Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted Review (XSX) – A Fresh Coat of Grass

When Plants vs. Zombies first sprouted onto PC screens back in 2009, it was an instant cult classic, a perfect blend of strategy, charm, and chaos that made defending your lawn against the undead feel downright wholesome. Sixteen years later, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted digs up those roots and gives them a fresh polish. With fully remastered visuals, new co-op and PvP modes, and a few inventive twists, PopCap’s iconic garden warfare returns to remind us why we fell in love with it in the first place, even if it’s not quite the evolution some fans may have hoped for. Let’s dig all that and more, in this The Outerhaven’s review of Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted.

Game Name: Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted
Platform(s): Xbox Series X|S (reviewed), PC
Developer(s): PopCap / EA Motive
Publisher(s): Electronic Arts
Release Date: October 23, 2025

A classic reblooms

Gameplay, however simple, can be quite hard to get used to at first. Using the right analog stick to move around and the action button to place your desired plant. Something they also added was a way to speed up time so you are able to make it a little more difficult and quicker in the early levels. I do suggest maybe not speeding up in the later levels as it does get difficult.

Day, Night, Pool, Fog, and Roof. All the classic levels return with an all-new sheen to them, looking great as ever with each having its own unique play style. Pool is where the game starts to ramp up in difficulty, adding a whole new lily pad so that you can “build” on the water.

I played with my son, and we really liked all the different ways you can complete a level, going from using just Peashooters and Sunflowers to more complex plants like the Tall-Nut.

A prettier, livelier backyard

The first thing you’ll notice is how vibrant everything looks. Replanted runs in gorgeous HD, with updated character models, fluid animations, and reimagined environments that keep the charm of the original while adding subtle modern flair. Every plant and zombie now pops off the screen; the lawn never looked this good.

PopCap deserves credit for keeping the heart of the game intact. The humor, the quirky sound effects, and that satisfying plink of collecting sun, it’s all still here, lovingly preserved. Also, being able to add fun little effects like retro versions of the plants and zombies, another being able to give the zombies mustaches and sunglasses.

All the different new styles you can attach to the characters are a nice touch, and as a lover of more modern games such as Battle for Neighborville, my son was happy to have a little customization.

Same roots, new soil

Gameplay remains faithful to the 2009 classic: you plant defenses, gather sunlight, and fend off increasingly ridiculous waves of zombies. However, Replanted doesn’t just recycle old soil.

New features breathe some fresh air into the garden:

• Local Co-op: Two players can now team up to defend the lawn together, a feature fans have wanted for years.

• PvP Mode: A surprisingly fun twist where one player controls plants and the other commands the undead.

• New Challenge Modes: “Cloudy Day” limits sunlight, and “Rest in Peace” introduces a hardcore permadeath option for masochistic strategists.

These modes don’t completely transform the formula, but they do add welcome replayability.

While co-op is very fun, only being couch is a little upsetting in these times. That being said, my son and I thoroughly enjoyed the time we had playing.

The weeds in the garden

While the nostalgia hits hard, Replanted isn’t entirely without wilted leaves. The core loop hasn’t changed much, and that means the same pacing and limited strategy depth remain. If you’ve played Plants vs. Zombies to death over the last decade and a half, you might find the new content more like a snack than a full meal.

Online multiplayer is also conspicuously missing, as co-op and PvP are local only, which feels like a missed opportunity in 2025. And while the visual overhaul is lovely, it’s still very much the same game underneath. For newcomers, that’s fine. For veterans, it might feel like déjà vu.

Verdict

Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted isn’t trying to reinvent the franchise, and honestly, it doesn’t need to. It’s a polished, affectionate restoration of one of gaming’s most beloved tower defense titles. The new content, while modest, adds enough to make it worth a revisit, especially if you’ve got a friend to play alongside.

If you’re a longtime fan, this is a trip down memory lane that actually feels alive again. If you’re new to the series, this is the best way to experience it for the first time.

Review Disclosure Statement: A copy of Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted was provided to us for review purposes by EA. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy for more info.

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