StarCraft Tabletop Miniatures Game

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"Whose side will you take? Will you swarm the battlefield with the Queen of Blades, hold the line with the Terran rebels, or rise together with the Protoss Hierarch to reclaim lost worlds?"

- Facebook ad^(src)

The StarCraft Tabletop Miniatures Game is an upcoming StarCraft tabletop game.

The game is intended to be released on March 31, 2026, coinciding with the 28th anniversary of StarCraft.^[1] It will be followed by board games set in the StarCraft universe in 2027.^[2]

Overview[]

MarineZergling SCTMG Art1 — Terran vs. zerg gameplay

The StarCraft Tabletop Miniatures Game will allow players to command terran, zerg, and protoss forces in dynamic, tactical battles, staying true to the gameplay of the StarCraft RTS games. The game will feature high-quality miniatures, rich gameplay mechanics, and deep faction customization.^[2] The models will use 32mm scale,^[3] i.e. a basic unit such as the terran marine will stand at 32mm, while larger units (e.g. archons) will be larger.^[4]

Characters and units from the RTS games will feature.^[3] The game's core designs draw from StarCraft II, though it has been hinted that units/elements from the original StarCraft might feature,^[5] such as alternate takes based on the same unit from both games.^[4]

The game will feature a starter box which will feature terran and zerg units. Its is planned to include four distinct units per faction, along with terrain pieces,^[5] which will consist of multi-part kits.^[4] A separate box dedicated to the protoss will also be made available at launch.^[5]

The game's models will be sold in unassembled, multi-part kits, offering a traditional hobby experience similar to Games Workshop models. However, push-fit assembly is being considered. The models are designed to be highly customizable, including elements such as muzzle flashes and crystals. Multi-part kits with swappable heads and arms are also planned, allowing for personalization. Air units will feature in addition to ground units, mounted on transparent flight stands.^[5] No pre-painted miniatures will feature. The game will have its own custom dice.^[4]

The game will launch through retail.^[4] It will be available in numerous languages, including English, French, Spanish, German, Polish and Korean.^[1]

Gameplay[]

RaynorArtanisKerrigan SCTMG Art1 — "Pick your race"

The StarCraft Tabletop Miniatures Game is a skirmish game. Battles will take place on a scale similar to Warhammer 40,000: Combat Patrol. Gameplay is fast paced, with a 1v1 game expected to last 1.5–2 hours. The rules of the game include terrain. The size of armies corresponds with factions. Similar to the RTS games, the protoss have the smallest unit count, while the zerg have the largest.^[3] 20 to 40 miniatures per side will feature in a standard battle, with a protoss army expected to have 10 to 15 miniatures.^[4] Players can field larger armies if they so choose, but the game is not designed for massive engagements.^[4]

Hero units will feature,^[5] while base building will not.^[4] Movement is ruler-based. The game will use a "one roll" system of combat. For instance, Player 1 may undertake one action with one unit, Player 2 may do the same, then back to Player 1. Units can receive 20–30% attack bonuses when attacking a unit that they counter.^[4]

Unlike the RTS games, the StarCraft Tabletop Miniatures Game's models are to scale as they exist in the lore. The ultralisk is the largest model planned for the game. Ergo, units such as the battlecruiser and carrier will not feature due to their gargantuan size, at least in the game's initial release.^[4]

While the terrans, zerg, and protoss are the base factions of the game, each race is further divided into sub-factions, which will be introduced post-launch. A co-op mode may also be implemented.^[5]

Resources from the games will feature. Minerals are used for units and their upgrades, while vespene gas is spent on structures (represented by cards that provide powerful abilities).^[1]

Mechanics specific to the games will be included, such as fog of war, high ground advantage, faction-specific abilities, and terrain interaction.^[1]

Development[]

"As huge fans of StarCraft, we've spent countless hours playing this game. In fact, the history of Archon Studio is closely linked to StarCraft. It's an honor to bring this universe to the tabletop as a miniatures game. StarCraft has always been an inspiration for us. Its deep lore, strategic gameplay, and iconic factions make it perfect for an immersive tabletop experience. We can’t wait to show the community what we’ve been working on."

- Press release^(src)

TychusFindlay SCTMG Art1 — A teaser image for the game–note that the shoulder pad belongs to Tychus Findlay

The StarCraft Tabletop Miniatures Game was developed by Archon Studio in partnership with Blizzard Entertainment.^[2] Archon spent a considerable amount of time trying to get the license to the IP. Blizzard agreed to license the IP after seeing Archon's previous games. As part of the process, Archon sent Blizzard promo models.^[3] StarCraft II was used as the base for the game's models, as there was a lack of good reference materials for the designs for units from the original game.^[5] A condition of the license was that Archon Studio had to create 1:1 replicas of units as they appeared in the games. Furthermore, Archon is forbidden from creating any original lore without Blizzard's approval.^[4]

A hex-based version of the game was playtested, but it didn't "feel like a wargame," hence the shift to ruler-based movement.^[4]

The game was announced in March, 2025. Further details will be revealed later in the year, including previews of miniatures and gameplay mechanics. An AMA session for the game was held on April 4.^[2] Pre-orders are expected to be available towards the end of 2025.^[3] The game aims to be 30% cheaper than correspondent Games Workshop products.^[5]

The game's models will be made from high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) plastic,^[6] and will be produced in Archon Studio's in-house factory in Poland.^[7]

Archon Studio plans to support the game for years post-launch. This support includes releasing more units, terrain, and sub-factions.^[5] As Archon's license covers the entirety of the StarCraft universe, it is within their purview to include units not seen in the games (e.g. Guild Wars-era technology). However, because many EU-exclusive units lack visual representation, it is harder for the developers to incorporate these units as they'd have to concept them first.^[4]

It is unlikely that the game will receive supplementary codecies in addition to its core rulebook, in part due to Blizzard's stringent guidelines on lore creation.^[4]