Battlefield 6 vs CS2: Which modern military shooter is best in 2025?

Battlefield 6 and Counter-Strike 2 have more similarities than some may think. Despite launching in 2023 for PC, Valve’s sequel to one of the greatest first-person shooters has always been inspired by titles in the genre, like Call of Duty, Operation Flashpoint, and Battlefield. But for Battlefield 6, it has to ironically take inspiration from all of these to rescue the series from ruin.

After the disappointing Battlefield 2042 in 2021, developer Battlefield Studios went back to basics to rediscover what made the series fun in the first place. In addition to seeing how and why Battlefield was different from others in the genre, it looks like their efforts have been rewarded, with great reviews for Battlefield 6, as well as over seven million sold in its first three days of launch. With both titles big in demand, we’re comparing the two below.

The Counter-Strike series has always been about 5v5 teams that consist of Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists. Working with players is crucial in making sure that some objectives are met, as well as winning the fight against the other team. These include bomb defusal modes, Deathmatch, and more, which hone in on Counter-Strike 2’s theme of precision and tactical planning. 

In addition, the weapons and items you buy can decide the outcome of a match. From shotguns to assault rifles, they can help your team turn the tide in a match. With roughly 13 maps to choose from, which include Ancient, Dust II, Mirage, Nuke, and more, Counter-Strike 2 refines what came before, but modernises the series.

The Battlefield series takes a bigger approach compared to Valve’s shooter. Known for its huge battles across sprawling maps, every match in BF6 has a cinematic feel, with four character classes to choose from. 

This includes Assault, Engineer, Recon, and Support. Each class has its own special ability when using certain weapons, too, which may give players a favourite class to choose from in every match. With over 40 weapons to choose from, and gameplay mechanics like fun vehicles to ride and seeing sights like exploding buildings, Battlefield 6 has ramped up the series’ gameplay to become one of the best entries in recent times.

Counter-Strike 2 builds on the game modes that have been present since the 1999 original, but they nevertheless differ from what’s offered in Battlefield 6. There are two-round matches, which include Bomb Defusal mode, where the Terrorist group has planted a bomb, with the Counter-Terrorists trying to find and defuse it. The other is Hostage Rescue, which is essentially the same mode but reversed. 

Deathmatch is the standard mode of eliminating other players until a score is met, Wingman is a 2v2 mode on smaller maps, and Arms Race gives players better weapons the more they rack up kills. All of these have the tropes that the Counter-Strike series is known for, such as teamwork, tactics, buying crucial weapons and items, all so the team can win the match.

Despite launching for just a few weeks, there are six Battlefield 6 game modes that ramp up the warfare across the huge maps the game offers. Deathmatch, Domination, King of the Hill, and Squad Deathmatch are the standard modes that players can jump into. 

But  Conquest and Breakthrough are the highlights of Battlefield 6, requiring players to tactically capture or defend certain points in a map to complete an objective.  Rush pits players in a 12v12 match where locations must be destroyed by planting a bomb, with the action being ramped up as the match progresses. The mode has been mixed so far, but with a battle-royale mode coming soon, players may flock to this instead.

As always, the Counter-Strike series has been known for requiring players to simply play as a Terrorist or Counter-Terrorist. Games like Call of Duty Warzone, VALORANT, and more have honed in on how these can be customized with purchasable cosmetics. But the gameplay mechanic in Counter-Strike 2 remains the same, as it has done since the series’ debut in 1999. 

However, the sequel has carried on the theme of Agents, first introduced in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. These are simply cosmetic appearances to give players their own personality, but nothing more.

As with older games in the series, there are four BF6 classes to choose from. This includes Assault, Support, Engineer, and Recon, each with specific abilities that suit the classes, such as Engineers able to repair vehicles, Recon finding enemies via drones, and much more. 

These help differentiate the classes and give variety to each, something that Counter-Strike as a series simply can’t do, due to its design that has remained unchanged for years. It can help players discover which class suits them best, especially when playing in a team with friends, as it can help them win certain matches when tactics are crucial.

It’s fair to say that both Battlefield Studios and Valve offer both titles with very different types of support. For Counter-Strike 2, Valve has consistently supported the title since its September 2023 debut, with refinements to the weapons, maps, and anti-cheat improvements. 

It also constantly takes feedback from players, which is surprising, considering its lack of support for its other shooter, Team Fortress 2, in recent years. But Valve’s Steam Workshop, which lets players create their own maps and cosmetics, also helps to keep the longevity of Counter-Strike 2 going. The series has always been Valve’s jewel, and we’d be surprised if the title was left to the wayside anytime soon.

At the time of writing, it’s difficult to judge Battlefield Studios’ support for Battlefield 6. But from the beta in August, players have been free to express their feedback in various ways, such as this Reddit thread, and Battlefield Studios was quick to release refinements during that time. 

It resulted in Battlefield 6 having a fantastic multiplayer mode upon its release, with a battle royale mode rumored to be coming soon. With the series now rescued from the brink thanks to Battlefield 6, we’re sure that Battlefield Studios plans to support the title for years to come.

It’s a close call, but Battlefield 6 already edges out on Counter-Strike 2, but only down to a couple of factors. The title’s four classes offer a lot of variety for players, with special abilities that will keep them coming back to see how each class works in matches. Yet Counter-Strike 2 still has the standard Terrorist and Counter-Terrorist groups that don’t add much depth to the game.

Ultimately, if you want to play a title for short bursts, to see how far you progress and which weapons you can buy, Counter-Strike 2 will be ideal for you. But if you want something with far more depth, a dedicated single-player mode, unique classes, and intricate game modes, Battlefield 6 could be the perfect title to play.