Sega Master System · Strategy
Populous
| System | Sega Master System |
|---|---|
| Genre | Strategy |
| Developer | Bullfrog |
| Publisher | Tecmagik |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Weekend project (Roughly 6–20 hours) |
| Series | Populous |
| Legacy | Well-known · legacy score 8 |
Populous is a strategy game released for the Sega Master System, developed by Bullfrog and published by Tecmagik.
It is part of the Populous series. The series also appears on other systems with Populous: The Beginning (PS1) and Populous (Genesis).
This is a solo experience: one player, no waiting on anyone else.
Pick it if…
- you want to think and plan
- you have time for a weekend project (roughly 6–20 hours)
Maybe skip it if…
- you want quick action without planning ahead
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing Populous is like
Strategy games reward planning over reflexes: command armies, manage resources and outthink opponents on turn-based or real-time battlefields.
Tip for newcomers: Read the manual or tutorial if one exists: retro strategy games often assume you know their rules. Save between missions.
Populous cheats & codes
16 codes on file (Other codes). Here are a few Other codes codes to start with:
| instant end | 00D3-9D01 |
|---|---|
| enable volcanoes | 00D3-C701 |
| enable Earthquakes | 00D3-C401 |
| enable floods | 00D3-C801 |
| enable Swamps | 00D3-C501 |
| level reset | 00D5-65FF |
Populous walkthroughs & guides
Stuck, or want to go deeper? These trusted sites have full walkthroughs, completion times and more for Populous.
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Playing Master System games today
The Master System library is full of colorful arcade-style games that are easy to pick up. Many titles also appear in Sega's official compilations.
Populous FAQ
Who made Populous?
It was developed by Bullfrog and published by Tecmagik.
Is Populous multiplayer?
No. Populous is a single-player game.
How long does Populous take to play?
As a strategy game, Populous typically falls into the "Weekend project" category: roughly 6–20 hours. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Read more about Populous on Wikipedia. Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.