Plants vs. Zombies

/ggo/pico8/?cart=zombiegarden
Info

Pico Zombie Garden is a faithful PICO-8 adaptation of Plants vs. Zombies. Defend your lawn from waves of undead by planting a strategic lineup of peashooters, wall-nuts, cherry bombs, and more. Features 10 levels, 8 plant types, 5 zombie varieties, and three faithfully recreated tracks from the original soundtrack.

Controls

Player 1

ActionControl
Collect SunLeft-Click on sun orbs
Select PlantLeft-Click on plant card
Place PlantLeft-Click on lawn tile
Deselect / CancelRight-Click
Use ShovelLeft-Click shovel, then Left-Click plant to remove

System

ActionControl
Pause MenuP / ENTER

About

Plants vs. Zombies redefined tower defense when it launched, blending strategic planning with irresistible charm. This PICO-8 adaptation captures that magic in a compact package — 10 levels of escalating zombie threats, a growing arsenal of plants, and three faithfully recreated tracks from Laura Shigihara's iconic soundtrack.

Built in just 30 days by a two-person team, the game pushes PICO-8's token limits to deliver a complete first-world experience. New plants unlock progressively, each bringing unique tactical value to your defense. The mouse-driven interface mirrors the original's point-and-click gameplay, though controller support was sacrificed to stay within constraints.

Gameplay

Mechanics

  • Sun Economy: Click falling and sunflower-produced orbs to gather currency for planting
  • Plant Placement: Select a plant card, then click a lawn tile to deploy — right-click to cancel
  • Shovel Tool: Remove misplaced or consumed plants to free up space for better options
  • Lawnmower Backup: Each lane starts with a lawnmower that eliminates the first zombie to breach your defenses
  • Progressive Unlocks: New plants become available as you advance through levels

Plant Roster

PlantRoleRecharge
PeashooterFires peas at zombies in its laneFast
SunflowerGenerates additional sun over timeFast
Cherry BombExplodes in a 3x3 area after a short delayVery Slow
Wall-nutAbsorbs massive damage as a living shieldSlow
Potato MineArms after 15 seconds, kills one zombie on contactSlow
SnowpeaFires freezing peas that slow enemiesFast
ChomperDevours a zombie instantly, then chews for 42 secondsFast
RepeaterFires peas at twice the rate of a PeashooterFast

Tips

  • Prioritize sunflowers early to build a sustainable economy
  • Wall-nuts buy crucial time — place them in front of your damage dealers
  • Cherry Bombs excel at clearing clustered zombies or emergency breaches
  • Potato Mines require foresight — plant them ahead of incoming waves
  • The shovel is your safety net for correcting misplacements

Credits

  • Developer: FlyingSmog (code), Gimbernau (art/design)
  • License: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
  • Original Game: Plants vs. Zombies by Popcap Games
  • Original Soundtrack: Laura Shigihara