Bullfrog Productions

Populous

Populous is a real-time strategy game where the player takes the role of a deity influencing the development of civilizations. You shape terrain, guide followers, and use natural disasters like floods, volcanoes, and earthquakes to influence or eliminate opposing tribes. The game features an isometric perspective and includes 500 levels (worlds), each with different challenges. Originally developed by Bullfrog and designed by Peter Molyneux, it is considered one of the earliest examples of the god-game genre.

• Real-time strategy
• RPG
• Simulation
• Strategy
• 1989

Released

5 June 1989

Developer

Bullfrog Productions

Publisher

Electronic Arts

Perspective

Bird view / Isometric

Age rating

PEGI 7 · ESRB T

Platforms

Acorn Archimedes · PC-9800 Series · Sharp X68000 · Super Nintendo Entertainment System · Sega Mega Drive/Genesis · Atari ST/STE · PC (Microsoft Windows) · TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine · Mac · DOS · Amiga · Sega Master System/Mark III

Genres

Real Time Strategy (RTS) · Role-playing (RPG) · Simulator · Strategy

Estimated owners

100,000–200,000 (est.)