Counter Strike is one of the first games which comes to mind when we talk about PC gaming. The Counter-Strike franchise is one of the most loved first-person shooting games, which engaged both casual players and professional gamers alike for over two decades. The series started with a simple mod for Half-Life and then evolved into a global phenomenon, setting the benchmark for competitive gaming. The game introduced fans to strategy, teamwork, and fast-paced action. Each game of Counter-Strike brought new innovations while retaining the core gameplay that fans love. In this article, we’ll explore all the games in the Counter-Strike series.
All Counter Strike Games
From the original release to the latest installment, we have listed all the games of Counter Strike series. However, the spinoffs have not been included here in this list.
1. Counter-Strike Half-Life (1999)
The origin of Counter Strike series was crafted by Minh Le and Jess Cliffe with the introduction of Half-Life: Counter-Strike. By taking clues and ideas from different FPS games, the duo delivered a masterpiece. The skillful shooting mechanics and collaborative tactics was praised by players.
2. Counter Strike 1.6 (1999)
Basically, the first game of the Counter-Strike series is CS1.6. The game was just a modification for the original Half-Life. CS 1.6 set the standards high for multiplayer first-person shooter games. In this version, team deathmatch and bomb defusal, were introduced, along with iconic weapons and grenades.
3. Counter Strike: Condition Zero (2004)
One of the most played FPS games of CS series. The game was introduced as an updated versions of the previous ones but keeping the classic CS content. The game was hit for those PC gamers who used to play offline as it supported LAN gaming.
4. Counter Strike Source (2004)
Counter-Strike Source was a complete remake of the original game using Valve’s Source engine. Just like Condition Zero, Source also featured updated versions of the classic CS content. However, CS Source was quite improved as superior lighting effects, dynamic shadows, and ragdoll physics, elevating immersion levels were introduced.
5. Counter Strike: Global Offensive (2012)
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) was launched in 2012 and went on to become a great game in the CS series. It features new ranks, cases, maps, characters, and weapons. Accessories like smoke grenades and other tactical equipment were introduced to make it more interesting. The game was designed with mastered renditions of classic maps, high definition textures, and robust anti-cheat measures in order to maintain integrity during ranked competitions.
6. Counter Strike 2 (2023)
It was never expected by fans as Valve surprised everyone with the sudden release of sequel game Counter Strike 2. The game CS2 begins the next era of the series. The game features new things like open-world exploration and a loadout system. It was expected that it will become the most-played game in the world upon its release.
