PopCap Games

Plants vs. Zombies 2. Available on iOS and Android. Free (although in-app purchases are possible). Ages 7 and up.

The popular game is back, with a twist: protect your house and brains from hordes of hungry zombies using plants with superpowers – as you travel through time, facing new zombies and acquiring new plants for your arsenal along the way (from Ancient Egypt to the Far Future, and everywhere in between – updates with new worlds are still being released periodically). The format is simple but addictive: players must strategize as foes with new powers or levels with restrictions appear, and the levels are varied enough to keep things interesting (there are even occasional mini-games). Daily events like “Piñata Parties” and a “Treasure Yeti” provide incentive to keep coming back even after a linear play-through has been completed. Small text and the necessity of fine motor skills make this game less suitable for very young children; periodic ads (for other apps) between screens and a plethora of possible in-app purchases might also be deterrents. All in all though, this is an engaging little strategy game with a novel premise and colorful, cartoony graphics: children in elementary school and beyond will enjoy planning their defense and defeating those pesky zombies.… (meer)

In this game, users have to defend their home against an onslaught of zombies. What does a person use to fight the hordes? Why, plants of course! Some levels take place at different times of day or in the backyard by the pool, and each new time or environment affects the types of plants that can be used. The game ends when a zombie is able to get past the plants and enter the house.

Plants Versus Zombies is available both as a paid mobile app and as a video game on many platforms. Gameplay is simple, with users placing plants either by touchscreen or by hitting buttons. There is a lot of strategy involved with placing the right kinds of plants to fight against each type of zombie. The app is single-player, but up to two players can play on a console. It would be fun for almost any age group, and it is mostly appropriate because there is only the cartoon violence of zombies falling apart. The game gets quite challenging after only a few levels, but it could engage children in a public library in critical strategic thinking.… (meer)