Plants Vs Zombies Celebrates 16th Anniversary

It's been a remarkable 16 years since the initial launch of Plants vs Zombies, a journey that has solidified its status as a mobile gaming icon. As we reflect on this milestone, it's clear that the series has evolved tremendously from its inception to its current state. Starting with Popcap Games in the late 2000s, the franchise burst onto the scene with its desktop release in 2009. However, it was the transition to mobile platforms in 2010, coupled with a free-to-play model, that truly propelled Plants vs Zombies into the stratosphere of mobile gaming fame.

In 2012, EA's acquisition of Popcap marked a new chapter for the series. Despite the challenges of shifting focus and the subsequent layoffs, Plants vs Zombies continued to thrive on mobile with the release of Plants vs Zombies 2: It's About Time in 2013, cementing its place as a mobile gaming staple.

Beyond Mobile

EA envisioned Plants vs Zombies as more than just a mobile phenomenon, aiming to expand its reach into console gaming. Titles like Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare and Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville introduced a third-person shooter gameplay style, diverging significantly from the original tower defense roots. These games received mixed reviews, highlighting the bold shift in gameplay mechanics.

Plants vs Zombies 3: Welcome to Zomburbia, which has been in development since 2020, is currently undergoing a significant overhaul. After pulling the soft-launched version back into the lab, the team is working on a return to the series' roots with a fresh art style and a renewed focus on classic tower defense gameplay. Fans are eagerly anticipating this revival, hoping it will recapture the magic of the original game.

For those interested in exploring the genre that Plants vs Zombies helped popularize on mobile, our list of the top 25 best tower defense games on iOS and Android is a great resource to discover what else is out there.