"Plants Vs Zombies Celebrates 16th Anniversary"

It's been an impressive 16 years since the debut of Plants vs Zombies, and the iconic mobile series continues to thrive. As we reflect on its journey, we can appreciate how this seminal mobile classic has evolved over time. From its modest beginnings to navigating corporate acquisitions and expanding beyond mobile platforms, PvZ has solidified its status as a gaming icon.

The story began with developer PopCap Games in the late 2000s, launching Plants vs Zombies on desktop in 2009. However, it was the transition to mobile in 2010, coupled with a free-to-play model, that truly propelled PvZ into the spotlight. The franchise soared to new heights following EA's acquisition of PopCap in 2012. Despite a challenging shift in focus to mobile that included layoffs, the release of Plants vs Zombies 2: It's About Time in 2013 cemented PvZ as a staple of mobile gaming.

Beyond Mobile: EA harbored grand visions for the PvZ franchise, envisioning it as a pillar of console gaming as well. Titles like Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare and Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville introduced a third-person shooter style that diverged significantly from the original tower defense gameplay, garnering mixed reviews.

Currently, Plants vs Zombies 3: Welcome to Zomburbia is undergoing development since 2020 and recently underwent a major overhaul, taking the soft-launched version offline. This iteration promises to be a return to the series' roots, featuring a fresh art style and the beloved classic tower defense gameplay that fans crave.

As excitement builds for the next installment, now is a perfect time to revisit some of our reviews of the Plants vs Zombies series. Additionally, if you're eager to explore more tower defense games on mobile, be sure to check out our curated list of the top 25 best tower defense games on iOS and Android.