Star Frontier: play online in your browser
Space real-time strategy inspired by StarCraft: three very different races, minerals and gas, bases and armies on the plateaus of an alien world.
Free, no download, no install. Works on Windows, Mac and Linux in Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox.
About the game
Star Frontier is a fast real-time strategy game. Workers mine minerals and gas, you build a base, grow an army and watch your supply cap, then lead your forces against the enemy. You win when all of their buildings are destroyed.
If you played StarCraft, you will recognise the three races. The Colonists are humans with infantry, tanks and aircraft; a mechanic builds their structures, and buildings can be repaired. The Swarm is alive: everything hatches from larvae, buildings stand on creep and wounds heal by themselves. The Ancients have tough shields, warp in buildings next to power obelisks and their builder is free at once. Hit points, armour, damage, speed, costs and build times come from the rules of the classic game.
The graphics are our own: models rendered in Blender with light and shadows, looking like old-school pre-rendered sprites. Play against the computer as any race on three levels, or online with friends, 1v1 and 2v2.
Screenshots
How to play
- Press Play, choose your race, the computer's race and level, then Start.
- Box-select workers and right-click the minerals: they start mining.
- Build from the command card at the bottom: every button has a hotkey letter.
- Watch your supply: to grow the army you need supply buildings (each race has its own).
- Right-click is a smart order: move, attack, gather. Ctrl+number saves a control group.
- Camera: arrow keys or screen edge, the mouse wheel zooms.
Mechanics and rules
Economy
- Two resources: minerals and gas. A worker brings 8 per trip.
- Supply cap of 200: every unit takes supply, and without new supply buildings the army stops growing.
- Build times, costs and mining timings follow the classic.
Three races
- Colonists: infantry, vehicles and aircraft, siege mode for tanks, a mechanic builds and repairs.
- Swarm: larvae morph into any unit, buildings only on creep, health regenerates.
- Ancients: every unit has a regenerating shield, buildings are warped in at power obelisks.
Combat
- Three damage types (normal, explosive, concussive) hit small, medium and large targets differently.
- Armour and weapon upgrades, splash damage, misses when shooting uphill.
- Fog of war: you only see what is near your units.
Questions and answers
Do I need to download anything to play Star Frontier?
No. The game runs right in your browser: press Play and the match starts in a few seconds. Nothing to install.
Is it free?
Yes, it is free to play, with no subscriptions and no in-game purchases.
Does it work on a Mac?
Yes. The game runs in the browser on Mac, Windows and Linux: in Chrome, Safari, Edge and Firefox. You need a computer with a mouse or a trackpad.
Can I play with a friend online?
Yes. Sign up (only a nickname and a password), add your friend and create a room in the lobby. You can play against the computer without signing up.
What happens if I refresh the page or lose my connection?
Your match is not lost. A game against the computer is saved automatically in your browser and continues from the same spot. In an online match you have time to come back.
Is this the original StarCraft?
No. Star Frontier is our own game, made from scratch and inspired by StarCraft: similar rules and a familiar world, but our own graphics, names and code.
Which race should a beginner pick?
The Colonists are the easiest start: straightforward infantry and vehicles, and buildings can be repaired. The Swarm and the Ancients are more unusual and take some getting used to.
How many players in one match?
Up to four: 1v1 or 2v2. You can play against the computer right away, without signing up.
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Star Frontier is an independent game by Ancient LAN, inspired by classic games. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the owners of StarCraft. StarCraft is a trademark of its owner; the name is used for comparison only.