Cheats & Secrets - Plants vs. Zombies

Cheats & Secrets – Plants vs. Zombies

Introduction

Plants vs. Zombies (2009) contains a handful of legitimate cheat codes, hidden features, and Easter eggs intentionally placed by the developers at PopCap Games. These are accessible primarily on the PC and Mac versions through an in-game menu or keyboard commands. Mobile versions (iOS, Android) have fewer or no cheats, but still include some secrets. This guide lists all known entries, separated by platform.

> Note: Using cheat codes does not disable achievements or progression on most versions, but may affect leaderboard submissions in mini-games. Always back up your save file before testing.

PC & Mac Cheat Codes (In-Game Menu)

To access the cheat menu on PC/Mac:
1. Launch Plants vs. Zombies.
2. From the main menu, press Enter on your keyboard to open a text input box (hidden at the top of the screen).
3. Type any of the following codes exactly as written, then press Enter again.
4. A confirmation sound or message will appear if the code is accepted.

Code	Effect	Notes
`future`	Unlocks all accessories in the Crazy Dave’s Twiddydinkies shop (e.g., Tree of Wisdom upgrades, Lawn Mower skins, etc.).	Does not give you in-game currency; you still need to purchase items with coins.
`mustache`	Zombies now wear a handlebar mustache.	Visual only; toggles off if repeated.
`pinata`	A zombie piñata falls from the sky in the current level, dropping coins when hit.	Works during gameplay; momentary effect.
`trickedout`	Lawn mowers receive a colorful, custom paint job.	Visual; persists for the session.
`sukhbir`	Replaces the game’s title screen logo text with “Sukhbir”.	References a developer; persists until restart.
`daisies`	Zombies leave daisies in their path when killed.	Visual; toggles off if repeated.
`berzerker`	Allows the player to win even if a zombie reaches the left side (house).	Experimental; may cause glitches.

> Important: The cheat menu is not present in all versions. The Game of the Year and Steam editions include it. Some re-releases (e.g., EA App) may have removed the input box entirely.

Mobile & Console Cheats

iOS / Android: No known cheat codes exist. However, there are hidden features (see next section).

Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 (Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare – not the same game): The console versions of the original tower defense are not widely available; the HD re-releases on Xbox Live Arcade and PSN did not include cheat codes.

Secrets & Easter Eggs

#### 1. The Zombie Yeti

How to find: Survive until the Chill Yeti appears. It only shows up after you have completed Adventure Mode once and then replay a random daytime level in Pool or Fog worlds. The Yeti walks slowly and drops a Yeti’s Beard (a rare plant) when killed.

Reward: Unlocks the Yeti’s Beard in your seed packet (acts as a permanent slow-down effect on zombies). Actually, the Yeti’s Beard is a secret plant that appears only in the Zen Garden – it doesn’t appear in combat.

Location: In your main menu, click on the tree icon (left side of the house) to plant a seed. Over time, you can upgrade it with coins.

Secrets: The Tree of Wisdom occasionally gives random cryptic clues or secret messages when clicked. These include developer jokes, hints about the Zombology book, and the phrase “The answer is 42”.

Maximum height: Can be grown to 1000 feet. No special bonus, just bragging rights.

Mushroom Garden: After you unlock the Mushroom Garden (by buying it from Crazy Dave), you can grow rare plants like the Hypno-shroom or Marigold that are not available in normal gameplay.

Water Lily Garden: Unlocks the ability to grow aquatic plants like the Water Lily in the Zen Garden.

Secretly, the Vase of Money: In the Zen Garden, if you tap a flower pot rapidly at certain angles (PC: hover mouse quickly), you can cause coins to fall out – a minor exploit but intended for fun.

“I, Zombie” Endless: After completing the “Last Stand” challenges, the end credits sequence includes a hidden mini-game called “I, Zombie Endless.” You must click a specific zombie during the credits to unlock it. Timing is strict.

Vasebreaker Endless: Similarly, during the credits of “Vasebreaker” mode, you can click on a vase to unlock a never-ending version.

On Steam/Xbox, there is an achievement for popping a Pogo Zombie’s pogo stick with a Cherry Bomb. This is a hidden secret because the game never tells you that the pogo stick can be destroyed.

In the main menu, type `credits` as a cheat code? Actually, there is no such code. But you can watch the full credits by clicking the Help button in the Options menu and then clicking the PopCap logo repeatedly – a hidden credits sequence will play.

Hidden Content & Exploit-Safe Secrets

Skip Level Confirmation: After beating a level, instead of clicking “Next Level,” you can press the spacebar to immediately advance – a time-saver.

Coffee Bean Without Mushrooms: If you place a Coffee Bean on any non-mushroom plant, it does nothing, but the game will show a short animation of the plant “waking up” – purely cosmetic.

Chocolate for Zombies: In the Zen Garden, if you give chocolate to a zombie (by placing it on an empty pot), the zombie does a breakdance spin – an Easter egg.

The Unlucky Zombie: On the first level of Adventure, there is a very rare chance that a zombie will appear with a star on its chest – this is a hidden developer reference (the “star” zombie).

Platform-Specific Notes

Steam version: All PC cheats work. Achievements are still earned but some codes may temporarily disable leaderboards (re-log to restore).

EA App version: The cheat input box is removed. To access cheats, you must use third-party tools (not recommended).

Mobile (iOS/Android): No cheat codes, but all secrets like the Yeti, Tree of Wisdom, and Zen Garden are present. The “mustache” and “future” codes do not work.

Nintendo DS / PSP versions: These handheld ports have different secret features (e.g., touch-based puzzles) but no known cheat codes.

Conclusion

While Plants vs. Zombies is a largely straightforward tower defense game, the inclusion of these cheats and secrets adds replayability and charm. PopCap intended most of them as fun nods rather than game-breaking tools. Use them responsibly to enhance your experience!