Worms: Turn-Based Mayhem with a Smile

Released in 1995 by Team17, Worms took the gaming world by surprise. In an era filled with gritty shooters and hardcore simulations, Worms offered something refreshingly different: a lighthearted, strategic, and hilariously chaotic take on turn-based artillery combat — starring heavily armed cartoon worms.

Combining slapstick humor, tactical depth, and endless replayability, Worms became a cult classic that would spawn numerous sequels and remain a staple of multiplayer gaming for decades to come.

Gameplay: Strategy Meets Comedy

Worms pits teams of anthropomorphic worms against each other in destructible, side-scrolling 2D environments. Players take turns moving one worm at a time, choosing weapons from an eclectic and often absurd arsenal — everything from bazookas and grenades to exploding sheep and banana bombs.

The objective? Eliminate all enemy worms while keeping your own squad alive. Victory often depends not just on firepower but clever positioning, environmental awareness, and knowing when to strike or retreat.

Despite its comedic tone, Worms rewards strategic thinking. Players must account for terrain, wind, blast radius, and weapon type. The destructible landscape also plays a key role — tunnels can be created or collapsed, cover can be blown away, and misfired shots can completely change the battlefield dynamics.

Visuals and Audio

The original Worms featured simple but expressive 2D graphics. The worms, though tiny, were animated with personality — grimacing before explosions, celebrating after successful attacks, or panicking as they were knocked into the water.

The colorful, randomly generated maps ranged from arctic and jungle settings to urban battlegrounds and outer space. Each battlefield felt distinct, ensuring no two matches ever played quite the same.

Sound design was another standout. The game is filled with comical sound effects, exaggerated weapon noises, and memorable one-liners like “Revenge!” or “I’ll get you!” in squeaky worm voices. Combined with the whimsical background music, the atmosphere stayed light and humorous even during the most intense skirmishes.

Multiplayer Madness

While Worms offered a decent single-player mode with various missions and AI opponents, it truly came alive in multiplayer. Hotseat matches (multiple players on one machine) led to endless hours of laughter, betrayal, and dramatic comebacks.

This focus on couch multiplayer made it a go-to game for parties and friendly competitions — and helped lay the foundation for the local multiplayer boom of the late '90s.

Legacy

Worms became an instant success and launched one of the most enduring franchises in gaming history. Its core formula has remained intact across countless sequels, spin-offs, and platform ports. Even today, new generations continue to discover its mix of strategic gameplay and slapstick chaos.

But it all began here, in 1995 — with a team of worms, a sheep bomb, and a dream.

Price: £6

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