Team17 on Friday released Worms Express for iPhone, a scaled-down version of the tongue-in-cheek strategy game designed to introduce it to a wider audience. In addition, the publisher announced plans to update the original Worms for iPhone with Bluetooth support for multi-player action and enhanced graphics on the iPhone 3GS and new iPod touch.

Worms Express (US$0.99) features single-player action in two environments, Hell and Hawaii, with randomly-generated battlefields, positions, and mines. A dozen challenges are included, along with three difficulty levels.

Meanwhile, the forthcoming Worms 2.0 ($4.99) will offer support for multi-player gaming over Bluetooth and new visual options on the iPhone 3GS and latest iPod touch, bumping up the graphics on those handhelds, which feature more robust hardware specs than previous iPhone and iPod touch models. The free update is expected later this month, and Team17 said that multiplayer battles over the Internet will be added to the game in early 2010.

Other new games hitting the App Store this week include the interior designer game Home Sweet Home ($4.99), the falling blocks game ZOZO Bugs ($0.99), the path-drawing and match three game Furballs! ($0.99), the educational title TeachMe: Kindergarten ($0.99), and Gee Logic's Video Poker: Jacks or Better ($0.99).