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Populus Run

The sugar-free running game

Ratings

Age

9+

Category

Action

Languages

English

Populus Run is an unconventional and hilarious runner. You don't just control one person; you control a growing crowd! Navigate through a world filled with giant fast-food obstacles. The more people you keep in your crowd, the higher your score. It’s a bright, cheerful, and challenging adventure that is unlike any other runner.

Dinsun Expert Review

Our Expert Score

87/100

Populus Run is quite possibly the most joyful and bizarre runner I've ever played. Instead of the typical 'lone hero' trope, managing a giant, wobbling crowd of people through a world made of fast food is pure comedic genius. The physics of the crowd—how they stumble, regroup, and occasionally get flattened by a giant macaroon—is both technically impressive and hilarious to watch.

The levels are beautifully designed, with a vivid color palette that makes every frame look like a candy store. The boss fights are a standout feature, requiring you to sacrifice members of your crowd to trigger mechanics, which adds a surprisingly dark but funny tactical layer to the game. It’s a perfect example of how to take a well-worn genre like the 'endless runner' and turn it into something completely fresh and character-driven.

Dinsun reviewed on: Fri Feb 27 2026

Features

1

Innovative crowd controls

2

Bizarre and colorful food world

3

Original upbeat soundtrack

4

Hardcore mode for expert runners

Featured In

Tips & Walkthrough

Gameplays

Screenshot

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Q&A

No, it features hand-crafted levels with specific start and end points, as well as distinct boss fights.

Ratings & Reviews

App Store Editors’ Notes
Invalid Date

More Levels Coming?
Sun Jan 11 2026 NateGamer1up

This Game Is Fun And Very Awesome, But… Can You Add More New Levels? Please? I Beat The Game And I Was Wondering, Are You Ever Going To Make More New Levels In The Future? If You Do That, I Will Be Super Super Excited! But If You Don’t Feel Like It, Then That’s Ok, Or You Can Make A New Game That Is Called Populus Run 2! But If You Also Don’t Feel Like It, Then That’s Ok.

Good game, great design
Sat Mar 30 2024 player_Mils

Populus Run has some of the best designs that I’ve ever seen in the App Store. I loved the gameplay, and I loved the “sugar free” theme. But here are some problems. I don’t know how to set difficulties on the levels! How do you set it to hardcore mode!? How do you bring it back!? I really wish there was a setting where we could set it to the difficulties would really be great. Another problem is that I don’t know what special features the full version has. I don’t seem to see anything different from the free version. It looks like that was what I got from spending four dollars on this. No new levels. One more is that the boss fights are so laggy. Maybe I used up a lot of my space and it might get laggy. But I’m not going to leave it out. Overall, I think the game could be better than three stars, but I like it. Controls: 8/10 Graphics: 10/10 Theme: 8/10 Details: 6/10 Design: 9/10 Music: 77% Good effects Fine bosses

From Apple Arcade
Mon Jun 03 2024 ṛọṇ

I am happy I got to meet this game in Apple Arcade. I like the sound design very much. Some levels seem hard to achieve but practice makes perfect. I hope you make an Arcade comeback at some point with fresh and new games. Best of luck on your journey!

Incredible Design
Mon Jan 15 2024 Just Another Normal Reviewer

Populus Run is incredibly well designed across all aspects, including interaction, gameplay, haptics, music, 3D environments, and more. Just look at the level selector! This game was a standout Apple Arcade Original, and it’s now available for direct purchase on the App Store.

THE BEST GAME EVER🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
Sat Feb 10 2024 ben1free90

Populus run is just the best game I don’t even know how to explain it because of how good it is I don’t even care that I have to pay for most of the game I like doing levels over and over again I only got this game 3 days ago but it is the best game ever😉

Pretty good game
Sun Jan 07 2024 Rylen4792468

I pre ordered this game and I probably was one of the first to play it. Never-mind that though, the music is fire and the gameplay is pretty fun. I love that you can add a controller to play because it makes it easier to play and control. If your reading this review, then you should probably get this game!

It’s so good
Thu Apr 17 2025 Buguygjhbyigiyvyuyg

So I already got the ripe avocado and it’s really fun and I’m trying to figure out how to play and stuff but I’ll give it a five out of five stars so if you play it download it I think there’s in app purchases so yeah so it’s really fun

Good but flawed game
Mon Jan 15 2024 Jgundy

Beat the whole game & it was great but was missing 2 achievements due to glitches. The game also started to lag, stutter & overheat my phone after about 15 minutes of play time. Still recommend but beware of these issues.

Some Youtube Videos found!

News found!

New release roundup: Populus Run, Pocket Oasis, Jenny LeClue, and moreNew release roundup: Populus Run, Pocket Oasis, Jenny LeClue, and more

Produced alongside our friends at PocketGamer.fun - THE place to discover your next favourite mobile games - here's our pick of the best...

Pocket Gamer.biz Tue Sep 24 2024

Populus Run is making the jump to Google Play and the iOS App Store from Apple ArcadePopulus Run is making the jump to Google Play and the iOS App Store from Apple Arcade

Populus Run, the formerly Apple Arcade-exclusive game where you control a crowd of people as you race along through levels, is coming to Android and the iOS...

Pocket Gamer Tue Sep 24 2024

Populus Run is collecting and shedding runners on its way to Apple Arcade this weekPopulus Run is collecting and shedding runners on its way to Apple Arcade this week

Developer FIFTYTWO is bringing this unique take on the endless runner in which you collect and lose a group of runners on your way through...

Shacknews Wed Feb 24 2021

Populus Run is a new endless runner with sugary obstacles on Apple ArcadePopulus Run is a new endless runner with sugary obstacles on Apple Arcade

Watch out for massive falling cupcakes in FiftyTwo's new game.

CNET Wed Feb 24 2021

Apple Arcade's Populus Run is a twist on the endless runner genreApple Arcade's Populus Run is a twist on the endless runner genre

In this unconventional running game, players control a group of people confronting crazy obstacles with the objective of finishing the course with at least one...

iMore Wed Feb 24 2021

Dodge giant doughnuts in Populus Run on Apple ArcadeDodge giant doughnuts in Populus Run on Apple Arcade

Populus Run involves guiding a group of people past gigantic fast food. Plus there are rap battles. Because games.

Cult of Mac Wed Feb 24 2021

Populus Run is an upcoming runner for Apple Arcade where you control a group of charactersPopulus Run is an upcoming runner for Apple Arcade where you control a group of characters

As you'll likely have already guessed from the name, Populus Run is an upcoming endless runner from FIFTYTWO that's heading for Apple Arcade...

Pocket Gamer Wed Feb 24 2021

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