Valorant vs. CSGO Compared: Which One Is Better?

Since it was first announced as Project A, Valorant had taken the gaming world by storm. I’ve been privileged enough to have been playing it ever since it was first released, and let me be the first to tell you how much more to it than meets the eye. It’s the culmination of everything developers have learned about the first-person shooter genre, from 1990s Doom until today's CSGO.

Speaking of CSGO, Valorant has been compared to this game since it was first placed into production. Today will be no different.

We’ll compare these two FPS juggernauts in every game aspect. Whether you’re looking to find the next title you’ll spend the next 10,000 hours on or just looking for debate points the next time your friends bring it up, read on and find out the better game.

Valorant

At its core, Valorant is a 5v5 character-based tactical shooter released in 2020. The game's actual development started in 2014 and was first teased by Riot Games as Project A in October 2019 and was honestly one of the most hyped games to be released that year.

Valorant features eight maps to play in, 20 agents you can select, and 18 different weapons to shoot. Play with your friends or solo queue to the top ranks as you learn the game’s intricacies.

Valorant Gameplay

The game itself is straightforward — the most commonly played game mode is a 5v5 scenario where players are divided to two teams, one tasked with planting and detonating the bomb and the other tasked with defending the sites.

As an attacker, you win by eliminating the enemy team or planting the Spike before time expires and defending it until it detonates. As a defender, you aim to either eliminate the enemy team or defuse the spike if it gets planted.

Before every match, you will select a character to play as with each agent equipped with a specific set of utility and skills that you could use to help you win. Each match is a race to 13 or, in the case of overtime, whoever wins two rounds in a row first. Whether you’re playing in Unrated or Competitive, the average Valorant game lasts around 25–45 minutes. Even if you had the best Phantom game of your life and ended the match 13–0, you’ll still need about 20–25 minutes to finish the entire game.

Because you need to win two straight rounds in overtime, a game of Valorant could theoretically last forever. In fact, the longest game was a 44-round war between TSM and GenG that forced Riot to restart the game after glitching out at the 90-minute mark.

Specification Requirements

Riot has done a lot to ensure that their game is inclusive for players from all walks of life. The spec requirements for Valorant are as follows:

Minimum Specs (30 FPS)

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 (Intel), Athlon 200GE(AMD)
GPU: Intel HD 4000, Radeon R5 200

Recommended Specs (60 FPS)

CPU: Intel i3–4150 (Intel), Ryzen 3 1200 (AMD)

GPU: GeForce GT730, Radeon R7 240

High-End Specs (144+ FPS)

CPU: Intel i5–9400F 2.90GHz (Intel), Ryzen 5 2600X (AMD)
GPU: GTX 1050 Ti, Radeon R7 370

These specs aren’t the most expensive on the market. On the high end, you might have to spend as little as $1,000 for an entire setup that runs Valorant on at least 150 FPS. That includes the monitor, PC, and peripherals.

Not bad for a game that came out in 2020 and has an active player base of 2 million active players every day, according to Dexerto.

That said, you’ll need at least 15GB of available space to download and install valorant — as well as at least 8GB ram if you’re looking for at least 144 FPS.

Valorant: Pros and Cons

Pros

• New and Fresh
• Diverse Strategies and Deep Tactics\
• Optimized for Hardware

Cons

• Cartoonish Art Style
• Early on in Development

Overall, Valorant is an extremely approachable game for any beginning player — even if you have no experience in the FPS genre. For more experienced players, Valorant introduces interesting new mechanics into the FPS genre. Because it’s free to play, the barrier to entry is really low, and almost anyone can pick up the game, no matter the hardware level they have.

In terms of gameplay, Valorant keeps it new and fresh while managing to introduce diverse and deep strategies that add layers to the game. Because Valorant has a wide array of agents and maps to choose from, so there are hundreds upon hundreds of interactions across agent utility and map assets. If you watch pro play, for example, you’ll quickly see how intense and tactical the game can get. Every piece of utility thrown is just another cog to the overall goal of winning the round.

Check out this breakdown from Sovereign Guides on OpTic’s absolute domination against LOUD Esports in VCT:

There’s just a lot of nuance when it comes down to it, and so many interactions left uncovered — especially with new patches and updates always coming out. Valorant is constantly under construction, as developers have reiterated that players should expect a new patch to go up every 2 weeks. Though this number may fluctuate monthly, my experience with updates has been pretty consistent. This could be a con for most people, as patches mean that there’s a probability that your main agent may fall out of meta by the next episode. Chamber mains, I’m looking at you.

A lot of people have also complained about its cartoonish art style. They say it’s not realistic, but really, who plays video games for their realism? While many people may see its art style as a turn-off, I’d argue that its animation will only open more doors for the future, especially regarding things like TV shows, comic books, and even apparel and gear. There’s a reason why Riot chose to draw it this way.

CS: GO

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is the fourth game in the Counter-Strike series. It took two years to develop and was released in August 2012. Though, unlike many other games in the genre, the game continues to thrive today.

CSGO Gameplay

There are seven categories of weaponry: rifles, submachine guns, machine guns, shotguns, pistols, grenades, and melee. There are 25 separate guns in the game and nine maps available. Unlike Valorant, CSGO doesn’t have different agents or characters available for play — you play as a normal human with the usual utility like smokes, flashbangs, and decoy grenades.

Like Valorant, the game pits two teams, the Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists, against each other in different objective-based game modes. Whereas Valorant only has one major game mode that people only play, CSGO has nine official game modes that have distinct features and mechanics. The game modes are as follows: Competitive, Casual, Deathmatch, Arms Race, Demolition, Wingman, Retakes, Danger Zone, and Flying Scoutsman.

Their most popular game mode, Competitive, is a best-of-30 match where players enter each round with specific amounts of cash as determined by the CSGO economy based on the bonus you receive from winning or losing the last round. Before the round begins, players are given 15 seconds to purchase their utility and strategize for the round. Once the round begins, players are expected to set up their defense or execute on a site.

The conditions for winning a round in competition are as follows:

For Terrorists:

• Eliminating all defenders (counter-terrorists)
• Planting the bomb and defending it until it explodes

For Counter-Terrorists

• Eliminating all attackers
• Defusing the planted bomb

A game in competitive matchmaking can last anywhere from 10 minutes to over an hour, though the average duration, based on game data, is somewhere around 40 minutes. Don’t forget to take into account queueing time as it may take as long as 5–10 minutes to find a match.

Here’s a fun fact for you: the longest ever recorded professional CSGO match lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes. It was a game between British teams Xenes and exceL at the ESL UK premiership tournament. In the interest of saving time, you can watch the final minutes of the game here:

Specification Requirements

Now, it’s no secret that CSGO is a much older game than Valorant. Whether that translates to lower spec requirements, let’s see.

Minimum Specs (30 FPS)

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 / AMD Phenom X3 8750
GPU: Video card must be 256 MB or more and should be a DirectX 9-compatible with support for Pixel Shader 3.0

Recommended Specs (60 FPS)

CPU: Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5700 3GHz (Intel), AMD Phenom 8750 Triple-Core (AMD)

GPU: GeForce GT630

On surface level, Valorant has the same spec requirements as CSGO — but upon further inspection, I found that Valorant requires to have at least 4GB of RAM and 1 GB of VRAM given that it was developed in Unreal Engine.

This marginal difference in spec requirements is great for anyone looking to try out a game without having to drop $3,000 on a set up. CSGO and Valorant are great “starter” FPS games to get anyone acclimated to the genre in a fun but competitive environment.

CSGO: Pros and Cons

Pros

• Consistent — You Know What To Expect Every Game
• Realistic-Looking Weapon Skins

Cons

• Anti-Cheat
• Old and Lacks Updates
• Mechanically Taxing

One of the biggest points of conflict for CSGO is that the game just basically never updates. Compared to other big games, like Overwatch, League of Legends, and Warframe, CSGO never really got a huge amount o updates until it’s leading contender, Valorant, came out in 2020.

For players, this could be either a good or bad thing. For one, at least everything you know about the game is consistent. One bad update can absolutely ruin the game for a lot of people. When the R8 revolver first came out or when they increased the RNG on rifles, the whole community went bonkers because it broke so much of the fundamental mechanics that they’d ingrained into their systems. Valve, as a game developer, has to be very careful with how they go about playtesting.

On the flip side, there are many little bugfixes that can be patched every day. New content could be added to keep people interested and the Valve community deserves to have any bugs fixed as quickly as possible. A good update may change how the game is played for the better.

There are pros and cons for doing either but as with all things, balance here is key.

That said, CSGO remains one of the most mechanically taxing games on the market right now. I mean, raw aim alone can take you to the top 10% of players. Of course, good aim also includes some level of gamesense, which includes pre-aiming and knowing where enemies are likely to peek but it doesn’t really call for any high-level strategies or perfectly in-sync executions the same way that pro gameplay does.

With raw aim, you could easily make it to at least DMG (Distinguished Master Guardian). But even then, not everyone in the higher ranks is good at the game — some of them just cheat.

Cheaters have been prevalent in the CSGO community since the start of the game in the early 2000’s. But over the years, thousands of methods to bypass their Valve Anti Cheat (VAC) system have surfaced. It got to a point where in December 2018, the developers had to ban over 600,000 accounts in a single month.

Even pro players like Valorant’s Jamppi and KQLY weren’t safe from Valve’s rules as having your account VAC banned means you cannot participate in a Valve-hosted tournament.

Valorant vs. CSGO: Main Differences

We’ve discussed the two games in great detail. It’s time to get into the nitty-gritty. Here are the main differences between Valorant and CSGO.

Comparing Core Mechanics

Looking at a surface-level comparison of both games, you could say that the two are very similar in their core mechanics. You still shoot people and have to go around trying to defuse or plant the bomb, right?

Well, yeah, but that’s not just it.

Map Design and Buy Zones

For one thing, Valorant has a much, much larger buy zone that takes up a third of the map for both sides. The buy time for each round is also longer, and you’re free to move around, purchase gear, and do whatever you want without the enemy hearing you before the buy phase timer runs out.

To that end, I also wanted to discuss the map design that differs between Valorant and CSGO. In CSGO, all maps have two bomb sites and are generally far more open than Valorant. There are fewer corners to clear, so you don’t have to worry about someone camping for lurks as much. Valorant, on the other hand, has far more sharp turns and cubbies — though they’re trying to fix this with their recent addition of Pearl and constant map updates. Where CSGO’s maps have a sense of consistency and realism, each map in Valorant has a unique gimmick that teams should likely be around. Haven, for example, has three bomb sites that the attacking team could plant on, and Fracture has four different entryways on the total opposite side of the bomb site that players could execute from. What does CSGO have? Dust2’s mid-doors?

I’m kidding. Kind of.

Spray Patterns

Spray Patterns are another thing that I wanted to highlight regarding core mechanics. In CSGO, the spray pattern for each gun is fixed. You always know what to expect, which has led to absolutely bonker spray transfers coming out of those who’ve mastered them.

Valorant doesn’t have these consistent spray patterns. The devs have added some level of RNG after the 10th bullet to keep the players honest. In this game, you can’t spray transfer as well — so your best shot at killing someone is by shooting quick bursts of 2 or 3 bullets, strafing, then firing again.

To be honest, this difference isn’t as huge as the others on the list. In fact, many CSGO pros who’ve switched to Valorant, like ScreaM, revel in the game-rewarding burst-shoot type players.

Ability Usage

Finally, and probably the biggest difference maker, are Valoran’ts agent pool. Each agent is equipped with a different set of abilities that they could use to win rounds. From trip wires, and recon darts, to full-on Rocket Launchers that should (but don’t really) one-shot enemies, Valorant has a wider array of options for players to use.

That said, CSGO allowing everyone to purchase the same set of utilities also has its own advantages. This means that you can take on many hats.

If your teammates aren’t entering the site well, you can jump ahead and play entry fragger. If you’re more cerebral, stay back and play IGL.

In Valorant, if your Jett isn’t dashing into the site and making space for your team through her mini smokes and updrafts. Well, tough luck.

Story

From a story perspective, Valorant takes the cake. Sure, CSGO has some form of world-building going on — like Operation Bravo, Bloodhound, and Wildfire, which all took place in September 2013, May 2015, and February 2016, respectively — but the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive continuity has never been cohesive enough to actually build a world around.

Valorant and Riot, on the other hand, have done their best to create lore around all the agents and the spike planting. Valorant’s Lore is set around 2049–2050 after energy waves appeared in the sky and caused the Earth to lose ¾ of its power supply while simultaneously giving all Valorant Agents their powers. The Valorant Protocol is the agency seeking to democratize ownership of Radianite.

The agents are the main characters in this war for control. Even the maps have their own lore behind them. Fracture, for example, is a portal to another Earth with agents trying to steal our radianite.

Of course, none of this impacts the game but it’s cool to think about while you’re in the lobby waiting for a game.

Visuals

The two games could also not be more different from a visual perspective. Where CSGO brings a realistic aesthetic to the FPS genre, Valorant has no problem with looking cartoonish. It’s been interesting to see CSGO players trash Valorant for how it looks like a kid’s game but the visuals don’t really affect the gameplay.

One thing you should know, however, is that CSGOs skins are worth so much more than Valorant’s. A doppler knife skin, for example, goes for as much as $7,500. Other skins have gone up to $50,000. All in all, the skins currently available in the CSGO skin market have a market capitalization of approximately $ 3.8 million USD. Some even surmise that the total CSGO skin market could be worth more than $1 billion.

Anti-Cheat System

Going back to in-game comparisons, it’d be crazy to compare these two games without going into their Anti-Cheat systems. From my experience playing the game and from anecdotal evidence presented by individuals on different forums, it’s cool to see just how much better Valorant’s anti-cheat system is than CSGO. It’s difficult to ascertain how many hackers there are in both CSGO and Valorant at any given time, and neither company have released statements or code to help the community understand what’s going on under the hood — which is understandable given that hackers might reverse-engineer it and beat the system — but the gameplay speaks for itself.

Which is Better Overall?

There’s no answer to the “what is better overall” question. Sure, Valorant may be newer, but CSGO also has a lot of devout followers and a long, rich history.

Here’s my take on it:

Play Valorant if you want to experience something new. If you’ve been an avid fan of CSGO and the FPS genre for any time, just try out Valorant and see your thoughts on it.

Play CSGO if you want a pure FPS experience. No skills, no superpowers. Just straight gunplay with real-world utility that you could theoretically purchase in real-life.

If you’re absolutely new to the FPS genre, I suggest trying out Valorant first. The floor for being good at CSGO is higher than Valorant, given that it’s much more mechanically demanding. However, Valorant’s different agent skills and constant introduction of new in-game interactions means you could develop more strategies and tactics than in CSGO.

What Do The Pros Have To Say About It?

But don’t just take my word for it. Take FPS Legend, Shroud’s:

Basically, Shroud is saying that while CSGO may be mechanically harder, Valorant has so much more strategy that goes into it. Tarik added onto the same sentiments. Basically, the different interactions in the game addd layers of difficulty that CSGO doesn’t have.

One thing that Shroud said that really makes sense is that because Valorant is mechanically easier, it’s more difficult to stand out more at the top.

“On an individual level, it’s easier. On a team level, it’s harder.” Former CSGO pro turned Valorant content creator supplies.

Best Alternatives/Other Games Like This

If you liked one or the other, here are some other games that might interest you as well:

APEX Legends

APEX Legends is a popular choice for FPS gamers if they’re looking for something to take a break from the competitive scene. It’s a free-to-play battle royale shooter that took the battle royale genre to the next level.

Overwatch

Overwatch 2 recently released and with that, a lot of the hype around Valorant being the hottest new shooter went up in smoke as well. The game is like a cross between the MOBA and FPS genre and because it’s new, the community has been growing at just such a rapid rate. With new updates coming out every week and amazing promotional material, now just might be the best time to put on your headphones and learn to play Overwatch.

Call of Duty: Warzone

The standard Call of Duty: Warzone client is anywhere from 80–100 GB depending on your platform. Needless to say, the file size is huge because it includes a ton of new content and a lot of playtime. If you’re looking to get into the battle royale genre and love CSGOs graphics, then you should definitely try your hand at Call of Duty: Warzone.

Conclusion

Both games bring different things to the table. Where CSGO is like the cool, older brother, Valorant is the young upstart trying to shake things up and find its place in this world. No matter which game you pick, just have fun with it and find friends that’ll help you get better along the way.

FAQs

Valorant vs. CSGO: Which is Harder?

Valorant and CSGO are hard in their own way. Where CSGO has a higher skill floor, Valorant has more agent interactions that increase the overall difficulty of the game from a strategic and tactical level.

Valorant vs CSGO: Which is Better?

Choosing between the two depends on a variety of things, Valorant is easier to get into for beginners and has better competitive matchmaking capabilities but CSGOs history and large player base generally mean that it has something for everyone.

Will Valorant overtake CSGO?

There are many people who believe that Valorant will overtake the popularity of CSGO given that it’s a newer game with more marketing and a growing eSports following. With pro players from different genres trying their hand at competitive Valorant, the game looks like it’s ready to bring in droves of fans from all genres of gaing.