Plants vs Zombies Replanted Game Trial: UK Dates, Download and Save Data

Plants vs Zombies Replanted Game Trial gives Nintendo Switch Online members the chance to play the complete remaster without buying it. Nintendo is running the offer from 28 October to 3 November 2026, making this a good opportunity to revisit Crazy Dave’s garden or see what all the fuss is about for the first time.

You need an eligible paid membership, and you must download the game while the offer is live. It isn’t free to keep, but Nintendo saves your progress if you decide to buy the game later. Here’s how to install the trial in the UK and make the most of the time you’ve got.

Plants vs Zombies Replanted Game Trial: UK dates and eligibility

The Plants vs Zombies Replanted Game Trial runs from Wednesday, 28 October through Tuesday, 3 November. Nintendo UK’s homepage is promoting the event, while Nintendo’s Australian Switch Online magazine confirms the calendar dates. Check the remaining-time display on your Switch HOME Menu for your account’s exact cutoff; the UK promotion hasn’t published a separate closing hour in the public announcement.

You’ll need an active Nintendo Switch Online membership on the profile downloading the trial. This is a full-game Game Trials event for subscribers, not a free weekend for everyone with a Nintendo Account. It’s also different from a normal demo, which may only include a handful of levels.

How to download the trial from Nintendo eShop

The Plants vs Zombies Replanted Game Trial can be downloaded through Nintendo eShop. Nintendo’s UK instructions put Game Trials inside the eShop’s Nintendo Switch Online section, so you shouldn’t need to purchase the standard edition to start playing.

1. Open Nintendo eShop on your Switch or Switch 2.
2. Select the Nintendo Account with your active Switch Online membership.
3. Choose Nintendo Switch Online from the left-hand eShop menu.
4. Find the current Game Trials selection and open Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted.
5. Choose Download, let the game install and start it from the HOME Menu before the trial expires.

Allow for the download size. Nintendo lists 2.8GB for the original Switch edition and about 3.2GB for the separate Switch 2 edition. A download started at the last minute won’t extend the deadline, so install it sooner rather than later.

What do you get to play?

The Plants vs Zombies Replanted Game Trial unlocks the full remaster during the promotion. That includes the original lane-based Plants vs. Zombies campaign with updated HD graphics, local co-op and versus play, and new challenges such as Cloudy Day and the unforgiving Rest in Peace mode. It’s a proper opportunity to try the game’s content, not a short preview.

You can get into the campaign, experiment with plants and try different strategies for the zombie waves. Just remember that the time limit applies to the entire game. Beating a certain level won’t make it permanently yours, and any local multiplayer still needs compatible controllers.

Is Plants vs Zombies Replanted free to keep?

No. The Plants vs Zombies Replanted Game Trial is a temporary membership benefit. Nintendo’s UK support page says Game Trials stop working when the event ends or the qualifying membership expires. You might still have the download on your console afterwards, but you won’t be able to launch it without buying the game.

If you want to continue, purchase the correct edition from Nintendo eShop. This is the same basic difference between a game you own and one you can only play for a limited window. Our Steam Free to Keep vs Free Weekend guide explains that distinction for PC giveaways, which use a similar set of terms.

Will your Game Trial save carry over?

Yes, for the same game. Nintendo confirms that Game Trial saves are not deleted when the event finishes. Buy the full game later and you can pick up where you left off. That makes the Plants vs Zombies Replanted Game Trial especially worthwhile if you’d like to make a start on the campaign now without committing to a purchase.

One detail to watch is the edition. Replanted has separate Switch and Switch 2 store listings. Nintendo’s general Game Trials guidance doesn’t establish automatic transfers between those two editions, so check which version you played before buying a different one.

Why isn’t the free trial showing?

If the Plants vs Zombies Replanted Game Trial isn’t appearing, check that you’re signed into the right Nintendo Account, that its paid membership is active and that the account’s region has the offer. Then reopen eShop and go through Nintendo Switch Online → Game Trials. The regular product listing can show a purchase price instead.

If the game is already installed but won’t start, make sure your console is online for the initial licence check after restarting. Nintendo requires an internet connection to download a trial and to verify access after a console restart. Once you’re playing, online connectivity is only needed for online features. If the event has ended, buying the full game is the way to continue.

Switch, Switch Lite and Switch 2 compatibility

The regular Switch edition works with the original Nintendo Switch family, including Switch Lite subject to compatible controls. Nintendo also offers a separate Switch 2 edition. Choose the Plants vs Zombies Replanted Game Trial version presented to your account and console, and leave enough storage space for the correct download.

Quick questions

Is this a demo? No, it’s the full game for a limited time. Do you need Switch Online? Yes, an eligible membership is required. Can you keep playing after 3 November? Only if you buy the game. Will your progress disappear? No, Nintendo keeps Game Trial save data for when you purchase it.

If you’ve been meaning to try the Plants vs Zombies Replanted Game Trial, make sure it’s installed and working before 3 November. You can spend the remaining time playing rather than scrambling to find the download button on the final evening.

Official source: Nintendo UK Game Trials FAQ.