Plants Vs Zombies Celebrates 16th Anniversary

It's been 16 years since the debut of Plants vs. Zombies, and this iconic mobile series continues to thrive. As we celebrate this milestone, let's reflect on the journey of this seminal mobile classic and how it has evolved over time. From its humble origins to navigating through corporate acquisitions and expanding beyond mobile, Plants vs. Zombies has solidified its place as a gaming icon.

The story began with developer PopCap Games in the late 2000s, launching Plants vs. Zombies on desktop in 2009. The game's transition to mobile in 2010, coupled with its adoption of a free-to-play model, propelled it to global superstardom. In 2012, EA acquired PopCap, and despite a challenging shift in focus to mobile that resulted in layoffs, the franchise continued to flourish. The release of Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time in 2013 cemented the series as a mobile gaming emblem.

Beyond Mobile
EA harbored grand ambitions for the Plants vs. Zombies franchise, envisioning it as a pillar of console gaming as well. The releases of Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare and Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville introduced third-person shooter gameplay, a significant departure from the original tower defense mechanics, and received mixed reviews.

Currently, Plants vs. Zombies 3: Welcome to Zomburbia, in development since 2020, has undergone a major overhaul and is back in soft launch. This iteration promises a return to the series' roots with a fresh art style and a revival of the classic tower defense gameplay that fans adore.

With Plants vs. Zombies 3 still in soft launch, fans are eagerly anticipating a return to the series' original charm. In the meantime, if you're keen to explore the tower defense genre that Plants vs. Zombies helped popularize on mobile, don't miss our curated list of the top 25 best tower defense games available on iOS and Android.