Electronic Arts

Populous

Game First reported release Jun 5, 1989

Game details

First release year: 1989

Platforms

Genres

real-time strategy
god game
strategy video game^*
construction and management simulation^*
puzzle video game^*

Play modes

single-player video game
multiplayer video game

Players by platform

Sega Mega Drive^*
Maximum players (mode unspecified)
1^*
DOS^*
Maximum players (mode unspecified)
2^*
TurboGrafx-16^*
Maximum players (mode unspecified)
1^*
Game Boy^*
Maximum players (mode unspecified)
1^*
Super Nintendo Entertainment System^*
Maximum players (mode unspecified)
1^*
Atari ST^*
Maximum players (mode unspecified)
1^*
Sharp X68000^*
Maximum players (mode unspecified)
1^*

Series

Populous

Localized titles

Populous

Steam version platforms

Windows^*
Supported
Yes^*
macOS^*
Supported
No^*
Linux^*
Supported
No^*

Store genres

RPG^*
Strategy^*

Game features

Single-player^*
Multi-player^*
PvP^*
LAN PvP^*
Shared/Split Screen PvP^*
Shared/Split Screen^*
Steam Cloud^*
Remote Play Together^*
Family Sharing^*
Local co-op^*

Interface languages

English^*
Full audio
Yes^*

Audio languages

English^*

Community tags · historical

Strategy^*
Votes · historical
53^*
RPG^*
Votes · historical
53^*
God Game^*
Votes · historical
49^*
Isometric^*
Votes · historical
40^*
Strategy RPG^*
Votes · historical
27^*

System requirements

Windows · Minimum^*
Operating system
Windows XP or Vista^*
Processor alternatives
1.8 GHz^*
Memory
512 MB RAM^*
Graphics alternatives
3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7 (compatible with DirectX 9 recommended)^*
Storage
16 MB available space^*
Windows · Recommended^*
Processor alternatives
1.8 GHz^*
Graphics alternatives
3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7 (compatible with DirectX 9 recommended)^*
Memory
1 GB^*

Compatibility and community reports

Steam Deck · 2026-06-27^*
Compatibility category
Playable^*
Linux · Community reports · 2026-06-27^*
Community Linux compatibility tier
Bronze^*
Reports
3^*
Community confidence
low^*

Studios & publishers

Developers

Bullfrog Productions
Alfa System^*
Infinity^*
Enigma Variations^*
AlfaSystem^*

Publishers

Electronic Arts
Imagineer^*
Acclaim Entertainment^*
Hudson Soft^*

Release history

1989-06-05
Date precision
Exact date
1990-12-16
Date precision
Exact date
Platform
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Market
Japan
1991
Date precision
Year only
Platform
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Market
Europe
1991-09
Date precision
Month
Platform
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Market
North America
1991-09 · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Japan^*
Release date
1991-09^*
Date precision
Month^*
Platform
Super Nintendo Entertainment System^*
Market
Japan^*
1991-08-08 · Sega Mega Drive · Japan^*
Release date
1991-08-08^*
Date precision
Exact date^*
Platform
Sega Mega Drive^*
Market
Japan^*
1993 · Game Boy · Japan^*
Release date
1993^*
Date precision
Year only^*
Platform
Game Boy^*
Market
Japan^*
1993 · Game Boy · Europe^*
Release date
1993^*
Date precision
Year only^*
Platform
Game Boy^*
Market
Europe^*
1991-08-08 · Sega Mega Drive · USA^*
Release date
1991-08-08^*
Date precision
Exact date^*
Platform
Sega Mega Drive^*
Market
USA^*
1991-09 · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Europe^*
Release date
1991-09^*
Date precision
Month^*
Platform
Super Nintendo Entertainment System^*
Market
Europe^*
1991-08-08 · Sega Mega Drive · Europe^*
Release date
1991-08-08^*
Date precision
Exact date^*
Platform
Sega Mega Drive^*
Market
Europe^*
1991-09 · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · USA^*
Release date
1991-09^*
Date precision
Month^*
Platform
Super Nintendo Entertainment System^*
Market
USA^*
1991-04-05 · TurboGrafx-16 · Japan^*
Release date
1991-04-05^*
Date precision
Exact date^*
Platform
TurboGrafx-16^*
Market
Japan^*
1990-07-01 · Sega Mega Drive^*
Release date
1990-07-01^*
Date precision
Exact date^*
Platform
Sega Mega Drive^*
1990-03-23 · Sharp X68000^*
Release date
1990-03-23^*
Date precision
Exact date^*
Platform
Sharp X68000^*
1989-06-05 · Atari ST^*
Release date
1989-06-05^*
Date precision
Exact date^*
Platform
Atari ST^*
1989-06-04 · DOS^*
Release date
1989-06-04^*
Date precision
Exact date^*
Platform
DOS^*
1990-12-16 · Super Nintendo Entertainment System^*
Release date
1990-12-16^*
Date precision
Exact date^*
Platform
Super Nintendo Entertainment System^*
1991-04-05 · TurboGrafx-16^*
Release date
1991-04-05^*
Date precision
Exact date^*
Platform
TurboGrafx-16^*
1993-05-28 · Game Boy^*
Release date
1993-05-28^*
Date precision
Exact date^*
Platform
Game Boy^*

Store release history

Steam^*
Release date
Mar 7, 2024^*

System configuration

Detailed specifications

Specifications 1 · 49 fields

Release region · Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Europe^*

Release region · Super Nintendo Entertainment System

USA^*

Release region · Sega Mega Drive

USA^*

Release region · Sega Mega Drive

Europe^*

Release region · Game Boy

Europe^*

Release region · TurboGrafx-16

Japan^*

Release region · Game Boy

Japan^*

Release region · Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Japan^*

Release region · Sega Mega Drive

Japan^*

Release date · Game Boy · Europe

1993^*

Release date · Game Boy · Japan

1993^*

Release date · TurboGrafx-16 · Japan

1991-04-05^*

Release date · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Europe

1991-09^*

Release date · Sega Mega Drive · Europe

1991-08-08^*

Release date · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · USA

1991-09^*

Release date · Sega Mega Drive · USA

1991-08-08^*

Release date · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Japan

1991-09^*

Release date · Sega Mega Drive · Japan

1991-08-08^*

Developers · Sega Mega Drive · USA

Bullfrog Productions^*

Developers · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Japan

Infinity^*

Developers · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Europe

Infinity^*

Developers · Game Boy · Japan

Enigma Variations^*

Developers · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · USA

Infinity^*

Developers · Game Boy · Europe

Enigma Variations^*

Developers · Sega Mega Drive · Japan

Bullfrog Productions^*

Developers · TurboGrafx-16 · Japan

Alfa System^*

Developers · Sega Mega Drive · Europe

Bullfrog Productions^*

Genres and style · Game Boy

Strategy,Breeding/Constructing^*

Genres and style · TurboGrafx-16

Strategy,Breeding/Constructing^*

Genres and style · Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Strategy,General^*

Genres and style · Sega Mega Drive

Strategy,General^*

Platform

Game Boy^*

Platform

Super Nintendo Entertainment System^*

Platform

Sega Mega Drive^*

Platform

TurboGrafx-16^*

Release date · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Japan

1991-09 · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Japan

Release date: 1991-09^*
Date precision: month^*
Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System^*
Market: Japan^*

Release date · Sega Mega Drive · Japan

1991-08-08 · Sega Mega Drive · Japan

Release date: 1991-08-08^*
Date precision: day^*
Platform: Sega Mega Drive^*
Market: Japan^*

Release date · Game Boy · Japan

1993 · Game Boy · Japan

Release date: 1993^*
Date precision: year^*
Platform: Game Boy^*
Market: Japan^*

Release date · Game Boy · Europe

1993 · Game Boy · Europe

Release date: 1993^*
Date precision: year^*
Platform: Game Boy^*
Market: Europe^*

Release date · Sega Mega Drive · USA

1991-08-08 · Sega Mega Drive · USA

Release date: 1991-08-08^*
Date precision: day^*
Platform: Sega Mega Drive^*
Market: USA^*

Release date · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Europe

1991-09 · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Europe

Release date: 1991-09^*
Date precision: month^*
Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System^*
Market: Europe^*

Release date · Sega Mega Drive · Europe

1991-08-08 · Sega Mega Drive · Europe

Release date: 1991-08-08^*
Date precision: day^*
Platform: Sega Mega Drive^*
Market: Europe^*

Release date · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · USA

1991-09 · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · USA

Release date: 1991-09^*
Date precision: month^*
Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System^*
Market: USA^*

Release date · TurboGrafx-16 · Japan

1991-04-05 · TurboGrafx-16 · Japan

Release date: 1991-04-05^*
Date precision: day^*
Platform: TurboGrafx-16^*
Market: Japan^*

Developers · TurboGrafx-16 · Japan

Alfa System: Alfa System^*

Developers · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · USA

Infinity: Infinity^*

Developers · Game Boy · Europe

Enigma Variations: Enigma Variations^*

Genres and style · Game Boy

strategy video game: strategy video game^*

Platform

Sega Mega Drive: Sega Mega Drive^*

Specifications 2 · 14 fields

Windows minimum processor requirement

1.8 GHz^*

Windows minimum graphics requirement

3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7 (compatible with DirectX 9 recommended)^*

Windows minimum memory requirement

1^* GB

Name

Populous^*

Windows recommended processor requirement

1.8 GHz^*

Windows recommended graphics requirement

3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7 (compatible with DirectX 9 recommended)^*

Windows recommended memory requirement

1^* GB

Release year

1,989^*

Windows minimum processor requirement

Windows · Minimum

Processor alternatives: 1.8 GHz^*

Windows minimum graphics requirement

Windows · Minimum

Graphics alternatives: 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7 (compatible with DirectX 9 recommended)^*

Windows minimum memory requirement

Windows · Minimum

Memory: 1 GB^*

Windows recommended processor requirement

Windows · Recommended

Processor alternatives: 1.8 GHz^*

Windows recommended graphics requirement

Windows · Recommended

Graphics alternatives: 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7 (compatible with DirectX 9 recommended)^*

Windows recommended memory requirement

Windows · Recommended

Memory: 1 GB^*

Specifications 3 · 42 fields

Developers · DOS

Bullfrog Productions: Bullfrog Productions^*

Developers · TurboGrafx-16

AlfaSystem: AlfaSystem^*

Developers · Sharp X68000

Bullfrog Productions: Bullfrog Productions^*

Developers · Game Boy

Enigma Variations: Enigma Variations^*

Developers · Sega Mega Drive

Bullfrog Productions: Bullfrog Productions^*

Developers · Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Infinity: Infinity^*

Developers · Atari ST

Bullfrog Productions: Bullfrog Productions^*

Genres · DOS

construction and management simulation: construction and management simulation^*
strategy video game: strategy video game^*

Genres · Sharp X68000

strategy video game: strategy video game^*

Genres · Sega Mega Drive

strategy video game: strategy video game^*

Genres · Atari ST

puzzle video game: puzzle video game^*
strategy video game: strategy video game^*

Genres · Game Boy

construction and management simulation: construction and management simulation^*

Genres · TurboGrafx-16

strategy video game: strategy video game^*

Genres · Super Nintendo Entertainment System

construction and management simulation: construction and management simulation^*
strategy video game: strategy video game^*

Maximum players (mode unspecified) · Sega Mega Drive

Sega Mega Drive

Maximum players (mode unspecified): 1^*

Maximum players (mode unspecified) · DOS

DOS

Maximum players (mode unspecified): 2^*

Maximum players (mode unspecified) · TurboGrafx-16

TurboGrafx-16

Maximum players (mode unspecified): 1^*

Maximum players (mode unspecified) · Game Boy

Game Boy

Maximum players (mode unspecified): 1^*

Maximum players (mode unspecified) · Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Maximum players (mode unspecified): 1^*

Maximum players (mode unspecified) · Atari ST

Atari ST

Maximum players (mode unspecified): 1^*

Maximum players (mode unspecified) · Sharp X68000

Sharp X68000

Maximum players (mode unspecified): 1^*

Platform

TurboGrafx-16: TurboGrafx-16^*

Platform

Atari ST: Atari ST^*

Platform

Sharp X68000: Sharp X68000^*

Platform

Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super Nintendo Entertainment System^*

Platform

Game Boy: Game Boy^*

Platform

DOS: DOS^*

Platform

Sega Mega Drive: Sega Mega Drive^*

Publishers · Sharp X68000

Imagineer: Imagineer^*

Publishers · Game Boy

Imagineer: Imagineer^*

Publishers · Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Acclaim Entertainment: Acclaim Entertainment^*

Publishers · Atari ST

Electronic Arts: Electronic Arts^*

Publishers · TurboGrafx-16

Hudson Soft: Hudson Soft^*

Publishers · Sega Mega Drive

Electronic Arts: Electronic Arts^*

Publishers · DOS

Electronic Arts: Electronic Arts^*

Release date · Sega Mega Drive

1990-07-01 · Sega Mega Drive

Release date: 1990-07-01^*
Date precision: day^*
Platform: Sega Mega Drive^*

Release date · Sharp X68000

1990-03-23 · Sharp X68000

Release date: 1990-03-23^*
Date precision: day^*
Platform: Sharp X68000^*

Release date · Atari ST

1989-06-05 · Atari ST

Release date: 1989-06-05^*
Date precision: day^*
Platform: Atari ST^*

Release date · DOS

1989-06-04 · DOS

Release date: 1989-06-04^*
Date precision: day^*
Platform: DOS^*

Release date · Super Nintendo Entertainment System

1990-12-16 · Super Nintendo Entertainment System

Release date: 1990-12-16^*
Date precision: day^*
Platform: Super Nintendo Entertainment System^*

Release date · TurboGrafx-16

1991-04-05 · TurboGrafx-16

Release date: 1991-04-05^*
Date precision: day^*
Platform: TurboGrafx-16^*

Release date · Game Boy

1993-05-28 · Game Boy

Release date: 1993-05-28^*
Date precision: day^*
Platform: Game Boy^*

Specifications 4 · 34 fields

Achievements · historical

0^*

Mean playtime over the reported two-week window (historical)

0^* min

Mean playtime since March 2009 (historical)

0^* min

Features

Developers

Bullfrog Productions^*

DLC count · historical

0^*

Estimated ownership range (historical)

100000 - 200000^*

Audio languages

English^*

Store genres

RPG^*
Strategy^*

Linux support · historical

No^*

macOS support · historical

No^*

Median playtime over the reported two-week window (historical)

0^* min

Median playtime since March 2009 (historical)

0^* min

Name

Populous™^*

Negative reviews · historical

7^*

Peak ccu

1^*

Positive reviews · historical

42^*

Price (historical; currency unreported)

2.49^*

Publishers

Electronic Arts^*

Recommendations

0^*

Store release date · historical

Mar 7, 2024^*

Store age restriction · historical

13^*

Interface languages

English^*

Windows support · historical

Yes^*

Features

Single-player: Single-player^*
Multi-player: Multi-player^*
PvP: PvP^*
LAN PvP: LAN PvP^*
Shared/Split Screen PvP: Shared/Split Screen PvP^*
Shared/Split Screen: Shared/Split Screen^*
Steam Cloud: Steam Cloud^*
Remote Play Together: Remote Play Together^*
Family Sharing: Family Sharing^*

Developers

Bullfrog Productions: Bullfrog Productions^*

Audio languages

English^*

Store genres

RPG: RPG^*
Strategy: Strategy^*

Linux support · historical

Linux

Supported: No^*

macOS support · historical

macOS

Supported: No^*

Publishers

Electronic Arts: Electronic Arts^*

Store release date · historical

Steam

Release date: Mar 7, 2024^*

Interface languages

English^*

Windows support · historical

Windows

Supported: Yes^*

Specifications 5 · 21 fields

Mean playtime over the reported two-week window (historical)

0^* min

Mean playtime since March 2009 (historical)

2^* min

Ccu

1^*

Developer

Bullfrog Productions^*

Historical discount

0^* %

Store genres

RPG^*
Strategy^*

Historical US original list price

499^* US cents

Languages

English^*

Median playtime over the reported two-week window (historical)

0^* min

Median playtime since March 2009 (historical)

2^* min

Name

Populous^*

Negative reviews · historical

7^*

Estimated ownership range (historical)

100,000 .. 200,000^*

Positive reviews · historical

42^*

Historical US price

499^* US cents

Publisher

Electronic Arts^*

Community tags · historical

Strategy^*
RPG^*
God Game^*
Isometric^*
Strategy RPG^*

Store genres

RPG: RPG^*
Strategy: Strategy^*

Languages

English^*

Community tags · historical

Strategy: Strategy^*
RPG: RPG^*
God Game: God Game^*
Isometric: Isometric^*
Strategy RPG: Strategy RPG^*

Tags votes

Strategy

Votes · historical: 53^*

RPG

Votes · historical: 53^*

God Game

Votes · historical: 49^*

Isometric

Votes · historical: 40^*

Strategy RPG

Votes · historical: 27^*

Specifications 6 · 24 fields

Features

Developers

Bullfrog Productions^*

Store genres

RPG^*
Strategy^*

Free to play · historical

No^*

Name

Populous™^*

Windows requirements

Minimum: OS *: Windows XP or Vista Processor: 1.8 GHz Memory: 512 MB RAM Graphics: 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7 (compatible with DirectX 9 recommended) Storage: 16 MB available space ^*

Platforms

windows^*

Historical price currency

USD^*

Discount percentage (historical)

0^*

Historical store price

$4.99^*

Publishers

Electronic Arts^*

Coming soon · historical store status

No^*

Store release date · historical

Mar 7, 2024^*

Store age restriction · historical

13^*

Interface languages

English (full audio)^*

Type

game^*

Features

Single-player: Single-player^*
Multi-player: Multi-player^*
PvP: PvP^*
LAN PvP: LAN PvP^*
Shared/Split Screen PvP: Shared/Split Screen PvP^*
Shared/Split Screen: Shared/Split Screen^*
Steam Cloud: Steam Cloud^*
Remote Play Together: Remote Play Together^*
Family Sharing: Family Sharing^*

Developers

Bullfrog Productions: Bullfrog Productions^*

Store genres

RPG: RPG^*
Strategy: Strategy^*

Windows requirements

Windows · Minimum

Operating system: Windows XP or Vista^*
Processor alternatives: 1.8 GHz^*
Memory: 512 MB RAM^*
Graphics alternatives: 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 7 (compatible with DirectX 9 recommended)^*
Storage: 16 MB available space^*

Platforms

Windows

Supported: Yes^*

Publishers

Electronic Arts: Electronic Arts^*

Store release date · historical

Steam

Release date: Mar 7, 2024^*

Interface languages

Specifications 7 · 17 fields

Co-op listed on Steam · 2026-06-27

No^*

Steam Deck compatibility · 2026-06-27

playable^*

Store genres

RPG|Strategy^*

Local co-op listed on Steam · 2026-06-27

Yes^*

Owners-based popularity rank · 2026-06-27

7,913^*

Community Linux rating confidence · 2026-06-27

low^*

Community Linux report count · 2026-06-27

3^*

Community Linux compatibility tier · 2026-06-27

bronze^*

PvP listed on Steam · 2026-06-27

Yes^*

Steam release year · historical

2,024^*

Title

Populous^*

Coming soon · historical Steam listing

No^*

Steam Deck compatibility · 2026-06-27

Steam Deck · 2026-06-27

Compatibility category: Playable^*

Store genres

RPG: RPG^*
Strategy: Strategy^*

Local co-op listed on Steam · 2026-06-27

Local co-op: Local co-op^*

Community Linux compatibility tier · 2026-06-27

Linux · Community reports · 2026-06-27

Community Linux compatibility tier: Bronze^*
Reports: 3^*
Community confidence: low^*

PvP listed on Steam · 2026-06-27

PvP: PvP^*

* Provisional data

More to explore

Populous

Game details

Platforms

Genres

Play modes

Players by platform

Series

Localized titles

Steam version platforms

Store genres

Game features

Interface languages

Audio languages

Community tags · historical

System requirements

Compatibility and community reports

Studios & publishers

Developers

Publishers

Release history

Store release history

System configuration

Detailed specifications

Keep exploring