Overview
Andy Davidson’s creation started as a bedroom project and became Team17’s defining franchise. Worms took the artillery game formula—angle, power, fire—and added personality: teams of cartoon worms with silly voices, absurd weapons, and destructible landscapes. The result was party game perfection.
Fast facts
- Developer: Team17.
- Original creator: Andy Davidson.
- Release: 1995.
- Sequels: 20+ titles across platforms.
Core mechanics
| Element | Design |
|---|
| Turn-based | One worm moves per turn |
| Physics | Projectile trajectories |
| Terrain | Fully destructible |
| Wind | Affects projectiles |
Weapons arsenal
| Category | Examples |
|---|
| Projectiles | Bazooka, grenade, cluster bomb |
| Melee | Baseball bat, fire punch |
| Animals | Sheep, donkey, skunk |
| Super weapons | Banana bomb, holy hand grenade |
| Utilities | Rope, jetpack, teleport |
Signature weapons
| Weapon | Effect |
|---|
| Holy Hand Grenade | Massive explosion |
| Banana Bomb | Cluster bananas |
| Concrete Donkey | Falls from sky |
| Sheep | Walks to target, explodes |
Game modes
| Mode | Description |
|---|
| Deathmatch | Last team standing |
| Mission | Single-player objectives |
| Training | Learn weapons and movement |
Customisation
| Element | Options |
|---|
| Team names | Player choice |
| Worm names | Individual naming |
| Voices | Multiple sound banks |
| Gravestones | Death markers |
Multiplayer appeal
Why it worked:
- Easy to understand
- Deep strategy
- Hilarious moments
- Accessible to all skill levels
- Pass-the-controller friendly
Evolution
| Era | Key titles |
|---|
| 2D classic | Worms, Worms 2, Armageddon |
| 3D experiments | Worms 3D, Worms 4 |
| Mobile | Worms (iOS/Android) |
| Modern 2D | Worms WMD, Worms Rumble |
Worms Armageddon (1999)
Considered the definitive version:
- Refined mechanics
- Massive weapon set
- Active community
- Tournament standard
Cultural impact
Worms established:
- Artillery genre revival
- British gaming humour
- Long-running franchise model
- Party game conventions
See also