
In a normal match, all teams begin with the same weapons, based on the chosen weapon set. Some are based on real-life arms, such as the shotgun, bazooka, and hand grenade others are rather fanciful and cartoonish, such as the sheep, which serves as a mobile explosive, and the skunk, which releases poisonous gas. The game includes a wide variety of weapons, including melee, projectile, and explosive weapons, as well as airstrike-based attacks. A Worm can be killed either by having its health reduced to zero or being knocked into the water around and below the level.

The Worm will lose health depending on the power of the weapon and the directness of the hit. Each Worm begins the round with a specific amount of health (which is predefined by the chosen game options or by scripting in Campaign levels). The objective of a traditional match is to defeat all opposing teams by killing their Worms, although in the campaign some missions have other objectives (such as collecting a specific Crate). Worms can walk and jump, as well as (when the proper items are available) swing by the Ninja Rope, Parachute, Teleport, and Bungee.

During a single turn, a team can only move one of its Worms (unless the Select Worm item is used). GameplayĪs always, game-play is turn-based, with each team moving in sequence (which is determined randomly) across a two-dimensional terrain. In homage to the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, one of the game weapons is a Holy Hand Grenade, with a sound-effect reminiscent of the Hallelujah chorus from Handel’s Messiah. These weapons are often based on cartoonish themes, such as the French Sheep Strike, and usually devastating in power. The special weapons are more powerful than regular weapons and often offer special abilities super weapons will rarely fall in weapon crates. chooses a special weapon which becomes available to them after a certain number of turns.

The game takes place on a destructible and customizable two-dimensional board and is characterized by cartoonish graphics and a unique brand of humour. In the game, the player controls a team of up to eight earthworms tasked with defeating an opposing team using a wide range of weapons at their disposal.
