Review by Jon Donnis
Twenty-five years after it first wriggled into the strategy game scene, Worms Armageddon returns in a newly packaged Anniversary Edition for the Nintendo Switch. First released in 1999 by Team17, this fan-favourite entry in the long-running Worms series is back with a faithful update that stays true to its original charm while adding a few welcome extras.
If you've never played it before, Worms Armageddon is a turn-based strategy game where players control teams of cartoon worms across destructible 2D landscapes. Every match becomes a mix of tactical play, slapstick humour and outright chaos, thanks to the game's huge arsenal of bizarre weapons. The Anniversary Edition brings all of that back, just as it was, but with better compatibility for modern displays and consoles.
One of the biggest additions is the digital museum, which acts as a playable tribute to the history of Worms. It features a timeline of the series and an interactive documentary, giving fans a look behind the scenes at how Worms Armageddon was made and how it fits into the wider legacy of Team17's work. The new edition also includes emulated versions of earlier Worms titles: the Game Boy Color version of Worms Armageddon, Worms World Party for Game Boy Advance, and the original Worms for both Super Nintendo and Mega Drive.
Gameplay-wise, not much has changed, and that's entirely the point. Each match is still played turn by turn, with one worm from each team acting at a time. Movement is deliberately clumsy in a way that adds to the tension, and combat remains a test of both precision and mischief. Players still get to pick from over 55 weapons and tools, from classics like the Bazooka and Holy Hand Grenade to the truly strange, such as the French Sheep Strike. There's also a cheat toggle for the fan-favourite 'Boggy B' code, which instantly unlocks all content if you want to dive straight in.
The single-player campaign includes over 40 missions, but the real joy of Worms is always in multiplayer. This version keeps popular features like Handicapping, Allied Teams and the infamous Worms Disease mode. Whether you're playing with friends on the sofa or solo against the AI, the balance between tactics and chaos is still exactly right.
What also makes this release stand out is the Backworms Compatible Update, a free addition that celebrates the visual styles of the series' early years. It includes 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit variations that tap into the nostalgia of older consoles, without taking anything away from the updated experience on Switch.
There's no gimmick here, no forced reinvention. This is Worms Armageddon as you remember it. And for those who were there the first time round, that's probably all they want. As someone who spent a good part of their teen years glued to the Amiga playing the original Worms, this version feels like a return to form. Worms Armageddon was where everything clicked. The physics, the tone, the pacing. Later versions tried to shake things up but never quite landed the same way.
Yes, the bonus versions from other consoles are a nice touch. You'll likely fire them up once for curiosity's sake, but it's the core 1999 game you'll keep coming back to. The humour still lands, the chaos still builds, and the satisfaction of a well-placed banana bomb is as good now as it ever was.
For new players, this is the ideal place to start. For returning fans, it's a reminder of why Worms Armageddon has never really gone away. And if you're still on the fence after all this time, ask yourself: if Worms Armageddon isn't in your collection yet, where have you been?
It might not be cheap, but it's hard to think of many games that have held up this well. A quarter of a century later, it still delivers.
Out Now on Nintendo Switch and all consoles.
