In the original Plants vs. Zombies, the minigame where the player controls the zombies is called “I, Zombie.” Instead of defending the house with plants, the player spends brains to deploy zombies and break through plant defenses.
Each level presents lanes containing defensive plants, often represented by cardboard cut-outs. The objective is to choose the right combination and timing of zombies so that at least one reaches the brain at the end of its lane. Different zombies solve different problems: Buckethead Zombies absorb damage, Pole Vaulting Zombies can bypass certain plants, and Newspaper Zombies become faster after losing their newspaper.
“I, Zombie” is commonly confused with the main game because it uses the same lawn, plants, and zombies, but reverses the player’s role. It is also distinct from “I, Zombie Endless,” an unlockable version that continues beyond the fixed stages. The name is a playful reference to the 1954 science-fiction novel I, Robot by Isaac Asimov, echoing the title’s first-person perspective.