Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition Thumbnail

Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition similar games & best alternatives

Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, PlayStation 4 • 2022

Related articles

Quick resume

Ready the Peashooters and prepare for the craziest, funniest shooter in the universe: Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2.

Global score

90/100

Genres

Action, Casual, Strategy, Shooter

Similar games

    Pros

    • Fun and accessible gameplay
    • Extensive character customization and variants
    • Variety of multiplayer and co-op modes
    • Active and nostalgic community
    • Colorful, humorous art style

    Cons

    • Matchmaking and server issues reported
    • Lack of recent updates and official support
    • Presence of cheaters in multiplayer
    • Grind for unlockables can be lengthy
    • Requires origin alongside steam

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Competition, Status, Expression.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players can choose from over 100 character variants and multiple classes, customize characters and backyard areas, and select various game modes including PvP, PvE, and solo play, indicating high player control and freedom."

    • Competence
      3

      "The game rewards quick reflexes, aiming skills, and strategic play with a variety of classes and balanced gameplay, though it is accessible and easy to learn, with some grind elements."

    • Competition
      3

      "Includes competitive multiplayer modes like Turf Takeover and Team Vanquish with matchmaking and leaderboards, but also supports casual and solo play without ranked pressure."

    • Continuation
      4

      "Players report hundreds to thousands of hours played, with extensive content, collectibles, and ongoing community events encouraging long-term habitual play."

    • Cooperation
      4

      "Supports cooperative PvE modes, split-screen co-op, and team-based multiplayer modes requiring teamwork and collaboration."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Offers extensive character customization, backyard decoration, and multiple character variants allowing players to create unique playstyles and appearances."

    • Domination
      -2

      "Community emphasizes balanced gameplay and mutual respect; some reports of toxic behavior and cheating exist but overall the game fosters shared participation rather than domination."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game for fun, nostalgia, stress relief, and social bonding, often describing it as a joyful and immersive escape from real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily out of personal desire and enjoyment, with no indication of obligation or external pressure to play."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "The variety of characters, modes, and customization encourages players to try new strategies and experiment with different playstyles."

    • Exploration
      3

      "Backyard Battleground hub offers hidden areas, quests, and collectibles encouraging discovery beyond standard multiplayer matches."

    • Expression
      4

      "Strong emphasis on character and backyard customization, cosmetic unlocks, and emotes allowing players to express individuality."

    • Fantasy
      5

      "The game features imaginative, cartoonish characters and settings with plants fighting zombies, embracing a whimsical and fictional fantasy world."

    • Fellowship
      4

      "Players report community events, playing with friends and family, and feeling part of an active fanbase and multiplayer community."

    • Growth
      3

      "Progression through leveling characters, unlocking variants, and completing challenges supports learning and skill development."

    • Health
      -5

      "No indication of physical activity or health-related gameplay; typical sedentary video game experience."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires active engagement and focus during matches and missions; not designed for passive or background play."

    • Intimacy
      2

      "Some social bonding reported between friends and family playing together, but mostly surface-level multiplayer interactions."

    • Leadership
      1

      "Some team-based modes may involve informal leadership or coordination, but no strong emphasis on formal leadership roles."

    • Progression
      4

      "Extensive progression systems with character variants, unlockables, achievements, and cosmetic items encourage accumulation and advancement."

    • Relaxation
      3

      "Players describe the game as fun and relaxing despite some challenging gameplay; the cartoon style and humor contribute to a lighthearted experience."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Bright, colorful visuals and humorous animations provide sensory stimulation and emotional enjoyment."

    • Status
      1

      "Some recognition through achievements and character unlocks, but no strong social status or popularity focus."

    • Story
      2

      "Contains a single-player campaign and lore elements, but story is not the primary focus; multiplayer and gameplay take precedence."

    • Strategy
      3

      "Game modes require tactical thinking, class selection, and team coordination, supporting mental challenge and problem solving."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Fast-paced combat and competitive matches provide excitement and tension, though the tone remains light and humorous."

    • Value
      3

      "Players find the game offers substantial content and replayability for its price, especially on sale."

    • Violence
      2

      "Combat involves cartoonish shooting and destruction between plants and zombies, but in a humorous and non-realistic style."

    • Survival
      2

      "Some game modes involve objectives like defending zones and avoiding defeat, but overall low-risk and casual survival elements."

    Where to buy

    Last update: 29/04/2026