"Plants Vs Zombies Celebrates 16th Anniversary"

It's been a remarkable 16 years since the initial release of Plants vs Zombies, and the iconic mobile series continues to thrive. As we celebrate this milestone, let's take a nostalgic journey through the evolution of this seminal mobile classic, tracing its growth from modest origins to its current status as a gaming icon.

The story of Plants vs Zombies begins with developer PopCap Games in the late 2000s. The original game launched on desktop in 2009, but it was the transition to mobile in 2010 and the adoption of a free-to-play model that propelled PvZ to unprecedented heights of popularity.

In 2012, EA acquired PopCap, marking a turbulent shift towards mobile gaming that included layoffs. Despite these challenges, Plants vs Zombies 2: It's About Time released in 2013, cementing the franchise's status as a mobile gaming emblem.

Beyond Mobile
EA harbored grand visions for PvZ, aiming to establish it as a key player in console gaming as well. Titles like Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare and Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville introduced third-person shooter gameplay, a significant departure from the original tower defense format, and received mixed responses.

Currently, Plants vs Zombies 3: Welcome to Zomburbia is undergoing a major overhaul after its soft launch in 2020. With a new art style and a focus on classic tower defense mechanics, the game promises to bring the series back to its roots, reigniting excitement among fans eagerly awaiting its full release.

As PvZ 3 continues to develop, fans of the genre that Plants vs Zombies helped popularize on mobile can explore our list of the top 25 best tower defense games available on iOS and Android, keeping the spirit of strategic defense alive.