Worms is a turn based artillery game, similar to other early games in the genre such as Scorched Earth. The game is set on a two-dimensional field. The players control a team of worms, each consisting of four user. The objective is to kill every member of the opposing team(s) within a set time limit per round. Each turn, which lasts from 45 to 100 seconds, a player may move a selected worm and use one or more of the available weapons and tools.

The weapons include simple firearms like the shotgun and Uzi, alongside a variety of heavy weapons such as the bazooka (the default selection), cluster grenades and airstrikes. The game also includes a number of 'secret' weapons (available through cheat codes on options screens or 'weapon drops' during the game) such as the Banana Bomb and exploding sheep, for which the series has become famous.

Worms is an ultra-fast-paced game of team strategy for up to 16 players. It's a little bit "Lemmings

You command a smallish army staffed with worms trained for various duties. Your object is to fight a war, and your goal is to be the last worm left crawling....

A rather intriguing strategy game with a tongue-in-cheek sense of humor that proved to be quite popular. Think of it as a mix of Lemmings and Cannon Fodder.

Worms requires great thought, strategy and elements of sheer outrageous fortune within an almost infinite range of playing possibilities. This game has tons of weapon power-ups (bazookas, cluster bombs, and homing missiles), and the most brutal worm battalions ever to infest a game screen! Teams take turns to bombard the enemy with whatever weapon they feel is likely to reap the most reward. The last team remaining wins the game. Designed for one to four players of all ages.

Gameplay is turn-based, with each team moving in sequence (which is determined randomly) across two-dimensional terrain. During a single turn, a team can only move one of its worms (unless the Select Worm item is used). Worms can walk and jump, as well as (when the proper items are available) swing by rope, parachute, teleport, and bungee. The objective of a traditional match is to defeat all opposing teams by killing their worms, although in the campaign some missions have other objectives (such as collecting a specific crate).

Each worm begins the round with a specific amount of health (which is predefined by the chosen game options or by scripting in campaign levels). When hit with a weapon, the worm will lose health depending on the power of the weapon and the directness of the hit. A worm can be killed either by having its health reduced to zero or being knocked into the water around and below the level.