Worms W.M.D

Lore & Background

Worms W.M.D was developed and published by Team17, aiming to replicate the gameplay of Worms Armageddon with a return to 2D graphics and game design. Previous elements such as classes, water physics, and dynamic objects were removed. New features include a crafting system allowing players to gather parts from special crates or by dismantling weapons, usable even outside their turns. Buildings from Worms Forts: Under Siege return, letting worms enter for tactical advantage, cover, or surprise attacks. For the first time, vehicles (tanks, helicopters, mechs) and gun turrets (machine gun, mortar, flamethrower, sniper rifle) are introduced, which can be destroyed if they take too much damage. Teams can be customized with fortresses, outfits, speechbanks, victory dances, gravestones, and fanfares, with worm names linked to the team's theme. The acronym W.M.D was teased with multiple meanings, including Weapons of Mass Destruction, Wonderful Multiplayer Destruction, and others.

Reader's Guide

Worms W.M.D is significant as a deliberate return to the classic 2D formula of Worms Armageddon, stripping away controversial additions from recent installments while adding new mechanics that refreshed the series. The introduction of vehicles and turrets altered tactical possibilities, allowing players to rain fire from tanks, helicopters, or mechs, while buildings provided new defensive and offensive options. The crafting system added a layer of resource management, enabling weapon creation even between turns. The game received generally positive reviews, with GameSpot rating it 8/10, praising its finesse, strategy, and presentation. IGN praised the crafting but criticized the building system for unclear entry points. Game Rant called it the game fans had waited for since Worms Armageddon. The All-Stars expansion, released free to all players, added content themed after other games such as Rocket League and Team Fortress 2. The Nintendo Switch version was praised by DarkZero for its offline missions and rewarding training. Worms W.M.D stands as a consolidation of the series' strengths, appealing to longtime fans while introducing enough novelty to feel fresh.

Did You Know?

• The All-Stars expansion, released free to all players, included content themed after Rocket League and Team Fortress 2.
• The game was released on Nintendo Switch on 23 November 2017, with a limited physical release by Super Rare Games in October 2018.