Warcraft and Starcraft are two iconic RTS games, both created by Blizzard Entertainment. These titles have set the standard for many later games and have permanently carved their place in the hearts of players who started their strategy gaming journey in the 1990s.
Both games share many features (many intentionally designed by the creators), but there are also differences – and it’s these differences that have led some players to fall in love with the StarCraft series, while others have remained loyal to the Warcraft universe.
Would you like to learn a bit more about both games? Or perhaps you’ve been mixing them up for years and finally want to know how they differ and which one might be worth playing? Today, we present a short comparison of Warcraft vs StarCraft!
A Bit of History and Mechanic Improvements
Of these two games, Warcraft boasts a longer history. Its first instalment, Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, was released in 1994 and quickly won the hearts of strategy enthusiasts. A year later, Blizzard released the sequel, Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, and in 1996, the second game got an outstanding expansion called Warcraft II: Beyond the Dark Portal.
StarCraft made its market debut in 1998 and – we can say – it evolved from the previously mentioned RTS, building on its mechanics and foundations but significantly improving them. This title, for its time, was exceptionally advanced in terms of mechanics and technology.
Firstly – three instead of two factions were introduced, and along with them, obvious asymmetries that greatly enriched the gameplay. In Warcraft II, both sides of the conflict were mechanically similar, except for differences in (obviously, graphics) spells and upgrade costs. Noticeable changes were also made in the strategic and tactical aspects of the game, making it somewhat more difficult, but therefore more interesting!
Lore – The Most Important Warcraft vs StarCraft Difference
One of the most important aspects that differentiate these titles is their setting and lore.
The earlier-released Warcraft is set in a high fantasy world within the fictional realms of Azeroth and Draenor. In addition to humans, these lands are inhabited by various mystical races, familiar from legends and books, such as orcs, dwarves, trolls, or elves. The storyline primarily revolves around the conflict between the armies of humans and orcs (in subsequent instalments, other races join the battles, forming alliances with the main opponents in this conflict, named The Alliance and The Horde, respectively).
StarCraft, on the other hand, is set in a vastly different universe. It’s a sci-fi space opera that tells the story of intergalactic conflicts among three races. On cosmic maps, the Terrans (descendants of Earth’s pioneers), the Protoss (a race of humanoid, religious beings), and the Zerg (insect-like aliens with a hive mind) clash. The second instalment of the game continued the plot lines introduced in the first game.
Graphics and Sound
Though it may surprise you, both titles (considering the first instalments of Warcraft and StarCraft from 1998) have very similar graphics. Of course, the entirely different settings and character designs blur this similarity, but the fact is that the first StarCraft was built on the Warcraft II engine.
It’s also worth noting that both games were released around the same time and were designed by the same team. In both cases, the games feature hand-crafted (pixel by pixel) character models and early 3D elements. Nevertheless, the passage of time and the ability to improve certain aspects allowed StarCraft to feature variable unit sizes (graphically), larger unit groups, etc.
In terms of sound, both games are fantastic. They each received music composed by Glenn Stafford, that matches perfectly the atmosphere and worlds, along with full voiceovers for key game characters and units. Mechanically, the sound design in both games also looks (or rather, sounds) quite similar.
Reception, Sales, and Wasted Potential
Both series have enjoyed wide acclaim from the beginning, winning numerous awards and titles in prestigious gaming magazines.
In terms of sales, the Warcraft franchise has done slightly better than another series discussed here. Over 19 million copies of Warcraft games have been sold worldwide; however, it’s worth noting that this series received much, much more instalments. Between 1994 and 2002, three main parts and three substantial expansions were released, and in 2004 the title evolved into the highly popular MMO World of Warcraft, which is still updated today.
The StarCraft franchise sold 17 million copies, though here, only two main series parts were released – StarCraft I and II – along with three expansions for each. In 2017, the first game received a remaster, while a planned sequel titled StarCraft: Ghost never saw its release.
Conclusion – Which Franchise Should You Play?
RTS isn’t a universally popular genre like sports, action, or FPS games, but for its fans, both Warcraft and StarCraft define this genre, especially since both series have so much in common. The main difference, however, is that some players are more drawn to the fantasy concept, while others feel more at home in a futuristic galactic universe. Which series you choose depends entirely on your preferences.
The StarCraft and Warcraft games interestingly… intertwine! The creators intentionally included countless Easter Eggs connecting these two series. Sometimes, they’re similar place names, while other times they’re subtle references, like a tattoo on one of the characters’ arms. We would rather not reveal too much – if you decide to play games from both series, you’ll often find yourself smiling as you catch these subtle “nods” to the fans of the other franchise.