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Plants vs. Zombies

Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville refreshes and evolves the classic third-person shooter seroes of games PopCap Games started back in 2014. Our video review.
Plants vs. Zombies Game Cover
78%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
stability, optimization
79% User Score Based on 2,386 reviews
Critic Score 77%Based on 29 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneWindowsPlayStation
Plants vs. Zombies Game Cover

About

Plants vs. Zombies is a multiplayer tactical shooter game with warfare and comedy themes. It was developed by PopCap Games and was released on October 18, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville Deluxe Edition invites you to a hilarious plant-on-zombie conflict with splendid story and spectacular gameplay. Featuring both single-player and local co-op modes with split-screen support for 2 players, it offers excellent graphics, plenty of grinding, and exclusive costumes and content. Prepare to kick some grass in this multi-player warfare shooter!

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79%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,386 reviews
story36 positive mentions
stability29 negative mentions

  • The game features a fun and colorful art style that appeals to both kids and adults.
  • The single-player campaign offers a lot of content and enjoyable missions, making it a good experience for solo players.
  • The game has a variety of characters with unique abilities, providing different playstyles and strategies.
  • The removal of character variants from previous games has disappointed many fans, leading to a lack of diversity in gameplay.
  • The multiplayer experience is often filled with bots due to a low player base, making matches less engaging.
  • The game suffers from performance issues and bugs, including long loading times and crashes, particularly on PC.
  • story
    106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story mode of the game is generally well-received, praised for its engaging quests, charming characters, and vibrant graphics, making it a highlight for many players. However, some reviews note that the gameplay can become repetitive and lacks the depth of previous titles in the franchise, with a few expressing disappointment over its brevity and limited replayability. Overall, while the story mode offers a fun and whimsical experience, it may not fully satisfy those seeking a more robust narrative or diverse gameplay.

    • “The story mode in this game is fun.”
    • “The maps and quests you go through in the solo part of the game are amazing and enjoyable.”
    • “Popcap took everything that was good and bad about GW1 and GW2's gameplay, characters, and mechanics and made them 1000 times better while keeping to the formula that made them great games and while adding a fun story mode for both plants and zombies.”
    • “As much as I hate to say it, the game is repetitive; every single main quest is just 'collect 3 things, put things together, fight main boss of area.'”
    • “This is the bare bones of what Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare was; it removes one of the funnest things in the game, the subclasses of all the characters, which is really disappointing. It lacks variety in its story/single player mode and is very repetitive.”
    • “Decent game, gets boring over time and the storyline is very short, but hey, it's $10 after all.”
  • graphics
    98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive a generally positive reception, with many players praising the vibrant art style and crisp visuals that enhance the overall experience. However, some users express dissatisfaction with the optimization and performance issues, noting that the game can be demanding on hardware and occasionally suffers from glitches. Overall, while the graphics are often highlighted as a strong point, opinions on the art style vary, with some players loving it and others finding it less appealing compared to previous titles in the series.

    • “The graphics are remarkable.”
    • “The game has a wacky art style, with vibrant colors that just pop straight off the screen.”
    • “The graphics manage to make up for a lot of the lacking gameplay, however, because of how crisp and authentic they are and really make you feel like you're in the PVZ universe.”
    • “Just wish this game had more graphical options and was just optimized a little better; my computer runs it just fine, but it gets really hot to the touch when running this game.”
    • “This game is so unoptimized I have to restart it every few hours if I want to play without random freezes and lags, glitching graphics, resolution and FPS drops, and crashes.”
    • “But it is not worth it at even $10; the new art style for the characters is horrible and doesn't even look like the original games.”
  • gameplay
    97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville" is generally described as fun and fast-paced, with enjoyable mechanics and character abilities. However, many players feel it lacks the depth and variety of its predecessors, particularly due to the removal of character variants and a less engaging upgrade system. While the graphics are praised, the overall experience is marred by issues such as unbalanced multiplayer, repetitive missions, and a reliance on bots in matches, leading to a mixed reception regarding its gameplay quality.

    • “The gameplay is really fun with each character having their own ability and playstyle; too bad the game is kinda dead and most of the matches are filled with bots.”
    • “Popcap took everything that was good and bad about GW1 and GW2's gameplay, characters, and mechanics and made them 1000 times better while keeping to the formula that made them great games.”
    • “The sprint is a great mechanic; I'm glad it made its way into a PvZ shooter. In GW2, movement felt slow sometimes, but with the sprint, moving around feels fast and fluid.”
    • “The gameplay is really nothing to write home about, mostly being made up of the same types of missions and battles.”
    • “Unfortunately, BFN failed on this part and most of the overall gameplay is unsatisfying and boring.”
    • “They've broken the core gameplay loop; most of the time you go to queue for a battle, it will just put you into a match full of bots.”
  • humor
    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as quirky, cheesy, and often over-the-top, with many players finding it funny and charming, particularly in the dialogue and character designs. While some reviews note that the humor may not be as strong as in previous titles, the overall experience is still considered enjoyable and filled with amusing moments. However, a few players feel that the humor could benefit from more variety in actions and animations.

    • “It is funny and cute and competitive, and all three of those are my favorite!”
    • “There's loads of extras to collect and puzzles to solve, as well as the hilarious dialogue.”
    • “Every minute playing feels like you’re on track to discover something ridiculously funny and over the top.”
  • stability
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game is widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and various bugs that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players note improvements in graphics and fewer visual glitches, the overall experience is marred by issues such as unresponsive servers and game-breaking bugs. Despite a few positive remarks about stability, the consensus leans towards the game being a "buggy mess," making it frustrating for many players.

    • “The game isn't full of bugs and glitches.”
    • “Matchmaking works fine, not buggy, doesn't lag all that much, overall funny and charming singleplayer content.”
    • “People are too hard on this game about the class variants being changed to perks; while that sucks, I don't see the big problem regarding everything else.”
    • “Good game but it freezes and crashes a lot.”
    • “This game is a pain in the butt to load up - most of the time it doesn't load at all and also freezes my computer.”
    • “This game is so unoptimized I have to restart it every few hours if I want to play this game without random freezes and lags, glitching graphics, resolution and FPS drops and crashes.”
  • optimization
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received largely negative feedback, particularly on PC, where players report frequent crashes, lag, and performance issues even on high-spec machines. While console performance is generally better, many users express frustration over the lack of graphical options and the game's tendency to overheat their systems. Overall, the game is criticized for being poorly optimized, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.

    • “The graphics are very good, and, unlike Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2, this game is more optimized and I can play it normally.”
    • “Performance hiccups and crashes are rare now, just be aware that this game looks amazing and runs on a demanding modern engine; expect to run it on lower settings on older hardware.”
    • “Despite some bugs and some optimization issues, it's still far better than Overwatch 2.”
    • “Just wish this game had more graphical options and was optimized a little better. My computer runs it just fine, but it gets really hot to the touch when running this game.”
    • “This game is so unoptimized I have to restart it every few hours if I want to play without random freezes, lags, glitching graphics, resolution and FPS drops, and crashes.”
    • “Optimization for PC is horrible, and even with good specs like mine, you will frequently encounter frame drops and black screens.”
  • grinding
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious, often requiring players to invest 60-100 hours to unlock meaningful content, such as cosmetics and upgrades. While some players find the grinding somewhat rewarding, many express frustration over the lack of engaging content and the reliance on microtransactions, leading to a perception that the game demands an unrealistic time commitment. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant barrier to enjoyment for both casual and dedicated players.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Grindy (60 - 100 hours).”
    • “The game is hated by the PVZ community for the removal of variants (which I prefer, because I really do not enjoy grinding for 50+ hours just to get a couple of legendaries).”
    • “Even if you want to play casually, it becomes boring due to the amount of grinding just to get something.”
    • “If you're a fan of the originals then I suggest just keep playing them, even Garden Warfare 1 is still more active than this game. As much as I wanted to enjoy it, it's just hard to get invested when useful upgrades are locked behind tedious paywalls and new characters require several hours of the same boring game.”
  • music
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic charm and quality, while others feel it lacks the personality and uniqueness of previous titles like Garden Warfare. While the soundtrack is generally considered enjoyable, it is noted that the absence of music during battles detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, some users express disappointment over the reuse of music and the game's failure to deliver the same engaging audio atmosphere as its predecessors.

    • “An amazing and nostalgic feel when I hear the theme song start.”
    • “Everyone can remember the melodic backyard music of the original PVZ, setting up pea shooters and sunflowers, and defending Crazy Dave and his house.”
    • “Art, design, and music are all top-notch, and the comedy and fun make it a standout.”
    • “The intro song to this is mid, not very good.”
    • “In battle, no music.”
    • “The soundtrack in this game is fine, but after playing GW1 and GW2 more, I realized it has way more personality than whatever this is.”
  • monetization
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy in the game has been widely criticized as a cash grab, particularly by EA, with many players expressing frustration over the prevalence of microtransactions and the feeling that the game is designed to push in-game purchases. While some users note that the game is not pay-to-win and that cosmetics can be earned through gameplay, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment with the intrusive monetization model and the lack of meaningful content. Many feel that the game should be free given the extent of in-game purchases and the perceived decline in quality compared to previous titles in the series.

    • “Easy to progress in battle when I can play, and the in-game purchases can be ignored since everything, including the battle pass, can be easily unlocked through play.”
    • “Not pay to win; the only microtransactions are cosmetics or things that get you more cosmetics.”
    • “There is almost no point at which you have to buy anything, and the fact of the matter is that after you get all the variants, everything else is cosmetic, which you can also get for free by just playing the game.”
    • “Just an example of EA being a cash-grabbing, soulless company.”
    • “When PVZ 2 came out, the developers realized EA wanted it to be an exclusive phone app that has microtransactions.”
    • “This pile of rotten watermelons wants you to think it's a good old Garden Warfare game, but instead you get a game full of microtransactions, bad graphic changes, and a campaign that literally supports buying a lot of the in-game currency tacos.”
  • replayability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it addictive due to its variety of playable characters and substantial content, others feel that once the story missions are completed, the experience becomes dull. Overall, it offers a charming aesthetic and solid gameplay that can appeal to those seeking a new shooter, but it may not sustain long-term engagement for everyone.

    • “A huge amount of content, lots of replayability, and an overall charming aesthetic make this an easy recommendation for anybody looking for a solid new shooter for their Switch.”
    • “It has more playable characters, which adds to the replayability.”
    • “There's no replayability; for example, after you complete all the story missions, it just becomes boring at that point. I liked this game series before EA said, 'Hey, you can't make good games anymore!'”
    • “The replayability factor was really there, unlike for BFN.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in Space Cadet is praised for its beautiful and original designs, which stand out in the multiplayer shooter genre. Despite its quirky nature, the game offers a fun experience that could attract a broader audience if it weren't associated with the Plants vs. Zombies franchise.

    • “Space Cadet is the peak of multiplayer shooter character design.”
    • “The new character design is just beautiful.”
    • “I've always had a lot of fun with it, and I think the character designs are super neat and original.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, lacking any real depth or growth.”
    • “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't offer any surprises or emotional engagement.”
    • “The characters seem one-dimensional, making it hard to connect with them or care about their stories.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is praised for being vibrant and immersive, contributing to an engaging experience, though some players still prefer other titles like Guild Wars 2. Overall, it maintains a lively ambiance that resonates well with users even years after its release.

    • “Even in 2022, this game's atmosphere still feels so alive.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is perceived as lacking, with users feeling that it fails to engage or offer new experiences, leading to a sense of disconnection and indifference towards gameplay.

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6h Median play time
41h Average play time
2-70h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Plants vs. Zombies is a tactical shooter game with warfare and comedy themes.

Plants vs. Zombies is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 41 hours playing Plants vs. Zombies.

Plants vs. Zombies was released on October 18, 2019.

Plants vs. Zombies was developed by PopCap Games.

Plants vs. Zombies has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Plants vs. Zombies is a multiplayer game with local co-op support.

Similar games include Plants vs. Zombies, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2, Rogue Company, Paladins, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and others.