Wakefield Museums and Castles

Bananas, rockets and exploding sheep! We've opened a new display at Wakefield Museum celebrating 30 years of the legendary video game 'Worms'.

Worms was published in December 1995 by Wakefield-based game developers Team17. We're proud to have worked with staff members past and present from Team17 to celebrate this anniversary.

Read on to discover Wakefield's game-changing contribution to the industry.

A Wakefield game changer

In late 1995, a small Wakefield based developer made a computer game about warring worms. The game was a hit. Its creators became one of the most important gaming companies in the UK.

Worms is an artillery game. Players control groups of cute cartoon worms on a randomly generated landscape.

Each worm takes it in turn to attack the opposition with wacky weapons. The aim is to be the last team of worms left standing.

Bournemouth teenager Andy Davidson created Total Wormage in the early 1990s. He programmed the game on his Commodore Amiga in his bedroom.

In 1994 he took it to the European Computer Trade Show in London. Within minutes of showing his game to Wakefield-based Team17, he had a publishing deal.

Andy was soon at Team17’s Wakefield studio. He worked with their specialists on the gameplay, sound and visuals.

In December 1995, the game was launched as 'Worms'. It became an instant classic and an award-winning global phenomenon. It was a game changer for Team17. They became one of Britain’s most innovative and exciting gaming companies.

The success of Worms for Team17 kickstarted the games industry in Wakefield.

Despite the rise of modern gaming, Worms has remained a fan favourite. It has adapted with mobile and online versions.

In 2025, Andy Davidson returned to Worms for the 30th anniversary. He created his long-awaited 1.5 edition of the 1997 Amiga game, 'Worms: The Director’s Cut'.

Andy also joined us for November's Artwalk Wakefield - and played his own game here!

About Team17

Team17 was formed in 1990 by members of three companies from Wakefield, Yorkshire and Sweden.

Team17 had early success releasing titles for the Commodore Amiga.

Worms was their first multiformat hit. They adapted it for other consoles, such as the Sega Saturn and PlayStation.

Team17 have worked from various studios in Wakefield and Ossett over the last 30 years. They have released over 100 games and continue to be a global player in the games industry.

Team17 have supported many indie games developers to bring their titles to market, like Andy before them.

This includes Mauricio Garcia, producer of 'Blasphemous' and CEO of Game Kitchen. Mauricio's game Blasphemous is part of the display. He popped in for a visit while over from Spain!

The interactive display now at Wakefield Museum

Our new display features a wealth of Worms and Team17 game boxes from over the years. Will you spot the ones you used to play (or maybe you still do)?

There is also a variety of video game consoles on show. Revel in the nostalgia with a Cheetah 125+ joystick from the 1980s and an early 1990s Commodore 64.

Best of all, you can actually play Worms: The Director's Cut here at the museum! (PEGI rated 12+) Will you be the Wakey Worms Museum champion?