Counterstrike 2 is a phenomenally popular first-person shooter and one of the few that remains exclusive to PC. While the name alludes to it being the second game in the series, Counterstrike has had plenty of famous iterations, including 1.6, Global Offensive, and Source.
The gameplay is furiously competitive, and with the zero price tag, it’s one of the best ways to enjoy a hardcore shooter without even opening your wallet.
That said, if you get bored with Counterstrike 2, what games offer a similar experience? Surprisingly, few games provide a ‘no gimmicks’ competitive platform, much less with an active player base. Still, here are a few games any CS2 refugee should check out.
8 Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6
It's The Mode That Matters
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
FPS
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg:83/100 Critics Rec:92%
Released October 25, 2024 ESRB Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Suggestive Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs Developer(s) Treyarch, Raven Software Publisher(s) Activision Engine IW 9.0 Multiplayer Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op Cross-Platform Play Yes — PlayStation, Xbox, PC Cross Save Yes — PlayStation, Xbox, PC Prequel(s) Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Call of Duty: World at War Franchise Call of Duty Number of Players 1-4 Split Screen Orientation Vertical or Horizontal Steam Deck Compatibility Unknown PC Release Date October 25, 2024 Xbox Series X|S Release Date October 25, 2024 PS5 Release Date October 25, 2024 Platform(s) PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC X|S Optimized Yes PS Plus Availability N/A Local Co-Op Support 1-2 Players OpenCritic Rating Strong Powered by
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I totally understand why any CS2 player would laugh at the suggestion that they play Call of Duty, but hear me out.
One of the most famous Call of Duty modes has always been Search and Destroy. It’s a mode that’s clearly inspired by Counterstrike and removes a lot of random ‘fluff’ typically associated with CoD.
If you’ve never played before, there are no respawns in S&D, and teams are much smaller. The lower player count lends itself to tactical gameplay, and killstreaks are much less common unless one team is steamrolling ahead.
The economy and buy phase from CS2 is absent in Call of Duty, but it’s a delightfully sweaty mode and offers an environment any Counterstrike savant will enjoy.
7 Fortnite Ballistic
They Thought Of Everything
Fortnite Ballistic
Action First-Person Shooter Tactical
Released December 11, 2024 ESRB T for Teen — Violence Developer(s) Epic Games Publisher(s) Epic Games Engine Unreal Engine Multiplayer Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer PC Release Date December 11, 2024 Xbox Series X|S Release Date December 11, 2024 PS5 Release Date December 11, 2024 Nintendo Switch Release Date December 11, 2024 Platform(s) PC, iOS, Android, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch Powered by
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Fortnite is a hub for countless unique games at this point, including racing and rhythm modes. The title is traditionally third person, but there’s now a first-person round-based game type called Ballistic.
Fortnite Ballistic wears its CS2 inspirations on its sleeve, offering an accessible take on competitive FPS. There’s a buying phase before each round, and maps are full of strategic choke points to battle over.
The mode was pretty barebones at launch, but a couple of new maps were added just days ago at the time of writing. If Epic continues to support the mode, it will remain a viable alternative, and you can rock your own skins as a bonus.
6 Halo: The Master Chief Collection
The Console Classics
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
First-Person Shooter
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg:87/100 Critics Rec:88%
Released November 11, 2014 ESRB M for Mature: Violence, Blood and Gore, Language Developer(s) 343 Industries Publisher(s) Xbox Game Studios Engine Saber3D Engine for the single player portion of Halo: CE Anniversary and Halo 2 Anniversary; Unreal Engine 4 for UI and player customization; Halo Engine Multiplayer Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer Cross-Platform Play PC, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S Franchise Halo Split Screen Orientation Vertical Or Horizontal Platform(s) Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC How Long To Beat 60 Hours X|S Optimized Yes File Size Xbox Series 115 GB (November 2023) Metascore 85 Platforms That Support Crossplay PC, Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S OpenCritic Rating Mighty Powered by
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I don’t think it’s unfair to say that Halo isn’t the series it once was. At one point, PC had Counterstrike 1.6 and Source, while Xbox had Halo 2 and 3. Both cater to a competitive audience but on different platforms.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection is arguably the best way to enjoy the iconic sci-fi shooter series. Sure, the campaigns are legendary, but the old-school arena-based is as fun as ever. Counterstrike and Halo are fundamentally different. For example, you can respawn in the latter.
That said, Halo rewards teamwork, map knowledge, and a sharp aim like few other shooters can. The best players know to fight for map control, which is a familiar concept to any CS2 player.
5 Escape From Tarkov: Arena
Extraction Shooter Royalty
Escape from Tarkov: Arena
FPS
Released December 17, 2023 Developer(s) Battlestate Games Publisher(s) Battlestate Games Engine Unity Multiplayer Online Multiplayer Platform(s) PC Powered by
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No other game in the shooter genre is as intense for me as Escape From Tarkov. It’s an extraction shooter, so it’s entirely different from CS2, but its Arena mode is much r.
EFT: Arena takes the solid combat of the main game and strips away the survival mechanics, leaving an impressively brutal arena-style shooter. Like CS2, matches are played across multiple rounds on compact maps, and a snappy headshot is all it takes to clutch a win.
EFT: Arena is as unforgiving as the main game and a great segue into one of the most hardcore shooters on the market. It’s a little light on content, so I wouldn’t recommend purchasing Escape from Tarkov specifically for it, but it’s a great selling point if you’re already interested.
4 The Finals
Get Rich Quick
The Finals
FPS
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg:81/100 Critics Rec:85%
Released December 8, 2023 ESRB T For Teen Due To Violence Developer(s) Embark Studios Publisher(s) Embark Studios Engine Unreal Engine 5 Multiplayer Online Multiplayer Cross-Platform Play PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S Platform(s) PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Metascore 79 Platforms That Support Crossplay PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S PS Plus Availability N/A OpenCritic Rating Strong Powered by
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The Finals is a superb objective-based shooter that’s survived the test of time while so many other promising FPS games have failed.
Embark Studio’s The Finals has thrived thanks to its unique brand of multiplayer gameplay. Your team of three is part of a gameshow that must find a vault and secure it at a Cashout Station.
Naturally, the other teams won’t let you do this without a fight, and there are countless strategies as you fight to adapt on the fly. Precision aim is rewarded, and there’s plenty of teamwork, even if the game is less grounded than CS2.
Thanks to the expansive maps, The Finals is arguably the most ‘out there’ recommendation on the list. Still, it’s a hyper-competitive shooter that’s free-to-play and has retained players since its inception. Most games in the genre sadly can’t say the same.
3 Insurgency: Sandstorm
Boots On The Ground
Insurgency: Sandstorm
FPS Tactical
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg:79/100 Critics Rec:60%
Released December 12, 2018 ESRB m Developer(s) New World Interactive Publisher(s) Focus Home Interactive Engine Unreal Engine 4 Multiplayer Online Multiplayer Franchise Insurgency Platform(s) PC, PS4, Xbox One OpenCritic Rating Strong Powered by
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Insurgency: Sandstorm is a superb first-person shooter with small maps, contemporary weapons, and several locations that look like Dust 2.
While the game may look like CS2, it has enough selling points to stand on its own. For example, Insurgency has classes with unique equipment, and you can kit out weapons with attachments. There are also several decent PvE modes if you want a break from sweaty competitive matches.
Honestly, I’ve not played Insurgency: Sandstorm for a few years, but it seems to retain a small but dedicated player base, according to Steam Charts. If you’re reading this list years into the future, you may want to do some research before diving in.
2 Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
The Tactician's Choice
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg:76/100 Critics Rec:55%
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Counterstrike 2 is beloved for its gameplay loop, which is simple on the surface but deep as an ocean once you start to learn the maps and choke points.
Rainbow Six Siege offers a similar experience, and an intimate knowledge of the maps and sight-lines separates the scrubs from the pros. There’s a ‘setup’ phase before each round where the defending team can bolster their defenses, so no two matches are the same.
Naturally, teamwork is king, and the best players can knock your head off before you even know where they are. It’s a punishing game, particularly in ranked, but it remains one of the best uses of the Rainbow Six IP.
1 Valorant
You Saw This Coming
Valorant
Shooter
OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg:81/100 Critics Rec:86%
Released June 2, 2020 ESRB T for Teen: Blood, Language, Violence Developer(s) Riot Games Publisher(s) Riot Games Engine Unreal Engine 4 Multiplayer Online Multiplayer Cross-Platform Play PS5 & Xbox Series X/S Cross Save Yes Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S OpenCritic Rating Strong Powered by
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Valorant may not be the most inspired suggestion, but it makes sense as it’s a direct competitor to Counterstrike 2.
Valorant is similar to CS2 in many ways. It’s a hardcore first-person shooter that demands solid aim and map knowledge. There’s a buy phase for equipment before rounds, and if you die, you must wait for the round to finish before you can play again.
The most significant difference between the titles is Valorant’scharacter abilities. They don’t overtake the game the same way they do in a Hero Shooter like Marvel Rivals, but they influence the flow of matches just enough that you must respect them.
Valorant is also incredibly successful with a booming player base. If you want to try a CS2 alternative but want a game guaranteed to stay supported, Valorant is a safe choice.
