Contact us

Counter-Strike

Counter-Strike

Counter Strike is a tactical first-person shooter (FPS) where two teams fight off against each other to either plant or defuse the bomb, whilst managing their economy.

Available on:

Linux

PC

A tactical FPS, the game pits two teams (Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists) against each other in different 5v5 objective-based game modes. The competitive game mode that esports tournaments revolve around involves the Terrorists planting a bomb while Counter-Terrorists attempt to stop them.

Counter-Strike is one of the most popular esports games of all time, with many storied tournaments, teams and personalities.

The latest game in the series is Counter-Strike 2 for PC. There was previously a game released for PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles too: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

Matches are won by the team that reaches 13 round wins first, or if it is tied 12-12, it goes to overtime.

Depending on the tournament format, you may have matches that are best-of-one, best-of-three or best-of-five.

 

 

Specifications

Typical game length

30-60

mins

Players

5v5

This is the typical setup but there are other modes that can be played

Genre

FPS

Tactical Shooter

Price

Free-to-play

Contains in-game microtransactions

Publisher

Valve

Developer

Valve Corporation

Noteable Tournaments

Majors

ESL Pro League

Intel Extreme Masters

Blast Rivals/Open/Bounty

PGL Masters

Website

Visit now

Launched

1999

Other PEGI info

18+ suggested age rating

CS2 does not technically have a PEGI age rating because it is not a boxed game. However, previous release CSGO received a PEGI 18 rating because it had a boxed release on consoles.

RELATED GAMES

Overwatch 2 game thumbnail

Blizzard Entertainment

Overwatch 2

Games

FPS

PEGI 23
Rainbow Six game thumbnail
logo

Ubisoft Montreal

Rainbow Six

Games

FPS

Tactial Shooter

PEGI 18
Apex Legends game thumbnail
logo

Respawn Entertainment

Apex Legends

Games

Battle Royale

FPS

Hero Shooter

PEGI 16
Call of Duty game thumbnail
logo

Infinity Ward

Call of Duty

Games

FPS

PEGI 18
Halo Infiinte game thumbnail

343 Industries

Halo Infiinte

Games

FPS

PEGI 16

Counter-Strike RELATED MEDIA

Great Britain announces coaches for Esports Nations Cup 2026: Mac, Neilzinho and more confirmed article thumbnail
British Esports profile image

British Esports

Great Britain announces coaches for Esports Nations Cup 2026: Mac, Neilzinho and more confirmed

The esports collective representing Great Britain at the inaugural Esports Nations Cup (ENC) has announced its…

News

5 min read

23 Apr 2026
Great Britain at the Esports Nations Cup 2026: British Esports, Esports Wales, Fnatic, Scottish Esports, The FA via England Gaming and UKETC unite to represent GB article thumbnail
British Esports profile image

British Esports

Great Britain at the Esports Nations Cup 2026: British Esports, Esports Wales, Fnatic, Scottish Esports, The FA via England Gaming and UKETC unite to represent GB

Esports Foundation appoints the UK-based collective as National Team Partner for Great Britain ahead of nation-based…

News

Press Releases

13 min read

25 Mar 2026
Turning a team of rookie players into Esports World Cup champions: Interview with Team Heretics VALORANT coach Neilzinho article thumbnail
British Esports profile image

British Esports

Turning a team of rookie players into Esports World Cup champions: Interview with Team Heretics VALORANT coach Neilzinho

Team Heretics are one of the world’s best VALORANT teams, having won the 2025 Esports World…

News

Interviews

50 min read

16 Mar 2026
British Esports Cup Featuring Rocket League: Winners To Feature at RLCS 2025 Major Birmingham article thumbnail
Adam McGowan profile image

Adam McGowan

British Esports Cup Featuring Rocket League: Winners To Feature at RLCS 2025 Major Birmingham

UK Rocket League players of all levels, aged 13+, invited to compete in grassroots esports tournament,…

News

Press Releases

12 min read

23 Jan 2025
British Esports and BLAST Team Up to Bolster UK’s Esports Industry During Landmark Year for the Industry article thumbnail
Mimi Craig profile image

Mimi Craig

British Esports and BLAST Team Up to Bolster UK’s Esports Industry During Landmark Year for the Industry

Sunderland City Hall will host the second annual Be The Change: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Summit,…

News

Press Releases

6 min read

13 Jun 2024
Women in Esports Committee Announces New Members article thumbnail
Mimi Craig profile image

Mimi Craig

Women in Esports Committee Announces New Members

The Women in Esports Committee, welcomes new members with diverse expertise, aiming to foster inclusivity, empowering…

News

Press Releases

11 min read

14 May 2024
UK esports achievements of 2022 article thumbnail
Bryony-Hope profile image

Bryony-Hope

UK esports achievements of 2022

Esports in the UK continues to progress, and last year saw the return of some big…

News

About Esports

11 min read

25 Jan 2023
Game jargon – CS:GO article thumbnail
Bryony-Hope profile image

Bryony-Hope

Game jargon – CS:GO

Want to play more Counter Strike, but are confused by some of the in-game terminology? We…

News

About Esports

10 min read

19 Oct 2022
Getting a career in esports article thumbnail
Bryony-Hope profile image

Bryony-Hope

Getting a career in esports

As the esports industry has grown, so has the variety of career options available. If you’re…

News

Careers

9 min read

17 Aug 2022
A brief history of esports article thumbnail
Bryony-Hope profile image

Bryony-Hope

A brief history of esports

Over the years, the esports industry has boomed into what we know it as today. But,…

News

About Esports

9 min read

21 Oct 2021
Women in Esports announces new Chair, 2021 tournament schedule, and voluntary positions article thumbnail
Adam McGowan profile image

Adam McGowan

Women in Esports announces new Chair, 2021 tournament schedule, and voluntary positions

Women in Esports is an initiative set up to promote inclusivity and diversity within the esports…

News

4 min read

15 Apr 2021
Education and esports: Which colleges and universities are offering courses? article thumbnail
Dominic Sacco profile image

Dominic Sacco

Education and esports: Which colleges and universities are offering courses?

Dominic Sacco and Ryan McVean take a look at some of the British academic establishments exploring…

News

10 min read

13 Oct 2020
Interview: Frankie Ward on life as an esports host, supporting women in esports and her killer ‘charm and disarm’ interview technique article thumbnail
Dominic Sacco profile image

Dominic Sacco

Interview: Frankie Ward on life as an esports host, supporting women in esports and her killer ‘charm and disarm’ interview technique

We had a chance to sit down with esteemed British esports host and streamer Frankie Ward…

News

Advice

9 min read

28 Jan 2020
Women in Esports profile on Natacha Jones from the NUEL: “A common mistake people make when entering esports is assuming they don’t need to learn from others” article thumbnail
Adam McGowan profile image

Adam McGowan

Women in Esports profile on Natacha Jones from the NUEL: “A common mistake people make when entering esports is assuming they don’t need to learn from others”

We interview Natacha Jones, Creative Director of the NUEL (National University Esports League) as part of…

News

Interviews

9 min read

11 Nov 2019
Esports parents guide: Everything a parent or guardian needs to know about competitive gaming article thumbnail
Dominic Sacco profile image

Dominic Sacco

Esports parents guide: Everything a parent or guardian needs to know about competitive gaming

With 81% of children playing video games online nowadays, games are arguably a larger part of…

News

Student Champs

27 min read

22 Oct 2019
Interview: AGSB Esports on reaching two British Esports Championships semi-finals, having a student in the UKLC and why they owe thanks to Team Vitality manager Gregan article thumbnail
Dominic Sacco profile image

Dominic Sacco

Interview: AGSB Esports on reaching two British Esports Championships semi-finals, having a student in the UKLC and why they owe thanks to Team Vitality manager Gregan

Altrincham Grammar School for Boys have done very well in Season 2 of the British Esports…

News

Interviews

5 min read

12 Mar 2019

Sorry, no search results were found.

Articles

Pages

Games

Courses

Team

Careers

FAQs

British Esports Federation