GameTimeline

Release & story order

StarCraft timeline

This page is for players who want a clear StarCraft campaign plan—not ladder guides. Release shows when each package shipped: the 1998 classic and Brood War, the 2017 Remastered client, then the StarCraft II trilogy (Wings of Liberty, Heart of the Swarm, Legacy of the Void) and optional Nova Covert Ops. Story follows Koprulu Sector fiction in the same order but drops Remastered as a duplicate row—use Remastered to play Episodes I–VI today. If you only want modern cinematics, start at Wings of Liberty; the prologue recaps enough to continue, though you will miss Kerrigan's Brood War context. Heroes of the Storm, canceled projects, and free multiplayer notes live in the FAQ. Prefer Blizzard's fantasy RTS instead? See the Warcraft timeline.

Updated August 2026

Pick your path:

SC2 trilogy Classic Remastered Full saga Full release list Story order

Where to start

Choose SC2 trilogy if you want the modern cinematic campaigns only (Wings → HotS → LotV). Choose Classic Remastered for Episodes I–VI alone. Choose Full saga when you want Remastered plus the trilogy and Nova as one checklist.

  • Remastered replaces both 1998 discs—one purchase covers the entire classic story
  • Legacy of the Void includes the trilogy epilogue missions—finish those before deciding on Nova
  • Battle.net multiplayer is free-to-play; the Essentials paths track the paid campaign packages

Release order

Ship dates for every campaign package you can still buy: StarCraft and Brood War (1998), StarCraft: Remastered (2017—the practical way to play those campaigns), then Wings of Liberty (2010), Heart of the Swarm (2013), Legacy of the Void (2015), and Nova Covert Ops (2016). Ladder and free multiplayer are not separate rows—campaigns are the story checklist.

  • Full 2026 story path: finish StarCraft: Remastered (includes Brood War), then WoL → HotS → LotV, then optional Nova
  • Short on time? Start at Wings of Liberty—valid for gameplay; you only lose classic emotional setup
  • Nova Covert Ops is a post-trilogy Terran pack—skip it if you only want Artanis's ending
  • Do not hunt 1998 CD keys—Remastered is the supported Battle.net buy for Episodes I–VI
  • Want orcs and Azeroth instead of the Koprulu Sector? Browse the Warcraft timeline
Story order tips

Koprulu Sector fiction in order: StarCraft → Brood War → Wings of Liberty → Heart of the Swarm → Legacy of the Void → optional Nova Covert Ops. Remastered is the same Episodes I–VI story as the 1998 games, so Story does not list it twice. Newcomers who only care about SC2 cinematics can soft-start at Wings of Liberty; everyone else should finish Remastered first for Kerrigan's full arc.

  • Classic block = Episodes I–VI inside Remastered; SC2 block = WoL → HotS → LotV in that order
  • HotS and LotV assume you finished the previous chapter—do not shuffle the trilogy
  • Nova is optional after LotV's epilogue; it does not change the trilogy ending
  • On Story order, later campaigns may be hidden—reveal when you are ready for spoilers

Timeline

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When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. StarCraft

    StarCraft

    PCMacRTSMainline

    StarCraft (1998) launches the Koprulu Sector—Terran, Zerg, and Protoss campaigns that defined competitive RTS and Blizzard sci-fi lore.

    Overview
    Three asymmetric races, campaign episodes I–III, and multiplayer that birthed e-sports culture in Korea.
    In-game setting
    Play before Brood War. Prefer Blizzard's fantasy RTS? Try the Warcraft timeline.
    Should you play it?
    Lore start. In 2026 buy StarCraft: Remastered instead of the 1998 disc—same story slot.
    Release date
    US March 31, 1998 on PC (Mac later). In 2026 prefer StarCraft: Remastered on Battle.net.
  2. StarCraft: Brood War

    StarCraft: Brood War

    PCMacRTSExpansionMainline

    Brood War (1998) continues with episodes IV–VI—Kerrigan's rise, UED invasion, and the ending every SC2 prologue still references.

    Overview
    Expansion campaigns and balance that became the long-term competitive standard for SC1.
    In-game setting
    Mandatory before jumping to Wings of Liberty for full story.
    Should you play it?
    Required after base StarCraft. Bundled inside Remastered.
    Release date
    US November 30, 1998 expansion for PC/Mac—now included inside StarCraft: Remastered.
  3. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

    StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

    PCMacRTSMainline

    Wings of Liberty (2010) opens the SC2 trilogy—Jim Raynor's rebellion four years after Brood War, with cinematic production that redefined RTS campaigns.

    Overview
    Choosable mission order, mercenary upgrades, and the Hyperion hub.
    In-game setting
    Next required campaign: Heart of the Swarm. Soft-start here if you skip Remastered.
    Should you play it?
    SC2 start. Newcomers can begin here with the in-game prologue if skipping Remastered.
    Release date
    US July 27, 2010 on PC/Mac via Battle.net—first SC2 campaign chapter.
  4. StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

    StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

    PCMacRTSExpansionMainline

    Heart of the Swarm (2013) follows Kerrigan's Zerg arc—evolution chambers, planet campaigns, and the middle chapter of the SC2 trilogy.

    Overview
    Zerg-focused campaign with Kerrigan leveling and broodmother politics.
    In-game setting
    Next required campaign: Legacy of the Void. Do not shuffle ahead of Wings.
    Should you play it?
    Required after WoL for story. Sold standalone later.
    Release date
    US March 12, 2013 on PC/Mac; later sold as a standalone chapter.
  5. StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void

    StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void

    PCMacRTSExpansionMainline

    Legacy of the Void (2015) closes the main SC2 trilogy—Artanis, the Protoss reclaim Aiur, and the epilogue that resolves Kerrigan's destiny.

    Overview
    Protoss campaign plus trilogy epilogue missions; multiplayer economy changes.
    In-game setting
    Main saga endpoint before optional Nova Covert Ops.
    Should you play it?
    Trilogy finale. Play after HotS. Then optional Nova Covert Ops.
    Release date
    US November 10, 2015 standalone SC2 chapter on Battle.net, including trilogy epilogue.
  6. StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops
    Optional

    StarCraft II: Nova Covert Ops

    PCMacRTSMission packOptional

    Nova Covert Ops (2016) is a three-episode mission pack following Nova after LotV—optional Terran epilogue rather than a fourth full campaign game.

    Overview
    Mission-pack structure with gear loadouts; released in three drops through late 2016.
    In-game setting
    Post-trilogy side story. FAQ for Heroes of the Storm crossovers.
    Should you play it?
    Optional after LotV. Skip if you only want the main trilogy ending.
    Release date
    US first episode March 29, 2016; full pack completed November 2016.
  7. StarCraft: Remastered
    Optional

    StarCraft: Remastered

    PCMacRTSRemasterOptional

    StarCraft: Remastered (2017) updates SC1 + Brood War with HD art and modern online—the practical 2026 way to play the original campaigns.

    Overview
    Toggle classic/HD visuals; same mission scripts and competitive DNA.
    In-game setting
    Same fiction as StarCraft + Brood War—use this client, then jump to Wings of Liberty.
    Should you play it?
    Buy this instead of hunting 1998 CDs. Optional as a separate checklist row if you already finished original SC1+BW.
    Release date
    US August 14, 2017 on Battle.net.

FAQ

Where to start in 2026, Remastered vs old discs, SC2-only shortcuts, Nova packs, and how multiplayer relates to the paid campaigns.

Release order

Release answers “what can I buy and when did it ship?”—including StarCraft: Remastered as its own 2017 row beside the 1998 titles.

Story answers “what order tells Kerrigan’s saga?”—classic Episodes I–VI, then the SC2 trilogy, then optional Nova. Remastered is omitted on Story because it is the same fiction as StarCraft + Brood War, not a sequel chapter.

Recommended full path: buy StarCraft: Remastered (Episodes I–VI including Brood War), then play Wings of Liberty → Heart of the Swarm → Legacy of the Void. Add Nova Covert Ops only if you want more Terran missions after the trilogy epilogue.

Modern-only shortcut: start at Wings of Liberty. The prologue recaps the war; you will still understand SC2’s plot, but Kerrigan’s Brood War rise hits harder if you played Remastered first.

Story & campaigns

Yes for gameplay. Wings of Liberty opens with a recap and works as a self-contained cinematic RTS. You will miss the emotional setup for Kerrigan’s betrayal and the UED invasion from Brood War, which SC2 still references. If you care about characters more than mission count, finish Remastered first; if you only want the 2010–2015 trilogy, starting at Wings is fine.

Remaster & editions

No—you do not need 1998 discs. StarCraft: Remastered is the supported Battle.net version of the original campaigns plus Brood War, with HD art, quality-of-life options, and current online services. Treat it as the practical classic block on Release; on Story it occupies the same fiction as those 1998 rows.

Optional & related

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.