Play Populous DS (EU)(M5)(XenoPhobia) Online

Populous DS came out for the Nintendo DS in 2008, published by Electronic Arts. It was a time when developers were still figuring out how to use the DS's dual screens and touch controls for more complex strategy games, and this was one of the attempts to bring a classic god-game to a handheld.

You play as a deity who directly shapes the terrain with the stylus, raising land to create mountains or carving out valleys to divert water. Your main goal is to guide your followers, increasing their numbers by providing safe, fertile land while using natural disasters like earthquakes and floods to wipe out rival tribes. The game involves a lot of micromanagement; you constantly watch your population's faith meter, build new settlements to expand your influence, and directly intervene in battles by targeting enemy buildings. The pacing can be slow and deliberate, demanding patience as you sculpt the world tile by tile. It feels powerful to literally redraw the map and watch your tiny civilization thrive because of your actions.