Best Turn-Based Artillery Games Like Worms

Released in 1995 by Team17, Worms defined the 2D artillery strategy genre by blending turn-based tactical combat with destructible physics, quirky humor, and chaotic multiplayer action. This article explores the legacy of that groundbreaking title and highlights the best classic, modern, and indie alternatives that capture the same competitive spirit, ballistic physics, and landscape-deforming combat.

The Formula That Defined Worms

The core appeal of the original Worms relies on a simple yet deep gameplay loop: teams of characters take turns navigating procedurally generated, fully destructible 2D environments. Players calculate trajectory, wind resistance, and fuse timers to eliminate opponents using a diverse arsenal ranging from standard bazookas and grenades to bizarre, unconventional weapons. The following games successfully carry on this distinct tactical formula.

Maggots

For players seeking a fast, accessible experience directly in their web browser, Maggots offers a streamlined tribute to classic turn-based artillery games. It captures the essential retro aesthetic and mechanical foundation of early artillery titles, allowing players to engage in turn-based ballistic warfare with terrain destruction without requiring heavy downloads or complex installations.

Hedgewars

Hedgewars is a free, open-source turn-based strategy game that serves as a direct spiritual successor to the Worms series. Featuring hedgehogs instead of invertebrates, it replicates nearly every mechanical aspect of Worms Armageddon, including fully destructible maps, custom team creation, an extensive arsenal of wacky weapons, and cross-platform online multiplayer.

Gunbound

Gunbound adapted the artillery genre into a popular turn-based online multiplayer game. Instead of individual soldiers, players control unique "mobiles" (vehicles) that feature distinct weapon types, firing arcs, and stat distributions. The game emphasizes wind reading and environmental effects like avatar attributes and orbital lasers, adding an extra layer of strategy to the traditional trajectory-based shooting mechanic.

ShellShock Live

ShellShock Live modernizes the formula with tanks, progression trees, and fast-paced multiplayer lobbies. Players level up to unlock hundreds of uniquely behaving weapons, upgrade their tank stats, and compete in team deathmatches or free-for-all battles. While its terrain mechanics are simpler than the classic Worms titles, the depth of weapon trajectories and competitive matchmaking makes it one of the most active modern games in the genre.

Scorched Earth and Liero

Understanding games like Worms also means looking at related design branches. Scorched Earth (1991) is the mechanical grandfather of the genre, establishing the trajectory and wind systems that Worms popularized. Conversely, Liero (1998) took the destructible terrain and weapon variety of Worms and stripped away the turn-based structure, creating a chaotic real-time deathmatch experience often referred to as "Worms in real time."