Choose Counter-Strike
Choose Counter-Strike if you want the Multi-player, Online PvP, and Shared/Split Screen PvP side of the pairing. 34,615 Steam reviews back the pick.
Counter-Strike vs Operation swat
Counter-Strike and Operation swat 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 17 years older than Operation swat (2017). Counter-Strike scores higher on Steam reviews (96.6% positive) than Operation swat (35.5% 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 Operation swat
Choose Operation swat if you want a Strategy experience. On Steam, it's currently about 50% cheaper on the Steam Store. Operation swat launched in 2017.
Both Counter-Strike and Operation swat sit in Action on Steam, 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 |  Operation swat | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2000 | 2017 |
| Genres | Action | Action, Strategy |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 4.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 96.6% positive (34,615 reviews) | 35.5% positive (31 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Single-player only |
| Developers | Valve | WhackAKey Games |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Counter-Strike (2000) is 17 years older than Operation swat (2017).
- Counter-Strike scores higher on Steam reviews (96.6% positive) than Operation swat (35.5% positive).
- Operation swat is currently ~50% cheaper on Steam than Counter-Strike (4.99 USD vs. 9.99 USD).
- Counter-Strike is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Operation swat has no Deck rating yet.
Counter-Strike vs Operation swat — FAQ
- Should I play Counter-Strike or Operation swat first?
- If you want chronology, Counter-Strike (2000) came out before Operation swat (2017). 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 Operation swat 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.
- Does Operation swat have multiplayer like Counter-Strike?
- No. Counter-Strike supports multiplayer on Steam (Multi-player), while Operation swat is listed as single-player only.
- Does Counter-Strike run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — Counter-Strike is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Operation swat doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.