Choose Counter-Strike
Choose Counter-Strike if you want the Shared/Split Screen PvP, Color Alternatives, and Custom Volume Controls side of the pairing. 34,615 Steam reviews back the pick.
Counter-Strike vs Lightphobe
Counter-Strike and Lightphobe both land in Action on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Action games on Steam. Counter-Strike (2000) is 25 years older than Lightphobe (2025). Counter-Strike scores higher on Steam reviews (96.6% positive) than Lightphobe (88.5% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Lightphobe
Choose Lightphobe if you want a Free To Play game with Online Co-op, LAN PvP, and LAN Co-op. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Lightphobe launched in 2025.
Both Counter-Strike and Lightphobe sit in Action on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online PvP, and PvP, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Counter-Strike |  Lightphobe | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2000 | 2025 |
| Genres | Action | Action, Free To Play |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | 96.6% positive (34,615 reviews) | 88.5% positive (26 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op |
| Developers | Valve | Allan Chew |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Counter-Strike (2000) is 25 years older than Lightphobe (2025).
- Counter-Strike scores higher on Steam reviews (96.6% positive) than Lightphobe (88.5% positive).
- Lightphobe is free; Counter-Strike is paid (9.99 USD).
- Lightphobe has co-op; Counter-Strike does not.
- Counter-Strike is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Lightphobe has no Deck rating yet.
Counter-Strike vs Lightphobe — FAQ
- Should I play Counter-Strike or Lightphobe first?
- If you want chronology, Counter-Strike (2000) came out before Lightphobe (2025). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Counter-Strike and Lightphobe similar?
- They overlap on Action on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Is Lightphobe free?
- Yes — Lightphobe is a free-to-play Steam title. Counter-Strike is paid (9.99 USD).
- Does Counter-Strike run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Counter-Strike is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Lightphobe doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.