Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is a faithful attempt to bring this cult classic to modern platforms while honoring its legacy. It is almost hard to believe that the original game came out more than sixteen years ago, yet here we are revisiting it once again. I remember playing it years ago on PC, though my memory is a bit hazy—I honestly cannot recall which platform I first experienced it on. Regardless, it was one of the games that introduced me to the tower defense genre, along with PixelJunk Monsters. Both titles were charming in their presentation yet offered plenty of strategic depth.
Right from the start, the title screen instantly brings a wave of nostalgia. It feels pleasantly old-school in its design. After entering a name for your save profile, the game initially restricts access to most modes until you complete the main story mode. The story mode itself is straightforward and does not take too long to finish. It follows the same structure as the original Plants vs. Zombies adventure mode, beginning with a tutorial before gradually introducing new types of plants and zombies as the player progresses. There are about five chapters in total, along with bonus levels and additional modes that have been added specifically for this new version.
Some of these new additions include gameplay modes like Cloudy Day and Rest in Peace. Cloudy Day feels like an expanded version of the Night mode—an interesting concept, though it does not really add much new to the gameplay experience. Rest in Peace, on the other hand, is a permadeath mode that challenges players to complete the entire adventure without dying even once. While it certainly raises the stakes, it seems aimed more at hardcore fans. Given the repetitive nature of the adventure mode, I did not feel particularly eager to dive into it.
Moving on to the original adventure mode, this new release includes a few bonus levels. I should note that I never played the mobile version of Plants vs. Zombies, so I am not entirely sure whether these levels are brand new or carried over from that version. Either way, they are a nice addition for players like me who have never experienced them before. That said, there is a clear limitation in how the core gameplay of Plants vs. Zombies works. After a certain point, the available plants and abilities begin to feel repetitive, and the sense of novelty wears off. The original adventure mode had just the right length to stay enjoyable, but when stretched further, the repetition becomes noticeable even with the extra content.
To keep the gameplay fresh, the developers have introduced a few modified levels and minigames, such as Wall-Nut Bowling and the conveyor belt mode, where players gradually receive random items to place for defense. The most notable and enjoyable new feature for me, however, is the inclusion of local multiplayer. I tested the game on both the Switch 2 and PC and had the chance to try out the Game Share feature along with local co-op. It is a clever addition that lets two players compete against each other—one controlling the zombies and the other controlling the plants. There is also a cooperative mode for those who find solo play a bit too challenging, and it adds a nice layer of replayability.
Performance across both platforms—the Switch 2 and Steam Deck—was generally smooth, but I did notice a few issues with the user interface and user experience. For instance, when playing docked, the text can be hard to read because it does not scale properly on larger screens. It is not game-breaking, but it makes things like plant descriptions nearly impossible to read. A modernized UI would have gone a long way here, rather than sticking so closely to what feels like a mobile interface. While I cannot confirm it, this version does seem to borrow heavily from the mobile port, which might explain these UI and UX limitations. On the positive side, the game fully supports touch controls and works quite well in tablet mode on the Switch 2, making it an enjoyable portable experience overall.
So, is this a good version of Plants vs. Zombies? Since there isn’t a modern release of the game right now, anyone who wants to play this cult classic doesn’t have much of a choice. The price seems fair for what’s included, and the Switch 2 version is probably the best way to experience it, mainly because of its co-op and game share support.
Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted Game Information
- Price: $19.99
- Publisher: EA
- Developer: PopCap Studios
- Platform: PC, Switch 2 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
