21 Games To Play If You Love Counter-Strike - The first knowledge sharing application in Vietnam

Counter-Strike is considered the definitive FPS (first-person shooter) series because of its tactical gameplay. Putting Counter-Strike’s nostalgic value aside, the game is genuinely fun, and little has changed since its early days. It’s a game that proves graphics aren’t everything, and that timeless gameplay trumps all. Its appeal boils down to its weapon variety, maps, and friendly community.

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After hundreds of hours and then some, into this game, more than one player has reported carpal tunnel syndrome. It might take the jaws of life to pry fans from this game, but seriously, there are legitimate alternative games to play designed for those who love Counter-Strike. Nobody’s telling anyone to quit, but a break to try something new is a wise idea.

Updated January 20, 2023 by Ritwik Mitra: Counter-Strike is one of the best video games of all time, with the title initially appearing as a Half-Life mod before taking an identity of its own after Valve took over the reins.

Even with all the modern competitive shooters that are coming out right now, there’s still something simple about the squad-based gameplay present in this legendary title. Fans of Counter-Strike will be delighted to know that the popularity of this series has spawned other such games in the same vein that are a blast to play through!

Left 4 Dead 2

Platforms:
Xbox 360 and PC

Left 4 Dead 2 is one of the most popular FPS titles of all time, made by none other than Valve themselves. So, it’s easy to see why this is such an easy recommendation for fans of nerve-wracking shooters, with the simple act of surviving becoming extremely challenging in this game.

This game becomes even tougher when players have to deal with special zombies controlled by other players. It becomes a tight and restrictive experience, where the survivors can be isolated and chomped to bits if they aren’t careful enough.

Splitgate

Platforms:
PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

Splitgate is a unique FPS game that more people need to check out. Not only is it a decent arena shooter, but it also adds the mechanic of portals that were popularized by one of Valve’s most popular franchises.

Forming portals and using them for clever trick shots or quick navigation turned the game into a blast. With more and more content coming for the game, it’s easy to see why so many people love Splitgate and its unique take on a competitive multiplayer FPS.

Rust

Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC

Rust is one of the most difficult games that players can check out that has multiplayer PvP combat. This survival game is brutal and genuinely gives players nothing to start out with, forcing them to scrounge up the most basic items around to live in this harsh world.

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Over time, Rust has just grown in popularity and is a blast to play through, with its engrossing gameplay loop genuinely making players feel like they’re struggling to survive every second. Once players come to grips with the core facets of the gameplay, they’ll find Rush to be an addicting experience!

Quake Champions

Platforms:
PC

Most people consider arena shooters to be a thing of the past, with more realistic variants being prevalent in the modern landscape of gaming. As a result, most people might find it easy to write Quake Champions off as nothing more than a way to cash in on the nostalgia around this genre, which was easily one of the most popular video game genres at one point.

However, Quake Champions is actually a pretty fun title that can easily grow on players who decide to give this game a shot. The Quakeseries is pretty legendary as is, and this modern title in the franchise is a blast to play through with its flashy combat and interesting arenas.

DayZ

Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC

Another survival game makes its way on this list in the form of DayZ. This game takes place during a zombie outbreak where players must avoid the infected while salvaging anything useful from their surroundings to survive in this harsh landscape.

While players can certainly band together to take out the infected, there are others who find it easier to shoot other players down so that they can loot their equipment. DayZ is a pretty savage game that doesn’t take any prisoners, and players need to be focused every step of the way if they don’t want any threat — infected or human — to catch them unawares.

PUBG: Battlegrounds

Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia, PC, and Mobile

Battle royales have become one of the most popular multiplayer modes around, with players actively queuing up for the opportunity to win these games. PUBG: Battlegrounds is considered to be one of the two games — along with Fortnite — that has been dubbed responsible for sparking this craze.

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PUBG is still one of the most popular games around that fans absolutely adore. The battle royale genre might have been perfected in other games, but there’s still some comfort to be enjoyed in a game of PUBG.

Battlefield 5

Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC

There was a time when fans of the Battlefield series considered Battlefield 5 to be an inferior product. It took many years of improvements for fans to warm up to this title once again.

The disastrous release of Battlefield 2042 has shown that fans really had a gem lying in Battlefield 5 all along. While this might be indicative of DICE’s shoddy work on 2042, there’s still no denying the fact that players who want to enjoy an in-depth squad shooter will have a ton of fun with Battlefield 5.

Halo Infinite

Platforms:
Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC

There was a time when Halo Infinite was already written off after its reveal. It took a long while for 343 Industries to get the trust of fans back and release a brilliant Halo title that is easily the biggest step for the series.

Halo Infinite features open-world gameplay for the first time in a Halo game and is an absolute blast to play through. The fact that it serves as somewhat of a soft reboot for the Halo series makes it a great jumping-into point for new fans of the series too.

Titanfall 2

Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC

Respawn Entertainment is a respected name in the gaming industry, featuring several excellent games under its belt. One such title that is in the good books of several FPS gamers is Titanfall 2.

Players who want games like Counter-Strike but with excellent movement mechanics as well should definitely opt for this title. It helps that the single-player campaign — something that was missing in the first game — is also an excellent bonus in its own right.

Apex Legends

Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mobile, and PC

Out of all the games released by Respawn Entertainment, one has to admit that Apex Legends is easily their most well-known and successful title right now. The free-to-play battle royale title is making waves to this day as one of the best games around.

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Each and every match of Apex Legends is full to the brim with high-octane action and fluid movement, making for one of the most polished battle royale titles around. Players who want an action-packed game like CS:GO needn’t look any further than this astounding title.

Insurgency: Sandstorm

Platforms:
PC

Counter-Strike might be a tactical title that punishes gamers for failing to exhibit proper teamwork. However, its difficulty still doesn’t hold a candle to Insurgency: Sandstorm.

The game features a ton of tactical gameplay and is extremely realistic and brutal in this regard. There’s no laid-back experience to be enjoyed with Insurgency: Sandstorm, which is why most people love it in the first place!

Team Fortress 2

Platforms:
PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC

Team Fortress is a series that any fan of multiplayer first-person shooters would be familiar with. This series is full to the brim with Valve’s unique charm and is an easy recommendation for any fan seeking out games like CS:GO.

Team Fortress 2 might not have the tactical nuance present in the Counter-Strike series, but its imaginative and fun gameplay more than makes up for it. Of course, players need to use their brains as much as their skills in order to win most matches.

Overwatch

Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC

This team-based shooter may not have the realism of Counter-Strike, but it makes up for it in style. Contrasting with games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, where you play an unnamed player, Overwatch lets you choose between characters. Each character has different attributes and weapons that give the game replayability.

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The obvious comparison is that both games are team-based. Overwatch is also an acclaimed shooter with a dedicated fan base, in part due to Tracer’s many inspirational quotes.

Arma 3

Platforms:
PC

Anyone who feels that Counter-Strike is a bit too enclosed should really give Arma 3 a shot. Released in 2015, the game has not stopped receiving purchases, downloads, and updates ever since. There is a reason this community feels so fiercely loyal.

Despite the sandbox feel, teams require perfect timing and precision to be successful. And the open world ensures that this will never be one of the many FPS games that are way too short on content.

Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC

Players that love espionage, hostage situations, and first-person intensity will be right at home with Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. Most of the current community needs to take tips from others to succeed in the game.

Counter-Strike players, however, will be the ones giving the tips because the game will be so familiar. These gamers know when to attack when to retreat, and how to avoid bad situations, all of which round out a skillset that fits perfectly into this particular installment.

Gears 5

Platforms:
Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, and PC

As games with multiplayer modes fought in squads, Gears 5 and Counter-Strike bear similarities. Gears 5 was a significant improvement over its predecessor. The game looks vibrant in 4K HDR, and the gameplay is a masterclass. The companion robot, Jack, was a game-changer.

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It seems like about time that the Gears of War series received a defuse or search-and-destroy mode. Many other games are jumping on the Counter-Strike bandwagon, but a vital series like Gears of War is notably absent. Still, the campaign has plenty of this style of play and those who own an Xbox Series X will be surprised at how much the game has been upgraded.

Escape From Tarkov

Platforms:
PC

Technically, this game has yet to be released but pre-ordering the game guarantees access to the beta, which is just as good as the finished product of most FPS games. Don’t believe it? It’s been refined since people have been able to play it since 2017.

Escape from Tarkov has all of the tactics and shooting that Counter-Strike players love and offers a huge addition; as an MMO-inspired game that features quick matches, progress is saved in between games, allowing for a much-needed progression system absent in most FPS games. Just be sure to brush up on some pro tips for the game first.

Squad

Platforms:
PC

Released in September 2020 after six years of development, Squad has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and fans alike. As a tactical shooter that boats 100 players, 20 maps, and 7 factions, the action is intense and immersive.

What Counter-Strike players will love best about it is the fan base that insists on speaking in the form of quick, military-like commands, turning the game into as much a role-playing experience as it is a tactical shooter. This game is truly the apex of the evolution in shooters since Halo: Combat Evolved first hit stores.

Valorant

Platforms:
PC

Players from Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Call of Duty each saw the top ten players leave their respective games for Valorant after it was released. Gamers wondered why they would forfeit all of this prize money to play a fledgling title from Riot Games (of League of Legends fame).

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The game is so much like Counter-Strike that it’s eerie. The gunplay is fast and deadly and the graphics are minimalist and simple. But players will notice the addition of special characters with special abilities in addition to the typical weapon selection, which makes it a compelling game for those who are on the fence. Climbing the ladder will take some smart tips, but the climb is rewarding.

Paladins: Champions Of The Realm

Platforms:
PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC

It’s been proven time and time again that the free-to-play formula works. Through microtransactions and premium content, developers can earn a return on their investment. Free-to-play can make cross-platform play feasible because it’s widely available to more people.

Don’t forget that Paladins is a free-to-play game, so there is little incentive not to give it a try. It’s like Overwatch except many prefer it over its video game doppelganger.