Team17 has a new turn-based Worms game coming in 2027

Team17 and Absolutely Games have announced Worms: Galactic Tactics, a grid-based strategy spin-off scheduled for 2027. The game moves the long-running artillery series into a 3D tactical roguelike format.

The new format uses a strict grid. Worms move across floating isometric arenas instead of the usual 2D terrain. Players build custom squads and fight through a campaign called the Galactic Gauntlet. The goal is to defeat an antagonist named Emperor Flugg. It looks a bit like XCOM with bazookas. Weapons from older games are present, but the combat relies on chaining combos and upgrading gear across multiple runs rather than just guessing the wind trajectory. The arenas are fully destructible.

A different kind of grid

Absolutely Games is handling development. This makes sense given their background in turn-based tactics. Worms navigate hazards like toxic space fluid and fight on floating candy blocks. You still get the classic slapstick voice lines, like a worm yelling 'mayday' before taking a direct hit. But the structure is entirely different. I'm curious to see how the roguelike elements actually change the pacing, especially since traditional Worms matches already feel chaotic without adding permanent upgrades and a run-based structure into the mix.

Players will need to position their units carefully. The grid system removes the analog aiming that defined the early entries in the franchise. You select a target tile and let the game calculate the arc. This shifts the focus from physical execution to pure spatial planning. I'm not sure if hardcore fans will embrace the change, but strategy enthusiasts might find a lot to like here if the maps offer enough verticality and cover options. The 3D perspective allows for complex multi-level arenas. Units can drop attacks from high ground.

Two games in the works

Worms: Galactic Tactics will launch on PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4. The 2027 release date is a long way off. Team17 has plenty of time to refine the mechanics. The developer will likely run beta tests before the final launch.

That isn't the only project in the pipeline. A second game is also in development. A classic 2D worm holds a wooden sign confirming the extra project. Team17 didn't provide any details about this second title, though it seems safe to expect a return to the traditional artillery format that made the series famous in the first place. Two distinct games give fans of both styles something to play.

The dual announcement strategy is smart. It gives experimental players a new genre to try while reassuring purists that the old formula isn't dead. We'll just have to wait a while to play them. The 2027 window means neither game is imminent, so you have plenty of time to practice your ninja rope skills in the older games before these new entries finally arrive. Time to wait.

A history of spin-offs

The franchise has tried to break out of its 2D mold several times over the decades. Worms 3D brought the artillery action into full polygonal spaces back in 2003. Worms Pinball and Worms Crazy Golf applied the branding to entirely different genres. Recently, Worms Rumble attempted to turn the series into a real-time battle royale.

Some of these experiments worked better than others. Galactic Tactics feels like a more natural fit. Turn-based tactical combat is already close to the core DNA of the series. Moving from free-aiming artillery to a rigid grid is a smaller jump than moving to real-time action. The roguelike campaign structure is the real wild card here. If Absolutely Games can balance the random upgrades with the inherent chaos of exploding sheep, they might have a solid hit on their hands that appeals to an entirely new audience. We'll see.