Have you ever imagined being a worm for a day? Riley Neville, the creator behind the whimsical worm simulator Wirm, poses this question, and surprisingly, my answer is a resounding ‘yes!’ The charming trailer for this physics platformer has piqued my curiosity about the life of an unassuming worm.

What is Wirm?

Wirm is similar in spirit to the slapstick challenges of games like Bennett Foddy’s QWOP and Getting Over It, but it leans towards the joyous experience of being a worm rather than purely focusing on difficulty.

In this whimsical journey, players manipulate the worm’s peristaltic motion to traverse obstacles, and if they encounter barriers, digging through the dirt is a viable solution. Uniquely, the game allows the worm to take to the skies, offering an exploration of both earthly terrains and cosmic adventures.

In the trailer, we witness the worm navigating the underbrush, perusing mushrooms, and munching on fruit—with the last scene showcasing its ascent into space. In response to fan inquiries regarding space involvement, Neville hints, ‘not to spoil too much, but a decent chunk of this game is already set in space.’

The excitement around Wirm is palpable, especially from industry figures like Tim Schafer, the mastermind behind Grim Fandango and Psychonauts. He expressed enthusiasm on social media, stating, ‘Okay, I know nothing about this worm game except that it looks super cute and fun.’

Moreover, Neville’s previous project with SBug Games, Webbed, a spider-themed physics-platformer launched in 2021, has been received exceptionally well, earning an ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ rating on Steam with nearly 13,000 reviews.

Wirm is set to launch soon on Steam, promising a delightful experience for players eager to navigate the life of a worm while exploring the cosmos.