Worms Blast is one of the more unusual spin-offs in Team17’s long-running Worms franchise, swapping the iconic turn-based artillery battles for a real-time puzzle-shooter hybrid that feels equal parts chaotic, colorful, and mechanically quirky. Instead of guiding a team of worms across a destructible landscape, you pilot a single character in a tiny boat, drifting beneath a ceiling of multicolored blocks. Your task is to aim a bazooka—or a rotating arsenal of equally silly weapons—at the blocks above, matching colors to clear space, trigger chain reactions, and survive long enough to complete each mission. From the very beginning, the game leans hard into its odd blend of genres, and while that mixture can be jarring, it provides a distinct identity that sets Worms Blast apart from its mainline siblings.
The core gameplay loop is simple yet frantic. Aiming and firing shots in real time turns what could have been a relaxed puzzle experience into something more tense and reactive. Blocks continuously shift downward, the water level may rise, and environmental hazards or obstacles create pressure to act quickly. When everything lines up—when you hit the exact angle needed to connect matching colors or create satisfying cascading collapses—the game delivers genuine bursts of excitement. There’s a kinetic thrill in watching a wall of blocks crumble because of one well-placed shot. This rhythm, a mix of action and puzzling, makes the early missions and arcade-style segments especially fun for players who enjoy fast decision-making and unpredictable outcomes.
Where Worms Blast finds its longest-lasting appeal is in its multiplayer and secondary modes. The single-player campaign introduces a map of branching levels, each with a unique objective—clear a certain number of blocks, survive for a duration, collect items, defeat enemies, or race a rising tide. But the competitive modes amplify the game’s personality. Two players can face off in split-screen, battling through mirrored puzzle fields that react to each player’s actions. Clearing blocks on your side can drop hazards or extra blocks on your opponent’s, turning each match into a tug-of-war filled with last-second reversals and slapstick chaos. Even today, that head-to-head format remains one of the most engaging ways to experience Worms Blast, capturing the lighthearted rivalry that defines the Worms brand.
Visually, the game carries forward the unmistakable Worms style—bright colors, exaggerated expressions, and a playful world that never takes itself too seriously. The character roster mixes classic worms with a handful of oddball creatures, each steering small boats adorned with amusing details. The environments are simple but lively, offering whimsical backdrops that complement the arcade-like feel of the gameplay. The audio design reinforces this lighthearted tone, with energetic sound effects, comedic reactions, and upbeat music that keeps the pace moving even when the stakes escalate. Team17’s trademark humor is present throughout, making even failure feel more silly than punishing.
However, Worms Blast also displays some of the limitations and frustrations of early 2000s puzzle design. The difficulty curve is uneven, with certain missions demanding pinpoint accuracy or incredibly fast reflexes that can feel out of proportion to earlier stages. Some levels depend heavily on luck—particularly when weapon drops or environmental shifts appear at inconvenient times—leading to repeated attempts that feel more tedious than challenging. The physics of block destruction and projectile trajectories can also be inconsistent, which may lead to shots missing by narrow, unpredictable margins. These quirks can transform later missions into exercises in patience rather than fun, especially for players seeking a more tightly controlled puzzle experience.
Another issue lies in the repetitive nature of the core mechanics. While the concept is entertaining in short bursts, the limited variety in objectives and the lack of deeper progression systems make long single-player sessions feel samey. Without the emergent unpredictability of multiplayer or the escalating strategy seen in more complex puzzle titles, Worms Blast’s novelty begins to fade once the core mechanics are mastered. Players hoping for long-term solo engagement may find themselves moving on after clearing the main map or tiring of repeated retries.
Despite these flaws, Worms Blast holds a particular charm as a quirky experiment from a studio known for embracing chaotic fun. It is neither a pure puzzle game nor a traditional action title, but rather a strange hybrid that offers moments of clever design wrapped in a cheerful cartoon package. Its best qualities emerge when played casually or competitively, where the unpredictable collisions of color-matching and weapon-based mayhem can produce genuine laughs and unexpected victories. As a solo experience, it can be enjoyable in moderation but occasionally frustrating or repetitive. As a multiplayer diversion, however, it remains lively and accessible, capturing the playful spirit that has kept the Worms franchise beloved for decades.
Rating: 5/10
