Populous: The Beginning
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.
- Released
- 1998
- Developer
- Bullfrog Productions
- Platforms
- 2 systems
- Critics
- Not scored
- Steam Deck
- playable
- Download
- 0.39 GB
What is Populous: The Beginning?
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.
Description as published by the developer on its own store page, read 30 August 2026. It is marketing copy, not our assessment.
The record
| First released | 30 November 1998 |
|---|---|
| Developer | Bullfrog Productions |
| Publisher | Electronic Arts |
| Platforms | PlayStation, Steam Deck |
| Genres | god game |
| Languages | 1 supported |
Source. Catalogue facts from Wikidata Q1070478, seeded 30 August 2026. Store data from Steam, read 30 August 2026.
How was Populous: The Beginning received?
Method. Player figures are Steam's own totals for the PC version, read 30 August 2026. The Metacritic score is the one Steam publishes on its store page and can lag the site itself. Neither is our opinion. We have not published a review of this game.
What does it support?
| Capability | Support |
|---|---|
| Controller | Not stated |
| Cloud saves | Yes |
| Cross-platform play | No |
| Mod support | No official workshop |
| Online play | Single-player only |
| In-game purchases | No |
| Steam Deck | playable |
| Download size | 0.39 GB |
| Add-on content | None listed |
| Age gate | None |
Method. Read from the publisher's Steam listing on 30 August 2026. Describes the PC version. Console versions differ.
What does it cost?
Steam price in US dollars, read 30 August 2026. Prices move hourly and vary by region. Check the current price.
Problems players report
We read the 31 most recent negative Steam reviews of Populous: The Beginning on 30 August 2026 and counted what they mention. These are complaints, not confirmed defects: we have not reproduced any of them, and a review describes one person's machine. What the counts tell you is which problems more than one person ran into.
- Crashes and freezes6 of 31 (19%)
Crashes upon hitting new game, graphics options cannot be changed even though the options menu says i have changed the resolution.
Steam review, 9 March 2024 · 0 hours played · 49 readers marked it helpfulTried a few different fixes but the game just freezes on launch.
Steam review, 2 August 2025 · 0 hours played · 12 readers marked it helpful
Counted by keyword across review text, so a review discussing two problems is counted under both. Read the reviews yourself.
Games like Populous: The Beginning
24 games overlap with Populous: The Beginning on the tags Steam players applied to it, on genre, and on theme. The closest are Populous, The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky and Kingdom Heroes 8.
Common questions about Populous: The Beginning
What platforms is Populous: The Beginning on?
Populous: The Beginning is available on PlayStation, Steam Deck. It first released in 1998.
How much does Populous: The Beginning cost?
$4.99 on Steam in the United States, read on 30 August 2026. Prices move often and vary by region, so check the store before buying.
Do players recommend Populous: The Beginning?
88% of 448 Steam reviews are positive, which Steam rates Very Positive. That is players rating it, not our review. We have not published a review of this game.
Does Populous: The Beginning work on Steam Deck?
Valve rates Populous: The Beginning as playable on the Steam Deck, from its own testing.
How big is the Populous: The Beginning download?
0.39 GB on PC, from the storage requirement on its Steam listing. Console versions differ.
Who made Populous: The Beginning?
Populous: The Beginning was developed by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts.