Parents' Guide to Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2

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Common Sense Media Review

Paul Semel By Paul Semel , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Weird cartoonish multiplayer shooter grows fun for all ages.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

age 7+

Based on 12 parent reviews

Parents say that while the game is generally fun and safe for kids, with a humorous tone and no violent themes, there are significant concerns regarding in-game purchases that can lead to excessive spending. Many families appreciate its engaging gameplay and the ability for kids of different ages to enjoy it together, but the pressure for microtransactions remains a common complaint.

  • fun gameplay
  • family-friendly
  • in-game purchases
  • silly humor
  • engaging for kids
Summarized with AI

age 8+

Based on 55 kid reviews

Kids say this game is an enjoyable and kid-friendly shooter that delivers silly fun with minimal violence, such as cartoonish character depictions and non-graphic gameplay. Players appreciate the variety of characters and abilities, though there are concerns about online interactions and some pay-to-win elements due to optional microtransactions.

  • kid-friendly
  • minimal violence
  • silly fun
  • character variety
  • concerns about online interactions
Summarized with AI

What's It About?

In PLANTS VS ZOMBIES: GARDEN WARFARE 2, the flowers and their friends have lost control of Suburbia to their undead enemies, who've renamed it Zomburbia. But as the living-impaired are about to learn, a plant is never more dangerous than when it has lost its home. Through a series of missions -- which, admittedly, are only the game's multiplayer modes reconfigured to be played solo -- you, as a plant, have to take back Suburbia … by any means necessary.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say ( 12 ):
Kids say ( 55 ):

With a cartoony look and an equally goofy tone, this silly shooter is entertaining for almost all ages, especially if you hate nature or the living-impaired. As with its predecessor, Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 is mostly an online shooter, one that has not only such expected modes as the "Team Deathmatch"-ish "Team Vanquish" but also cribs some from other, more serious Warfare-type game with "Vanquish Confirmed," in which you not only have to destroy the enemy team but also have to grab orbs to prove you've destroyed someone. And then there's "Mixed Mode," which mashes together all six multiplayer game types into a hodgepodge of hot zombie-on-plant action. But though this game works well online, its single-player mode has some issues. For starters, you can't pause the game when you're playing by yourself. It's also not hard to see how the solo mode would've been so much better if it were more of a story-driven campaign, as opposed to just a succession of the multiplayer modes reconfigured for solo play. Still, if you're someone who does play well with others and doesn't mind getting a little silly, Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 is a battle for the ages.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about being a sore loser and a good winner. Why is it important not to be the former and always to be the latter?

  • Talk about financial responsibility. Does it make sense to buy a funny hat for your zombie when it doesn't protect his head? How can you spend your money better?

Game Details

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