Blizzard Entertainment's 1995 classic — its history, how the press received it, how it plays today, and what a copy costs.
- Released
- 1995 · PC (DOS / Windows)
- Developer
- Blizzard Entertainment
- Publisher
- Blizzard Entertainment Inc.
- MobyScore
- ★ 8.01
- Players today
- Mostly Positive on Steam (79% of 3351)
The history
Developed by Blizzard Entertainment and released in 1995 for MS-DOS and Windows (followed by a 1996 Mac OS version via parent company Davidson & Associates), WarCraft II: Tides of Darkness is a fantasy-themed real-time strategy sequel to WarCraft: Orcs & Humans. Set on the world of Azeroth, the narrative follows the orcs—now allied with goblins, trolls, and ogres—as they prepare to invade Lordaeron and conquer the remaining realms of humans, dwarves, and elves, who have formed an alliance to stop them.
The title mattered as a landmark in the RTS genre, elevating Blizzard to an elite status alongside studios like id Software and LucasArts. Its rivalry with Westwood Studios' Command & Conquer series is credited with fueling the RTS boom of the late 1990s and establishing the RTS template Blizzard would later use for StarCraft.
How it plays
The game centers on real-time strategic conquest, introducing naval and air units and a new oil resource found on water tiles. Players must manage resources that eventually run out, utilizing an intuitive control system that allows for the selection of multiple units at once and access to command menus via right-clicking. The experience is further defined by an innovative fog of war that requires players to scout continuously.
Technically, the game featured SVGA 640x480 resolution graphics and a Red Book audio soundtrack. It removed the road mechanic from the previous title and included multiplayer support for up to eight players, as well as a scenario editor for designing custom maps (which required Windows 3.1 or greater despite the game being DOS-based).
How it was received
WarCraft II earned enthusiastic reviews and won most of the major PC gaming awards in 1996. It was a massive commercial success, debuting at No. 2 on PC Data's December 1995 monthly sales chart and becoming the world's most commercially successful computer game of the year as of November 1995. By the end of 1998, global sales had passed 2.5 million, eventually surpassing 3 million units by 2001.
Critics praised the improved AI and the strategic possibilities opened up by new units and resources. While period critics lauded its technical and strategic leaps, modern Steam sentiment remains "Mostly Positive," with 2,663 out of 3,351 positive reviews.
In the magazines
The period press.
The game received high marks across the board: GR gave it 95%, GameRev 91%, and Next Generation awarded it a 5/5 (PC). Computer Games Magazine gave it 4.5/5 and stated that the game "surpasses the original game in almost every way." Other scores included rev1Score (91), rev2Score (4.5/5), rev4Score (8/10), rev5Score (4/5), and rev6Score (4.5/5).
What players say today
Modern Steam players express a generally positive sentiment, though some reviews appear to be referencing a completely different game involving gang warfare in Chicago and FPS mechanics, which contradicts the RTS nature of the title.
“- Opened game - Instantly blessed by Drill rap - Join match - Get my first kill - Child calls me the N word on a dollar store mic - Whole lobby starts trash talking worse than the Xbox 360 MW Lobbies …”
“this game proves why they built sidewalks, because not every mother ♥♥♥♥♥♥ can handle the streets!”
“Based $5 game, 10/10. I hope they continue to do updates to the game. The devs could add a fent zombies game mode (kinda like COD zombies), additional weapons, and other unlockables. Could also add ma…”
Screenshots
The box & the art
Cover art, and real copies photographed in the wild.
Legacy
Blizzard Entertainment used the foundation of WarCraft II to build their RTS template for future hits like StarCraft. The game remains worth seeking out today as a landmark of the genre that defined the competitive RTS landscape of the 90s.
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 →How to play it in 2026
Easiest today: Steam or GOG (DRM-free) on modern Windows. Either way the core game is intact.
The GOG version includes IPXWrapper to provide a workaround for the obsolete IPX protocol used in multiplayer. Additionally, community-made widescreen and high-resolution patches have been developed for the Battle.net Edition and GOG "Classic" versions.
Verdict
With its introduction of air and sea combat and a refined control scheme, WarCraft II was a massive leap over its predecessor. It successfully blended fantasy themes with tight strategic loops.
While the original's resolution is dated, its influence on the RTS genre is undeniable, and it holds up as a primary example of the era's strategic design.
Sources: MobyGames, Steam, and period/web coverage. Prices reflect the second-hand market and change over time.