Free Alternatives to Worms
Short answer
Hedgewars is the best free alternative to Worms: free, open-source, turn-based artillery with destructible terrain and both hotseat and online multiplayer, in continuous development since 2004 and about 180 MB to install.
Turn-based artillery with silly weapons and destructible terrain is a genre almost entirely defined by one paid series. The free option is a faithful, actively maintained take that has been going since 2004.
Our pick: Hedgewars
Hedgewars is turn-based artillery with destructible terrain, dozens of absurd weapons, hotseat and online multiplayer, and a 180 MB install. It is the direct free equivalent of Worms.
How it differs from Worms: Hedgehogs rather than worms, and a slightly different weapon balance. Presentation is charming but less polished than recent commercial Worms entries.
All free Worms alternatives compared
| Game | Genre | Size | Licence | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hedgewars | Strategy · Arcade | 180 MB | Open Source (GPL-2.0) | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| SuperTuxKart | Racing · Arcade | 900 MB | Open Source (GPL-3.0) | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android |
Hedgewars
Hedgewars is turn-based artillery with destructible terrain, dozens of absurd weapons, hotseat and online multiplayer, and a 180 MB install. It is the direct free equivalent of Worms.
The difference: Hedgehogs rather than worms, and a slightly different weapon balance. Presentation is charming but less polished than recent commercial Worms entries.
Hedgewars clears all five: free with no monetisation, complete and content-rich, still maintained after two decades, genuinely funny and good on its own merits, and open-source so it cannot be shut down.
SuperTuxKart
For the same living-room competitive energy in a different genre, SuperTuxKart handles local multiplayer chaos just as well.
The difference: Kart racing, not artillery. Real-time rather than turn-based.
SuperTuxKart clears all five: free with no monetisation, complete with a full campaign and multiplayer, actively developed, genuinely fun on its own merits, and open-source so it cannot be shut down.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Worms?
Hedgewars is the best free alternative to Worms: free, open-source, turn-based artillery with destructible terrain and both hotseat and online multiplayer, in continuous development since 2004 and about 180 MB to install.
Are these Worms alternatives really free?
Yes. Every game listed here is free with no trial, no paywalled content and no pay-to-win purchases. All are open-source, which means they cannot be delisted or shut down. Each has been assessed against PlayBound's five published criteria.
Do I need to pay for multiplayer in these Worms alternatives?
No. None of these games charge for multiplayer. Public servers are community-run and free to join, and there is no subscription of any kind.
How is Hedgewars different from Worms?
Hedgehogs rather than worms, and a slightly different weapon balance. Presentation is charming but less polished than recent commercial Worms entries.
How is SuperTuxKart different from Worms?
Kart racing, not artillery. Real-time rather than turn-based.
Every game here has been assessed against the PlayBound Bar — five published criteria for whether a free game is actually worth your time.