Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Worms Forts: Under Siege retains the classic turn-based strategy that has defined the series, but it elevates the formula with its unique fort-building mechanics. Each player controls a team of four worms, taking timed turns to deploy an arsenal of weapons—from the ever-popular bazooka and homing pigeon to fort-destroying trebuchets and nuclear strikes. The introduction of buildable structures such as hospitals, strongholds, and weapon factories adds a dynamic layer of territory control. You must decide whether to focus on aggressive assaults or invest your Action Points in upgrading and repairing your fortifications.

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The fort system brings new strategic depth: you can construct towers and keeps to house long-range weapons, or erect science labs to boost your firepower. Wonders, if left uncrushed in two turns, provide a path to instant victory, forcing opponents to divert resources from offense to siege warfare. This tug-of-war between attack and defense keeps every match fresh and unpredictable, as you scramble to protect your own stronghold while undermining your adversary’s.

Crates drop or teleport onto the map at random intervals, rewarding you with health boosts, utility powers like double time or freeze, and powerful weapons. Collectible utilities such as jet packs and parachutes allow for creative escapes or surprise assaults, while repair crates can turn the tide by restoring damaged buildings. The varied crate system ensures that no two games play out the same way, encouraging adaptability and on-the-fly decision making.

The game offers a robust single-player suite—tutorial, quick match, campaign, death-match trials, and even a viewing gallery for unlocked cinematics and Fortapedia entries. Multiplayer takes full advantage of customizable options: select landscapes (Roman, Egyptian, Samurai, Old World), pre-set weapon schemes, sudden death rules, turn time, and worm health. Whether battling friends locally, challenging the CPU, or diving into online skirmishes, the gameplay remains engaging, competitive, and maddeningly fun.

Graphics

Worms Forts: Under Siege features bright, cartoon-style 2D visuals that capture the series’ trademark whimsy. The environments are richly themed—Roman coliseums, Egyptian dunes, and Samurai castles all come to life with colorful backdrops and playful animations. Each landscape is visually distinct, making map selection feel like choosing a strategic playground as well as a battleground.

Character animations retain the charming, exaggerated motions fans love: worms do backflips when spawned, celebrate with cheeky taunts, and crumble theatrically when defeated. Weapon effects—from the fiery arc of a bazooka rocket to the comedic chaos of a homing pigeon—are crisp and satisfyingly over-the-top. Explosions shake the terrain dynamically, sending debris flying and altering the landscape, reinforcing the tactile feel of each shot.

The fort structures add a fresh visual layer to the battlefield. As you upgrade buildings, you’ll see scaffolds grow into formidable keeps, labs light up with electrical arcs, and towers sprout battlements. Brilliant particle effects accompany construction, weapon factories produce glowing loadouts, and Wonder monuments loom majestically before you’re tasked with their destruction.

Although not a cutting-edge 3D engine, Under Siege’s art style is timeless, running smoothly on a wide range of hardware. Its 2D charm and attention to detail feel like a lovingly illustrated pop-up book—accessible to newcomers and nostalgic to series veterans. The UI remains clean and intuitive, with clear icons for weapons, Action Points, and crate types, ensuring that visual clarity never compromises strategic planning.

Story

Worms Forts: Under Siege doesn’t focus on a traditional narrative, but it weaves an entertaining framework through its single-player campaign. Each series of missions pits you against themed AI opponents—Roman legions, samurai warriors, or medieval knights—challenging you to master fort-building and siege tactics. The campaign’s escalating difficulty introduces new buildings and weapons at a measured pace, ensuring a sense of progression and discovery.

Between matches, brief animated cutscenes add lighthearted context, showing your team of worms gearing up for battle or reacting comically to victories and defeats. While there’s no deep lore or character arcs, the series’ tongue-in-cheek humor shines through, making every mission feel like part of a larger, whimsical war of worms.

The Fortapedia is a delightful touch, functioning like an in-game codex that catalogues each building type, weapon, and utility. As you unlock new items through campaign triumphs or multiplayer skirmishes, you’ll find yourself returning to the Fortapedia to pore over descriptions and strategize your next build order. This pseudo-lore adds an educational layer to the otherwise arcade-style action.

Overall, the story experience in Worms Forts is light and playful—a backdrop that serves the gameplay rather than overshadowing it. If you’re seeking an epic tale, you won’t find it here; instead, you get a series of fun, bite-sized skirmishes tied together by witty animations and a loose, charming theme of worm warfare.

Overall Experience

Worms Forts: Under Siege revitalizes the classic Worms formula by introducing fort-building and wonder mechanics that transform each skirmish into a complex dance of offense, defense, and resource management. The core loop of turn-based weapon assaults combined with strategic construction offers endless replayability: no two matches feel the same, and every victory is earned through tactical planning and a bit of chaotic fun.

The learning curve is gentle enough for newcomers, thanks to a thorough tutorial and progressive single-player challenges, yet the depth of options keeps veterans engaged. Multiplayer customization—landscapes, weapon schemes, sudden-death parameters—allows you to fine-tune matches for casual hangouts or competitive bouts. Online and local play both feel robust, with the AI providing a solid stand-in when human opponents aren’t available.

Graphically, the game’s 2D cartoon style remains as charming as ever, presenting vibrant battlefields and expressive worm animations. Sound design, from comedic grunt effects to satisfying explosion booms, underscores the zaniness without ever becoming grating. The UI is clean and informative, guiding you seamlessly through build menus, weapon selections, and turn timers.

In sum, Worms Forts: Under Siege strikes an excellent balance between strategic depth and lighthearted mayhem. Its fort-building innovations breathe fresh life into a beloved franchise, making it a must-play for both longtime Worms devotees and strategy game newcomers alike. Jump in, erect your strongest castle, and prepare for hilariously explosive warfare—your worms are counting on you!

Retro Replay Score

6.4/10