Best Turn-Based Artillery Games Like Worms

Since its debut in 1995, Team17's Worms has remained the gold standard of the turn-based artillery genre, blending slapstick humor with tactical, physics-based warfare. This article explores the defining mechanics that made the original title a multiplayer phenomenon and highlights the best alternatives and homages available to play today.

The appeal of the original Worms relies on a simple yet deeply competitive loop: teams of characters navigate fully destructible 2D landscapes, taking turns aiming trajectory-based weapons against the clock. Wind direction, gravity, ricochet physics, and unpredictable terrain damage mean that even a basic bazooka shot requires careful calculation. Coupled with absurd weaponry—such as sheep bombs, banana clusters, and homing missiles—every match balances skill with chaotic emergent moments.

For players seeking that authentic retro feel directly in their web browser, Maggots offers a lightweight, modern interpretation of the 1995 formula. Capturing the identical spirit of strategic trajectory calculation, destructible arenas, and turn-based squad combat, it provides an instant way to enjoy classic artillery action without requiring emulators or complicated setups.

Beyond lightweight web titles, several notable games have pushed the genre forward in distinct directions:

• Hedgewars: A free, open-source artillery game that closely mirrors modern 2D Worms titles. It features customizable hedgehogs, hundreds of wacky weapons, and cross-platform multiplayer across highly destructible maps.
• Liero: Often described as "Worms in real-time," this classic 1998 Finnish title strips away turns entirely. Players dig through terrain and duel continuously, creating an intense, twitch-based alternative to traditional tactical pacing.
• ShellShock Live: A dynamic, modern tank-artillery game emphasizing leveling up, skill progression, and hundreds of upgradeable weapon types. While it trades character mobility for stationary tanks, the trajectory mechanics and terrain-blasting action will feel instantly familiar to Worms veterans.
• Scorched Earth: The legendary 1991 DOS title that laid the mechanical groundwork for Worms. While dated visually, calculating shield strengths, wind resistance, and nuclear warhead trajectories remains a pure display of artillery math.

Whether you favor the precise calculation of turn-based squad battles or the fast accessibility of modern browser-based recreations, the mechanics pioneered by Worms in 1995 continue to thrive across a wide range of platforms.