Plants vs. Zombiesevolved from a titan of the casual games market to a full-on media empire, but the franchise has been on the backfoot for some time. With whispers of a newPlants vs. Zombiesgame going around, there’s a lot EA and PopCap could learn from the series' last outing.
PopCap was once a small indie studio that cut its teeth on arcade-like titles such asHeavy Weapon,Peggle,Bejeweled,and more. When PopCap created thetower defense gamePlants vs. Zombies, the title’s cute art style, quirky sense of humor, and simple gameplay (that opens up into some great strategic depth) allowed it to achieve incredible popularity. Following EA’s acquisition of the studio,PvZgot itself a direct sequel, as well as a series of shooter spinoffs that quickly became beloved among fans.
Plants vs. Zombies 3 Didn’t Hit The Mark, So PopCap And EA Need To Change Focus
Unfortunately, the series has been in decline since 2019, whenPvZ:Battle for Neighborvillefailedto interest fans. Despite some great ideas (such as sprinting, robust single-player content, and a few needed balance changes), it strayed too far from the belovedGarden Warfareduology it had spun off from. The IP then saw a drought of games, allowingPvZ 2andGarden Warfare 2to start dying slow deaths from power creep and lack of support respectively.
The release ofPlants vs. Zombies 3, an attempt to bring the series back to its tower defense roots, hasn’t helped matters. After numerous small-scale soft launches, and one bigger soft launch in 2024,PvZ 3has once again been unlisted; PopCap has struggled massively in regard to getting fans onboard with a new game. However, that’s not to say the series can’t get a second wind, so long as EA and PopCap learn fromPvZ 3.
Plants vs. Zombies Needs To Go Back To The Basics
Just asBattle for Neighborvillewent too far astray from theGarden Warfareseries,PvZ 3missed out onwhy fans lovePlants vs. Zombies. The last release of the game tried to combine the tower defense formula with too many mobile game gimmicks, trying to copy the homework of games likeMerge Mansion. Moreover, it denied players the ability to choose what plants they took to battle—shutting out one of the most important parts ofPvZandPvZ 2. Collecting more plants, shaping new strategies, and working with a limited array of slots is key to the experience.
Choosing plants was eventually added back toPvZ 3, but it was too little, too late.The nextPvZgameneeds to go back to the classic formula ofPvZandPvZ 2, while shedding the over-monetized feature/power creep of the latter. A basic game that takes what’s worked before and expands it would be a great way to win fans back; the incredible modding scene that’s popped up aroundPvZ 2should serve as inspiration here, with huge modpacks likeReflourishedandEclisegiving fans of the franchise exactly what they want.
PopCap Needs To Simplify The Story
In the same fashion, the game needs to return to the simplicity ofPvZ’s story. That game only had a few quips from Crazy Dave and some amusing letters from the zombies. The level design told the bulk of the story, with the zombies ramping up the challenge by changing their means of attack—arriving at different locations or times of day. Trying to tie in the comics, a vast universe of characters, and world-threatening stakes is an approach that should be benched for a while.
