All titles in the Counter-Strike universe are first person tactical shooting games, heavily focused in online or local (LAN) multiplayer action.
Game Modes
The main modes consist in two teams, Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists, who face each other in time limited rounds. Depending on the map, rounds can be won by either completing a given objective or by eliminating the enemy team. The team that won the highest amount of rounds when the match timer is over, will be the winner of the match.
Players of both teams, will also compete against each other, including competing with members of their own team, to get the highest amount of kills and lowest amount of deaths. Most of the times, players will aim to win individually rather than cooperatively, unless team is composed of members that know each other and play strategically to win the rounds.
Team Versus
In Versus, the two teams face each other until one is eliminated, awarding the surviving team with the victory of that round, or until the time runs out, ending in a draw.
Assassination
In this new mode, one of the Counter-Terrorist players starts as a VIP and has to be protected throughout the entire map by the rest of the team from the terrorists, who need to avoid the VIP reaching the safe zone. VIP's can only buy limited amounts of weapons and if they die the round is lost for the counter-terrorists.
Bomb Defusal
In Bomb Defusal, Counter-terrorists win the round by successfully protecting one or multiple bombing sites until the time runs out, or by defusing a bomb once planted. Terrorists win the round by successfully planting and detonating a bomb, which has a set countdown, or by killing all CT members while the bomb is planted. Victory may also be achieved by any team if the opposing team gets eliminated before the bomb is planted.
Hostage Rescue
In Hostage Rescue, Counter-terrorists win the round if they successfully rescue all hostages before time runs out. Terrorists win the round by preventing the rescue of all hostages. Alternatively, victory can be achieved by eliminating the opposing team.
Escape
In Escape, Terrorists try to escape from a Counter-Terrorist raid. Originally added during the beta, it featured 3 official maps:
- Jail - Terrorists must escape from a jail damaged after an earthquake.
- Frantic - Trapped under a subway station, they must make their way out.
- Trinity - Walking out of a broken boxcar, they must find a way to escape.
To win the scenario, you and your team are required to reach the terrorist escape zone (as a terrorist) or eliminate all members of the opposing team (like all the other game modes). While still playable in Counter-Strike and Counter-Strike: Condition Zero, the official maps have been taken out since the beta's close.
Arms Race
A deathmatch-based mode where each player is rewarded for each kill with a new weapon, with the first player to get a kill with every weapon in a predetermined set winning the game.
Demolition
A round-based mode that removes weapon and equipment purchasing, instead rewarding players who manage at least one kill by giving them the next weapon in a predefined set of weapons, starting with handguns and ending with the more powerful assault rifles.
Deathmatch
A mode consisting of 10-minute matches. Players must gain the highest possible score by earning kills with different weapons. The number of points from a kill depend on the weapon. Players may also take advantage of bonus timers for different weapons, using them to score extra points. Like in Arms Race, players automatically respawn after getting killed, but also when they choose to respawn with bonus weapons.
Bots
Bots are another new entry to the series, which populate any online or offline game as another player. The AI is more advanced, acting like a real player, and serves as a filler in the cases where the player can't go online or has difficulty finding people to play with.
