Plants vs. Zombies: The Next Chapter

Plants vs. Zombies: The Next Chapter (abbreviated as PvZ:TNC) is a tower-defense game released by Purple Zebra Studios. It was released as a direct sequel to and is treated as the fourth installment of the franchise. It is also the first tower defense game where the zombies are playable. A beta version featuring the first two worlds was released on June 22, 2022 for a limited time. A full version will be released in the future, though the exact date has yet to be confirmed.
== Plot ==
This is the first game in the Plants vs. Zombies franchise to follow two separate plotlines. One for the plants, the other for the zombies. For both sides, the plot is introduced after completing the tutorial world.
Plants' Story: The protagonist, , and receive an envelope from a undercover mole (which happens to be a literal mole) that has been spying on . The envelope informs the protagonists that Zomboss is constructing a weapon that will cause a constant influx of zombies to be released everywhere around the world. Just as the three plan on infiltrating Zomboss's lair, Wardwiz, a zombie exceptional in dark magic, taunts the protagonists before using a hex on them to trap them within a story book. Now trapped within the strange new world, the three set off to escape the book world and stop Zomboss.
Zombies' Story: Interestingly, the protagonist of this story (a human intern working for Zomboss) is different from the one in the plants' story. Tired of his constant losses, Zomboss creates a plant-zombie hybrid called the Corpse Flower to finally get some leverage with the plants. However, the creature soon goes berserk and starts tearing up Zomboss's lab. Wardwiz uses a hex to contain it within the book world, but the player and Zomboss (along with a janitor named Brian) get mixed up in the crossfire and are sucked into the book world along with the Corpse Flower. Having no other choice but to advance (because if Wardwiz used another spell to pull them out, Corpse Flower would be pulled out as well), the three set off on a grand quest to escape the world they're trapped in.
== Game icons ==
TBA
== Gameplay ==
Like its predecessors, The Next Chapter plays like a traditional tower-defense game. Multiple aspects return from the previous games.
*Players begin each level with 50 in their bank. The quantity of sun that falls from the sky and produced by sun plants is 50, like in Plants vs. Zombies 2. The zombie equivalent of sun is , like in .
* returns from both Plants vs. Zombies 2 and 3, which allows the plant it is given to to unleash a strong attack. The zombie equivalent of Plant Food, called "Brain Course", is introduced in this game. The amount of plant food players can carry during a level starts at two, but the amount can be increased by purchasing additional Plant Food and Brain Course slots from Crazy Dave's Twiddydinkies and Dr. Zomboss's Thingamajigs respectively.
*s, and subsequently , return from Plants vs. Zombies 3, which give plants more powerful abilities. In addition, zombies can also be fed tacos to be given their own unique Tacobilities. The amount of tacos players can carry during a level starts at two, but the amount can be increased by purchasing additional taco slots from Crazy Dave's Twiddydinkies and Dr. Zomboss's Thingamajigs.
*The returns, which allow players to dig up plants to make room for others. The zombie equivalent of the shovel is the salt shaker.
* also return, which destroys a whole lane of zombies (minus bosses) when a zombie reaches it or is launched manually. Its zombie counterpart is called a "Zombot 500", which resembles a miniaturized version of the from the original game's head.
*Planting creates plants on the lawn, but require sun to be planted. After a seed packet is planted, it must be recharged before being able to be used again. Seed packets can be placed anywhere on the lawn, just as long as the desired tile is available to be planted on. Seed packets are also a currency that can be acquired through purchasing piñatas from the shop and completing certain quests. Its zombie equivalent is Grave Fragments.
*There are various types of currency that can be earned throughout the game. Sun/brains fall from the sky/rise up from the ground or are produced by certain plants/zombies. can be acquired through various means, such as defeating zombies/plants or completing quests. Silver coins are worth 10, gold coins are worth 50, money bags are worth 100, and large money bags are worth 250. Coins can be used to purchase items from shops or upgrade plants/zombies. are more rare than coins and can be used to purchase premium plants/zombies from the shop and piñatas.
=== Yammer Says.../Wardwiz Wordz of Wizdum ===
Yammer's Tips (PvZ:TNC)
Wardwiz's Tips (PvZ:TNC)
During loading screens, a talkative yam known as Yammer/a dark magician zombie named Wardwiz may chime in and give the player tips on how to play the game, such as how to deal with especially annoying plants/zombies/world gimmicks. Their roles are similar to the from the first Plants vs. Zombies.
=== Plant Families/Zombie Families ===
 are a returning mechanic from Plants vs. Zombies 2. Plants are sorted into families to determine which Power Mint they are influenced by. Along with the returning 14 families (, , , , , , , , , , , , , ), a new, 15th plant family, the family, is introduced to this game. They consist of plants that restore the damage taken by themselves or other plants.
Zombie families are a newly introduced feature in this game. They are in a lot of way similar to plant families. The fifteen zombie families are (animals and animal-like zombies), (zombies who produce brains or use smarts), (zombies who attack plants up close), (zombies who easily destroy plants), (zombies who alter the environment), (zombies who throw or shoot projectiles), (zombies who fly), (zombies who utilize ice), (zombies who grant extra hits or possess armor), (zombies who bounce over plants), (zombies who move plants and zombies), (fast zombies and imps), (zombies who utilize fire), (zombies who create more zombies on the field), and (mechanical zombies and Zombots).
=== Piñatas ===
 contain rewards, mainly coins and seed packets which can be used to upgrade plants. Piñatas can be acquired through various means, such as purchasing them from Crazy Dave's Twiddydinkies/Dr. Zomboss's Thingamajigs or completing quests. The player can only hold onto three piñatas at a time, but additional piñata slots can be purchased at either of the shops. Plant piñatas are shaped like a Sunflower's head while zombie piñatas are shaped like a Conehead Zombie's head.
=== Travel Log/Zomboss's To-Do List ===
The is a returning feature from Plants vs. Zombies 2 that allows the player to earn special rewards in exchange for completing certain quests. These are all the unique types of quests the Travel Log has to offer.
*Adventure Quests - Earn rewards for overcoming challenges in Adventure Mode (i.e. acquiring a new plant/zombie, clearing a certain level/world, etc.)
*Daily Quests - Complete the quest within 24 hours to earn gems and a piñata.
*Plant Practice Courses - Complete levels where players are provided with a predetermined set of plants for a large amount of seed packets.
*Endless Challenges - Go toe-to-toe with endless waves of plants/zombies. Lasting longer earns greater rewards.
The zombie equivalent of the Travel Log is called Zomboss's To-Do List. It functions entirely the same as its plant counterpart.
=== Item Shed/Broom Closet ===
The Item Shed is a feature that stores the items the player has acquired from Crazy Dave's Twiddydinkies. Items can be taken out of the shed and stored into the backpack to be brought to levels. Initially, the Item Shed only have a carrying space of 100, but it can be increased by 50 for every additional Item Shed Space purchased at Crazy Dave's Twiddydinkies. It is unlocked by acquiring a Shed Key, which itself can be acquired by completing Historical Haven, Day 10, alongside the Backpack. Its zombie equivalent is called the Broom Closet and the Shed Key is replaced with a Closet Key, which is acquired alongside the Storage Cube.
=== Backpack/Storage Cube ===
The Backpack is a feature capable of storing items bought from Crazy Dave's Twiddydinkies. The difference between this and the Item Shed is that items stored inside the Backpack can be brought to levels and used while items in the Item Shed cannot. Initially, the Backpack only have a carrying space of 50, but it can be increased by 25 for every additional backpack space purchased at Crazy Dave's Twiddydinkies. It is acquired alongside the Shed Key (which subsequently unlocks the Item Shed) after completing Historical Haven, Day 10. Its zombie equivalent is called the Storage Cube, which is acquired alongside the Shed Key's replacement, the Closet Key (which unlocks the Broom Closet).
=== Collections ===
Collections (PvZ:TNC)
Whenever a player acquires a certain plant/zombie, they are cataloged in every collection they belong to. Every collection has multiple plant/zombies that must be collected in order to complete it. Whenever a collection is completed, the player earns rewards, which mainly consist of coins, gems, piñatas, exclusive plants and zombies, and other rewards. So far, there are two known collections.
=== Crazy Dave's Twiddydinkies/Dr. Zomboss's Thingamajigs ===
Crazy Dave's Twiddydinkies (PvZ:TNC)
Dr. Zomboss's Thingamajigs (PvZ:TNC)
 is a returning feature from Plants vs. Zombies 1. Players unlock is after acquire Dave's Car Key from completing the tutorial world. Various items that can help the player's out in levels, therefore making them easier, can be purchased from here. In addition, premium plants and piñatas can be bought with gems. Its zombie equivalent is called Dr. Zomboss's Thingamajigs and instead of a car key, you use a key card to unlock it. Most items from both sides have their own unique function, but a certain few are counterparts.
== Game information ==
=== Game modes ===
*Adventure - Traverse through the book world and fight off waves of zombies/plants in order to defeat Dr. Zomboss/the Corpse Flower.
**Brain Busters - Unique challenges that put the player's mettle to the test.
*Zen Garden - Water sprouts to earn coins and give boosts to random plants.
**Zombie Lab - The Zen Garden's zombie counterpart. Power up Zom-Pods to earn coins and give boosts to random zombies.
*Minigames - Fun, optional levels that offer the player a variety of unique challenges and rules.
* - Currently unavailable. Will be released in the full version.
*Boss Challenges - Currently unavailable. Will be released in the full version.
*Garden Warfare Mode - Currently unavailable. Will be released in the full version.
=== Update history ===
1.0.0 (Beta) - The beta version of the game launches on June 22nd, 2022.
== Areas ==
Currently, there are three "chapters" currently available in The Next Chapter (although The Player's House isn't technically considered its own world). It has been confirmed that a total of 13 chapters will be released alongside the full version of the game.
Icon	Area 	Number of levels	Difficulty
 	Player's House 	10 	No difficulty
 	Historical Haven	25 	
 	Fort Fantasia 	30 	
== Plants ==
===Returning Plants===
Gardener's Almanac (PvZ:TNC)
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
===Power-Ups===
*
*
*
*
*
===Tacobilities===
* (Peashooter's Tacobility)
* (Sunflower's Tacobility)
* (Wall-nut's Tacobility)
* (Potato Mine's Tacobility)
* (Cabbage-pult's Tacobility)
* (Shamrock's Tacobility)
* (Repeater's Tacobility)
* (Kernel-pult's Tacobility)
* (Snow Pea's Tacobility)
* (Tall-nut's Tacobility)
* (Magnet-shroom's Tacobility)
===New Plants===
*Buckwheat
*Carrotor
*Squall Mint
*Horsetail
*Matcha-pult
*Haystack
===Boss Plants===
*Elmwood
*Mandragorgon
== Zombies ==
=== Returning Zombies ===
Mortician's Catalog (PvZ:TNC)
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*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
===Power-Ups===
*
*
*
*
===Tacobilities===
* (Browncoat Zombie's Tacobility)
* (Flag Zombie's Tacobility)
* (Buckethead Zombie's Tacobility)
* (Newspaper Zombie's Tacobility)
* (Imp's Tacobility)
* (Gargantuar's Tacobility)
* (Chicken Wrangler's Tacobility)
* (Zombie Chicken's Tacobility)
===New Zombies===
*World-exclusive Browncoat Zombie reskins
*World-exclusive Conehead Zombie reskins
*World-exclusive Flag Zombie reskins
*World-exclusive Buckethead Zombie reskins
*World-exclusive Imp reskins
*World-exclusive Gargantuar reskins
*Wheelbarrow Zombie
*Musket Zombie
*Zombie Horse
*Ent Zombie
*Fairy Princess Zombie
*Dark Alchemist
*Ice Sorcerer Zombie
===Boss Zombies===
*Captain John Rottingham (pilots the Zombot Colonial Crusader)
*Prince Furio VII (pilots the Zombot Fortified Fortress)
== Gallery ==
TBA
== Trivia ==
*This is the second Plants vs. Zombies game made by its creator, the first being the now-cancelled Plants vs. Zombies: Rising Up. Both games share a lot of similar elements, most notably the zombies being playable.
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