There’s a reason Plants vs. Zombies still stands out more than a decade after its debut, and it’s not just the dancing zombies or pun-heavy plant lineup. The game’s tone has always masterfully struck a balance between absurdity and real-time strategy — with a dash of horror to keep things tense. However, beneath that surface-level charm lies a creative force that helps hold it all together: the music. It’s the soundtrack that turns brain-eating monsters into lovable goofballs, and few composers understand that better than Peter McConnell.
In a recent interview with Game Rant, Peter McConnell (composer of Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare and Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville) shed some light on the Plants vs. Zombies vinyl and how the series’ musical identity has endured for over fifteen years. With two vinyl records on the way in celebration of the game’s 16th anniversary, McConnell reflected on how the franchise’s visual humor and eccentric melody gave the undead their strange sense of charm.
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Making the Undead Adorable in Plants vs. Zombies
From the very beginning, Plants vs. Zombies stood out among the crowd of strategy games by all but refusing to take itself too seriously. While the core gameplay loop still required players to be serious in their decision-making, everything from the dancing coneheads to the pun-filled plant names maintained its playful tone.
However, that tone went beyond visuals alone, with its most surprising strength being rooted in the soundtrack. The game’s music effortlessly became the heartbeat of the whole experience, as it somehow made the undead lovable with its quirky melodies and motifs. To this day, the Plants vs. Zombies soundtrack remains one of its most recognizable traits, and McConnell believes he knows why:
“Ultimately, I think it’s Laura’s thematic approach and the delicate, almost fragile sounds used. These are elements I tried to honor and carry on in all my work on PVZ 2. They are a perfect complement to the unique style of the visual art. Imagine, zombies being charming? — but they are!”
McConnell’s respect for Laura Shigihara’s (Plants vs. Zombies and Plants vs. Zombies 2 lead composer) original motifs is really what shaped his entire approach. In the end, his compositions echoed what made the original so iconic, although not without some evolution. The charm of Plants vs. Zombies never left but rather grew up a little, reinforcing the strange joy of fighting off a zombie invasion with sunflowers and cabbage-pults.
When asked about how he approached balancing humor, tension, and charm in music for a game as unique as Plants vs. Zombies, McConnell replied:
“I think part of the humor comes from having these light-hearted melodies repeated over and over and building as though they were menacing. And it’s funny because, of course, you actually get worried and excited as you play the game.”
This mix of playful music and undeniable tension became one of the series’ most memorable tricks. McConnell leaned into that contrast, writing tracks that sounded innocent at first but gradually built momentum in ways that aimed to capitalize on the anxiety of the one playing. Rather than changing with the gameplay, the music would almost lead the gameplay, as it indicated a change in pace that players should be aware of moving forward.
The Evolution of Plants vs. Zombies’ Music
In later entries like Garden Warfare and Battle for Neighborville, the style evolved again, with McConnell expanding on the series’ foundation. He took the original game’s melodies but used his own themes to align with each game’s new setting and the action that accompanied it. The result was a soundtrack that felt fresh and unique to each world but still in touch with the series’ roots. Even in intense moments, Plants vs. Zombies disarming, iconic charm remained intact. On that note, when asked about whether he referenced any of Laura’s original work in his own, McConnell responded:
“Absolutely. Those themes are essential to the game. Certain pieces, like the intro music, seed pickup, and the mini-games, must be immediately recognizable melodically. Where I tended to use my own themes was in the “wave” pieces, which were about the new environment of each world: pirates, the Wild West, the Middle Ages and so on. It made sense for them to have their own themes.”
Now, sixteen years later, that careful musical design is getting its due. With the Plants vs. Zombies vinyl release, players can relive the franchise’s offbeat brilliance and hear how whimsy was weaponized to turn zombies into adorable icons. For McConnell, the goal was never just to entertain, but to make something worth remembering. And Plants vs. Zombies music is certainly that.
The Plants vs. Zombies vinyl soundtrack is available in two collectible formats: a 7″ limited edition single featuring a riff on Billie Eilish, priced at $15.99, and a deluxe 2xLP edition priced at $44.99. Pre-orders are now live at iam8bit.com, and will remain open through July 15.
