Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition is a turn-based strategy game that revives the 1999 classic for modern consoles including the PS5. Players command teams of worms in battles set on fully destructible 2D landscapes, using an arsenal of weapons and tools to eliminate opposing teams while managing wind, terrain, and limited turn timers. The core loop revolves around positioning worms, selecting attacks, and adapting to chaotic outcomes that often produce unexpected results.
Gameplay
The action unfolds in side-view arenas where teams take turns controlling individual worms. Each turn allows movement across the terrain followed by an attack or utility action, with physics and environmental factors like wind direction influencing projectile trajectories. Worms can dig, build temporary structures, or use mobility tools to reach better vantage points before striking. Health starts at standard levels and depletes from direct hits or falls into water, with matches continuing until one team remains. Customization extends to team composition, individual worm names and voices, and detailed match rules that adjust energy handicaps or available options.
Over 55 weapons and tools deliver the signature mix of conventional and absurd options. Classics such as the bazooka sit alongside items like the Holy Hand Grenade, exploding sheep variants, and specialized strikes including Earthquake, Freeze, and French Sheep Strike. Utility items support repositioning or terrain alteration, while environmental hazards such as exploding barrels add further variables. Sound banks exceed 30 options, ranging from stiff upper lip accents to cyber-themed voices that alter the audio personality of each match.
Game Modes
Single-player options include a training section that teaches core mechanics, a campaign of more than 40 missions with varied objectives, and a progressive deathmatch mode against increasingly difficult AI opponents. Difficulties range across five settings from beginner to classic, allowing players to scale challenge levels. Quick start provides immediate access to CPU battles with default settings.
Multiplayer supports local play through hotseat on a single controller or multiple controllers, with options for allied teams that share weapons while operating on separate turns. Handicapping lets players add or deduct starting energy, and additional rules such as Worms Disease or home run mechanics introduce further variety. Online play includes quick match, ranked, and custom player-hosted sessions, supporting up to six participants with cross-generation compatibility within the same console family.
Weapons, Customization, and Extras
The extensive weapon roster encourages experimentation, as many tools interact unpredictably with the destructible environments and wind mechanics. Players can toggle weapon availability per match and fine-tune timers or quantities to create tailored experiences. Team editors allow full control over names, gravestones, flags, and victory animations, while broader options adjust worm counts, round structures, and map generation.
Beyond the main game, the edition includes a fully playable Game Boy Color version of Worms Armageddon complete with modern enhancements such as rewind, filters, and borders. An interactive museum presents a timeline of the series with developer interviews and archival materials that document its development history.
Is It Worth Playing?
This release preserves the original gameplay loop that made the 1999 title stand out, delivering reliable turn-based strategy with strong emphasis on local multiplayer sessions and extensive customization. The campaign and training provide structured single-player content, while the added museum and handheld version extend replay value for those interested in the series background. Online lobbies can vary in activity, and some interface elements retain a dated feel, yet the core experience remains engaging for players who enjoy humorous, physics-driven battles and group play. It suits fans of classic strategy titles seeking a faithful console version with quality-of-life updates rather than major overhauls.
