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Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

Valve · released Aug 20, 2012

ActionFree To PlayPC

For over two decades, Counter-Strike has offered an elite competitive experience, one shaped by millions of players from across the globe. And now the next chapter in the CS story is about to begin. This is Counter-Strike 2.

Steam page ↗OpenCritic ↗Metacritic 82 · users 5.5 ↗
76
VGC Score
■Stablehigh confidence▼ −8 since launch

scored 84 at launch, has slipped to 76

anchored at patch: “Counter-Strike 2 Update” (7d ago)

84%
At launch
86%
Steam all-time
80%
Press
58%
Player sentiment
78%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

What players say

Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 497 sampled Steam reviews (293 positive / 204 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.

What positive reviews talk about

  • Multiplayer & servers14% mention it

What negative reviews complain about

  • Multiplayer & servers62% mention it
  • Bugs & crashes14% mention it

Satisfaction by hours played

Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.

Under 5h

81%

26 reviews

5-15h

75%

40 reviews

15-40h

77%

48 reviews

40-100h

68%

66 reviews

100h+

50%

317 reviews

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)–803
All-time Steam reviews86%802992
Metacritic user ratings–5734
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)78%723000
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 24, 2026) · 300 reviews sampled · 81506 total reviews in window · weighted 226.8 up / 61.9 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (20)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 70
    eXputereXputer
    trust 75Oct 20, 2023

    “Counter-Strike 2 steps boldly onto the competitive scene, but undercooked features and performance issues hold it back from true greatness.”

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    GamesCreedGamesCreed
    trust 66Oct 16, 2023

    “Counter-Strike 2 is the same game as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, but with a new skin and some performance updates. There’s not much new about the game, with it basically getting an Overwatch spa day treatment. Hopefully, with the regular updates and patches, new content and gameplay will be added, allowing the game to reach new heights and opportunities and maybe some backstory instead of the basics of military first-person shooters. Run and gun is fun, but that’s all it is.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    EurogamerEurogamer
    trust 66Feb 19, 2024

    “For all its foibles though, I have confidence that Valve is at least pushing the game in the right direction. After all, both CS: Source and CS:GO evolved considerably after their initial launch and became classics in their own right, and all the building blocks are here for Counter-Strike 2 to follow the same trajectory - and from a much better starting position. The bottom line? This is already an incredible game that's well worth playing - after all, it is Counter-Strike, too. ”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    Oyungezer
    trust 62Oct 22, 2023

    “CS2 is like a giant patch to CS:GO. Although it's not better than CS:GO at the moment, it has a potential to surpass all of the achievements of its predecessor in the future.”

    read full review ↗
  • 65
    NoobFeedNoobFeed
    trust 62Oct 12, 2023

    “Counter-Strike 2 might have gotten the Overwatch treatment with a rebrand, but there are a few differences to be spotted. With a bigger selection of maps and the extra game modes, things might actually start looking up for this release. However, the lack of moderation and optimization might also be what puts the final nails in this game’s coffin.”

    read full review ↗
  • 70
    Oyungezer OnlineOyungezer Online
    trust 61Oct 22, 2023

    “CS2 is like a giant patch to CS:GO. Although it's not better than CS:GO at the moment, it has a potential to surpass all of the achievements of its predecessor in the future.”

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    GameStar
    trust 59Oct 17, 2023

    “Counter-Strike's great and ageless gameplay gets a much-needed tech update, but still lags CS:GO in precision and scope.”

    read full review ↗
  • 88
    KeenGamerKeenGamer
    trust 53Oct 2, 2023

    “Counter-Strike 2 brings many new things to the franchise that both veterans and newcomers alike can enjoy, especially the updated graphics on the Maps and guns. Moreover, numerous systems are straight-up an upgrade from CS: GO, such as the Loadout and Smoke Grenade, which makes Counter-Strike 2 more enjoyable and fair. However, many things are still not in the game, which might deter many players from trying the game just yet, though the ones that are now available are more than enough to enjoy a good Counter-Strike match.”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    ShacknewsShacknews
    trust 53Dec 19, 2023

    “CS2 also proves that despite their reluctance to do so, Valve still has all the chops whenever they choose to put their game developer hat on. Nearly all of the changes in Counter-Strike 2 meaningfully enhance the experience without compromising what made the game special in the first place. With the foundation set for another multi-year run, I’m excited to see how Valve and the community evolve Counter-Strike 2.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    Hardcore GamerHardcore Gamer
    trust 53Oct 3, 2023

    “Counter-Strike 2 is a mostly positive update to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. The enhanced visuals that range from improved textures to lighting and particle effects help bring the graphics up to date while keeping the required specs low enough where the experience isn’t limited to those with super expensive gaming rigs. The removal of Demolition and Arms Race is choice that likely won’t sit well with most fans, but there’s hope these modes will return someday. Even with all the changes that were implemented, Counter-Strike 2 plays like an old friend who is returning after a prolonged absence. It has a new look and made a few changes, but essentially it’s still Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and those who enjoy team-based shooters will still enjoy spending countless hours with the upgraded version.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    TechRadar GamingTechRadar Gaming
    trust 52Oct 2, 2023

    “Counter-Strike 2’s wall of noise and violence will feel impenetrable to newcomers but a welcome upgrade for long-term Counter-Strike fans. It’s the best competitive shooter on the market, but it’s so difficult for new players to get on board that it won’t be for everyone.”

    read full review ↗
  • 75
    Jeuxvideo.com
    trust 51Sep 29, 2023

    “Counter Strike 2 did not pass the weapon to the left. This is evidenced by the many players still on the title but also the modifications made more in form than in substance. Thanks to the new Source 2 engine, maps that players have known for more than 20 years are getting a makeover without changing one bit the range of possible tactics or the gameplay sensations. Basically, this update called Counter Strike 2 seems to be more about getting up to speed with the competition than attracting a new audience. What's the point of revolutionizing a team that's already winning?”

    read full review ↗

…and 8 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Aug 24, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  2. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Aug 19, 2026
  3. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Aug 12, 2026
  4. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Aug 3, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  5. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Jul 29, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  6. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Jul 20, 2026
  7. Call II Arms-ory
    Jul 16, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  8. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Jul 15, 2026
  9. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Jul 9, 2026
  10. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Jul 8, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  11. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Jul 1, 2026
  12. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Jun 10, 2026
  13. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    May 29, 2026
  14. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    May 22, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  15. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    May 20, 2026
  16. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    May 18, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  17. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    May 14, 2026
  18. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    May 7, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  19. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Apr 30, 2026
  20. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Apr 29, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  21. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Apr 28, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  22. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Apr 24, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  23. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Apr 22, 2026
  24. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Apr 21, 2026
  25. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Apr 21, 2026
  26. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Apr 20, 2026
  27. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Apr 17, 2026
  28. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Apr 14, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  29. Animgraph 2 Beta Update
    Apr 9, 2026
  30. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Apr 1, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  31. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Mar 18, 2026
  32. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Mar 16, 2026
  33. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Mar 11, 2026
  34. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Mar 4, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  35. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Feb 25, 2026
  36. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Feb 23, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  37. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Feb 9, 2026
  38. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Feb 4, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  39. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Jan 30, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  40. Counter-Strike 2 Update
    Jan 27, 2026significant · resets scoring window

…and 38 earlier patch announcements.