Looking for mobile games that offer a similar gameplay experience to the extremely popular tactical shooter, CS:GO? We'll suggest some titles you should try out.
Very few games can match the continued success of Valve's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and the series, which, as a whole, has been going strong for 22 years. The most successful multiplayer game of all time? Maybe. Close to perfection in execution? Definitely.
However, Counter-Strike's strength is also its weakness. Nothing much changes in CS:GO, at least not outwardly, and that lack of active development has meant any sequel to CS:GO - if it exists - is years off, and that's before you even consider a mobile port. And it's worth mentioning that, with Valve's Steam Deck, the company is betting on the line between mobile and desktop gaming vanishing altogether.
So, as Valve slowly turns into the G.R.R. Martin of video games, the chances of a true mobile version of CS:GO are close to nil. But that doesn't mean tactical shooter fans are without options on mobile, with several titles springing up recently that prove the genre has a big future on Android and iOS.
And it is not just smaller developers getting in, CS:GO has got fierce competition on PC, and those titles are beginning to pop up on mobile, with Ubisoft's Rainbow Six Mobile and Riot Games' Valorant Mobile already in alpha testing.
So, if you are looking for the best tactical shooter on mobile, you have landed just where you need to be as we break down the best the genre has to offer.
Best Mobile Tactical Shooters Similar To CS:GO
Tactical shooters with the tight gunplay and considered movement of CS:GO are relatively new, with previous team-based FPS games being a bit more run-and-gun like Call of Duty.
But in the past several months, several games have been released that bring the experience seen in CS:GO and Valorant and brought it to mobile. Some are only in their testing phases, but having said that, 2024 still looks like the year that tactical shooters make themselves at home on mobile platforms.
Rainbow Six Mobile
Currently running limited-time betas in North America, Rainbow Six Mobile looks to bring Siege's team-based, gadget-heavy gameplay to mobile. A standalone title, Rainbow Six Mobile already looks promising, with a lot of time going into developing the most intuitive controls for a tactical FPS on mobile.
There will be a lot to contend with too. Like Siege, players can abseil down buildings, lean, prone, and use plenty of unique gadgets and barricades, all in the service of attacking or defending the bomb site.
Many of Siege's most iconic maps are making their way to the game, and players can expect a ranked mode, clans, and plenty of events to keep things interesting.
It promises to be a deep and tactical experience, and you can guarantee the esports scene will already be moving by the time this game gets its global release.
Welcome Operators to Rainbow Six Mobile!Rainbow Six Mobile will bring the same tactical shooter gameplay that you love to your mobile devices. Sign-up now to receive the latest updates and get a chance to play before the release https://t.co/Jvbs6dHXau pic.twitter.com/gWjH2I2bSm
— Rainbow Six Mobile (@Rainbow6Mobile) April 5, 2022
The game will be available on Android and iOS, with two closed betas already taking place in 2022; a global release in 2024 looks likely.
Of course, it isn't the only Tom Clancy game coming to mobile, with The Division Resurgence also making its way to the small screen with closed beta tests already underway.
Project RushB
Project RushB is a less well-known title but one that has also just entered early access, and those following its development have plenty to get excited about.
The game takes its cues from CS:GO but adds some slightly buttoned-up hero elements that allow for greater tactical flexibility.
Hero in position. Gun loaded. Ready to Fight? // Pre-Beta Gameplay Trailer - Project RushB pic.twitter.com/j6VETHHTF3
— Project RushB (@projectrushb) July 18, 2022
The developers promise no aim assist, which is music to the ear of every tactical shooter purist, and seem to have an understanding of how important map design is to the long-term success of the game, with some truly beautiful maps that look like considered riffs of CS:GO favorites.
It remains to be seen if the game will truly find its audience, but with CS:GO Mobile looking unlikely and Valorant Mobile a while off, it has every chance of doing so, considering the design philosophy the developers have set out.
Project RushB will be available on both Android and iOS when it makes its full launch.
Valorant Mobile
Riot Games' Valorant has shaken up the tactical shooter market, and it is looking to stake a front seat in mobile gaming too. Riot has already entered the mobile scene with Wild Rift, a title that many consider better than its big brother League of Legends, but can Valorant Mobile do the same?
It has a lot to live up to, and expectations will be high, but you rather suspect that is how Riot Games like it, and few would bet against them managing to bring the Valorant DNA to mobile in an intuitive way.
Post-launch support will be extensive too, with new agents, battle passes, and maps, and undoubtedly an esports scene supported by Riot Games themselves.
The game is currently in and out of testing in China, and it is unlikely many other regions will get to play it this side of the year, but it is coming, and you can bet it will be massive.
For more on mobile gaming, you may be interested in: