operate any Nerf gun that an adult can, and just as safely.

Best Type of Nerf Gun For A Nerf War

The Best type of Nerf gun for a Nerf war is one that features fast action and comes packed with a good supply of projectiles that can be fired quickly. 

The more powerful the gun, the better, because it also needs to fire the projectiles for long distances with accuracy for the best results. Those that hold up to 12 bullets or more are the best options. 

Some hold even more. It should also be easy to load and have a good track record for not jamming during hot action.

Best Nerf Gun For 12 Year Old Buyers Guide

We’ve prepared a buyer’s guide to discuss the unique features that make a Nerf gun the best choice for a 12 year old. We discuss what features to look for. We also look at some that you should avoid.

Not all Nerf guns are good choices for 12 year old’s. At this age, these kids are more discriminating, and they are likely to be disappointed if the gun is too small, has low power, or fires with poor accuracy. 

Here are the most important considerations to make before you make your final choice

Theme

12 year old’s enjoy Nerf guns that have themes that they can relate to. Some fire rockets, others fire round balls, and there are the traditional Nerf bullet shooting guns that feature pop culture themes. 

Some of the more popular include Fortnite, Spiderman, and other branded collaborations. Some feature dinosaurs and others come with Llamas that are used for target practice. Some also have a military theme.

Accuracy

Not all Nerf guns are powerful enough to shoot with accuracy. The most highly desired Nerf guns for Nerf gun wars are those that shoot with a fair amount of precision and accuracy for hitting the intended targets. 

The best way to assess the accuracy of a Nerf gun is to consider power along with consumer reviews. Most people are happy to report their experiences with a product both good and bad.

Accessories

Some Nerf guns come with a variety of accessories that can be used to change the style, shape, and function. These are among the most popular models. 

Some accessories include interchangeable clips that hold extra rounds, bullet storage spaces, and more. Some accessories can be purchased separately for compatible guns to enhance their versatility and fun.

You can also find other useful accessories including safety goggles to protect the eyes from accidental injury. There are also tactical jackets available as well as other useful accessories. These make ordinary Nerf guns a lot more fun and interesting.

Price

Some Nerf guns are expensive, but even though they cost a lot, they are packed with so many cool features that for some, they are well worth the cost. 

Having said this, it’s important to compare the prices along with the features of the gun to make sure that you are getting a good value for the cost. 

Price can be a factor in choosing the best gun when your budget conscious and the most expensive Nerf gun isn’t necessarily the best.

Distance/Power

When it comes to playing Nerf wars, a gun that shoots a decent distance is a necessity. Low power guns can only result in disappointment when you miss shot after shot and the opponent is pummeling you and racking up points against you. 

Go for a Nerf gun that has a strong mechanism that shoots projectiles out for a good distance.

Special Features

Some Nerf guns are unique because of their special features. When it comes to playing Nerf Gun wars, those that carry extra projectiles or have a rapid-fire feature are the most fun and exciting. 

Some models are motorized for fast action, and although they require batteries, the fun is unrivaled.

Top 10 Best Nerf Guns For A Nerf War

Now that you know what to look for in the best Nerf Gun for 12 year old kids, here is our pick for the 10 best Nerf guns for 12 year old: Nerf gun wars. 

We’ve chosen them in accordance with the criteria we set in our buyer’s guide and each is a high-performing gun that has at least some of the features that are important for playing Nerf gun wars.

1. Nerf Zombie Strike FlipFury Blaster – Best Overall

The Nerf Zombie Strike FlipFury Blaster on Amazon is our choice or the best overall Nerf Gun for a 12 year old because it comes with 2 flipping drums that each hold 6 darts. 

That’s 12 darts to fire before it needs to be reloading. The drums flip over when empty to make it easy to move from one drum to the other

This is ideal for 12 year-olds who like playing Nerf Wars because it provides access to 12 darts before it needs to be reloaded. It gets an overall great review for being a gun that’s easy to load and it shoots darts quickly in rapid succession.

What I like:

  • The 2 drums with 12 darts are faster than other Nerf guns that need frequent reloading
  • The distance and power are fair with this gun
  • The FlipFury feature is fun and exciting for teens as well as adults

What I don’t like:

  • Some of these guns have weak power and others are so strong they leave small bruises

We chose this as the best overall Nerf gun for 12 year olds because of its flip drum feature. It carries a dozen darts for longer periods of play in between reloads. It’s also a good value for the cost.

2. Nerf N-Strike Elite SurgeFire – Best Budget

Our pick for best budget Nerf gun is the Nerf N-Strike Elite SurgeFire on Amazon because it is packed with fun features that make it an excellent choice for playing Nerf wars. It’s the number one best-seller in its class.

It’s perfect for a 12 year old because it comes with a rotating drum that holds 15 darts for rapid firing and longer gameplay in between reloads. This Nerf gun gets a high score for its rapid-fire and long-distance shots that fly up to 90 feet.

What I like:

  • This is a powerful gun
  • It goes a long time in between reloading and it’s easy to reload
  • Shoots with fair accuracy

What I don’t like:

  • It’s powerful and the darts sting a little when they hit you

We love this budget-priced gun that shoots projectiles up to 90 feet. It’s an amazing value for the cost and it comes with some great features like the drum that holds up to 15 darts and the fast-firing feature.

3. Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike – Runner Up

The Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike on Amazon is the best runner up Nerf gun for a 12 year old because of its amazing fun and exciting features. 

This is basically 3 guns in one. It features an Elite blaster mode with a base that you can add the other included components to, and it creates 2 other types of guns. It includes a Missile launcher and a stock to create a missile blaster

This gun is ideal for a 12 year old and because of its versatility and exciting features. It gets great rating because of its versatility. It also includes a MEGA Dart Barrel Extension, 10 Elite Darts, a 10-dart clip, 4 MEGA darts, a missile, and a 2-piece bolt.

What I like:

  • Accurate shots
  • This gun is easy to handle
  • It’s fun to convert it into different weapons and it’s not difficult

What I don’t like:

  • It occasionally jams

This is an excellent value for the cost. We love the fact that it is 3 guns in one with great components to add which are included in the package. It shoots several different types of projectiles.

4. Nerf N-Strike Elite AccuStrike Series Alpha Hawk – Best Bolt-Action

We love the long barrel on the Nerf N-Strike Elite AccuStrike Series Alpha Hawk on Amazon. This Nerf gun is colorful, and it has a great shooting distance. It’s also reasonably priced.

This is ideal for a 12 year old because it comes with darts that are specially designed for accuracy. We love the bolt action blaster that comes with a 5-dart drum. It domes with 10 darts and instructions.

What I like:

  • Super accurate shots
  • This is a high-quality brand name product
  • The bolt action is fun

What I don’t like:

  • It only holds 5 darts at one time before it needs to be reloaded

The AlphaHawk is an exciting Neft gun with its bolt action. It’s the best bolt action style Nerf gun and it’s a good choice for Nerf wars.

5. Evader Modulus Nerf Motorized Blaster – Best Light Up

The Evader Modulus Nerf Motorized Blaster on Amazon is one of our favorite models for a 12 year old because it comes with a 12-dart clip for continuous fun with longer playtimes in between reloads.

This Nerf gun gets a good rating for its uniqueness. It has a blaster theme with a light-up barrel extension in multi-colors for cool effects. It comes with 12 official Nerf Darts. It’s an excellent value for the fun and exciting features. 

You can switch between stealth mode or press a button to change the lighting theme to light up the clear housing. It’s even more fun in the dark.

What I like:

  • This gun has a rapid-fire up to 12 darts with its 12-dart clip capacity
  • It’s motorized and you can control the lighting with push buttons
  • This is a powerful gun with fair accuracy

What I don’t like:

  • It takes size D batteries which are not included

We love the exciting action of this Nerf gun. It can shoot up to 12 before you need to reload it. It’s easy to load and the light show is a great bonus for playing in low light situations for hours of fun and enjoyment.

6. Nerf Rival Nemesis MXVII-10K

We chose the Nerf Rival Nemesis MXVII-10K on Amazon as the best motorized Nerf gun because of its fully motorized platform. It’s hopper feed gives this gun a high capacity firing range. 

This is a precision gun that shoots far and accurately. It’s ideal for any 12 year old who enjoys playing Nerf Wars.

What I like:

  • Solid build and high-quality
  • It shoots multiple rounds before it needs a refill
  • You can choose red or blue on the gun color to designate which team you’re on in Nerf wars play

What I don’t like:

  • Pricey

Although this gun is a little pricey, it’s one of the best guns for playing Nerf Wars. It’s accurate and powerful. We love that this gun is available in red or blue to show which team you’re on.

7. Nerf Mega ThunderBow Blaster

We chose the Nerf Mega ThunderBow Blaster on Amazon because of its great ThunderBow theme.

It works with the same performance as a blaster with the Mega Whistler Darts that makes a screaming sound when they fly through the air. This is exciting for 12 year old’s and it makes it an excellent choice.

The Mega ThunderBow Blaster gets an above average rating and good value for the price. This toy has real bow action and the bow arms flex. It fires up to 100 feet and it’s ideal for playing Zombie Invasion or Nerf Wars games

What I like:

  • Cool whistling sound when the Mega Whistler darts are shot
  • It comes with Elite darts and Mega Whistlers
  • This gun is fun to shoot and easy to load

What I don’t like:

  • A little Pricey

We love the whistling sound that the Mega Whistler darts make. This is a gun that is extremely fun for 12 year old’s and it also comes with two kinds of darts as well as firing projectiles up to 100 feet in distance.

8. Nerf N-Strike Mega Mega Mastodon

The Nerf N-Strike Mega Mega Mastodon on Amazon is a big Nerf gun, but it’s a lot of fun. What we love most about this gun is that it is the first motorized Nerf Mega blaster ever made. 

It shoots up to 24 darts and it’s ideal for 12 year old’s who like to engage in intense battles with friends and family.

It comes with a 240 dart rotating drum so there is longer in between reloads. 24 Mega Whistler darts come with the gun and they make a screaming sound when they fly through the air for exciting sound effects.

What I like:

  • This gun fires the darts up to 100 feet with good power
  • It comes with great accessories including a strap and 24 darts
  • The whistling darts are fun and entertaining

What I don’t like:

  • It takes 6 size D batteries which are not included.
  • The gun is a bit bulky for smaller kids

We love the Mega Mega Mastodon because of the 24 round capacity that it offers. This makes it more fun for longer. The sound effects are also great with the whistling darts.

9. Nerf Rival Zeus MXV-1200

The Nerf Rival Zeus MXV-1200 on Amazon is a motorized blaster that shoots up to 12 high impact Rival rounds. It’s ideal for a 12 year old because it is very easy to load and it comes with some great unique features.

It’s easy to load and it has an ambidextrous magazine. It also comes with a jam clearing door, a trigger lock, and flip-up sights.

What I like:

  • Accessories are made for this gun to modify it and make it even more fun
  • It shoots with a lot of power and fair accuracy
  • This is a solid gun with a cool motorized feature

What I don’t like:

  • It takes 6 size C batteries which are not included

We love the Team Red Zeus MXV-12000 blaster because it’s so easy to load and it comes with a lot of exciting features that a 12 year old will love. You can buy more accessories for this gun to change it up and make playing Nerf wars even more fun.

10. Nerf N-Strike Vulcan EBF-25 Dart Blaster

The Nerf N-Strike Vulcan EBF-25 Dart Blaster on Amazon is one of the bulkiest yet coolest Nerf guns ever. It comes with a removable tripod that also folds down when you need to make a run for it. 

This massive gun is a fully automatic blaster with a capacity to hold twenty-five darts. It holds the record by firing up to 3 darts per second.

This is a great choice for a 12 year old and it also comes with a 25-dart belt, 25 whistler darts, and an ammo box.

Helpful Tips To Choose The Best Nerf Gun For A 12 Year Old

  • Choose a powerful and accurate model that can shoot distance and hit the target you’re aiming at
  • Make sure it has an interesting theme that makes it fun and exciting
  • Go for a gun that shoots in rapid succession and holds several darts

Final Thoughts

The best Nerf gun for 12 year old kids is the one that offers the most useful features for the type of play your child enjoys. Some kids prefer guns that shoot accurately while others are more concerned with distance. 

Some of the models we’ve reviewed offer both. It’s a good idea to know what your child prefers and look for the exciting features that they will enjoy using. 

We’ve provided the 10 top-rated Nerf guns in review for your consideration when choosing the best for your 12 year old, but you might discover that you like playing with them too.

Drew Thomas

My name is Drew Thomas and I’m the creator of Fun In the Yard, your one stop site for all your outdoor games, sports, party activities, outdoor gear, and lawn & gardening tips.

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