# Four Tribes — user reviews

> 99 indexed App Store user reviews of Four Tribes by Sean O'Connor, rated 3.60/5 from 13 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/four-tribes/id366798640/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/four-tribes/id366798640.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 7 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 1 · 1★ 3

## What do users think of Four Tribes?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 👍 Nostalgic gameplay
- 👍 Addictive and fun
- 👍 Good reimagining of Populous
- 👍 Affordable price, no pay-to-win
- 👍 Simple to learn
- 👍 Good core mechanic
- 👍 Compelling gameplay

**Cons**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 🐛 Game runs slow
- 🐛 Unforgiving AI/CPU
- 🐛 Controls can be difficult
- 🐛 Lacks strategy
- 🐛 Repetitive gameplay
- 🐛 Poor graphics
- 🐛 Unplayable at times
- 🐛 Not like original Populous
- 🐛 Confusing at first

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Regularly crashes
- Action takes place offscreen or is blocked
- Game runs slow when a lot is happening
- Recently started crashing
- Needs landscape mode for iPad
- Cannot keep up with fast chip
- Lack of raising land on land
- Playing with just thumb is rubbish
- CPU is unforgiving
- Struggling to win level one on very easy
- Huge random element
- Not playable on Plus
- Cannot launch games on 6S
- Momentum scrolling is terrible
- Broken on iOS8
- Unplayable
- Cannot scroll beyond level boundaries
- Accidental volcanoes when flattening edge
- Save your money until new version
- Game crashes on title screen
- Does not open
- Refusing to load since OS4 update
- Choppy/slow performance
- Waste of time and money, does not load
- Restored phone and iPod touch because of it
- Won't even open
- Crashes at the very beginning
- Won't start up
- Level 13 crashes every time
- Game crashes on title screen
- Laggy on old devices
- Crashing issues

**Most requested features**

- Landscape mode for iPad
- More introduction/tutorial
- Gentle pace for starting
- Build and flatten land
- Smarter AI for harder levels
- Add sink holes or landslides
- Modern militaristic version (nukes, missiles)
- Drag to add land
- Add Demi gods
- Create own levels and share
- More levels
- Animated landscape changes
- LAN or GameCenter multiplayer
- Custom maps/user created levels
- Time speed up/slow down
- Better AI for troops and AI
- More textures (swamps, deserts)
- Reset game or more levels
- Freeplay mode
- Achievements
- Multiplayer
- Infinite mode
- Ability to control Knights
- Build water
- Raise mountains
- Add tornadoes
- Raise sea level
- Choice of enemy count
- Music/background sound
- Wizard character
- Different building types
- More attacks

## Newest reviews (16 of 99)

### 3/5 — Fast gut mit ein Verbesserungen

*2024-05-27*

Wer Populous auf dem Amiga mochte, kann hier mal reinsehen. Allerdings ist die Anleitung im Spiel zu dürftig, da müssen mehr Erklärungen rein. Und die Startlevel sind deutlich zu schwer. Schade.

### 2/5 — Leider nicht spielbar.

*2023-09-03*

Idee nicht schlecht. Hatte auf Amiga Populous gern gespielt. Das Spiel ist viel zu schnell, die Figuren nicht lenkbar. Man kann Land nicht auf- und abbauen… nach 20 versuchen Level 1 nicht geschafft…

### 3/5 — Good, not great

*2021-08-21, version 2.1*

Fun little game though not much strategy and more trail and error.

Far too intense when starting out, needs far more of an introduction, one rival tribe on the other side of the map and switch off god powers.

Give players a chance to get used to each mechanic rather than throwing us into the deep end, also giving us time to build the land (not just expand) as well as flatten would be great.

Game runs slow when a lot is happening on screen too, so i feel creating a gentle pace will help, harder levels should be smarter a.i. not just rapid paced.

Decent effort though needs more work to make it a worthy successor.

### 3/5 — Lovely app - recently started crashing

*2020-12-30, version 2.1*

I’ve enjoyed this game for a while, but lately it’s started to crash.

### 2/5 — Pants

*2020-10-11, version 2.1*

I’m a huge Populous fan, even running it emulators over the years. Currently in hospital and fancied a game that I can just lie back and enjoy playing on my phone (SE 2020). Here’s the problem: You’re one human player against 3 teams running on a ridiculously fast chip. I couldn’t keep up!
Lack of raising land on land is an issue as well. Maybe it is easier to play on a larger screen? Maybe multi touch is possible? But playing with just your thumb whilst flat on your back is rubbish

### 4/5 — Quasi populous

*2020-04-10*

J’ai beau chercher sur le store, il ne manque pas grand chose pour approcher de l’expérience parfaite. Mon pouce droit ne me remercie d’ailleurs pas.
Est-il possible à ce sujet d’envisager une maniabilité à deux doigts sur iPad ? Pouce gauche maintenu, on creuse. Pouce droite, click pour action et glisser pour continuer de creuser.
Peut-être d’autres pouvoirs ?

Encore merci pour l’expérience.

### 4/5 — Gut gemachter Populous-Klon

*2019-07-09*

Bis auf ein paar Details spielt sich „Four Tribes“ genau wie früher „Popululous“: Aus der Vogelperspektive kümmert man sich als „Gott“ um seine Anhänger und bekämpft gleichzeitig die „ungläubigen“ Anhänger der anderen Götter. 

Der größte Unterschied zum Original ist - wie der der Name des Spiels schon sagt - die Anzahl der Götter und ihrer Anhänger: Statt mit einem hat man es mit drei feindlichen Lagern zu tun. 

Der Rest ist ähnlich, man kann aber das Land nur absenken und dann einebnen. Wie man Hügel anheben kann, habe ich noch nicht herausgefunden. Dafür gibt es auch keine Sintflut, die wäre sonst auch zu zerstörerisch. Es gibt auch keinen aggressiven Siedlungsmodus: Die Siedler sind entweder friedlich oder ziehen als Ritter durchs Land.

Ansonsten kommt sofort wieder das Spielgefühl wie beim Original auf. „Four Tribes“ ist ein wirklich gelungener „Populous“-Klon. Einen Zoom habe ich nicht vermisst, beim Original kann ich mich aber auch an keine Zoomfunktion erinnern.

### 3/5 — Not populous

*2017-08-05, version 2.0.4*

Really really not what I was hoping when I searched for populous

### 4/5 — Still need work to make it playable on Plus

*2017-01-08, version 2.0.4*

Yep still does not play in landscape mode on the iPhone 7 Plus, this makes the game difficult to play. I would happily give it a five star rating if I can play it on my phone. I remember the old Populous game from my Amiga good days, and jumped at the chance to get this game.

### 3/5 — Needs more!

*2016-12-31, version 2.0.3*

Add sink holes or landslides! 
Create a modern militaristic version also. Add nukes, missiles, land mines and all that kinda stuff. 
Then would be a 5 star game.

### 4/5 — Please read

*2016-11-18, version 2.0.3*

I wish I could give this game 5 stars. It is nostalgic of the first populous. However, the controls are not how I would like them. I would like to drag around the screen to add more land versus tapping, and please add Demi gods. Nice start!

### 4/5 — Good game, not yet great

*2016-05-22, version 2.0.2*

This is a fun, good game with a lot of potential if the developer keeps polishing it. It has good bones but lacks sparkle.

The core mechanic of raining down horrors on your enemies and prospering your tribe works very well. The graphics are so-so but they communicate what's happening. The controls are mostly natural.

The "tutorial" levels are chaotic and undifferentiated. It would have been far better to start with colors isolated on their own islands to give new players a chance to experiment safely. The free-for-all chaos at the start of a level makes for more intense gameplay, but you'd expect the "very easy" levels to hold your hand a bit more. The difference between "very easy" and "hard" is subtle, not pronounced (more active enemy AI, I think?)

One frustrating problem that bites you repeatedly is that you can't scroll beyond the level boundaries. When you're trying to flatten land on the edge of the map, frequently the bottom edge, you end up with accidental volcanoes instead, because the buttons are in the way.

It would help a lot if landscape changes could be animated somehow. It's tricky to see what you're doing, and a bit of visual feedback for shaping the ground would help.

I've spent a few hours playing this, and will likely spend more. I hope it keeps being upgraded!

### 4/5 — Enjoyable strategy game

*2016-03-27, version 2.0.2*

Excellent game fans of old school strategy games such as populous and powermonger. Only minor gripe is that you the soldiers can wander aimlessly, but still very good. Lots of strategy (and a bit of luck) required to win the more difficult levels.

### 2/5 — Could've been good

*2015-05-06, version 2.0.1*

Cheap money grab from people who enjoyed populous

### 4/5 — Like populus

*2015-01-19*

Very simple but nice

### 4/5 — Very Good

*2015-01-15, version 2.0.1*

Overall its a good game. It needs a couple things though. It needs LAN or GameCenter multiplayer, custom maps/user created levels, better graphics, a time speed up/slow down, better AI for both the AI's and the players troops and it needs more textures (swamps, deserts ect) But overall the game is really good

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Unfertig

*2025-04-10*

Das Programm hat weder ein Tutorial, noch scheint es einen Betatest gegeben zu haben. 
Selbst als Populous 1 & 2 Veteran bin ich völlig überfordert.

### 1/5 — Landscape mode

*2020-12-20, version 2.1*

Needs landscape mode for iPad

### 1/5 — No zoom, no easy

*2018-08-23*

Without zoom almost not playable on iPhone 8. Even First level too difficult.

### 1/5 — CPU is unforgiving

*2018-04-08, version 2.0.4*

Been struggling to win level one on very easy.  It’s a lot harder than the original populous because everyone starts randomly on the map, and you have very little control over what your guys do.  There is a huge random element to every aspect of the game, especially offensive spells.

The game just isn’t fun.

I played it for about a half hour, then deleted it. Was a waste of two dollars.

### 1/5 — What?!

*2016-06-04, version 2.0.2*

This game has horrifyingly bad graphics and lacks any point whatsoever. Honestly, I want my money back. It's not fun. I just flatten the ground? THAT'S all I do? What?!

### 1/5 — Tribes broken

*2015-09-26, version 2.0.1*

Cannot launch games on 6S.

### 1/5 — Ugh

*2015-01-08, version 2.0.1*

This had soooo many good reviews.  It was awful.  I wish there was a rerun policy or maybe a demo on iTunes for things.  Poof $3.99!  Gone!

### 1/5 — Broken on ios8

*2014-10-18, version 1.3*

Save your money until a new version comes out

### 1/5 — Truly awful

*2014-09-26, version 1.3*

This game is completely unplayable, and after 15 minutes of stabbing at my screen I gave up. What a complete waste of money. Don't bother

### 1/5 — Tribes

*2013-08-24, version 1.3*

A bad attempt at recreating populous. Basically unplayable.

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Great Game

*2025-01-14, version 2.1.1*

Great Game, except it regularly crashes and that makes it difficult to enjoy.

### 5/5 — Schöner Populous Clone

*2022-10-19*

Genau das, was ich gesucht habe: Ein gut gemachter populous Clone. Hat etwas gedauert, bis ich wieder im eingespielt war.

### 5/5 — Great

*2022-03-11, version 2.1.1*

Fab game but sometimes action takes place offscreen or is blocked by map or control tabs

### 5/5 — Spielt sich sehr Gut auf dem iPad

*2021-03-16*

Sehr schön nach langer Zeit hierauf gestoßen zu sein. Klar bisher underrated. Hab den Preis sehr gerne getahlt.

### 5/5 — Excellent touch optimised Populous

*2020-08-01, version 2.1*

Populous was one of my favourite games back in the day, and this is an excellent reimagining if it for a touch interface. Along the way it also manages to eliminate some of the game breaking flaws in the original version. This is a game I keep on finding myself going back to. Also, it’s at an affordable price and with no stupid gems or coins, or pay to win. That’s worth supporting on its own!

### 5/5 — Great game: Populus Lite

*2019-01-02, version 2.0.4*

Populus was a favorite of mine in the old days and this is very similar, if a little simpler. But very much fun! Sean O’Conner makes fantastic games and you should try them
All and support his development efforts.

### 5/5 — Fun game, needs more levels.

*2016-11-16, version 2.0.3*

I love this Populous-style game. Though you run through the levels pretty quickly. There should be another set of levels called "extremely hard" since the "very hard" levels aren't all that hard.

I wish you could create your own levels and could share created levels, but that'd be a big investment of the developer's time.

### 5/5 — Love it

*2016-07-24, version 2.0.2*

Nostolgic

### 5/5 — Amazingly Awesome!

*2014-11-11, version 2.0*

This is one of the oldest games on my phones and also one of the best. It's fun and addictive. worth getting.

### 5/5 — 短期決戦型

*2013-11-05*

他の方もレポしてますが、開始直後がポイントです。
急いで土地を整備し民を誘導、騎士が作成出来るようになったらバンバン敵地に送り込みます。そうしないと勝てません。
某神様ゲームの長時間かけてのんびりプレイする感じが好きだったので、慌ただしいのは残念なのですが、これはこれでスリリングで面白いです。平地造成が海面一段しか出来ず、しかも一旦平地を作ると自力で調節出来ないのでじれったいのですが洪水もないしまあいいかと…
無料版は民が増えるのが遅くて、モタモタしてるうちに敵に騎士を送り込まれてさっさと全滅してしまうので、まともに遊べません。
こういうゲームが好きならお金を出して有料版を買っても損はないと思います。

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-19.*