Worms (1995 video game)

Worms is a 2D artillery tactical video game developed by Team17 and released in 1995. It is the first game in the Worms series of video games. It is a turn-based game where a player controls a team of worms against other teams of worms that are controlled by a computer or human opponent. The aim is to use various weapons to kill the worms on the other teams and have the last surviving worm(s). Level designs are randomly generated based on seeds, with over 55,000 possible level creations. Worms entered production in 1990 under the title Artillery. Andy Davidson, the game's main developer, overhauled his idea after seeing how Commodore's Amiga refined his ideas while introducing new ones. Lemmings (1991) served as one of the main inspirations for the game, as Davidson wanted Worms to deliver a similar quality of animation and humour. Davidson would also have trouble pitching the game to developers. Eventually, after showcasing the game at a 1994 ECTS, Davidson would meet with Team17's co-founder Martyn Brown who immediately offered to develop and publish the game. The game first released in Europe for the Amiga on 17 November 1995, with many console ports releasing in the following years. Worms initially received a polarised reception; the gameplay was generally praised while its multiplayer and similarities to Lemmings and Cannon Fodder (1993) divided opinions. Across all ports, the game sold around 5 million units as of 2006. Despite its mixed reception at the time, the game has been retrospectively cited as one of the greatest video games ever made. It was included as a title in the 2010 book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die. Its commercial success also spawned a franchise, beginning with Worms 2 in 1997.