PopCap’s beloved, long-running Plants vs. Zombies PvE video game series is leaving its digital garden for a physical one, as Mantic Games adapts the franchise into a tabletop board game launching on Kickstarter on October 14. The project aims to translate the strategic defense gameplay that made the games famous into a collaborative experience designed for up to four players.
Mantic Games, which has previously adapted numerous popular IPs into tabletop form including Worms, Halo, Hellboy, The Walking Dead, and Invincible, describes the new adaptation as “a fast-paced co-op tabletop game that captures the comedy and chaos of the series.” Following the structure of its video game predecessors, the board game supports 1 to 4 players who must work together to overcome a series of increasingly challenging levels. Each level features unique setups, objectives, and Zombie hordes for the team to defeat.
A Card-Based Battle for Your Lawn
The game operates as a card-based experience where each card carries unique effects when played. Players deploy Plant cards that range from firing off Peashooter plants to detonating Cherry Bombs, creating explosive defenses against incoming threats. These are complemented by Tool cards such as a shovel, which can reorganize your garden’s defenses mid-game, and a lawnmower capable of cutting down an entire lane of zombies.
On the opposing side, playing Zombie cards moves those creatures closer to the player’s home while simultaneously revealing the paths they’ll travel along. This dual function allows defenders to anticipate threats and prepare their strategies accordingly. Players must play all of their Zombie cards at once, a mechanic designed to amplify the tension and chaos that defines each session.
“Players work together to overcome a series of increasingly challenging levels, each featuring unique setups, objectives, and Zombie hordes to defeat.”
Mantic Games
Progression remains central to the experience, with new Plants, Zombies, and challenges to unlock along the way. Each fresh level pits players against a different Zombie horde, ensuring variety across multiple playthroughs. The stakes remain consistent throughout: if any zombie reaches the house, the team loses.
Premium Editions and Expansions
Mantic is also preparing special editions to appeal to dedicated collectors and fans. A Deluxe Edition will include pre-assembled miniatures of “fan-favorite Plants and Zombies,” adding a tactile dimension to the gameplay. Additionally, a Night Edition standalone expansion is in development, promising more Plants, Zombies, and other content beyond the base game.
This tabletop adaptation arrives as the video game series continues to evolve. The last entry was this year’s Plants vs. Zombies Replanted, a remake of the original title that IGN praised for successfully reviving the classic formula. Prior to that, 2024 saw the release of Plants vs. Zombies 3, a free-to-play mobile installment that has been relaunched multiple times since its initial launch.
Looking Ahead
Fans interested in backing the project can follow the campaign on Kickstarter starting October 14. As Mantic Games continues to expand its portfolio of licensed tabletop adaptations, this Plants vs. Zombies entry represents another opportunity for players to experience the franchise’s signature strategic defense gameplay around a physical table.
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