30 Years Later, There’s Still No Multiplayer Mayhem Quite Like Worms

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Sometimes, little things really make you pause. Like discovering someone ate the treat you were looking forward to – I actually experienced that just today with a doughnut! Or realizing that the classic game Worms will be 30 years old in November 2025. It’s amazing how quickly time passes.

This series really captured the spirit of the mid-to-late 90s, right up there with things like Jurassic Park and the Backstreet Boys. Like those classics, it’s still around in new forms, but nothing quite matches the original. Both Worms Armageddon and the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” came out in 1999, and just like the band, the creators of Worms Armageddon haven’t been able to replicate that initial success.

Worms Armageddon is often considered a highlight of the entire series and a true PlayStation 1 multiplayer classic. I think it’s the most well-rounded version, without the unnecessary additions that appeared in later games. It really captures the essence of Worms, and the worms themselves have a lot of character. The recent Anniversary Edition was a fantastic way to revisit it, even though I still couldn’t beat the single-player campaign! The added extras, like versions from different platforms, made it a really enjoyable experience anyway.

I still think about the first game I ever played the most. I didn’t have it myself, but I’d spend hours at a friend’s house after school trying to get better with the bazooka. It was one of the first games I regularly played with others, and it taught me what multiplayer gaming is all about: having fun, laughing a lot, and a little friendly competition. Over the past thirty years, I’ve played tons of multiplayer classics like Smash Bros., Overcooked, and Mario Kart. While we used to play together on the same couch, most of that has moved online now, but that’s just how things are changing.

Andy Davidson, the creator of the game, shared with Time Extension in June 2024 that he was particularly excited about creating unpredictable environments. He wanted each playthrough to feel unique. He also infused the game with quirky characters and a lighthearted sense of humor, something he felt was lacking in similar games at the time. A key feature is the ability to move freely across ever-changing battlefields and attack enemies in many different ways – whether by swinging on ropes, building bridges, or using creative weapons. The Banana Bomb and Holy Hand Grenade are especially effective at dislodging opponents who are dug in.

Three Decades Of Lining Up A Perfect Shot

No long-running game series is perfect, and Worms had its share of experiments. The jump to 3D with Worms 3D in 2003 didn’t quite work for me, and honestly, the game’s theme song, “Shake Your Coconuts” by Junior Senior, is the most memorable thing about it – which isn’t a great sign. Not every game needs to be in 3D.

Recent Worms games have had mixed results. Worms: A Space Oddity trimmed a lot of content, and Worms Rumble (2020) felt like it was forcing itself into the popular battle royale trend without excelling in that genre or truly feeling like a classic Worms game. Despite these shortcomings, these attempts show that the series can still innovate and take risks, even after all these years.

I mostly cherish gaming memories that involve playing with friends, especially lighter, more casual games. While some might argue games like Mario Party can be just as competitive, the Worms series holds a special place for me – nothing else quite compares to it.

The recent Worms games, like the Anniversary Edition of Worms Armageddon and Worms Across Worlds on Apple Arcade, seem to show the series is aware of its peak and is having some trouble reinventing itself. Despite this, I’m still excited to see what comes next – and I’ll probably keep trying to finish the notoriously hard campaign in Armageddon. It’s just tough for games focused on multiplayer to also nail the single-player experience.

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2025-11-07 15:39