Parents' Guide to

Plants vs. Zombies FREE

By Christopher Healy, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Great strategy game with comic but slightly scary violence.

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android , Kindle Fire Free to try Strategy Games
Plants vs. Zombies FREE Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this app.

  • Plants vs. Zombies App: Screenshot #1
  • Plants vs. Zombies App: Screenshot #2
  • Plants vs. Zombies App: Screenshot #3

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 7 parent reviews

mom2twogirls1boy
mom2twogirls1boy Parent
July 17, 2016
age 6+

We Succumbed to Peer Pressure

I was hesitant to allow my 6 y/o son to play this game, after reading on Common Sense it was more geared towards older children. My 6 y/o insisted all the boys at school were playing it and so I asked around to some of the other parents. What I learned, was that it was rather benign, and really fun to play. One of the parents had a really great perspective. He said, regardless of age recommendations on games, if any "violence" is cartoonish and nature and not directed at people, he tends to be more laid back about it. Plants vs. Zombies is definitely cartoonish in the way the zombies are destroyed, they actually fall apart in a rather comical way. As the player advances, the game gets progressively more difficult, which may be why Common Sense rated it for older children. My son will get to a level he feel like is too hard, and quits for a while (which is just fine by me, because he's actually organically limiting his screen time, without me having to breathe down his neck about it)! I sit with him while he plays, because I don;t want him to "accidentally" make a purchase or click on a "watch this video to get this perk" bonuses.
1 person found this helpful.
darth_bunny
darth_bunny Adult
May 28, 2015
age 9+

Great Game...maybe

I think this totally depends on your kid. Example: If your kid is scared of zombies, doesn't know that cat tails are not actually cats, and/or has access to your apple wallet then this is not a good game for them. My only concerns are of it's slightly addictive nature and the money needed to pay for some things. Otherwise, it is great for decision making and money management.

This title has:

Easy to play/use
Too much consumerism
See all 7 parent reviews

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What’s It About?

Players become protective homeowners in PLANTS VS. ZOMBIES FREE as they guard themselves against an onslaught of freaky but humorous zombies. Fighting off zombies requires players to make strategic moves with flora. They place plants in key locations in their backyard and determine which species are most appropriately used to fight off various zombies.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (7 ):
Kids say (47 ):

This classic continues to be addictively fun. The concept of defending your home against an army of the undead by gardening is in itself gloriously unique. Many of the "weapons" you'll grow are fun puns, like "cherry bombs," "pea shooters," and "squash" -- which squashes the zombies. The monsters can be quite funny, too -- a dolphin-riding zombie can attack via the pool; a Michael Jackson-ish zombie can call up an army of back-up dancers. It's not just the humor, though, that makes Plants vs. Zombies FREE so good -- it's the fantastic strategy aspect. The action happens in suspense-laden real time, and exactly when and where you decide to plant specific seeds will determine whether you beat the zombies or lose your delicious brains.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Try playing a strategic board game to demonstrate how strategy skills that kids learn in Plants vs. Zombies FREE can translate to other situations.

  • Discuss how learning to plan and conserve resources will be useful to kids in real life -- even though they're unlikely to face a zombie invasion.

App Details

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