Best Games Like Worms 1995 to Play Today

This article explores the enduring legacy of Worms (1995) and highlights the best alternative games that capture its iconic turn-based artillery gameplay. From open-source community projects to modern indie browser games and polished commercial successors, you will discover the top titles featuring destructible terrain, trajectory-based shooting, and chaotic multiplayer action.

When Team17 launched Worms in 1995, it transformed the turn-based artillery genre by blending precision physics, fully destructible 2D environments, and dark British humor. Players controlled small squads of annelids armed with bazookas, grenades, and absurd superweapons, taking turns to calculate wind, angle, and power to eliminate opposing squads. Decades later, several games continue to keep this distinct style of tactical gameplay alive.

Hedgewars

Hedgewars is a free, open-source turn-based strategy game that closely mirrors the classic Worms formula. Instead of worms, players control combative hedgehogs battling across randomly generated, destructible islands. The game features an extensive arsenal—including homing missiles, dynamite, and flying sheep—along with massive customization options for game modes, weapons schemes, and team appearances. It supports both local and online multiplayer, making it one of the closest and most accessible alternatives to classic 2D Worms.

Maggots

For players looking for a lightweight, modern homage to the 1995 classic, Maggots delivers the core artillery experience directly in a web browser. It embraces the vintage aesthetic and tactical mechanics of original retro artillery titles, allowing players to engage in fast-paced trajectory battles without needing hefty downloads or complex installations.

ShellShock Live

ShellShock Live evolves the artillery formula by putting players in control of upgradeable tanks rather than cartoon creatures. While it focuses more on stationary shooting and leveling systems than character movement, it retains the fundamental gameplay loop of calculating ballistic trajectories across shifting terrain. With hundreds of unique weapons, tactical items, and 8-player matches, it provides a competitive, modern spin on trajectory combat.

Gunbound

Originally released in the early 2000s, Gunbound translated the Worms concept into a free-to-play multiplayer online game. Players pilot unique mobile vehicles, each with specific weapon types, defense stats, and trajectory physics. Environmental factors such as wind and the "Thor" satellite laser beam introduce deep strategic layers, rewarding players who master precise angles and weapon timing.

Worms W.M.D

If you want the official franchise at its finest, Worms W.M.D (2016) is widely regarded as the ultimate modern successor to both the 1995 original and fan-favorite Worms Armageddon. It returns to traditional 2D hand-drawn art while adding fresh mechanics like vehicle piloting, stationary turrets, building interiors, and weapon crafting, all while preserving the tight physics that defined the original game.