Game · High risk
Is Counter-Strike safe for your child?
Age guide
16+
We advise Counter-Strike from age 16 and up. Overall risk 8/10 (high risk).
- 5-8
- This game is not suitable for children in this age group due to its mature themes and violent content.
- 9-12
- The game's realistic weapon combat and strategic team play are not appropriate for this age group.
- 13-15
- Players in this age group will encounter competitive first-person shooter gameplay with blood effects and player-versus-player violence, which can be intense.
- 16+
- Older teens can engage with the strategic objective-based gameplay and competitive matchmaking, which includes voice chat with other players.
Counter-Strike is a popular first-person shooter game that emphasizes teamwork and strategy. Players take on the roles of terrorists and counter-terrorists in various scenarios, aiming to complete objectives or eliminate the opposing team. The game features realistic weapons and environments, and its competitive nature has made it a staple in the esports community. While it is engaging and can enhance critical thinking and teamwork skills, it also contains mature themes and intense gameplay.
- Age guide
- 16+
- Overall risk
- 8/10
- Violence
- 7/10
- Toxic behaviour
- 8/10
- Stranger contact
- 9/10
- Addiction risk
- 8/10
- Language
- 6/10
- Influence
- 7/10
What parents should know
Counter-Strike is a first-person shooter known for its competitive online multiplayer. It features realistic violence and an unmoderated communication system, making it unsuitable for younger players. Parents should be aware of the potential for exposure to offensive language, harassment, and the game's cosmetic item trading market, which can resemble gambling.
What to do about Counter-Strike
Free with a Parentwise account. The age-by-age verdict needs your child's age, which is why it lives behind the account.
- The age-by-age verdict
What we advise for under 8, 8-12 and 13+ - our age guide for Counter-Strike is 16+, and the answer changes with your child's age. - The one setting to change tonight
The exact Counter-Strike setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it. - What to say
Word-for-word openers for talking about Counter-Strike without a row. - Red flags to watch for
The signals in Counter-Strike that mean it is time to step in.
Counter-Strike age rating and parents guide: common questions
What age rating is Counter-Strike?
Parentwise puts Counter-Strike at 16+. We advise Counter-Strike from age 16 and up. Overall risk 8/10 (high risk). Violence scores 7/10, language 6/10, stranger contact 9/10 and addiction risk 8/10.
Can a 10 year old play Counter-Strike?
Not by default: we advise Counter-Strike from 16+, so at 10 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. The game's realistic weapon combat and strategic team play are not appropriate for this age group.
Can a 12 year old play Counter-Strike?
Not by default: we advise Counter-Strike from 16+, so at 12 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. The game's realistic weapon combat and strategic team play are not appropriate for this age group.
Can a 13 year old play Counter-Strike?
Not by default: we advise Counter-Strike from 16+, so at 13 it needs your supervision and the settings changed first. Players in this age group will encounter competitive first-person shooter gameplay with blood effects and player-versus-player violence, which can be intense.
Is Counter-Strike appropriate for kids?
Counter-Strike is a first-person shooter known for its competitive online multiplayer. Parentwise rates Counter-Strike overall as high risk (8/10), with stranger contact at 9/10 and addiction risk at 8/10.
Is Counter-Strike family friendly?
Counter-Strike is one of the higher-risk titles we rate, so treat it as supervised rather than family viewing. It features realistic violence and an unmoderated communication system, making it unsuitable for younger players.
Counter-Strike parents guide: what should a parent know first?
Counter-Strike is a first-person shooter known for its competitive online multiplayer. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (9/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (8/10).
Is Counter-Strike safe for kids?
We advise Counter-Strike from age 16 and up. Overall risk 8/10 (high risk). It features realistic violence and an unmoderated communication system, making it unsuitable for younger players.
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Release and popularity data comes in part from RAWG, TVMaze (CC BY-SA) and Wikidata (CC0). Safety guidance is written by Parentwise.