Before discussing the new features, let's acknowledge the foundation. Worms W.M.D reverts to fully 2D, side-on, turn-based combat. The camera is smooth, the physics are weighty, and the wind gauge is your eternal frenemy.
But what separates W.M.D from Worms Revolution or Worms Battlegrounds? Three pillars: Vehicles, Buildings, and Crafting.
Knowing what is valuable is key to winning.
S-Tier (Game Changers):
A-Tier (Reliable Killers):
B-Tier (Situational):
Dismantle Fodder:
Worms W.M.D is a turn-based artillery strategy game where teams of cartoon worms use weapons, vehicles, and terrain to eliminate opponents. Matches combine destructible environments, physics-based projectiles, and a wide arsenal with vehicle mechanics and crafting elements.
Worms W.M.D successfully revitalizes a beloved franchise by adding meaningful layers of strategy without bloating the core experience. The vehicles and buildings encourage dynamic positioning, while crafting rewards experimentation. It retains the irreverent humor and accessible controls that defined the series, making it a perfect entry point for newcomers and a delightful return for veterans.
Who it’s for: Fans of turn-based strategy, party gamers, and anyone who enjoys watching anthropomorphic annelids explode in creative ways.
Rating: 8.5/10 – “An explosive evolution of turn-based chaos.”
Worms W.M.D: A Modern Masterpiece of Artillery Mayhem Released in 2016 by the British developer Team17, Worms W.M.D represents a triumphant return to the series' roots while introducing fresh, chaotic mechanics that solidify it as the "Best Modern Worms Game". After years of experimentation with 3D landscapes and diverse physics engines, Team17 returned to the fan-favourite 2D hand-drawn aesthetic, building the game on the legendary source code of Worms Armageddon to recapture that classic "feel". The Core Gameplay: Strategic Turn-Based Chaos
At its heart, Worms W.M.D remains a tactical artillery game. Players control small platoons of anthropomorphic worms across fully destructible 2D landscapes. The goal is simple: be the last team standing. Matches are turn-based, giving you a limited window to move a single worm, select a weapon, and execute a strike that accounts for wind, gravity, and the terrain. Game-Changing Features Worms W.M.D
While the "winning design format" remains intact, W.M.D introduces three major innovations that deepen the tactical complexity:
Vehicles: For the first time, worms can hop into tanks, helicopters, and mechs. These vehicles provide mobility and devastating firepower, though they can be hijacked by savvy opponents.
Buildings: The maps now feature accessible interiors. Entering a building hides your worm from the enemy's direct view, offering a strategic hideout or a perfect spot for an ambush.
Weapon Crafting: Between turns, players can dismantle unwanted weapons to "craft" upgraded versions. This adds a layer of resource management, allowing you to create powerful variants like the Dodgy Phone Battery or the Electric Sheep even during your opponent's turn. Massive Arsenal and Multiplayer
W.M.D features an impressive library of over 80 weapons and utilities. It brings back beloved classics like the Holy Hand Grenade and the Concrete Donkey while introducing new tools of destruction. The game is designed for both solo and social play:
Single Player: Includes a comprehensive training mode and a series of challenging campaign missions.
Multiplayer: Supports up to six players with eight worms each, creating massive 48-worm battles. You can jump into ranked play or host local matches, which many fans consider the "premier experience" for the franchise. Why It Stands Out
Many veterans of the series view Worms Armageddon (1999) as the gold standard. However, Worms W.M.D is often cited as the only modern title to truly rival it, offering "smoothness" and updated features that top the nostalgia of older entries. Whether you are a newcomer looking for a "seriously rewarding tactical battle" or a veteran wanting to relive the glory days with modern polish, Worms W.M.D is the definitive choice.
The game is widely available on platforms including PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. 11 Best Worms Games To Play in 2026: A Definitive Guide
Worms W.M.D is a 2D turn-based strategy game developed and published by
in 2016. Returning the series to its "classic" roots, it features hand-drawn 2D environments and the same chaotic, physics-based warfare that made earlier titles like Worms Armageddon Ars Technica New & Returning Features
W.M.D introduced several major mechanics that distinguish it from its predecessors: : For the first time, worms can pilot vehicles like Helicopters Mech Suits to traverse the terrain or launch high-damage attacks. Before discussing the new features, let's acknowledge the
: Players can collect crafting ingredients from crates or dismantle existing weapons to build new ones during opponents' turns, keeping players engaged even when it's not their turn.
: Large structures on the map can be entered by worms, providing tactical cover. The interior of the building is hidden from opponents unless they enter it themselves. Stationary Turrets
: Defensive weapons like machine guns, flamethrowers, and sniper rifles are placed around maps for players to occupy and defend areas. Hacker News Gameplay & Modes
: Features a comprehensive training mode, a 30-level campaign of increasing difficulty, and specific challenge missions. Multiplayer : Supports up to
with 8 worms each in both local and online ranked matches. Local play can be done "hot seat" style using a single controller.
: Includes 80 weapons and utilities, ranging from returning classics like the Holy Hand Grenade Concrete Donkey to new items like the Dodgy Phone Battery Ars Technica Style & Humor The game is well-known for its quirky British humor
, featuring expressive character animations and customizable voice sets (e.g., "Angry Scot," "Soul Man," and various YouTuber voice packs). It carries an ESRB rating of E10+ for cartoon violence and crude humor. ESRB Ratings
1. The "Weapon Sink" Trick If you are standing near water and need to drown an enemy but have no baseball bat, use the Dragon Ball or a quick Shotgun blast. These weapons have high knockback compared to their damage cost.
2. Rope Mobility The Ninja Rope is harder to use in W.M.D than older Worms games, but it allows infinite swings if you retract and extend correctly. Practice "chipping" (hitting the terrain slightly) to stabilize your swing before dropping a Dynamite.
3. Bunker Busting Enemies love to hide in tunnels. Instead of trying to shoot in, use a Grenade with a short fuse (1-2 seconds) and "cooking" (holding it) so it explodes instantly upon entry. Alternatively, use the Mole to dig straight to them.
4. Teleport Smart Never Teleport to the middle of a flat piece of land unless you are about to die. Always teleport to a "peak" or an isolated island. This makes it harder for enemies to blowtorches or bat you into the water.
The soul of Worms has always been hot-seat multiplayer. W.M.D supports 4-player hot-seat on a single screen, leading to drunken betrayals and friendship-ending Holy Hand Grenade tosses. But what separates W
For over two decades, the Worms franchise has occupied a unique space in gaming culture. It is a place where ballistic physics, British humor, and strategic cruelty intersect. While the series has seen numerous iterations—some straying too far into 3D or over-complicating the formula—2016’s Worms W.M.D stands out as a triumphant return to form. It is not just a nostalgic trip; it is the most refined, explosive, and visually distinct entry in the series' history.
The Art of Destruction
The first thing that strikes you about Worms W.M.D is its aesthetic. Moving away from the glossy 3D models of previous titles, developer Team17 embraced a beautiful, hand-drawn 2D art style. The landscapes are lush, textured, and reminiscent of a gritty graphic novel. More importantly, the destruction is tangible. When you drop a Holy Hand Grenade, the crater left behind feels weighty and permanent. The visual feedback of watching the terrain crumble adds a layer of satisfaction that newer, flashier games often miss.
Vehicles and Buildings: A Game Changer
The defining feature of Worms W.M.D is the introduction of vehicles and enterable buildings. On paper, adding tanks, helicopters, and mech suits to a turn-based artillery game sounds risky—it threatens to unbalance the careful math of wind trajectory and blast radius. In practice, however, it elevates the gameplay.
Vehicles offer increased mobility and protection, but they also present a larger target for your opponent. Hiding inside a building provides cover from airstrikes, but a well-placed dynamite at the entrance can turn the structure into a tomb. These new mechanics force veteran players to abandon their muscle memory and adapt to a battlefield that is more dynamic than ever before.
The Social Battlefield
At its core, Worms has always been a social game. It is the digital equivalent of a board game night, fueled by trash talk and last-minute blunders. Worms W.M.D captures this spirit perfectly. The classic weapons return—the Prod, the Super Sheep, the Concrete Donkey—but the crafting system adds a new layer of strategy. Gathering ingredients mid-battle to craft a last-ditch weapon can turn the tide of a losing match, creating those legendary "clutch" moments that players talk about for years.
Conclusion
Worms W.M.D succeeds because it understands exactly what made the original games great while having the confidence to add meaningful new systems. It strips away the bloat of previous titles and focuses on the pure joy of tactical demolition. Whether you are a veteran who memorized the arc of the bazooka twenty years ago, or a newcomer looking for a chaotic party game, Worms W.M.D is a masterclass in strategy and absurdity. It is, quite simply, the best version of Worms ever made.
The game shines in local and online multiplayer for up to four players or teams. Modes include standard deathmatches, fort-based sieges, and training challenges. A robust single-player campaign offers dozens of missions and side objectives, while “Challenges” test specific skills like rope swinging or artillery precision. With custom turn timers, weapon sets, and landscape options, the replay value is immense.