Report updated Apr 18, 2026
WORMS
For fans of classic turn-based strategy games and retro gaming enthusiasts looking for a nostalgic, high-replay-value experience.
WORMS is an established games app that is a paid app. With a 4.3/5 rating from 3.2M reviews, it shows polarized user reception. Users particularly appreciate offline accessibility, though faulty touch controls remains a common concern.
What is WORMS?
Current Momentum
vVARY · 1w ago
MaintenanceThe VARY update introduces seasonal St. Patrick’s and April Fools’ events alongside a 14-day reward calendar. The app is currently in a maintenance-heavy cycle with long gaps between feature releases.
What makes this app unique?
What Does It Look Like?
What Are The Key Features?
Classic tactical combat where players take turns planning and executing attacks with a variety of weapons.
Record and watch back the best moments from battles.
Supports up to 4 players in local or Bluetooth-enabled matches.
Personalize teams with custom names, voices, and gravestones.
How much does it cost?
- One-time purchase of $1.99
The iOS version follows a traditional premium model, which is increasingly rare in a category dominated by the free-to-play/ad-supported models of competitors like Tank Stars and Bowmasters.
Who Built It?
Team17 Digital
Bringing premium PC and console strategy franchises to mobile audiences through high-fidelity ports and tactical simulation gameplay.
Portfolio
13
Apps
What other apps does Team17 Digital make?
Explore the full Team17 Digital report
Portfolio breakdown, audience, momentum, and every app published by Team17 Digital.
What do users think recently?
High confidence · Latest 100 of 3.2M total reviews analyzed
How did the latest release land?
What is the recent mood?
Recent user voice shows a mixed sentiment. Users appreciate offline accessibility and nostalgic gameplay, but report faulty touch controls and stability and crashes.
What Users Love
What Frustrates Users
View the full user-sentiment analysis
Mood gauge, ratings & review-volume history, every praise / complaint / request, and sentiment over time.
What is the competitive landscape for WORMS?
Where is it available?
Localized markets (8)
How's The Games Market?
How does it evolve in the Games market?
Rank progression
336 active rankings tracked — 30-day window
The rivals identified
The outtake for WORMS
Strengths to defend, gaps to attack
Core Strengths
- Strong legacy IP and brand recognition
- High-quality offline play capability
- Unique Action Replay system for engagement
- Deep tactical variety in weapon sets
Critical Frictions
- Severe iOS technical debt (last updated 2016)
- Broken touch calibration on modern screens
- Critical crash at Challenge Level 41
- Outdated Bluetooth-only multiplayer
Growth Levers
- Implement asynchronous multiplayer (Phobies model)
- Introduce chest-based progression (Tank Stars model)
- Modernize UI for high-resolution displays
Market Threats
- Tank Stars' aggressive live-ops and progression
- Polytopia's high update velocity
- Shift toward real-time 3v3 combat in the genre
What are the next best moves?
Fix iOS touch-input calibration
This is the #1 complaint theme and makes the game 'nearly impossible to play' on modern devices, directly impacting the 3.13-star rating.
Debug and patch Challenge Level 41 crash
Users report this crash occurs 'without exception,' creating a hard wall for single-player progression and retention.
Evaluate Asynchronous Multiplayer implementation
Competitor Phobies has successfully used this to solve the 'wait for turn' friction, which is a known weakness in the current WORMS Bluetooth-only model.
Feature Gaps vs Competitors
- Chest-based progression system (available in Tank Stars)
- Asynchronous multiplayer (available in Phobies)
- Clan-based social features (available in Hills of Steel)
- Real-time 3v3 modes (available in Hills of Steel 2)
Key Takeaways
WORMS remains a powerful brand with a loyal base, but the iOS product is currently in a state of 'maintenance neglect' that threatens its premium positioning. To survive against modern rivals like Tank Stars, the PM must prioritize fixing the broken touch-input calibration and Level 41 crash before attempting to modernize the meta-game.
Where Is It Heading?
Mixed Signals
iOS version last updated Dec 2016 — indicates maintenance mode rather than active investment.
Android version updated April 2026 — shows active development and massive scale (3M+ ratings).
Frustrated user base regarding core controls — high risk of churn for the premium iOS SKU.