Plants vs. Zombies

About

Plants vs. Zombies is a single-player real-time strategy game with an intriguing story and beautiful gameplay, featuring outstanding graphics and stunning music. The objective is to defend your home from invading zombies using a variety of plants with different offensive abilities. Despite some grinding, annoying ads, bugs, and occasional emotional moments, the game's humor and unique concept make it a fun and engaging experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,000 reviews

music81 positive mentions

monetization4.5k negative mentions

The game is a classic and brings back nostalgic memories for many players.
Gameplay is fun and engaging, with a variety of plants and zombies to strategize with.
The graphics and sound design are charming and add to the overall experience.

There are excessive ads that interrupt gameplay, often requiring players to watch multiple ads before and after levels.
Purchasing the 'remove ads' option does not effectively eliminate ads, leading to frustration among players.
Progress is frequently lost or reset, causing players to start over from the beginning without any way to recover their achievements.

monetization
5,089 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
2%
89%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, primarily due to the overwhelming number of ads that persist even after purchasing the "remove ads" option. Many players report feeling deceived, as they continue to encounter ads before and after levels, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience. While some users suggest turning off Wi-Fi to avoid ads, the general consensus is that the aggressive monetization strategy has turned a beloved classic into a frustrating experience.
- “I love this game and have played it on every platform, but I'm very annoyed that I paid for no ads and yet I still get ads.”
- “Overall, it's still the old PVZ I remembered, but with a crapton of microtransactions.”
- “I paid for no ads, but I still have ads every time I end a level in survival, or go to my zen garden.”
- “I feel like I just got jipped out of $4, which isn't an issue, but the idea of being able to play the game for free, then getting ads every time after I complete a level even after paying to have them removed is kind of a mood killer.”
- “I paid to remove ads but I'm still getting ads, tons of ads!!”
- “Paid to remove ads but still getting ads before every round.”
music
331 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
74%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and catchy soundtracks, which many players find integral to the overall experience. However, numerous reviews highlight significant issues, including frequent interruptions caused by ads that cut off the music, glitches that cause the music to stop playing, and the removal of beloved tracks, particularly the end credits song and horde music from the original version. Overall, while the music is celebrated, its inconsistent availability and the impact of ads detract from the enjoyment for many players.
- “The soundtrack absolutely bops too; if you usually play with sound off or background stuff, I highly suggest you play with sound on for this gem.”
- “The music is one of the best I've ever heard in games.”
- “This is a great game; it has fun gameplay, great art design, amazing music, and that's why I give five stars. It's the perfect game for people who like tower defense games.”
- “The music loops are a little messed up, and the horde/wave songs never play.”
- “Whenever an ad plays, the music settings in options will be off, causing you to have to turn the music on, then off, then on again.”
- “I was really disappointed that there's no music video.”
graphics
324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
34%
7%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the charming art style and vibrant colors, while others criticize the updates that have altered the original aesthetic. Some players appreciate the graphics as a nostalgic element, noting their appeal despite being somewhat dated, while others express disappointment over perceived declines in quality or clarity. Overall, the graphics are generally considered good for a game of its age, but there are calls for improvements and a return to the original style.
- “The graphics are exceptional and the gameplay keeps you interested.”
- “I love this game because of all the bright colors and the interesting graphics.”
- “The graphics are amazing, the UI is scary zombie-looking, it's so fun!”
- “The graphics are sparse and unappealing; for some reason, there's a gap of 1/5th of the screen between the lawn and the seeds (why?).”
- “The graphics look like laminated cutouts done by a preschool class, jagged and oblong.”
- “This game is nothing like I remember; the graphics are so bad now, everything is way different. I loved this game before the new update; now I hate it!”
gameplay
260 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
45%
7%
The gameplay of Plants vs. Zombies is widely praised for its simplicity, addictive nature, and nostalgic appeal, offering a variety of strategies and challenges that keep players engaged. However, many users express frustration with the overwhelming number of ads, which disrupt the gaming experience and can lead to lost progress. Overall, while the core gameplay remains enjoyable and well-designed, the intrusive ads and occasional technical issues detract from the overall experience.
- “Users from all ages can adapt and understand the mechanics easily because it is not complicated.”
- “Incredible replay value, addictive gameplay, diverse levels, a ton of stuff to do: various minigames, trophies, and plant collecting.”
- “Plants vs. Zombies is a fun tower defense game with great mechanics and a beautiful art style.”
- “Some ads cause me to exit the game entirely due to ads not ending during gameplay.”
- “This app had a promising future a few years ago, none of the gameplay actually changed, but the experience as a whole just turned into a huge cash grab over time.”
- “The game is great but somehow the graphics just stale and lame, I wish it was as cool as it looks in the pictures of the gameplay above and on the PC version.”
stability
139 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
1%
95%
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent reports of crashes, freezes, and loss of progress, particularly related to ad interactions. Many players express frustration over the need to restart the app regularly due to these issues, which detracts from the overall experience. While some users note that the gameplay itself is enjoyable, the overwhelming presence of bugs and glitches makes the game feel nearly unplayable for many.
- “No ads, no glitches, nothing.”
- “Bug free!”
- “5 stars, this game is awesome. No glitches, no lag, no bugs.”
- “Game crashes and freezes in the middle of the game and I have to restart every 5 minutes, which makes one gameplay last up to 15 minutes ridiculous.”
- “Whenever I play, my game freezes, and when I rejoin, all my data is gone. I have to do everything all over again; I couldn't access my zen garden or my more ways to play and shop. All my achievements are gone, please fix this.”
- “The game resets progress after it freezes from an advertisement, though.”
story
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The story mode of the game is often described as enjoyable but lacking depth, with a generic plot that can feel repetitive after multiple playthroughs. Many players express frustration over the frequent ads interrupting gameplay, particularly during transitions in story mode, which detracts from the overall experience. While the game offers nostalgic charm and fun mechanics, there are calls for more content and updates to enhance the storyline and keep players engaged beyond the initial completion.
- “The story mode is fantastic, and the side games are decently fun too.”
- “Graphics ahead of its time, immersive and emotional storyline, compelling plot and characters you can grow to love and relate to.”
- “This game is so adorable, no need for an internet connection, and I really love to play this all the time. Hope there's another mission because it's too short and it's easy.”
- “It's a shame that the story mode isn't a little bit longer and the plot is quite generic.”
- “The story, however, lacks quite a bit and throughout the entire playthrough new players might not be able to understand anything much more other than: 'your garden is under attack by zombies!'”
- “I have a problem with the game, after I finished all the levels, missions and I opened all the levels, got amazing plants and everything, suddenly I've discovered that I have nothing else but to start playing like the first time.”
humor
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting the hilarious character descriptions, funny dialogue, and amusing animations of the zombies and plants. Many reviews note that the game's quirky art style and comedic elements contribute to its charm, making it an enjoyable experience for players of all ages. Overall, the humor is a significant aspect that enhances the game's appeal, keeping players entertained and engaged.
- “I love the descriptions of the different plants and zombies, they're hilarious!”
- “The dialogue is hilarious, you get a plant each level to try out, and each 'world' has a new element that makes it interesting.”
- “Plants vs Zombies is a fantastically designed, hilarious, and addictive game.”
- “Not funny, I got jumpscared by an ad at 6 AM. Ads must be gone.”
- “Not funny!!!”
grinding
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to unlock items and mini-games. Many express frustration over high in-game prices and the potential loss of progress, which can lead to repeated grinding sessions. While some enjoy the gameplay, the overwhelming need to grind for coins and the presence of ads detract from the overall experience.
- “I like this more than PVZ2 because it's simpler; no grinding is needed to level up plants, and there are only a few microtransactions.”
- “I want to keep playing, but this is tedious as hell.”
- “Game is super fun, well until you finish the adventure once and have to spend forever grinding to get coins to unlock more or pay a bunch to unlock only some of the other minigames.”
- “I spent literally hundreds of hours grinding the zen garden, but it was in a blink of an eye.”
replayability
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
42%
16%
Overall, the game boasts exceptional replayability, with players praising its addictive gameplay, diverse levels, and a wealth of activities such as minigames and plant collecting. While some users express concerns about ad interruptions and data loss upon uninstallation, the game's creative elements and various modes across different platforms contribute to its lasting appeal. Many players find themselves returning to the game repeatedly, highlighting its fun and engaging nature suitable for all ages.
- “Incredible replay value, addictive gameplay, diverse levels, a ton of stuff to do: various minigames, trophies, and plant collecting.”
- “It has amazing replay value and is suitable for all ages.”
- “Game is fantastic and the replayability is through the roof, but I kinda wish that my data wouldn't be deleted whenever I uninstall the game.”
- “Ad before you start a level, when you finish, when you navigate to the home screen, zen garden, etc. Not long will this stay on my phone since the game can be deleted in too short a time to pay to have ads removed and replayability is low.”
- “But the replay value means resetting the entire game.”
- “Even with ads, the game has a lot of replayability.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting both nostalgia and the heartbreak of losing progress. While some appreciate the immersive storyline and relatable characters, others are frustrated by intrusive ads and in-app purchases that detract from the experience. Overall, the emotional impact varies, with some finding joy in the gameplay and others feeling disheartened by monetization tactics.
- “I came back on and all my progress was gone; I cried so much when I went to sleep hoping I could regain that progress I worked so hard for after school.”
- “Graphics ahead of its time, immersive and emotional storyline, compelling plot and characters you can grow to love and relate to.”
- “This was my childhood game on PC; there never was a day that I didn't come up with another strategy on the different types of levels and modes I played. To have this on mobile, walking around, carrying my phone knowing that anytime, anywhere I can play it is quite heartwarming and nostalgic.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with users reporting issues such as freezing and subpar performance on higher resolution devices. Many feel that the removal of the full soundtrack for optimization purposes is unnecessary, given the capabilities of modern hardware. Overall, while some players appreciate the performance, others criticize it for being poorly optimized, particularly in comparison to similar titles.
- “Amazing soundtrack, good performance, and an all-around classic; just perfect in every way.”
- “The only issue is it's obviously not optimized for higher resolution devices.”
- “Horrible copy of Plants vs. Zombies on PC made with terrible optimization.”
- “The game should be updated and bring back the full soundtrack of every level's music; there's no reason to cut them for 'optimization' because today's standard devices are already powerful enough to run high-performance games.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The reviews highlight exceptional character design and art, praising their contribution to the overall experience of the game. Players appreciate the combination of engaging gameplay, a compelling story, and charming character aesthetics, making it one of their favorite mobile games.
- “You won't regret downloading and playing this; awesome character designs and great story.”
- “One of the best zombie games with wonderful gameplay, graphics, character design, story, and music!”
- “Fun, original, and charming with good character design and gameplay, as well as lots of side modes and mini-games; definitely one of the best mobile games I've played and quite possibly my favorite.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its engaging vibe and consistent art style, reminiscent of the PC version, which contributes to its replayability. However, some players feel that intrusive ads and changes to minigame access detract from the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere and vibe of the game are great.”
- “The art style has not changed and still contains pretty much the same atmosphere and fun as the PC version.”