Populous™: The Beginning
Released Mar 2024
In the third part of the Populous series, you control your shaman and the tribe of her followers in a difficult quest to conquer all 25 planets of a star system and ascend to godhood.
88% positive · 450 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Where to buy
Steam $4.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
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Evaluation
Populous: The Beginning is a classic strategy game originally released in 1998, re-released on Steam on March 7, 2024 by Electronic Arts. The store description presents it as a complete, self-contained experience — a 25-planet campaign with no mention of additional content, DLC, or ongoing updates. There are no DLC listings, no developer posts announcing future content, and no signs of post-launch update activity. This is a classic game re-release that launched as a finished product, with all content intact from day one.
Evidence
Store description presents a complete, self-contained 25-planet campaign with no mention of DLC, expansions, or future content additions.
Short description confirms the game as a classic re-release of the original Populous: The Beginning — a finished product with no post-launch content cycle.
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Electronic Arts
Achievements
—
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · PvP
About this game
Shaman, the path is laid before you. Your destiny is to become a god! But it will not be easy. Not for you, and not for your followers. To become a deity, you must conquer all 25 planets of the system and defeat every other tribe and their shamans. The ultimate struggle will be a difficult one, as you build mystical cities, unleash devastating spells, harness volcanoes and tornadoes, and shape the face of the planet at your will. Remember, your apotheosis awaits!
In the third part of the Populous series, you control your shaman and the tribe of her followers in a difficult quest to conquer all 25 planets of a star system and ascend to godhood. For the first time in the series, the world is presented in true 3D, which at the time amazed both the players and the gaming press. The level of control you exert over your followers also takes you to a new level: you can order individuals or groups to perform certain tasks like gathering resources, constructing buildings, or attacking your enemies.
Populous: The Beginning takes a slightly different approach from the previous installments of the series but this is not, by any means, a bad thing as it kept the series fresh and innovative. It was a bold move for Bullfrog but the proof exists in the fact that, after all these years Populous 3 is still a great strategy god-game.
In the third part of the Populous series, you control your shaman and the tribe of her followers in a difficult quest to conquer all 25 planets of a star system and ascend to godhood. For the first time in the series, the world is presented in true 3D, which at the time amazed both the players and the gaming press. The level of control you exert over your followers also takes you to a new level: you can order individuals or groups to perform certain tasks like gathering resources, constructing buildings, or attacking your enemies.
Populous: The Beginning takes a slightly different approach from the previous installments of the series but this is not, by any means, a bad thing as it kept the series fresh and innovative. It was a bold move for Bullfrog but the proof exists in the fact that, after all these years Populous 3 is still a great strategy god-game.
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 20, 2026
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