Choose Counter-Strike
Choose Counter-Strike if you want the Shared/Split Screen PvP, Color Alternatives, and Custom Volume Controls side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 96.6% positive across 34,615 reviews.
Counter-Strike vs Soldat
Counter-Strike and Soldat 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 20 years older than Soldat (2020). Counter-Strike scores higher on Steam reviews (96.6% positive) than Soldat (92.8% 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 Soldat
Choose Soldat if you want an Indie and Free To Play game with LAN PvP. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. Soldat launched in 2020.
Both Counter-Strike and Soldat 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 |  Soldat | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2000 | 2020 |
| Genres | Action | Action, Indie, 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) | 92.8% positive (778 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player | Multi-player |
| Developers | Valve | Transhuman Design, Soldat Team |
Side by side
- Both are Action games on Steam.
- Counter-Strike (2000) is 20 years older than Soldat (2020).
- Counter-Strike scores higher on Steam reviews (96.6% positive) than Soldat (92.8% positive).
- Soldat is free; Counter-Strike is paid (9.99 USD).
- Counter-Strike is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Soldat has no Deck rating yet.
Counter-Strike vs Soldat — FAQ
- Which is better, Counter-Strike or Soldat?
- On Steam reviews Counter-Strike scores higher (96.6% positive) than Soldat (92.8% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Counter-Strike is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Counter-Strike or Soldat first?
- If you want chronology, Counter-Strike (2000) came out before Soldat (2020). 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 Soldat 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 Soldat free?
- Yes — Soldat 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. Soldat doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.