News
Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted mixes new challenges into a fan favorite
A
Aron Garst
The newly-harvested modes focus on two trends that have come to dominate since the original Plants vs. Zombies release: cooperative multiplayer and a challenging roguelike mode that sends players right back to the beginning as soon as the zombies push through their defenses and eat their brains. Both modes are built on the familiar Plants vs. Zombies tower defense formula though, with players setting up an army of Pea Shooters, Cabbage-pults, and other sentient foliage to mow down wave after wave of undead garden invaders. We spoke with PopCap Studios to learn more about both modes—and what else we should look forward to when Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted releases on October 23. We also spoke about past versions of Plants vs. Zombies multiplayer (both competitive and cooperative), new cosmetic features, and the new Cloud Day game mode that introduces weather mechanics.
“Ultimately, our goal was to create a game that honors the original while giving players a reason to come back,” said Popcap Studios Executive Producer Jake Neri. “Whether you’re revisiting the backyard for the hundredth time or stepping into it for the first, we hope everyone finds something to love.”
Revisiting tower defense "co-op-etition"
Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted isn’t the first time the Plants vs. Zombies franchise has featured multiplayer. One of the series' biggest departures from the tower defense genre, 2014's Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, was a third-person shooter where players faced each other in team deathmatches and other modes. While engaging, the action-packed shooter shared little resemblance to the original Plants vs. Zombies.
But earlier console versions of Plants vs. Zombies also had competitive modes where one player controlled the zombie attack while the other took control of the backyard defenses and tried to fend them off. Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted revives these modes, aiming to be both familiar to longtime fans and accessible to newcomers who never experienced the console versions.
“There are a ton of amazing multiplayer games out there," Neri said. "But Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted introduces its own unique multiplayer experience that allows players to work together or against each other, and shape their own fun."
Players can team up or face off, sharing moments that are as social as they are chaotic. In co-op, one player might focus on building the economy with Sunflowers while another leans into shooters or traps—but even when working together, playful competition emerges as players dig up each other’s plants or fight for finite resources.
“This is the real magic of the mode," Neri said. "It allows people to play together and to create their own gameplay through joyful 'co-op-etition.'"
The cooperative mode in Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is separate from the story-driven campaign and has its own set of challenges that encourage teamwork and improvisation.
Rest in Peace
Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted also introduces Rest in Peace, a roguelike mode that tests players’ survival skills. Instead of building elaborate defenses, players must react quickly to shifting conditions, making the most of the limited plants Crazy Dave provides each round. Permadeath ensures stakes are high. Failure loops players back to the beginning.
"Plants vs. Zombies, at its core, is a game that brings joy to players of all skill levels," said Neri. "We know some gamers, especially fans of roguelite games, want to be challenged—and permadeath seemed like the best way to do this. We created a mode that raises the stakes and allows you to play as long as you can, but loops you back to the beginning if you lose."
As for how the mode came to be called Rest in Peace: “We chose a name that felt relevant to the Plants vs. Zombies world," Neri explained. "We wanted to try and find a way to lean into the core game and make something that would challenge players."
The roguelike and roguelite genres emphasize repetition to build players’ skills up while familiarizing them with the game mechanics. One of the most popular roguelikes, Hades (and its newly released sequel Hades II), sends players out on missions to fight the Titans and monsters of Greek mythology. Over the course of each run, gods grant the player different abilities, making the player more powerful and resulting in what fans of the genre call a "build." Builds can be different each and every run, encouraging experimentation and making every playthrough a little different.
Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted takes a slightly different approach to the roguelike. Crazy Dave, who has served different roles in the Plants vs. Zombies series—including narrator and shopkeeper—is particularly unhinged in Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted. Sometimes he'll give you the ideal setup for a backyard rush, but other times he'll leave you stranded and open, forcing you to make sacrifices and take creative risks.
"The mode is not really about building as much as it is about surviving. Skill and speed are crucial, but Crazy Dave picks a handful of your plants before every run, and sometimes he is just crazy and does not give you the best plants," Neri said. "You have to be quick on your feet and make decisions that help you through to the next round."
Rest in Peace is unlocked after players complete the classic adventure mode. Like other roguelikes with a fixed ending, there is a way to beat Rest in Peace. Players will need to beat every level without making any major mistakes—but die, and you're back to square one.
Powering through a Cloudy Day
Even with these new modes, the team behind Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted has been careful not to disrupt what fans loved about the original. The series' quirky art, catchy music, and playful characters make Plants vs. Zombies approachable for players of all ages, while maintaining enough depth for seasoned strategists. As such, new mechanics, plants, and challenges have been added with restraint.
A standout example is the new Cloudy Day mode, which introduces a dynamic weather system. The weather provides an added (and unpredictable) layer of challenge alongside the unending march of the undead hordes. When the clouds roll in, your dependable Sunflowers go to sleep, forcing you to manage resources differently.
"When they are asleep, they do not make Sun—and for anyone who knows Plants vs. Zombies, they know that you need Sun to use your plants," Neris said. "There is a strong push-and-pull about when to spend your energy and when to stockpile your energy. The mode is a really fun challenge, and we are very proud of how it came out."
Cloudy Day is a natural extension of the garden-focused design that has helped Plants vs. Zombies stand the test of time. It's not a departure from the series like Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, but a way for a modern Popcap Studios to build off a game that's been core to the tower defense genre for nearly two decades.
Community at the core
Community feedback has also guided much of Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted's development. Suggestions came in from Reddit, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok that shaped both the game’s mechanics and aesthetics. Pre-purchase bonuses also reflect that community-driven approach, with PopCap Studios creating a classic Peashooter skin, a retro Browncoat Zombie, and other surprises that the team hopes to keep secret until release.
“All in all, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted was inspired by community feedback, and we think players are going to enjoy the game when they get their hands on it,” Neri said. “We have great reverence for the title and for all of the creatives that have worked on this game through the years. We wanted to honor that with a remaster that recaptures and modernizes the original magic of the game to make it a special experience for new and returning players."
Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is a celebration of a series that has grown alongside its fans, blending nostalgia with innovation. Multiplayer co-op and PvP, roguelike survival challenges, and modes like Cloudy Day ensure that long-time fans will find something new, while newcomers can jump into a classic without missing a beat. There’s never been a better time to pick up your Peashooter.
Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted releases October 23 and is available for pre-purchase on the Epic Games Store.