The tactical shooter genre is one with surprisingly few games. But Valorant and Counter-Strike remain two of the most popular—and for a good reason. While these two games draw a lot of comparisons, with Valorant clearly taking great inspiration from classic Counter-Strike, they also have their fair share of differences. Let’s take a closer look at the two games, to see which may be a better fit for you!
What’s Similar?
· Tactical Gameplay
Both games are tactical shooters. There’s no question about that. They emphasize careful strategy, teamwork and precise aiming. Punishing you for the slightest mistake and rewarding you for incredible technical skill.
This makes both games hardcore, by nature. Meaning that neither is for the feint of heart.
· Objective-Based Modes
While both games are shooters, their primary game modes actually revolve around objectives. The most popular game mode in both games sees two teams go head to head as one attempts to plant a bomb at one of three sites, while the other seeks to defuse the bomb. Both modes are search-and-destroy, so players have one life per round. And if your squad is wiped out, you lose.
· Competitive Scene
Given their place as hardcore tactical shooters, both games have huge competitive scenes. With both titles having many dedicated esports teams and leagues competing in large-scale tournaments.
· Weapon Variety
As shooters, you’d expect a lot of guns. And this is certainly a place where both games deliver. During the buy-phase of each round, players get the opportunity to spend their credits on buying weapons and other equipment to give them the upper hand in the upcoming clash.
· Weapon Skins
Multiplayer games usually have a few ways for players to express themselves. When it comes to Counter-Strike and Valorant, it’s weapon skins. These skins imbue each weapon with a new look—and in some case sound or animation—allowing players to add a bit of pizzazz to their gameplay. Buy Valorant points to get your hands on the best gun skins in the game!
What’s Different?
· Agents and Abilities
Counter-Strike is a level playing field at the start of every match—where all players have the same skills and resources. This puts a lot of pressure on player skill and weapon choice.
Valorant, on the other hand, is a hero shooter. This sees players choose an agent with unique skills and abilities at the start of every match. These abilities add a new level of strategy and synergy to Valorant—while simultaneously moving it a few steps away from the realism usually found in the genre.
· Economy System
While both games feature buy windows for players to obtain new weapons (and skills, in the case of Valorant), Valorant’s economy system is generally considered as much more forgiving than Counter-Strike’s. Offering players more opportunities to get new weapons.
· Art Style
While both games share a lot of similarities, visual style is not one of them. Valorant is a bright, colourful and poppy game featuring cartoony characters, exaggerated animations and vibrant maps. Counter-Strike, on the other hand, focuses more on realism, featuring a more muted colour palette and more minimalist animations.
· Gameplay Pace
Valorant is generally a much faster-paced game than CS-GO with rounds being shorter, maps being smaller and a greater emphasis being placed on character abilities than raw skill and strategy. CS-GO on the other hand can occasionally be a slow burn, with incredibly high tension.
Which Game is Right for You?
Valorant and CS-GO are both tactical shooters which offer up high-stakes thrills and plenty of tension. Which one is right for you may depend on your history. If you prefer hero shooters where you choose characters for their abilities, Valorant may be for you. While if you prefer gameplay based on raw skill and strategy, Counter-Strike may be the one.
And if you look at it from a pure difficulty perspective: if you want a really hardcore shooter, Counter-Strike is the way to go. While if you’re looking for tactical thrills but, ultimately, fun Valorant offers a better balance for most players.
Both games are free, so you should definitely give both a go to decide for yourself!
Lynn Martelli is an editor at Readability. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University and has worked as an editor for over 10 years. Lynn has edited a wide variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and more. In her free time, Lynn enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family and friends.
