| Ur-Quan | |
|---|---|
| Star Control character | |
 The Ur-Quan speaking to the player in The Ur-Quan Masters, the open-source remake of Star Control II | |
| First game | Star Control (1990) |
| Last appearance | The Ur-Quan Masters (2002) |
| Created by | Paul Reiche III, Fred Ford |
| Voiced by | Larry Zee, David Bryce |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Ur-Quan Kzer-Za (sub-species), Ur-Quan Kohr-Ah (sub-species) |
The Ur-Quan are a fictional race of predatory alien caterpillars in the Star Control series of video games, created by Paul Reiche III and Fred Ford. Introduced in 1990, the Ur-Quan are the primary antagonist of the first game, leading a galactic empire that seeks to enslave Earth. They reprise their role in Star Control II, which expands on their history as former slaves who since vowed to fiercely defend themselves. During the game, the Ur-Quan enter into a civil war over their ideology, giving Earth an opportunity to defeat them. In Star Control 3, which was developed by a different team, the Ur-Quan ally with Earth against a different antagonist and their role is scaled back. They appear once again in The Ur-Quan Masters, the 2002 open source remake of Star Control II.
Reiche and Ford developed the Ur-Quan based on the concepts for unique spaceships in Star Control; their insectoid appearance was inspired by a National Geographic photo of a caterpillar. Their role in Star Control II has earned acclaim among the best game villains in history, praised for their menacing persona, as well as their surprising depth and humanity. The Ur-Quan have also influenced other game studios, inspiring concepts in games such as Mass Effect and Stellaris.