Worms , released on the Commodore 64, is an action-packed game that takes its inspiration from the classic pen and paper game Dots and Boxes. Players control a worm-like creature called a SAIL as it moves about the single screen, drawing trails to connect dots placed at a diagonal angle to complete territories. The goal is to accumulate points by creating territories, with each territory awarded a set number of points.
The gameplay in Worms offers varying levels of control over your SAIL, including New, Auto, and Wild modes. In New mode, players have manual control but can also rely on the computer to detect patterns and repeat them automatically. The Auto mode allows the computer to make intelligent moves, while Wild lets the computer move the SAIL in random directions. Each SAIL's trail is colored based on its color when it touches another SAIL's trail.
As players progress through the game, they must navigate their SAIL around existing trails and territories without crossing them or occupying empty spaces. If a SAIL cannot move, it is removed from the screen, and the game ends. The final score is calculated by adding up the points earned by each SAIL, with the player having the most territories declared the winner.