Splash damage is a term used in computer gaming, most notably in first person shooters, to refer to damage done in an area surrounding a target or point of impact. The most common type of splash damage results from explosive weapons such as grenades or rockets. Splash damage weapons are very effective when firing into a group of enemies. They are also useful against moving targets at medium range--experienced players often fire at the ground near the opponent's feet, ensuring that the target is hurt even if the weapon does not score a direct hit. Using splash-damage weapons up close is not recommended--trying to may cause you to inadvertently blow yourself up.
In strategy games, splash damage means that units around the target will also be damaged. However, unlike first-person shooter splash damage, this rarely damages friendly units.
The term is also used in table top RPGs.
