I know what you're thinking - 'a roguelike worms game?' It's not something you usually associate with the Worms series, but Team17 have upped the ante and brought a new feel to the game. A worms that feels more like Returnal... things just got interesting!
Let's talk about what Roguelike means to start with. In traditional terms, a Roguelike means that when you die, you lose all of your progress or build on your character and start again. Some things carry over if you get to a certain point in the game, but usually, you'll lose everything your character has obtained or any stats and have to start with a new build. Roguelikes typically also have ever-changing levels and turn-based gameplay.
Worms has the turn-based gameplay down, but now it looks like if your character dies, you'll cash in any currency and use that to mod new weapons and create new attack opportunities. The official listing on Steam states that 'when you inevitably perish, cash in your Juice and upgrade your worms, then dive straight back into the action!' So it sounds like Juice is the only thing that will carry over from battle to battle, and the line 'after every battle you'll be offered fresh ways to annihilate your opposition!' sounds like a nice way of saying 'you're gonna have to start from scratch again, kid.'
Worms are back and are taking an explosive leap into tactical 3D roguelike combat! 🪱
— Worms (@WormsTeam17) August 25, 2026
Introducing Worms: Galactic Tactics! Assemble your custom squad of Worms and battle to survive!
🧨 Fight in fully destructible arenas
🔫 Upgrade and reinvent classic Worms weapons
🧠 Chain… pic.twitter.com/d27FE6t0pC
Graphics-wise, the game looks awesome. When I think back to some of the early Worms games I played, they were very basic. This 3D battlefest looks like it'll keep you on the edge of your seat and provide a whole new experience for fans who grew up playing the original Worms, Worms 2, and Worms Armageddon.
The arenas are all fully destructible, and the storyline has taken on a very Hunger Games-esque feel to it. You and your fellow players have been abducted from across the galaxy and must fight to climb the ranks of the Galactic Gauntlet in order to fight the Emperor Flugg.
It sounds like Galactic Gauntlet has even more of a tactical nature to it now than the previous games, which will please fans who like to get a brain workout when they sit down to game. The game is launching in 2027 on Switch 2, Ps5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam, and you can wishlist it on Steam now!
