8.0 GB
Three perfect factions. One timeless test of nerve and speed.
StarCraft is a free strategy game released under Free (StarCraft Anthology) · Remastered sold separately. It runs on Windows, Linux, macOS, needs about 8.0 GB of disk space, and requires no account, payment or trial. On a computer, the fastest route is the PlayBound Launcher. On a phone or tablet, use the official store or site instead.
One-click install
PlayBound fetches the official release — no third-party mirrors.
Install the Battle.net desktop app from Blizzard and sign in with a free Battle.net account.
Find StarCraft in the game list and install it. The Anthology — StarCraft plus Brood War — costs nothing; do not buy Remastered unless you specifically want the 4K art.
Play the StarCraft campaign before Brood War. Brood War continues the story directly and assumes you know the units.
Linux
There is no native Linux build. Battle.net and StarCraft both run under Wine or Proton, but that route is community-supported rather than official.
Minimum
Battle.net app · Dual-core CPU · 4 GB RAM · 8 GB storage
Recommended
SSD · 8 GB RAM · Dedicated GPU
Yes. Blizzard made StarCraft and its Brood War expansion free permanently in March 2017 with patch 1.18. You need a free Battle.net account and the Battle.net app, but there is nothing to buy.
The free Anthology is the complete original game and expansion with modern compatibility. Remastered is a paid upgrade that adds 4K artwork and some quality-of-life features. Gameplay and balance are identical, and the two can play together online.
Yes. Both the original campaign and the Brood War expansion are included, which is roughly sixty missions in total.
Yes. Patch 1.18 added support for current Windows and macOS versions along with windowed mode. There is no native Linux client, though it runs under Wine and Proton.
Yes, though it is a small and extremely skilled population, particularly in South Korea. Expect a steep introduction if you go straight to ladder play.
Not meaningfully. It receives occasional compatibility and security patches, but active development stopped and Blizzard disbanded its Classic Games team in 2024. The game is complete and stable as it stands.