RATING / ESRB / A Created with Sketch. RATING / ESRB / E Created with Sketch. RATING / ESRB / E10 Created with Sketch. RATING / ESRB / M Created with Sketch. RATING / ESRB / T Created with Sketch.
RATING / PEGI / 12 Created with Sketch. RATING / PEGI / 16 Created with Sketch. RATING / PEGI / 18 Created with Sketch. RATING / PEGI / 3 Created with Sketch. RATING / PEGI / 7 Created with Sketch. icon_pin Created with Sketch.

Populous™: The Beginning

in library

4.5/5

( 334 Reviews )

4.5

334 Reviews

English
5.995.99
Why buy on GOG.COM?
DRM FREE. No activation or online connection required to play.
Safety and satisfaction. Stellar support 24/7 and full refunds up to 30 days.
Populous™: The Beginning
Description
Includes Populous the Beginning and the Undiscovered Worlds expansion. 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 trib...
User reviews

4.5/5

( 334 Reviews )

4.5

334 Reviews

{{ review.content.title }}
Product details
1998, Bullfrog Productions, ...
System requirements
Windows 10, 1.8 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 3D graphics card compatible with DirectX 9.0c, 2 GB HDD...
Time to beat
23.5 hMain
30 h Main + Sides
32.5 h Completionist
26.5 h All Styles
Description
Includes Populous the Beginning and the Undiscovered Worlds expansion.

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.

© 1998, 2012 Electronic Arts Inc.

Goodies
manual reference card
System requirements
Minimum system requirements:

ACCEPTANCE OF END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT REQUIRED TO PLAY

ACCEPTANCE OF END USER LICENSE AGREEMENT REQUIRED TO PLAY

Why buy on GOG.COM?
DRM FREE. No activation or online connection required to play.
Safety and satisfaction. Stellar support 24/7 and full refunds up to 30 days.
Time to beat
23.5 hMain
30 h Main + Sides
32.5 h Completionist
26.5 h All Styles
Game details
Works on:
Windows (10, 11)
Release date:
{{'1998-11-30T00:00:00+02:00' | date: 'longDate' : ' +0200 ' }}
Size:
394 MB

Game features

Languages
English
audio
text
GOG Preservation Program
We make games live forever! Since 2008 we enhance good old games ourselves, to guarantee convenience and compatibility with modern systems. Even if the original developers of the game do not support it anymore.
  1. This game will work on current and future most popular Windows PC configurations. DRM-free.
  2. This is the best version of this game you can buy on any PC platform.
  3. We are the only platform to provide tech support for the games we sell. If some issues with the game appear, our Tech Support will help you solve them.
What improvements we made to this game:
Update (13 November 2024)
  • Updated DXWrapper to the latest version, ensuring smoother performance and compatibility
  • Validated stability
  • Verified compatibility with Windows 10 and 11
  • Added Cloud Saves support
Internal Hotfix (06 July 2021)
  • Rolled back accidental wrapper downgrade
I Internal Hotfix (02 July 2021)
  • Fixed possible DEP-related crashes
Internal Hotfix (16 July 2019)
  • Fixed a typo in registry keys that could cause problems pre-Win10
Update (15 July 2019)
  • Added Windows 10 compatibility to the game
Buy series (3)
Buy all games in the series. If you already own a game from the series, it won’t be added to your cart.
-17%17.9714.97
Check out now
You may like these products
Users also bought
User reviews

Posted on: July 4, 2020

Nago15

Verified owner

Games: 280 Reviews: 1

Finally it's working!

I hesitated to buy it, because I tried to play it a few years ago and it didn't recognized my 3d card, the colours was messed up, and the HUD was sticking out from the screen, so it was unplayable. I've found some dll-s that almost fixed it, but the water was still white, so I gave up. But I've bought it and installed it trough the Galaxy launcher (because in the past the launcher somehow miraculously fixed the crashing and messed up colors in KKND). And now it is working just fine. So if something in not working, try installing it with the launcher. But a few words about the game itself. It was one of my favourite games as a child. The intro is still the best video game intro ever. Don't expect a Starcraft like strategy with hotkeys and stuff, but this is the only game when I can put a volcano in the center of the enemy base, or kill the enemy shaman with a fireball and get it's mana.


Is this helpful to you?

Posted on: June 11, 2022

nn_4nu

Verified owner

Games: 4 Reviews: 1

youth nostalgia

Worked perfectly fine for me. I really enjoyed this game as a young teen, and now I discover it again after about 20 years. It’s so fun and silly. When you think about it, an all male tribe led by a powerful female, a tribe that’’breeds’’ other male warriors without intercourse, it’s just silly, but it’s damn original. Everything from the animations to the options of spells, it’s so wacky that I simply fell in love with this game from the start. I spend between 2 to 5 hours per mission analysing the game mechanics, bugs and work-arounds just out of passion and a felling of nostalgia about how programming was done back then. It’s a real treat to play old-skool games like this gem right here!


Is this helpful to you?

Posted on: April 18, 2012

Bladetrain3r

Verified owner

Games: 926 Reviews: 25

Yesss

The only reason I haven't gotten back into Populous was it's horrible support for any new PC... with this, my happiness level has risen exponentially. For those new to the series, Populous is a combination of RTS and God Game, with you as a powerful Shaman leading a tribe to glory. The gameplay is quite innovative even compared to modern games, and the sheer variety of maps and available methods of winning are astounding.


Is this helpful to you?

Posted on: January 13, 2024

MaxDamage456

Verified owner

Games: 466 Reviews: 4

Works on Window 10

I am just goıing to review the technical state of the game out of the box. On Windows 10 and with a 1920 x 1080 display it works right out of the box. I didn't touch a single setting just launched the executable.


Is this helpful to you?

Posted on: April 18, 2012

MarekKa

Verified owner

Games: 852 Reviews: 2

PERFECT CLASSIC!

I played Dungeon Keeper 2 with my friend on his PC and I lovded it instantly - that's how I was introduced to Bullfrog, one of the best studios in history of gaming, and that's how I learned about their earlier game: Populous: The Beginning... ...and I lovded it instantly! :D This is one of those games that I come back from timet to time (Heroes of Might and Magic 3, Fallout 1 & 2, GTA 3 & San Andreas, Diablo 1, Etherlords, Dungeon Keeper 2, Blood, Quake 1,2 & 3, Carmageddon to name some), to dive in and feel this nice tingle when you play excelent game that is rarely made these days! This is title that proves how creative and talented people can amaze you with whole new type of gameplay, whole new World that is so different and unique than anything else you've experienced! Not to mention soundtrack and whole new 'language' of the tribes ;p Great stuff - I recommend this heartfelt!


Is this helpful to you?

1
...
...
3
5
7
...
...
57

Something went wrong. Try refresh page.

This game is waiting for a review. Take the first shot!
{{ item.rating }}
{{ item.percentage }}%
Awaiting more reviews
An error occurred. Please try again later.

Other ratings

Awaiting more reviews

Add a review

Edit a review

Your rating:
Stars and all fields are required
Not sure what to say? Start with this:
  • What kept you playing?
  • What kind of gamer would enjoy this?
  • Was the game fair, tough, or just right?
  • What’s one feature that really stood out?
  • Did the game run well on your setup?
Inappropriate content. Your reviews contain bad language. Inappropriate content. Links are not allowed. Review title is too short. Review title is too long. Review description is too short. Review description is too long.
Not sure what to write?
Filters:

No reviews matching your criteria

Written in
English Deutsch polski français русский 中文(简体) Others
Written by
Verified ownersOthers
Added
Last 30 daysLast 90 daysLast 6 monthsWheneverAfter releaseDuring Early Access

Delete this review?

Are you sure you want to permanently delete your review for Populous™: The Beginning? This action cannot be undone.

Report this review

If you believe this review contains inappropriate content or violates our community guidelines, please let us know why.

Additional Details (required):

Please provide at least characters.
Please limit your details to characters.
Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later.

Report this review

Report has been submitted successfully.
Thank you for helping us maintain a respectful and safe community.