Plants vs. Zombies Turns 16

• Plants vs. Zombies turns 16 and remains remarkably resilient.
• Revisit our reviews of the iconic mobile franchise over the years.
• With PvZ 3 still in soft launch, fans are eager for a return to its roots.

It has been 16 years since Plants vs. Zombies first launched. Now, more than a decade and a half later, we can reflect on this landmark mobile classic and its evolution. From modest beginnings to turbulent acquisitions and expansion beyond mobile, PvZ has earned its status as a gaming icon.

The story begins with PopCap Games in the late 2000s, with the original PC release in 2009. However, it was the move to mobile in 2010 and the shift to free-to-play that truly propelled PvZ to worldwide fame.

EA acquired PopCap in 2012, and despite a difficult transition and layoffs, the franchise became a mobile staple with 2013's Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time.

EA had ambitious plans for PvZ, envisioning it as a major console property. Games like Garden Warfare and Battle for Neighborville received mixed reactions due to their departure from the original's tower defense gameplay.

Plants vs. Zombies 3: Welcome to Zomburbia has been in development since 2020. After a recent major redesign, it was pulled from soft launch. The game aims to return to the series' roots with a fresh art style and classic tower defense mechanics.

If you're interested in the genre PvZ helped popularize, explore our list of the top 25 tower defense games on iOS and Android for more great options.