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Play Counter-Strike in Your Browser
The official Counter-Strike 2 only runs through Steam, but you can play CS 1.6 ports with live servers and CS2-style fan remakes right in a browser tab. Here is how the options compare.
Every way to play Counter-Strike in your browser
| Game | Type | Multiplayer | Download | Chromebook | Where it runs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AstraStrike by AstraStrike team | Fan game | Online | 38.8 MB | Not tested | On the developer’s site | Fan project |
| Counter-Strike 1.6 (CSJS) by CSJS | Port | Online | Not measured | Not tested | Plays here | Fan project |
| Counter-Strike 1.6 (Combat Skirmish) by Combat Skirmish | Port | Online | Not measured | Not tested | On the developer’s site | Unofficial port |
Counter-Strike versions
Which Counter-Strike can you actually play in a browser?
Counter-Strike started in 1999 as a fan-made mod for Valve’s Half-Life, became a Valve game in its own right, and went through four big versions: Counter-Strike 1.6 (2003), Counter-Strike: Source (2004), Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (2012) and Counter-Strike 2 (2023). None of them shipped as a browser game. What you can play in a browser today falls into three groups:
- Counter-Strike 1.6 ports. The 2003 classic is light enough to run in a browser tab, and community projects compile compatible engines to WebAssembly and host real multiplayer servers. If you want the original de_dust2 experience, start with Counter-Strike 1.6 in your browser.
- CS2-style remakes. Independent developers have rebuilt the look and feel of Counter-Strike 2 with modern web 3D tools. They aren’t Valve’s game, but the weapons, maps and modes will feel familiar, and some of them, such as AstraStrike, run online matches.
- Cloud gaming. Services that stream a PC game to your browser can run the real CS2, but they need an account, often a subscription, and a fast connection. We don’t list streaming services as browser games.
How we compare them
None of the games listed here are made or endorsed by Valve. The table at the top of this page shows each game’s type, whether it has online servers, the size of the first download and Chromebook support where we have those details, whether it plays on this page or opens on the developer’s own site, and its rights status. Big 3D remakes can take a minute or more to load the first time.
Tips for playing Counter-Strike in a browser
- Use Chrome or Edge on a desktop or laptop for the best performance. Close other heavy tabs before you join a match.
- Click into the game to capture your mouse. Press Esc to release it.
- Expect a longer first load for 3D remakes. Later visits load from your browser’s cache and usually start much faster.
- School or work network? Some networks block game servers, so online modes may not connect even if the page loads.
Playing Counter-Strike in a browser: questions
Can you play CS2 in a browser?
Not the official game. Counter-Strike 2 is a Steam download for Windows and Linux, and the only way to run the real thing in a browser is a cloud-gaming service that streams it from a remote PC. What you can play directly in a browser are CS2-style fan remakes such as AstraStrike, and ports of the classic Counter-Strike 1.6.
Can you play CS:GO in a browser?
CS:GO was replaced by Counter-Strike 2 in 2023 and never had a browser version. The closest browser experiences are CS2-style remakes for modern gameplay and CS 1.6 ports for the classic one.
Is browser Counter-Strike free?
Every game on this page is free to play in a browser. Some offer optional sign-in for ranked modes or friends lists.
Do I need Steam to play these?
No. These games run in a normal browser tab. You only need Steam for the official Counter-Strike 2.
Counter-Strike is a trademark of Valve Corporation. PlayGamesInBrowser is not affiliated with or endorsed by Valve Corporation; the games listed here are independent projects unless marked Official.