It’s both a testament to its greatness and a quiet indictment of modern games that StarCraft, a game closing in on 30 years old, is still considered by many the best RTS of all time. It’s probably the best example of three entirely unique races producing the most dynamic matches: one of the highest skill-ceiling games ever made, and one that is still played at a highly competitive level after all these years. Most RTS games of the era used factions that were cosmetic reskins with a few unique units or spells. StarCraft did not. Terran, Zerg, and Protoss have distinct economies, production methods, unit philosophies, and even base-building rules. And of course there was BattleNet, which made finding games easy at a time when most online play was still a hassle. That infrastructure, plus the depth of the multiplayer, turned StarCraft into an icon. You have to look long and hard to find another game that comes even close. And that's why it still feels like the gold standard rather than a relic.