[EXPlay] Worms Rumble (Nintendo Switch)

Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, whilst also taking the time to include some lengthy gameplay, to give you the reader, the chance to shape your own impressions and views whilst watching and reading. In this instalment, we’re covering Worms Rumble by developer and publisher Team17.

Worms Rumble: (The Explanation)

Get ready for the rumble in the jungle as anthropomorphic worms do battle once again, only this time an entirely different stage has been set. The warfare is in real-time and these worms will stop at nothing until they’re the last ones standing. Initially released last year, today we are of course covering Worms Rumble, the spin-off game that steps away from the main series, but keeps much of its slapstick humour and charm.

By the time Worms Rumble first rolled out in 2020, as a series, Worms had officially turned 25 years old and developer Team17 chose Worms Rumble to be their means of celebrating the epic anniversary and what a way to celebrate it was. Being as though Worms was previously a series of games revolving around artillery-and turn-based, tactical combat game, now it has become something more.

Sporting 2.5D graphics, arenas full of detail and 3D visuals of character customised worms, Worms Rumble is a game essentially revolving around online gameplay that pits players from all over the globe, against one another in an attempt for players to try and lead their team to victory in team deathmatch battles or strive to be the last worm standing. All of which relies on real-time combat, allowing anyone and everyone the chance to steal your kill and gun you down in the process.

Speaking of weapons, many of the arsenal seen in Worms Rumble do in fact come from other Worms games, such as the jet pack and shotgun, holy hand grenade, and a rather lethal sheep launcher that really knows how to deal the damage. However, because players can duke it out in real-time and crossplay is supported across all platforms the game is available on, it does mean a total of 32 players can come together and engage in pure carnage never before truly experienced in a Worms game and it is beautiful to behold.

The soundtrack, sound effects and character voices present in Worms Rumble can seem a little limited at times and are nothing lavish, but the booms, bangs, jeers and cheers are all still appreciated nonetheless and help to make the combat engaging and just in case online battling isn’t enough of an incentive to keep playing, players can earn an assortment of XP points for themselves and the weapons they use and coins that can be used for purchasing new customisations.

Then of course, on the side, there are also seasonal and temporary events, challenges and a special lab that allows players to mess around by experimenting with new gameplay mechanics and weaponry. Plus with the challenges, players can give themself something else to strive towards, which when accomplished will net them some useful rewards.

While Worms Rumble performs admirably in showing off how a real-time game would work and has some fantastic customisations and perks for those willing to pursue them, for the truest of series fans, at times it can feel a little more like an overstep in the wrong direction, as opposed to a step in the right one. Lots of great ideas have been put to work and work well, but with a rewarding single-player campaign absent and an overreliance on online play, Worms Rumble is a colourful combat-focused game that can be easily out shadowed by the more popular Ninjala, Splatoon 2 and Fortnite.

Worms Rumble: (The Gameplay)

Game Specifications:

Developer: Team17
Publisher: Team17
Platform: Nintendo Switch (eShop)
Category: Action, Strategy, Multiplayer, Other
No. of Players: up to 32 players
Release Date: June 23, 2021 (EU & NA)
Price: $14.99
File Size: 5.6 GB
Nintendo.com Listing