Counter-Strike 2 is one of the most popular first-person shoot ’em-ups for Windows. This is mainly because of its much-loved terrorist vs counter-terrorist bomb-defusing mayhem that has gripped CS players for decades. However, CS2 incorporates various other standard game modes players can enjoy. There are also a multitude of community-created workshop maps for Counter-Strike 2 with custom game modes that you can add to the game. These are 11 standard and custom CS2 game modes you can play in Counter-Strike 2.
Looking for more Counter-Strike 2 articles from KeenGamer?
- How to Capture First and Third-Person CS2 Screenshots in Counter-Strike 2
- How to Play Nighttime CS2 Maps in Counter-Strike 2
- The Highest-Damage CS2 Weapons in Counter-Strike 2
- How to Set Up CS2 Binds in Counter-Strike 2
- 6 Ways to Fix Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) Stuttering on a Windows PC
Competitive Bomb Defusal
Competitive Bomb Defusal (also known as Classic) is the most definitive of CS2 game modes that made Counter-Strike great. This is the five-against-five team mode in which terrorists aim to detonate bombs and counter-terrorists defuse them. The first team to reach 13 round wins is victorious, but matches can also end as 12-12 draws. This competitive mode mimics real tournament playing conditions with friendly fire enabled.
Competitive map selection
Premier
Premier is the paid (Prime) ranked CS2 game mode for Competitive Bomb Defusal. Players who play competitive Premier matches get ranked in an ELO points system. This game mode also differs from free-to-play competitive matches because it includes an Overtime feature. Overtime continues matches up to 16 rounds for a win. However, Premier matches can still be drawn when both teams win 15 rounds.
Competitive Hostage Rescue
Competitive Hostage Rescue shares the same friendly fire, round number, and economy rules as Bomb Defusal. However, it is a different CS2 game mode in which counter-terrorists can win rounds by rescuing hostages guarded by terrorists. Alternatively, a team can win rounds by killing all other players on the opposing side. Hostage Rescue also has Office and Italy maps exclusively for that CS2 game mode.
The hostage rescue mode
Wingman
Wingman is a 2 vs 2 variations of the 5 vs 5 Bomb Defusal CS2 game mode. It is based on the same rule set as Bomb Defusal. However, teams of two players battle it out to detonate and defuse bombs on smaller maps that include only one plant area.
Casual Bomb Defusal
Casual can be considered a practice Bomb Defusal mode that includes human players rather than bots. This is a 10 vs 10 CS2 game mode with relaxed rules. For example, friendly fire is disabled, and weapons are 50 percent cheaper than in Competitive Bomb Defusal. Teams only need to win eight rounds to emerge victorious in Casual. Nor is there any time penalty for exiting matches early in this game mode.
A Casual mode bomb match
Arms Race
Arms Race is the most unique of all the standard CS2 game modes. It is a game mode with infinite respawns that includes 12 players (six on each side) who fight it out through 16 rotating gun levels on the Baggage, Shoots, or Pool Day maps. Killing two players consecutively moves you up to a higher gun level. The first player to get through all 16 gun levels and pull off the Golden Knife kill wins an Arms Race match.
Although Arms Race matches are divided into terrorist and counter-terrorist sides, it is not a team-orientated game mode. There can only be one individual winner of an Arms Race match. The top three players share the podium at the end of each Arms Race match.
The Arms Race selection
Deathmatch
The Deathmatch CS2 game mode includes a larger number of players who fight it out to amass the most kill points. There are infinite respawns, and players earn 11 points for each kill, plus five additional points for frags inflicted with bonus weapons. Players can freely select weapons rather than purchase them. Each match lasts 10 minutes, and the player with the highest points total at the end wins the match.
Surf (Custom)
Surf is one of the most popular custom CS2 game modes, and you can only play on community-created surfing maps. These maps include numerous ramps for players to glide (surf) across. Thus, it is a very different game mode from the usual gun-slinging mayhem in Counter-Strike 2, for which you don’t need to fire a shot in anger.
You can play surfing maps on your own or join surf servers that enable you to surf with other players. There are thousands of surf maps available for download from the Counter-Strike workshop. To find them, input surf maps in the search box within the Workshop tab. Then, select to download surf maps from there by clicking their Subscribe buttons.
A surf map
KZ (Custom)
KZ (Kreedz Climbing) is a custom assault course CS2 game mode you can play on some workshop maps. In this game mode, players must move and jump across platforms to complete assault courses. Some KZ maps are more like climbing maps with vertical, upward designs and some spectacular views. These maps are primarily designed to help players practice movement mechanics in Counter-Strike 2.
Only Up is a popular KZ map for playing this custom game mode. That map features many floating platforms to jump onto and reach higher levels. Click Subscribe on the Only Up page to check it out.
An AZ climb map
AWP (Custom)
The Counter-Strike 2 workshop includes many AWP maps that are great for sniping practice. These are maps with a custom five vs. five sniping game mode in which players can only utilize the AWP or a pistol. This game mode is based on a simple fight-to-the-finish format with maps that don’t include plant sites for bombs. Teams can only win rounds by killing all players on the opposing sides.
Lego-themed maps are amongst the most popular for the AWP sniping game mode. To try out this game mode, check out the AWP_Lego_2: Halloween Edition map. That’s a Lego map with some nice Halloween effects on which you can play AWP matches against bots or humans.
The AWP sniping rifle
1 vs 1 (Custom)
Why not teach some of your CS2 buddies how to play Counter-Strike 2 in some one-on-one matches? The Counter-Strike 2 workshop contains small arena maps designed for the custom 1 vs 1 CS2 game mode. A 1 vs 1 match is a direct fight between two human players across numerous rounds. This CS2 game mode is based entirely on killing with no bombs included. Some maps designed for this custom mode include guns to pick up, but others have standard weapon purchasing.
Those CS2 game modes enable players to play Counter-Strike 2 in numerous ways. All the standard modes are based on gun-blasting action, but Deathmatch and Arms Race are very different from Bomb Defusal and Wingman. Custom CS2 game modes like KZ and Surf on community workshop maps are all the more exotic. Nothing beats the thrill of ranked Counter-Strike 2 matches in Premier mode, but alternative free game modes are worth exploring to enrich the CS2 experience.
