• Plants vs. Zombies turns 16 and remains surprisingly vibrant
• Reflect with us on our past reviews of this iconic mobile gaming series
• As PvZ 3 continues its soft launch, fans eagerly await a true return to form

Sixteen years have passed since Plants vs. Zombies first launched. Now, more than a decade and a half later, we revisit this seminal mobile classic to track its evolution. From humble origins through turbulent acquisitions and expansion beyond mobile, it's clear why PvZ remains a gaming icon.

The journey began with PopCap Games in the late 2000s, with the original PC release in 2009. However, the 2010 mobile transition and free-to-play model truly propelled PvZ to global recognition.

EA's 2012 acquisition of PopCap brought organizational shifts and layoffs, yet the franchise solidified its mobile legacy with 2013's Plants vs. Zombies 2: It's About Time.

EA envisioned PvZ as a cross-platform powerhouse, expanding into console gaming with Garden Warfare and Battle for Neighborville. These third-person shooter spinoffs received mixed reactions due to their radical departure from the original tower defense formula.

Plants vs. Zombies 3: Welcome to Zomburbia has been in development since 2020, recently undergoing major revisions that paused its soft launch. The upcoming installment promises a series revival with refreshed visuals and a return to classic tower defense mechanics.

If you're eager to explore the genre that Plants vs. Zombies helped popularize on mobile, browse our curated selection of the 25 best tower defense games available on iOS and Android.