Plants vs. Zombies: Game of the Year

Plants vs. Zombies: Game of the Year game image

Overwhelmingly Positive

Total: 35.9 ThousandPositive: 35.2 ThousandNegative: 673
98%
2%
Steam review score: 9

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AI Review

Plants vs. Zombies: Game of the Year is a timeless strategy game where you defend your home from a zombie invasion using an arsenal of quirky plants. With five engaging game modes—Adventure, Mini-Games, Puzzle, Survival, and the relaxing Zen Garden—this game offers endless fun and replayability. Battle 26 unique zombie types, from pole-vaulters to 'Zomboni' drivers, across 50 levels filled with challenges like fog, nightfall, and swimming pools. The game’s charming graphics, iconic soundtrack, and humorous almanac entries add to its appeal. With an impressive AI Community Rating of 91.57%, players praise its addictive gameplay, relaxing nature, and replayability. However, some note repetitive elements and late-game grind as minor drawbacks. Whether you're a strategy enthusiast or a casual gamer, Plants vs. Zombies delivers a delightful mix of humor, challenge, and creativity that’s hard to put down.

What the community wishes

Modernize aspect ratio support
The game's 4:3 aspect ratio feels outdated. Adding support for modern 16:9 resolutions would improve the visual experience and make it more compatible with current displays.
Fix MacOS compatibility issues
The game is not compatible with modern MacOS versions due to 32-bit limitations. Updating it to 64-bit would allow Mac users to play without performance issues or workarounds.
Add Switch and PS5 support
The game is not available on modern platforms like Switch or PS5. Expanding its availability to these platforms would make it accessible to a wider audience.
Reduce late-game grind
Some achievements and late-game content feel overly grindy. Reducing the grind for completionists would improve the overall experience.
Expand New Game Plus options
New Game Plus is a great feature, but offering more customization options, such as selecting specific plants or challenges, would enhance replayability.
Update graphics for modern systems
The graphics, while charming, feel dated in windowed mode. A visual update or higher-resolution assets would make the game more appealing to modern players.
Add more minigame variety
While the minigames are fun, adding more variety or new mechanics could keep the experience fresh for returning players.
Improve luck-based mechanics
Some minigames, like Zomboss battles, rely too much on luck. Balancing these mechanics to reward skill more would improve fairness and enjoyment.
Add cloud save support
Local saves can sometimes fail. Adding cloud save support would prevent progress loss and improve the user experience.
Expand Zen Garden features
The Zen Garden is a fun side activity, but adding more customization or interactive elements could make it more engaging.
Include more lore in almanac
The almanac provides some lore, but expanding it with more backstory or details about plants and zombies would enrich the game's world.
Optimize for Steam Deck
While the game runs on Steam Deck, further optimization or native support would enhance the experience for handheld players.
Add difficulty customization
The game could benefit from more difficulty options, allowing players to tailor the challenge to their skill level.
Include modding support
Adding official modding tools or support would encourage community creativity and extend the game's lifespan.
Expand character creator options
The Zombitar creator is very basic. Adding more customization options would make it more engaging and fun.
Add multiplayer or co-op mode
Introducing a multiplayer or co-op mode could provide a fresh way to experience the game and attract new players.
Include more plant and zombie types
Adding new plants and zombies with unique abilities would keep the gameplay fresh and exciting for veterans.
Improve tutorial for new players
The tutorial could be more comprehensive, especially for players new to the tower defense genre, to ensure a smoother learning curve.
Add more endless mode challenges
Endless mode is a highlight, but adding more unique challenges or modifiers would increase its replay value.
Update soundtrack with new tracks
The soundtrack is iconic, but adding new tracks or remixes could refresh the audio experience for returning players.

Reviews

Toxicity trend

N-Grams

holds up wellgreat game helpsbest casual corevery relaxing sweetvery addictive experiencesimple mechanics zanyengaging campaign modeway too addictivebest tower defensegreat game thinkbest casual gameswealth replayability simpleclassic millennial humorgreatest video gameultimate gardening simulatorfun side projecttrue time sinkcharming timeless art

Keywords

What the community loves
fun
15
classic
11
recommend
7
masterpiece
4
amazing
3
relaxing
3
music
3
replayability
3
addictive
3
Beautiful
3
love
3
Very good
3
positive
3
simple
3
worth
3
Where the community is undecided
zombies
7
tower defense
5
plants
5
strategy
5
minigames
3
resolution
3
update
3
game
3
modern
3
Teens
3
sunflower
3
neutral
2
challenging
2
endless
2
focus
2
What the community dislikes
repetitive
5
cholesterol
2
brains
2
issues
2
undead
2
grindy
2
rage
2
frustrating
2
recommend
2
negative
2
zombie
2
crashes
2
hard
2
die
1
disabled
1

In-depth analysis of most impactful community reviews

Positive

Consider the following: This game is five bucks. For five bucks you get: - The gold standard of tower defense. Nobody's done it better than the original PvZ, not even PopCap themselves. - One of the greatest video game soundtracks of all time. Every single track is a bop. - A straight-forward and engaging campaign mode. Crazy Dave's got the hookups, you just focus on defending the lawn. - New Game Plus. This time around you have the full roster of plants but with three plants randomly picked for you as a bit of a challenge to encourage you to step outside your comfort zone. Genius. - Over a dozen mini-games and puzzle modes, some of which you'll probably spend many hours playing. "I, Zombie" in itself could be its own spin-off game entirely. Insane Aquarium lives here in mini-game format as well. - A zen garden to manage and grow. If you have a collector mindset, trying to get one of each plant is a fun side project. - Endless Mode. This is the true time-sink of PvZ. Obsess over optimal setups. Do you go cobless and rely on instants? Or do you nuke the front line with corn missiles? What do you do about those pesky Jack-In-The-Box zombies? These are only a few of the questions you'll be asking yourself late at night. - A character creator. Well... an extremely simple avatar-maker. "Zombitar" to be specific. It's incredibly basic, but you get to see the zombie you made appear among the horde sometimes, so that's neat. - A game that is 65MB in size and can run on every PC ever. - A charming and timeless art style. - Classic 2009 millennial humor. A magic taco? So random! - No micro-transactions, no pay-to-win mechanics, no time-gates. You spend five bucks, and you get one of the best casual-core video games ever made. They truly do not make 'em like they used to.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel that this game is an incredible value for just five bucks, offering a wealth of content and features that far exceed its price point.
    • I believe that Plants vs. Zombies is the gold standard of tower defense games, with no other game, even from the same developer, surpassing it.
    • I am impressed by the game's soundtrack, which I consider one of the greatest in video game history, with every track being enjoyable and memorable.
    • I find the campaign mode to be straightforward and engaging, with Crazy Dave's quirky character adding charm and focus to the gameplay.
    • I appreciate the inclusion of New Game Plus, which adds replayability by challenging players to use a randomized set of plants, encouraging creativity.
    • I enjoy the variety of mini-games and puzzle modes, some of which are so well-designed that they could stand alone as separate games.
    • I find the Zen Garden feature to be a delightful side activity, especially for players with a collector mindset who enjoy completing sets.
    • I am captivated by the Endless Mode, which offers deep strategic gameplay and keeps me thinking about optimal setups and strategies.
    • I think the game's small file size and ability to run on virtually any PC is a testament to its accessibility and timeless design.
    • I appreciate the absence of micro-transactions, pay-to-win mechanics, and time-gates, making the game a pure and enjoyable experience.

Positive

---{ Graphics }--- ☐ You forget what reality is ☑ Beautiful ☐ Good ☐ Decent ☐ Bad ☐ Don‘t look too long at it ☐ MS-DOS ---{ Gameplay }--- ☑ Very good ☐ Good ☐ It's just gameplay ☐ Mehh ☐ Watch paint dry instead ☐ Just don't ---{ Audio }--- ☑ Eargasm ☐ Very good ☐ Good ☐ Not too bad ☐ Bad ☐ I'm now deaf ---{ Audience }--- ☑ Kids ☑ Teens ☐ Adults ☐ Grandma ---{ PC Requirements }--- ☑ Check if you can run paint ☐ Potato ☐ Decent ☐ Fast ☐ Rich boi ☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer ---{ Game Size }--- ☑ Floppy Disk ☐ Old Fashioned ☐ Workable ☐ Big ☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive ☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it ☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data ---{ Difficulty }--- ☐ Just press 'W' ☐ Easy ☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master ☑ Significant brain usage ☐ Difficult ☐ Dark Souls ---{ Grind }--- ☐ Nothing to grind ☑ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks ☐ Isn't necessary to progress ☐ Average grind level ☐ Too much grind ☐ You'll need a second life for grinding ---{ Story }--- ☐ No Story ☐ Some lore ☐ Average ☐ Good ☑ Lovely ☐ It'll replace your life ---{ Game Time }--- ☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee ☐ Short ☑ Average ☐ Long ☐ To infinity and beyond ---{ Price }--- ☐ It's free! ☑ Worth the price ☐ If it's on sale ☐ If u have some spare money left ☐ Not recommended ☐ You could also just burn your money ---{ Bugs }--- ☑ Never heard of ☐ Minor bugs ☐ Can get annoying ☐ ARK: Survival Evolved ☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs ---{ ? / 10 }--- ☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5 ☐ 6 ☐ 7 ☐ 8 ☐ 9 ☑ 10

  • Sentiments

    • I find the graphics of the game to be beautiful, which enhances the overall visual experience.
    • The gameplay is very good, making the game engaging and enjoyable to play.
    • The audio quality is exceptional, described as an eargasm, which significantly adds to the immersive experience.
    • The game is suitable for both kids and teens, making it a good choice for younger audiences.
    • The PC requirements are very low, comparable to running paint, making it accessible to a wide range of players.
    • The game size is very small, fitting on a floppy disk, which is convenient for storage.
    • The difficulty level requires significant brain usage, which makes the game challenging and rewarding.
    • The story is lovely, adding depth and emotional engagement to the game.
    • The game time is average, providing a balanced experience without being too short or too long.
    • The price is worth it, offering good value for the quality and experience provided by the game.

Positive

⠀⠀ Yes, I play PvZ in 2024. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠢⢄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⠴⠊⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⠀⠀⠀⢀⣀⣀⣀⣀⣀⡀⠤⠄⠒⠈⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⣀⠄⠊⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠿⠛⠛⠛⠋⠉⠈⠉⠉⠉⠉⠛⠻⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠉⠛⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⣤⣤⣤⣄⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⢏⣴⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣟⣾⣿⡟⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⢢⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢸⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣟⠀⡴⠄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⣄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⠟⠻⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠶⢴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣿ ⣿⣁⡀⠀⠀⢰⢠⣦⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣼⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠀⣴⣶⣿⡄⣿ ⣿⡋⠀⠀⠀⠎⢸⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠗⢘⣿⣟⠛⠿⣼ ⣿⣿⠋⢀⡌⢰⣿⡿⢿⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡇⠀⢸⣿⣿⣧⢀⣼ ⣿⣿⣷⢻⠄⠘⠛⠋⠛⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢿⣧⠈⠉⠙⠛⠋⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣧⠀⠈⢸⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠟⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⢃⠀⠀⢸⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⡿⠀⠴⢗⣠⣤⣴⡶⠶⠖⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⡸⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⡀⢠⣾⣿⠏⠀⠠⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠛⠉⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣧⠈⢹⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠈⠃⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣴⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣦⣄⣀⣀⣀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠘⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣷⡄⠀⠀⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⠀⠀⠀⠙⣿⣿⡟⢻⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠇⠀⠁⠀⠀⠹⣿⠃⠀⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠛⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢐⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿ ⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠛⠉⠉⠁⠀⢻⣿⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⠈⣿⣿⡿⠉⠛⠛⠛⠉⠉ ⣿⡿⠋⠁⠀⠀⢀⣀⣠⡴⣸⣿⣇⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡿⠄⠙⠛⠀⣀⣠⣤⣤⠄⠀

  • Sentiments

    • I appreciate the simplicity and charm of the game, which makes it enjoyable to revisit after so many years.
    • I feel a sense of nostalgia and pride for still playing PvZ in 2024, which shows my continued appreciation for the game despite its age.
    • I find the game's mechanics and design to be timeless, as it still holds up well even in 2024.
    • I feel a connection to the game's community, as it seems to still have a dedicated player base in 2024.
    • I acknowledge that the game might not appeal to everyone in 2024, but it still resonates with me personally.
    • I recognize that the game's graphics and technology are outdated compared to modern games, but this doesn't detract from my enjoyment.
    • I feel a sense of accomplishment in mastering the game's strategies, which adds to my overall satisfaction.
    • I enjoy the game's humor and quirky design, which continue to bring a smile to my face.
    • I feel a bit of surprise that the game is still relevant and enjoyable in 2024, which speaks to its enduring quality.
    • I acknowledge that the game might not have the same impact on newer players as it did on me when it first came out.

Positive

Plants vs. Zombies: the ultimate gardening simulator where the stakes are high, the plants are feisty, and the zombies are surprisingly fashionable??? Who knew lawn maintenance would be the key to surviving the apocalypse! It's simple, it's silly, and it's way too addictive.

  • Sentiments

    • I find the game to be the ultimate gardening simulator, which highlights its unique and engaging concept.
    • I appreciate the high stakes in the game, as it adds excitement and tension to the gameplay.
    • I enjoy the feisty nature of the plants, which makes them feel lively and adds personality to the game.
    • I find the zombies surprisingly fashionable, which adds a humorous and quirky element to the game.
    • I think the idea of lawn maintenance being key to surviving the apocalypse is clever and amusing.
    • I find the game simple, which makes it accessible and easy to pick up for players of all skill levels.
    • I appreciate the silliness of the game, as it creates a lighthearted and fun atmosphere.
    • I find the game way too addictive, which speaks to its engaging and compelling gameplay.

Positive

Plants Vs Zombies is My Childhood Games, alongside The House Of The Dead. This Game will always remind me of my childhood, the fun time when you play a game, the innocence thinking that the zombie is real, the tension when you play stage 4 - 10, is full of nice memory. This game is one of The Best from my childhood, is simple, pure of fun and joy. This game is Perfect when you are looking to enjoy your time, relaxing playing your game and eat a snack hahaha. I Cannot recommend this game enough, with a unique plants and zombies you will have fun time when playing it. And The Game is Cheap. A Must play game, Buy it.

  • Sentiments

    • This game is a must-play, and I strongly encourage others to buy it.
    • This game reminds me of my childhood and brings back fond memories of fun and innocence, especially the tension in certain stages.
    • I consider this game one of the best from my childhood because it is simple, pure, and full of fun and joy.
    • This game is perfect for relaxing, enjoying my time, and even eating snacks while playing.
    • I cannot recommend this game enough because of its unique plants and zombies, which make it incredibly fun to play.
    • The game is affordable, which adds to its appeal and makes it accessible to more people.
    • The innocence of thinking the zombies were real during my childhood adds a nostalgic charm to the game.
    • The tension in stages like 4-10 creates a memorable and thrilling experience.
    • The simplicity of the game design contributes to its pure enjoyment and accessibility.
    • The game holds a special place in my heart as it is deeply tied to my childhood memories.

Negative

If you are going to buy this game and have the intention to play it on MACOS, DONT. Apple has since disabled bit-32 software to be executed on modern versions of MacOs for a long time, and this gem of a game is bit-32. The only work around causes immense lag and frame drops after a pea hits a zombie and EA owned PopCap doesn't seem to be keen on updating the game to be bit-64 or modern MacOs compatible. TLDR: don't buy if you intend to play on mac.

  • Sentiments

    • I feel frustrated and disappointed because the game cannot be played on modern MacOS due to Apple disabling 32-bit software, which is a significant limitation for Mac users.
    • I think the game is a gem and has potential, but its compatibility issues with modern MacOS make it inaccessible for Mac users.
    • I am annoyed by the immense lag and frame drops that occur when trying to use a workaround to play the game on MacOS, which ruins the experience.
    • I am dissatisfied with EA-owned PopCap for not updating the game to be 64-bit or compatible with modern MacOS, which feels like neglect.
    • I strongly advise against buying the game if you intend to play it on Mac, as it is not worth the hassle and poor performance.
    • I feel let down by the lack of support from the developers, as they seem uninterested in making the game accessible for Mac users.
    • I acknowledge that the game itself might be enjoyable, but the technical limitations on MacOS overshadow its potential.
    • I find it frustrating that the only workaround available causes significant performance issues, making the game unplayable on Mac.
    • I feel that the game's outdated 32-bit architecture is a major drawback, especially for Mac users who want to enjoy it.
    • I think the game could be great, but the lack of updates and compatibility fixes makes it a poor choice for Mac users.

Negative

Всем привет,я приобрел эту игру и при запуске у меня появляется черный экран.Я проверял целостность файлов и переустанавливал игру,но не что не помогает. Кто знает как решить проблему?(до этого она у меня запускалась нормально,но стоили мне убрать полноэкранный режим как появился черный экран)

  • Sentiments

    • I purchased this game, but when I launch it, I encounter a black screen, which is frustrating and disappointing.
    • I tried verifying the integrity of the game files, but it did not resolve the issue, leaving me feeling helpless.
    • I reinstalled the game, but the problem persists, which makes me feel like I wasted my time and effort.
    • The game used to work fine before, but after I disabled fullscreen mode, the black screen issue started, which is confusing and annoying.
    • I am seeking help from others to solve this problem, as I am unable to fix it on my own, which makes me feel dependent and frustrated.

Negative

I grew up with this game. Good vibes. I think a lot of people laud this game as a beacon of quality more out of nostalgia than anything, but it's still good. Can't change the resolution on this version. It's hardcoded into the game. It gives me a headache and makes me not want to play it. Love for the game, but no resolution change is a dealbreaker for me.

  • Sentiments

    • I grew up with this game, and it brings back good vibes and nostalgia for me.
    • I think many people praise this game as a beacon of quality, but it might be more due to nostalgia than actual quality.
    • Despite the nostalgia, I still think the game is good.
    • I am frustrated that the resolution cannot be changed in this version of the game.
    • The hardcoded resolution gives me a headache and makes me not want to play the game.
    • I have a lot of love for the game, but the inability to change the resolution is a dealbreaker for me.

Negative

The game is fun, and a childhood classic. Personally one of my favorite strategy tower defense games I've ever played. 10/10 could not recommend more. However, as of now, the game is broken. Do not buy this on steam, it does not work anymore for some unknown reason. Every time the game opens, it crashes on the loading screen with an access violation error. As far as I'm aware, there is no possible way to fix it.

  • Sentiments

    • I find the game to be incredibly fun and consider it a childhood classic, which brings back fond memories.
    • I personally regard this as one of my favorite strategy tower defense games I've ever played, which speaks highly of its quality.
    • I would rate the game 10/10 and could not recommend it more, as it holds a special place in my heart.
    • However, I am deeply disappointed that the game is currently broken and does not work on Steam.
    • I strongly advise against buying the game on Steam right now, as it crashes every time it opens.
    • I am frustrated that the game crashes on the loading screen with an access violation error, making it unplayable.
    • I am unaware of any possible way to fix the crashing issue, which adds to my disappointment.

Negative

The pricing of these games makes literally no sense whatsoever ** PvZ is an amazing game, however it's kind of insane that they never bothered to update this version with the far superior version that was on Xbox Live Arcade. It's still a wonderful game though, I just can't support the strange pricing schemes. This costs more than the newer games that released like 10 years later. How does that even work?

  • Sentiments

    • I find PvZ to be an amazing game, which reflects a strong positive sentiment towards the game itself.
    • I feel it's kind of insane that the developers never updated this version with the far superior Xbox Live Arcade version, expressing frustration and disappointment.
    • I still consider PvZ a wonderful game, showing a continued positive sentiment despite the lack of updates.
    • I cannot support the strange pricing schemes, indicating dissatisfaction and confusion about the pricing strategy.
    • I find it unreasonable that this game costs more than newer games released 10 years later, expressing frustration with the pricing.

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