Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville brings back the zany, over-the-top action that fans of the franchise have come to love. From its vibrant characters to its lively environments, the game does an excellent job of injecting personality into every battle. However, while the core gameplay remains entertaining, some design choices prevent it from reaching its full potential.
An Engaging, Yet Familiar Experience
The moment you step into the world of Neighborville, it’s evident that developer PopCap Games has built on the foundations of the previous Garden Warfare entries. The game offers a variety of multiplayer modes alongside a PvE experience that caters to casual players. The six PvP multiplayer modes include familiar setups such as team deathmatch and control-point battles, but the inclusion of the new 4v4 Battle Arena mode adds a refreshing layer of strategy. The requirement to select a different character each round encourages players to experiment with diverse playstyles and adapt to ever-changing team compositions.
Turf Takeover, a 12v12 mode featuring multi-stage objectives, remains one of the most entertaining experiences in the game. Whether you’re storming an enemy base or escorting a payload, the large-scale battles create moments of excitement, even if they sometimes descend into chaotic, uncoordinated skirmishes. The variety of maps introduces unique challenges, but some of them suffer from uneven balance, making it difficult to maintain strategic positioning.
Charming Characters and Quirky Abilities
The roster is undoubtedly one of the game’s biggest strengths. Expanding on Garden Warfare 2’s lineup, Battle for Neighborville introduces new plant and zombie characters that feel distinct in both design and abilities. The stealthy Night Cap, for example, can cloak itself and unleash devastating melee attacks, while the 80s Action Hero fires explosive arrows with a rockstar flair. The Space Cadet, a standout new zombie, can link up with others to form a powerful space station, creating an impressive teamwork dynamic.
The ability to sprint is a welcome addition, improving the pace of battles and allowing players to get back into the action faster. Each character’s sprint animation further reinforces their personality, making the simple act of moving around feel more enjoyable. From the Sunflower’s joyful skip to the Foot Soldier Zombie’s jet-powered dash, these small details add to the game’s charm.
A Lackluster PvE Experience
While the PvP modes are engaging, the PvE campaign falls short. The open-world zones offer side quests, collectibles, and challenges, but many of the missions feel repetitive and uninspired. Escort objectives, fetch quests, and tower defense sections dominate the experience, lacking the depth needed to sustain long-term engagement. Boss fights attempt to break the monotony, but some encounters feel artificially difficult due to frustrating mechanics, such as overwhelming enemy swarms or environmental hazards.
Without co-op partners, certain characters—especially support roles—feel ineffective, making solo play an unbalanced experience. The potential for a more dynamic single-player adventure exists, but the execution leaves much to be desired.
Progression and Customization
Leveling up characters unlocks new abilities and upgrades, offering incentives to keep playing. However, the customization system relies heavily on randomized cosmetics, forcing players to spend in-game currency on loot boxes rather than allowing them to choose their preferred skins directly. While the game launched without microtransactions, the planned addition of premium currency raises concerns about monetization. If implemented poorly, it could further frustrate players looking for fair progression.
Final Thoughts
Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville successfully delivers entertaining, lighthearted multiplayer action with a diverse cast of characters. The game’s humor, fast-paced combat, and creative abilities make it an enjoyable experience for casual and competitive players alike. However, the underwhelming PvE content and questionable map design prevent it from reaching its full potential. Fans of the franchise will find plenty to enjoy, but those looking for deep tactical gameplay may be left wanting more.
