Blizzard Entertainment's 1998 classic — its history, how the press received it, how it plays today, and what a copy costs.
- Released
- 1998 · PC (DOS / Windows)
- Developer
- Blizzard Entertainment
- Publisher
- Blizzard Entertainment Inc.
- MobyScore
- ★ 8.36
- Players today
- Mixed on Steam (67% of 67)
The history
Developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment, StarCraft arrived in 1998 as a pivotal entry in the real-time strategy genre. Set in a distant future, the narrative pits a unified Terran government against the predatory Zerg and the enigmatic Protoss, while rebel factions stir within the Terran ranks.
The title mattered because it set new standards for competitive gaming and RTS design. Notably, it marked the creation of Blizzard's film department, introducing high-quality cinematics that were integral to the series' storyline.
How it plays
The core loop involves building units using credits and a power source to engage in combat, utilizing a Fog of War system where terrain and enemy positions are only revealed upon visitation or proximity. Players must manage realistic line-of-sight calculations and can utilize a full map editor for custom content.
A defining feature is the use of three distinct, balanced races: the Zerg, who build units quickly; the Terrans, whose units are the most affordable; and the Protoss, who possess the most powerful individual units. This variety extends to their base styles, ensuring a different experience depending on the chosen faction.
How it was received
StarCraft was a massive commercial success, becoming the best-selling PC game of 1998 with over 1.5 million copies sold worldwide and 746,365 units in the US alone. By May 2007, global sales topped 9.5 million, with a huge concentration of 4.5 million copies sold in South Korea. Critics praised the game for its balance and story, with GameSpot naming it one of the best games of all time and noting its voice acting as one of the ten best in the industry. It earned 37 awards and a star on the Walk of Game in San Francisco in 2006.
While contemporary critics hailed it as a high watermark for the genre, modern Steam sentiment is more divided, reflecting a "Mixed" rating with 45 out of 67 positive reviews.
In the magazines
The period press.
NGen gave the game a 5/5, while PCGUK rated it 92% and PCZone awarded it 8.8/10. Allgame provided a 4.5/5, and GameFan gave it a 215/300 for the Nintendo 64 version.
What players say today
Modern players on Steam have mixed feelings; some find it a simple and awesome experience with nice progression involving gathering materials and building micro-planets, while others have noted a certain amount of bugginess associated with a "smaller developer feel."
“Such a simple game with a straight-forward premise - you craft. You gather materials, and you craft and you make micro-planets, which lets you gather more stuff and...craft more stuff. That's it. And …”
“I really wanted to like this game as it's been on my list since I played the demo months ago. I was willing to put up with a certain amount of bugginess as it's got a smaller developer feel to it. I…”
“Pretty good; nice progression; build new planets; gather various resources across the solar system”
Screenshots
The box & the art
Cover art, and real copies photographed in the wild.
Legacy
Blizzard Entertainment continued to build on this success, with much of the original team returning to develop the Brood War expansion shortly after the initial release. The game remains worth seeking out today for its pioneering use of three unique, balanced races that forced players to adapt their thinking to alien minds.
What it's worth
Copies surface on the second-hand market from time to time, but listings are sparse enough that there's no reliable price band to quote — check the live search for what's available right now.
See current copies on eBay →Copies in the wild
Real listing photos — the range of condition you'll meet.
Photographed examples from past listings — illustrative of condition, not a live inventory.
How to play it in 2026
Easiest today: Steam or GOG (DRM-free) on modern Windows. Either way the core game is intact.
StarCraft: Remastered updated the 1998 original and its Brood War expansion with ultra-HD graphics, re-recorded audio, and a zooming function. It added widescreen resolution support up to 4K Ultra HD, ranked multiplayer access, and Blizzard's modern online feature suite while retaining the original gameplay.
Verdict
With its elegant design and a level of balance that "raises the bar" for the RTS genre, StarCraft remains a landmark title. Whether you are drawn to its legendary competitive pedigree or its deep sci-fi narrative, it stands as a masterclass in the formula.
Sources: MobyGames, Steam, and period/web coverage. Prices reflect the second-hand market and change over time.