7 best games like CS2

Counter-Strike 2 is an evolution of Valve’s tried-and-tested formula that has endured for over two decades. Released in 2023 as an upgrade to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, it stands on the shoulders of the biggest FPS game in the world. Known for its thriving Esports scene and people spending thousands of dollars on skins and boxes, it’s safe to say that CS2 and its predecessors are a gaming phenomenon. If, for any reason, you want to take a break from CS2’s usual formula, there are several other games that you can try out, and we have a few suggestions of our own.

Valorant

• Release Date: June 2, 2020
  • – 02 June 2020 (PC)
• Platform(s): PC
• Genre(s): Action, Shooter, Strategy

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Valorant is Riot Games’ competitive team shooter that quickly rose to prominence after its release in 2020. It combines Agents with unique abilities with classic FPS gameplay, creating a fun mix of tactical and MOBA-like action. It’s no secret that Valorant owes a lot of its gunplay pedigree to Counter-Strike. You only need to take a look at Valorant’s guns to see obvious nods to CS. One of the clearest examples is the Operator, whose abbreviated name OP sounds eerily similar to CS’s AWP. Many CS:GO and CS2 pros have tried their hand at Valorant too, and it’s easy to see why. The game is free to play too, so there’s no risk in giving it a try.

Rainbow Six Siege

• Release Date: 01 December 2015
  • – 01 December 2015 (Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4)
• Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
• Genre(s): Action, First Person, Shooter

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Coming from the mind of Tom Clancy and released by Ubisoft in 2015, Rainbow Six Siege is a methodical tactical shooter. Like in CS2, the teams are comprised of five players each, called Operators. They each have a role to play and you can outfit your operator with various gadgets, most of which will look familiar to CS fans. Even beyond that, in many ways, the gameplay and premise will be recognizable to anyone who plays CS. The main difference lies in R6S’s destructible environments, something that Counter-Strike lacks, which provides opportunities for an even more tactical approach to missions. However, to play Rainbow Six Siege you’ll first have to buy it, usually costing around $20 in Ubisoft’s store.

Escape from Tarkov

• Release Date: July 28, 2017
• Platform(s): PC
• Genre(s): Shooter

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Escape from Tarkov represents a departure from the standard tactical shooter genre that CS2 players will be used to. The game is not yet fully released, with the extended Beta representing the current playable version. Instead of the classic matchmaking FPS, Tarkov combines shooter elements with MMO-like gameplay. There is exploration, NPC merchants, collecting loot, and more. The weapons system is intricate and you can lose everything you picked up during a raid. The gunplay and gadgets aspect will be the most familiar part to CS2 players, allowing for a good transfer of skills from one game to the other. However, there’s a catch. While not yet officially released, Tarkov can’t be found on any launchers. Instead, you have to buy it directly from their site – and it’s pretty pricey. 

Counter-Strike: Source

• Release Date: November 1, 2004
  • – 01 January 2004 (PC)
• Platform(s): Linux, macOS, PC
• Genre(s): Action, First Person, Shooter

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If you want to see where the game came from, then look no further than Counter-Strike Source. It is an upscaled and remastered version of the original Counter-Strike released by Valve, tracing its roots all the way back to 2004. Nearly everything in CS Source will look and feel familiar to CS2 players – for example, some of the maps are nearly identical to their modern counterparts. That extends to many of the weapon options too. What’s best is that even after all these years, CS Source still has a community that is alive and well, so it won’t be hard to find a match. You can easily get Counter-Strike Source on Steam for around $10.

XDefiant

• Release Date: May 21 2024
• Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
• Genre(s): First-Person Shooter, Multiplayer, Shooter

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XDefiant is one of the most recent FPS team shooters on the market. Coming from Ubisoft, XDefiant is fast-paced with teams consisting of five players each, just like in CS2. The teams are comprised of characters from various Ubisoft titles split into Factions, each with a different set of abilities. They all share the same weapon pool, with many entries being direct counterparts to weapons from Counter-Strike. However, each weapon can be levelled up to unlock attachments and change your builds. Lastly, XDefiant comes with a range of game modes and several maps to accommodate them, making every match different. The game is free to play, like CS2, and you can get it through the Ubisoft Connect launcher. 

Ready or Not

• Release Date:
• Platform(s): Unknown
• Genre(s): Unknown

Sources coming soon

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The premise of Ready or Not will sound very familiar to CS2 fans. A SWAT unit is tasked with facing a hostile situation and defusing it. However, in this game, the enemy team is not comprised of other players. Instead, you can play solo or in a co-op team against AI opponents. They have set up devious traps, which means that you and your team will need to take a patient, tactical approach to each mission. It’s not for players who like to “go in guns blazing”. There is a variety of weapons and gadgets that your SWAT team can take for each mission, leading to fun combos when planning loadouts and approach to the task. Ready or Not is available on Steam as a full-priced game for around $50.

Squad

• Release Date:
• Platform(s): Unknown
• Genre(s): Unknown

Sources coming soon

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If you ever felt that the scope of CS2 is simply not enough, then you should check out Squad. Developed and published by Offworld in 2020, Squad is a tactical FPS on a grand scale. The matches can accommodate up to 100 players with a combined arms approach to combat. It can be classed as a tactical military simulation FPS game, with vehicles involved and a staggering number of weapons. Teams are comprised of nine-man squads from across 13 different factions that represent real-world army units. But when we get down to the nitty-gritty of it, the gameplay will make CS2 veterans feel right at home. Squad is available through Steam for around $50.