Counter Strike: Global Offensive is a first-person shooter with multiple game modes. You can play with friends or get matched up in random games where you’ll rotate being on the Terrorist and Counter Terrorist team. This game takes patience and skills, and you must learn to master your weapons and eliminate your opponents.

Counter Strike: Global Offensive is only available through the Steam gaming platform. If you don’t have it, you can download it for free.

How to Download and Install Counter Strike: Global Offensive for Free

  1. Click on the Download button on the sidebar, and a new tab will open and take you to the Counter Strike: GO page on Steam.
  2. Click on the Play Game button.
    Play Counter Strike
  3. A pop-up window will open, saying that first, you have to download Steam. If it’s already installed, select “Yes, Steam is Installed.” and skip to step 6. Otherwise, select “No, I need Steam,” and the gaming platform will download to your computer.
    Got Steam
  4. After Steam downloads to your computer, double click on the file and follow the setup wizard instructions.
  5. Create a user name and account for Steam.
  6. After you verify your account, you can either go back to the Counter Strike download page (if you already closed the tab, just click the Download button again), and this time select “Yes, Steam is installed.” A popup window will open, and you have to give permission to open Steam, and it will automatically start to download the game. The other choice is to manually search for Counter Strike: Global Offensive on Steam and download it.

How to Uninstall Counter Strike: Global Offensive

If Counter Strike: Global Offensive isn’t right for you, check out some other free first-person shooter alternatives below. You can easily remove the game from your computer without deleting Steam by following these simple steps.

  1. Type Add or Remove Programs in the Windows search bar.
    Add or Remove Program
  2. Scroll through the installed programs until you find Counter Strike: Global Offensive and click Uninstall.
    Uninstall Counter Strike
  3. Steam will open and confirm that you want to delete it.

If you want to delete Steam as well, you can find it listed with all the installed programs and click the uninstall button, and it will be completely removed from your computer as well.

Counter Strike: Global Offensive Overview

Part of one of the best and most popular first-person shooter game franchises, Counter Strike: Global Offensive is an action-packed, multiplayer game that is only available through Steam. The game’s premise is as follows; there are two teams; Terrorists and Counter Terrorists. The Terrorists are trying to plant a bomb and blow up the map, and the Counter Terrorist team has to stop them. The game consists of 30 two-minute rounds, and players rotate being on each team. It takes a lot of practice to develop the skills to master the weapons and develop a tactical strategy to position your character and get the timing down right.

Counter Strike: Global Offensive game modes

There are several different game modes and maps that you can choose when playing Counter Strike: Global Offensive:

  • Casual: This is the most common game mode. There is no set number of players on each team, and it can be played using the variable number of players pitting Terrorists vs. Counter Terrorists with the Defusal or Hostage maps. The Defusal maps are where most games take place because it has a strong focus on competitive play. The Terrorist team has one player holding a bomb and can go to one of two points to drop the bomb and defend the area until it goes off. Meanwhile, the Counter Terrorist team starts in a different part of the map and kills the terrorist, and protects both bomb sites. The advantage is usually with the Terrorists since they dictate the drop’s location, and the Counter Terrorist team has to play defense and react to whatever the Terrorists are doing. Each team gets 15 chances at being the Terrorist and Counter Terrorist, and the first to win 16 rounds is the winner.
    Defusal map cs:go
    An example of the Defusal map

    In the Hostage game, the Counter Terrorist team has to rescue at least one of the hostages and kill all the Terrorists, while the Terrorists have to stop the hostage rescue and eliminate the Counter Terrorists.

  • Competitive: The competitive mode is similar to Casual, but instead of an unlimited number of players, each team has five players. The game is designed to try and match players of similar skill levels for an even playing field.
  • Deathmatch: The game is played on the same maps as the other modes, but there are no bombs to defuse or hostages to rescue. Just an old fashioned shootout, where the goal is to kill as many opposing players as possible. This is a great mode for improving your shooting skills or learning new weapons. After you get killed, you’ll respawn at random locations around the map.
  • Danger Zone: The Danger Zone presents an engaging Battle Royale experience. As a participant, you find yourself placed within a covert facility alongside 18 additional competitors. Your primary objective is to outlast your opponents through strategic eliminations. Throughout the game, you’ll come across various armaments and curative items to aid your survival efforts. Your ultimate aim is to persevere while navigating this challenging terrain.
  • Wingman: It’s the same as the Competitive mode, but instead of a 5 on 5 games, each team only has two players and a single bomb site.
  • War Games: The War Games usually offer a twist on the regular gameplay, and new games and modes are frequently introduced. One popular War Game is the Flying Scoutsman, where players only have a knife and an SSG 08 rifle. There is reduced gravity, allowing players to stay in the air while jumping and flying/gliding as they attack the opposing team. The Arms Race & Demolition war game gives each payer a basic pistol, but, with each kill, you receive a better weapon.

How to Play Counter Strike: Global Offensive

Once you turn on Counter Strike: Global Offensive, you can look through your weapon inventory, connect with friends, watch other tournaments and matches (a great way to learn some new tricks), or start playing your own game. Click on the Play button to open and choose the game mode you want to play.

CS:GO Game Modes

Choose the game mode and maps you want to play

After you choose your game mode and map, you will be matched up with other players. There are 4 matchmaking options:

  • Official Matchmaking: Counter Strike will connect to other players based on your skills and game experience
  • Practice with Bots: If you’re not ready to go into battle against other players, you can go against AI-powered bots.
  • Training Course: Improve your skills with advanced training sessions.
  • Play With Friends: You can invite friends to your game lobby and enter a game as a unit.

Once the game starts, you’ll be able to communicate with your teammates and start searching for your opponents and fulfill your objectives. Counter Strike: Global Offensive is a first-person shooter game, which means you can only see what your character sees. As you move through the playing field, you’ll be able to find better weapons that help make it easier to eliminate your opponents.

CSGO First person shooter

Work with your teammates to eliminate your opposition.

Free Alternatives to Counter Strike: Global Offensive

  • Fortnite: One of the most popular games in the world, Fortnite is a first-person shooter that uses a Battle Royale style game. Up to 99 players are dropped on an island with a shrinking safe zone. As you move through the island, you can find weapons and build structures that you can be used for tactical advantages or protection.
  • PUBG: A Battle Royale deathmatch, PUBG is similar to Fortnite, although the graphics are more realistic, as players fight to be the last one standing. There are four maps in the game, plenty of weapons, and non-stop action.

FAQ

Is Counter Strike: Global Offensive Safe?

As long as you follow the steps above and download Counter Strike: Global Offensive through Steam or the official website, the game has no viruses or malware.
Is Counter Strike: Global Offensive free?

You can download and play Counter Strike: Global Offensive 100% for free. However, there are some upgrades that you purchase if you choose. There is also a subscription-based membership tier called Prime Status. With Prime Status, you can choose only to be matched up with other Prime players, collect exclusive souvenirs, and get additional access to community-operated servers.
Is Counter Strike: Global Offensive addictive?

With short two minute rounds, it’s easy to lose track of time and play Counter Strike for hours. If you’re concerned that you’ll get addicted to playing, I strongly recommend getting parental control software, which will allow you to limit the amount of time you can play the game per day.
Can I Use a VPN with Counter Strike: Global Offensive?

Whether you want to improve lag time, bypass firewalls at school or the office, or Counter Strike is banned in your country; you can use a VPN while playing. However, not all VPNs are the same, some limit the amount of data, and others aren’t good enough to bypass firewalls, and some are just not very good. The WizCase online security experts have tested and ranked the best VPNs that will get the job done.
Download Counter Strike now!