Why the StarCraft Miniatures Game Is Exciting for Painters and Tabletop Gamers

I grew up playing the original StarCraft until my computer fans screamed for mercy. Long nights on Battle.net, LAN parties packed with half-empty Dorito bags, too much soda, and custom-map tournaments where I was convinced my APM (actions per minute) was essential to glory (I used to “practice” improving my “micro”). When I heard a StarCraft tabletop miniatures game was officially on the way, something clicked—a lost memory came to life—“Remember this?”

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If you spent hours micromanaging space marines or base-rushing with zerglings, you know what I’m talking about: real StarCraft miniatures you can build and paint! If you’re like me, the idea of holding a miniature hydralisk or Siege tank, priming it, watching the colors come alive under a lamp… well, “it’s about time!”

StarCraft tabletop miniatures preview graphic featuring Protoss and Zerg artwork with a title card announcing the first look at the upcoming StarCraft miniatures game.

Here’s what we know so far, and why hobbyists and longtime fans should keep this game on their radar.

Why the New StarCraft Miniatures Game Hits a Sweet Spot for Miniature Painters and Gamers

The new StarCraft tabletop miniatures game (officially announced by publisher Archon Studio) is designed as a modern skirmish or small-army wargame, built to bring Blizzard’s universe onto the tabletop in a way that captures the feel of the RTS but gives you tactile, creative control. (StarCraft: Tabletop Miniatures Game).

Close-up of Tychus Findlay from the StarCraft II cinematic, wearing powered armor and smoking a cigar.

“Hell, it’s about time.”
— Tychus Findlay, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty

From early previews and the ask me anything (AMA) held by Archon Studio for the StarCraft: Tabletop Miniatures Game, the game looks like it blends:

Character-driven squads
Mission-type scenarios
Dice-based combat (D6 system)
Asymmetric factions (Terran, Zerg, Protoss)

It’s made for two players (and expansions and multi-player formats are confirmed to be a part of the game). This core two player format mirrors established games like Warhammer 40,000: Kill Team or Star Wars: Legion, where you field a handful of units and leaders and fight across a mid-sized battlefield.

Yes, this is a skirmish-level game, similar in scale to Kill Team or Warcry.

Promotional image for the StarCraft Tabletop Miniatures Game featuring Kerrigan, a Terran Marine, and a Protoss warrior, with three StarCraft miniature models displayed in front.

Who is this game really made for?

StarCraft veterans who want something nostalgic and a physical collectible
Miniature painters hungry for the new sculpts. The SC miniatures look amazing for the hobbyist
Tabletop gamers who enjoy tactical systems in varied sci-fi themed worlds
Younger players discovering StarCraft for the first time

I’m in the first three categories. The last one… yeah, not really.

Warhammer 40k Tau battlesuit miniature on a tabletop terrain setup, photographed as an example of tabletop wargaming. — Who is tabletop wargaming for, really? Here’s a photo I took of a Warhammer 40k Tau model I painted. This is on my dining room table.

The Ask Me Anything (AMA) video stream by Archon Studio.

What the StarCraft Miniatures Look Like and Why They’re Great for Painting

The early concepts and photo-previews show detailed, dynamic sculpts of the fan-favorite units:

Terran Marines, Firebats, maybe a Siege Tank
Zerglings, Hydralisks, monstrous centerpiece creatures
Protoss Zealots, Dragoons, perhaps a High Templar

Painted sci-fi power-armored firebat miniature posed on tabletop terrain, shown as an example of StarCraft-style Terran infantry for miniature wargaming. — *This is the chunky firebat I remember. Now it lives on the tabletop.* Photo credit: Wargamer

If you’ve seen my Hydralisk 3D print post, you already know I’m weak for the xeno lines.

Painted Zerg-style alien miniatures displayed on rocky tabletop terrain, featuring hydralisk and zergling-like sculpts for StarCraft-inspired wargaming. — A whole swarm of Zerg-style models on the table: Organic shapes, carapace gradients, and all the fun parts to paint. Photo credit: Wargamer

The sculpts are 32 mm scale for basic units, with larger models for hero or monstrous units. If you’re a miniature painter, the sizes are wonderful. Not too large, which would make for a lot of extra tedium, eg., basing; but big enough to hold and display all the juicy details. Really, it’s a great size that supports crisp details without overwhelming new painters. You’ll want to pick up and play your painted pieces.

Painted sci-fi mech miniature with a blue cockpit standing on textured tabletop terrain, used to show StarCraft-style Terran units for miniature wargaming. Terran Viking miniature — A chunky Viking mech with that classic Terran feel. Can you see it? Big armor panels, clean lines, and perfect surfaces for weathering. The models for Starcraft will be 32mm scale, high-quality HIPS plastic… all bases will have magnet slots… clear plastic parts. Photo credit: Wargamer

What You’ll Get Inside the Model Kits

I expect plastic kits that:

Require light assembly (multi-part sprues)
Unpainted
Prime easily
Feature good detail edges and clean silhouettes (makes standard painting techniques easy to apply, e.g., drybrushing)

The Zerg especially will be fun to paint; organic shapes, carapace gradients, wet transitions that invite contrast paints or glazing. If you like the tyranid miniatures in the Warhammer 40k universe, the zerg minis will be right up your alley.

Close-up of a painted Zerg-style alien miniature on rocky tabletop terrain, showing carapace details and claws for StarCraft-inspired wargaming. — A closer look at the Zergling sculpts. Glazing, contrast paints, oh my. Here’s the Blizzard art and concept development for these miniatures.

Painted Protoss-style alien warrior miniatures charging across sci-fi terrain, used as an example of StarCraft-inspired tabletop wargaming units. — Protoss zealots charging with psionic blades are a perfect excuse to practice glowing effects. Photo credit: Wargamer

Terran armor offers room for edge highlights and weathering. Oh, I’m so looking forward to the weathering techniques and battle-damage effects on armor.

Painted Protoss Carrier-style sci-fi starship model on a display stand, shown as an example of StarCraft-inspired miniature painting and design. — This Protoss Carrier is a model I found online a while ago. I have not found a version for the SC tabletop game (yet). Notice the glowing effects… It’s an effective painting technique applied to miniatures and not too difficult to learn.

Protoss units open the door for object-source lighting (OSL) effects, glowing psi-blades and psionic orbs and accents.

White and blue object-source lighting (OSL) Warhammer 40k Necron miniature showing glowing effects for Protoss-style sci-fi armor, used as a painting example. — Object source lighting (OSL) is the magic that makes flat paint “glow”. If you’re painting up those Protoss units, this is a technique you may want to give a try.

If you enjoy painting miniatures that feel instantly gratifying, this lineup is promising. Yep, I’m definitely looking forward to the mini painting part of this tabletop game.

How the StarCraft Miniatures Game Plays Based on Early Publisher Details

Mechanics look like a tactical skirmish wargame grounded in:

Movement templates or simple measuring sticks
D6 dice pools for action resolution
Unit stats with attack/defense modifiers
Scenario-driven objectives
Faction-specific abilities

I think of it as StarCraft distilled from its fast-paced RTS vibe, that adrenaline-headiness of the endgame “all-in” main base push; but turned into something you can actually hold, move, and command on a tabletop. You won’t be building structures or managing resources.

Painted Terran medic-style sci-fi miniature with white armor and glowing green shield, displayed on rocky tabletop terrain for StarCraft-inspired wargaming. — A Terran Medic unit with bright armor and clear plastic.

You’ll be commanding small squads, making turn-based tactical decisions, and leveraging the individual playstyles and meta for each faction.

Terran: Flexible, defensive, ranged firepower
Zerg: Swarm pressure, mobility, ambush
Protoss: High cost, elite units, powerful abilities

Maybe there’ll be missions where positioning matters: holding points (aka flag or objective domination), victory scoring, or completing mission-objectives.

From the announcements, a standard game takes around 1-2 hours.

Small ~1–1.5 hours (3′×3′, 1000 pts)
Standard ~2 hours (3′×6′, 2000 pts)

This is pretty standard, and great for casual play and tournaments. You can commit an evening, or cram an entire campaign over a full weekend.

Painted warhammer 40k space marine miniatures on a tabletop battlefield, with a player moving a unit during a skirmish game. — An snapshot I took of a kitchen tabletop game of Warhammer 40k.

How Big Will the Gaming Table Be?

Most skirmish games of this type use a 3′ × 3′ or 3′ × 6′ play area, which is confirmed to be the sizes for Starcraft small and standard games. Based on screenshots and demos, this means it’ll fit kitchen tables, fold-out gaming tables, and standard gaming mats. If you’ve played Warhammer 40k, Warmachine, Bolt Action, or any of the popular 28-32mm scaled miniature tabletop games out there, you’ll be right at home.

Marketed or your DIY terrain may include:

Sci-fi industrial scatter
Alien environments (Zerg creep, Protoss pylons)
Modular systems compatible with other games

Overall, I think the smaller game size makes games run quicker.

Your painting goals stay focused, and setup becomes something you can handle without too much effort. Ah, yes; this also makes photographing your models easier. With the action pulled in close, you can frame shots cleanly, catch the details you worked hard on, and share them without wrestling with lights or space.

Painted warhammer 40k imperial fist Land Raider miniature on rocky tabletop terrain, featuring heavy armor and turret details used in miniature wargaming. — I love photographing my painted miniatures to make them look “realistic”. It’s all about the lighting. Here’s a Warhammer 40k Landraider.

Will the Minis Be Hard to Paint?

Short answer: No. They look approachable but rewarding. The sculpts appear to have:

Deep recesses for shading
Bold contours for edge-highlights
Clean, clear shapes for quick readability

If you’re starting out or just want a fast way into painting these StarCraft models, I’ve got a simple beginner guide for you: Miniature Painting Tips for Beginners.

Painted blue armored Infinity TAG model posed on a display base with the box-art reference behind it, showing detailed armor panels and a matching color scheme. — I usually paint miniatures with a reference, and I may have taken this project too literally, but I love it.

StarCraft Miniatures Game FAQ

Here are some of the common questions I’ve noted from the community:

When is the release date?
Promised for early 2026, with Q1 preorders
What’s the price?
Estimated at ~$150–160 for a Two-Player Starter, ~$60–80 for a Faction Box.
How many units come in the starter box?
Two-Player Starter (Terran vs Zerg)
- Terran:
  - 2× Marine squads (6 models each)
    - 1× Marauder squad (2 models)
    - 1× Medic squad (3 models)
      → 17 Terran models
- Zerg:
  - 1× Queen
  - 2× Zergling squads (12 models each)
  - 1× Roach squad (3 models)
    → 28 Zerg models
Will there be expansions?
Yes, long-range roadmap extends ~9 years. (Wargamer)
Is painting required to play?
Technically no, but one look at the sculpts and you’ll want to.
How competitive will it be?
Early indications: tactical, tight gameplay; probably less complex than full-scale wargames.
Is it beginner-friendly?
Probably more accessible than large-scale options.
What scale are the miniatures?
Around 32 mm scale for basic units.
What terrain will be required?
Sci-fi modular terrain; compatible with other systems perhaps.
How many players?
Core game likely 2 players; future modes maybe more.

Some of these questions and topics deserve their own future articles (stick around—I’ll keep you guys updated).

Final Thoughts

Ugh, I can’t wait. There’s something about the nostalgia, of decades ago, when gaming PC computers were literally boxes that took up your entire desktop.

Gaming was fresh, unadulterated by the social media spin and splash of today’s gaming ecosystem. Here, the StarCraft miniatures tabletop game feels like that memory, and fills (I think) that longing for a slower pace to life. It’s a human touch in a digital, AI-filled world. Bring a friend. Paint some models. Kill ’em with dice rolls.

If the sculpts are half as good as the previews suggest, I’ll be painting those ‘toss and zerg units long into the night, just like the old days.

What unit would you paint first? Drop a comment, I’m curious!