Worms Galactic Tactics Announced for 2027 With 3D Roguelike Strategy and Destructible Arenas

Team17 Takes Worms Into Space With Tactical 3D Battles, Custom Squads and a New Roguelike Formula

Rather than simply creating another Worms artillery game, Absolutely Games is building a tactical roguelike around the franchise.

Players will assemble customized squads, fight through a multi-stage challenge called the Galactic Gauntlet, upgrade their equipment and attempt to survive increasingly difficult encounters.

And there is another surprise.

The trailer ended by teasing that another new Worms game is also in development, although Team17 has not provided a name, release window or gameplay details for that project.

Worms Is Getting a Completely Different Gameplay Formula

For decades, Worms has been associated with turn-based artillery battles.

Players position their worms, select ridiculous weapons and attempt to destroy opponents across destructible environments.

Galactic Tactics keeps some of that spirit but changes the underlying structure.

The new game is described as a 3D tactical roguelike.

Instead of fighting from a traditional side-on perspective, players will control squads across 3D arenas and make tactical decisions during battles.

That creates considerably more room for positioning.

Players can use elevation, movement and environmental destruction to create better attacks.

The change could make Worms feel closer to a tactical strategy game while preserving the franchise's humor and over-the-top weaponry.

Welcome to the Galactic Gauntlet

The main campaign structure revolves around the Galactic Gauntlet.

According to the official description, players assemble a custom squad of worms and enter a multi-stage deathmatch filled with increasingly difficult challenges.

Each encounter can introduce new enemies, upgrades and opportunities to improve the squad.

The ultimate objective is to fight through the gauntlet and face its ruler, Emperor Flugg.

This gives the game a clear progression structure.

Instead of simply completing individual matches, players are expected to build a squad capable of surviving a longer sequence of encounters.

That is where the roguelike design becomes important.

Death Is Part of the Progression

Worms: Galactic Tactics is designed around repeated attempts.

The Steam listing explains that when a run ends, players can use their accumulated Juice to upgrade their worms before jumping back into the action.

This creates a familiar roguelike loop:

Enter the arena → fight → earn resources → improve the squad → attempt a harder run.

The structure could make each failure meaningful.

Instead of simply losing progress, players can potentially use what they earned during the previous attempt to make their next squad stronger.

That also creates opportunities for experimentation.

A player could try a defensive build during one run and focus on aggressive weapon combinations during another.

Classic Worms Weapons Are Being Reworked

The franchise's weapons are not disappearing.

Instead, they are being adapted to the new format.

The developers say players will be able to modify classic Worms weapons and combine them into different loadouts.

That could become one of the most entertaining parts of Galactic Tactics.

Worms has always been known for absurd weapons.

The new tactical system gives players additional reasons to experiment with them.

The Steam listing even highlights the Cosmic Donkey, showing that the game's developers are not abandoning the ridiculous humor that has always been part of the series.

Positioning Will Matter More Than Ever

The move to 3D changes how players approach combat.

In traditional Worms games, terrain and angles are extremely important, but the battlefield remains fundamentally side-on.

Galactic Tactics introduces more vertical space.

The Steam description specifically encourages players to take the high ground to improve their aim.

That means positioning can become a major tactical tool.

Players may need to think about:

Elevation
Cover
Movement
Weapon range
Enemy positioning
Destructible terrain
Timing
Squad composition

The game also uses skill-based weapon minigames to determine whether attacks land effectively.

That means simply having a powerful weapon may not guarantee success.

Players still need to execute attacks correctly.

Destructible Arenas Return in a New Form

Destruction remains a central part of the Worms identity.

Galactic Tactics features fully destructible 3D arenas, allowing battles to change as players attack the environment.

This could make the battlefield itself part of the strategy.

Destroying terrain may expose an enemy.

Removing cover could create a better firing position.

A carefully placed attack might alter the map and force opponents to change their plans.

That is a natural evolution of one of Worms' oldest mechanics.

The difference is that the new 3D structure should provide many more possibilities for manipulating the battlefield.

Custom Squads Give Players More Control

Players will not simply control a fixed collection of worms.

Galactic Tactics allows them to create their own squads.

The Steam page also highlights extensive customization, including names, outfits, voices and gravestones.

That fits the series' personality.

Worms has always allowed players to personalize their teams, but Galactic Tactics appears to push that idea further by making squad-building part of the tactical experience.

The goal is to create a team that matches the player's preferred strategy.

Different worms can potentially be configured around different tactical roles and equipment combinations.

Multiplayer Is Confirmed

Galactic Tactics is not exclusively a single-player experience.

The Steam listing confirms 1v1 multiplayer, including both local and online play.

That is an important feature for the Worms franchise.

Competitive multiplayer has always been one of the series' strongest attractions.

The new tactical format could create a different kind of competitive experience.

Instead of relying primarily on traditional artillery duels, players will need to manage squads, movement, upgrades and tactical positioning.

The combination could appeal to longtime Worms players as well as fans of turn-based strategy games.

A New Worms Game Is Also in Development

The announcement contained another major surprise.

At the end of the reveal trailer, Team17 teased another Worms game.

The project has not been named.

There is no confirmed release date.

No gameplay details have been announced.

The only confirmed information is that another Worms title is in development.

This is particularly interesting because it suggests Team17 is not treating Galactic Tactics as a replacement for the traditional Worms formula.

Instead, the company appears to be expanding the franchise with multiple projects.

That could mean fans eventually get both a tactical spin-off and another game closer to the classic Worms experience.

However, anything beyond that remains speculation until Team17 provides more information.

Platforms and Release Window

Worms: Galactic Tactics is confirmed for:

PC via Steam
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X|S
Nintendo Switch 2

The game is scheduled for 2027, but an exact release date has not been announced.

Steam currently lists the release date as To Be Announced.

There is also no announced price.

Players can currently wishlist the game on Steam.

Why Galactic Tactics Could Work

The biggest risk is also the game's biggest opportunity.

Worms: Galactic Tactics is changing a formula that players already understand.

That could alienate fans who simply want another traditional Worms artillery game.

But the change could also refresh the franchise.

The tactical roguelike structure gives the series new progression possibilities without removing its most recognizable features.

Destruction remains.

Classic weapons remain.

Customization remains.

The humor remains.

What changes is the way those elements are combined.

If Absolutely Games can make the tactical mechanics deep without losing the accessibility that made Worms popular, Galactic Tactics could become an interesting new branch of the franchise.

Confirmed Information

Team17 and Absolutely Games have confirmed:

Worms: Galactic Tactics is officially in development.
Absolutely Games is developing it.
Team17 is publishing it.
The game is scheduled for 2027.
PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 are confirmed.
It uses 3D turn-based tactical gameplay.
The game incorporates roguelike progression.
Players build custom Worms squads.
Battles take place in destructible arenas.
Classic weapons can be modified.
The Galactic Gauntlet is the central multi-stage challenge.
Emperor Flugg is the final opponent of the gauntlet.
Players can upgrade their worms using resources earned during runs.
1v1 local and online multiplayer is included.
A second, unnamed Worms project is also in development.

Rumors and Speculation

The unnamed second Worms game has almost no confirmed details.

Team17 has not revealed whether it will be a traditional artillery game, a remake, a sequel or another spin-off.

The release date for Galactic Tactics is also unknown beyond its 2027 window.

Pricing, system requirements and the full list of multiplayer modes have not yet been announced.

Therefore, claims about those details should not be treated as confirmed information.

Conclusion

Worms: Galactic Tactics is one of the more unexpected franchise reinventions revealed at Gamescom 2026.

Instead of simply producing another artillery sequel, Team17 and Absolutely Games are turning Worms into a 3D tactical roguelike.

The Galactic Gauntlet, destructible arenas, squad customization, upgrade system and modified weapons give the game a significantly different structure from the classic series.

At the same time, the developers are retaining the absurd weapons, customization and humor that make Worms recognizable.

The surprise announcement of another unnamed Worms project makes the reveal even more interesting.

For now, Galactic Tactics is scheduled for 2027 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2.

If the developers successfully combine deep tactical gameplay with Worms' trademark chaos, this could become much more than a simple spin-off.