Worms 2

Worms 2 expands the proven concept of turn-based artillery combat with harmless-looking worms into a more polished and content-rich whole. The principle remains the same as in the first game: two to four teams of worms take turns on a destructible 2D map, trying to use a wide arsenal of weapons — from the bazooka through the holy hand grenade to a sheep carrying a timed charge — to wipe out the opposing units before those units wipe them out. The terrain can be blasted apart and craters form from the explosions, making every round a unique tactical puzzle where judging distance, power, and wind's effect on a projectile's path is what matters. Movement across the map is aided by tools such as the rope or the parachute, mastering which opens up room for bolder maneuvers and escapes from enemy fire.

Compared to the first game, a range of new weapons and tools was added, along with improved graphics with more colorful and detailed environments and an expanded editor allowing players to build their own maps and scenarios to their own liking. Humor remains a key part of the experience, whether in the absurd sound effects, the overly theatrical deaths of the worms, or the contrast itself between the adorable look of the little characters and the devastating arsenal at their disposal. Local multiplayer for several players on one computer was the main reason the game became a beloved party pastime in schools and among friends, where a single round could easily eat up an entire afternoon.

Worms 2 was received at the time of release as a marked improvement over the first game and cemented the series' position as one of the most enjoyable turn-based combat games on PC. Its influence is still evident in the artillery-strategy genre today, where it remains a frequently cited and referenced model. Short, intense matches full of unexpected twists keep the game feeling fresh, even though two years later it was partly overshadowed by its own improved sequel subtitled Armageddon.

Why play it: Thanks to its short matches full of unexpected twists and its place in the history of the artillery genre, Worms 2 is worth returning to even today, even though in many ways it was surpassed by its own sequel, Armageddon.