Game Modes

This page documents information about a game or software, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, that is no longer available for purchase or download digitally.
It is covered here for historical and technical reference.

Here are tables of the game modes and the console commands to launch them in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2.

The paths named on this page are relative to .../steamapps/common/Counter-Strike Global Offensive/ or .../steamapps/common/Counter-Strike Global Offensive/game/ respectively.

Important: As of 2025-01-10, most of this page applies to CS2, except for the following.

• The game supports the game modes Casual, Competitive, Wingman, Training Day, Deathmatch and Arms Race.
• Custom works as usual. In Guardian, special kills are not counted such that the human players cannot win as intended. In Demolition, the players are not given any guns but the C4.
• Skirmish modes seem not to be implemented yet.
• The map command does allow for a game mode parameter, like so: map de_dust2 gamemode=X. Legal values for X are:

  casual, competitive/comp, scrimcomp2v2/wingman, scrimcomp5v5, new_user_training, ar/armsrace/gungameprogressive, gungametrbomb, dm/deathmatch, training, custom, guard/guardian/cooperative, coop/coopmision, skirmish, survival, default/auto.

• There is a new command game_alias <string> to set game_type and game_mode according to the specified string. However, the set of legal values for this are not identical to the map command parameters, and it does not seem to set sv_skirmish_id.

Overview

To launch a map with a desired game mode, adjust the ConVars

• game_type,
• game_mode,
• sv_game_mode_flags and
• sv_skirmish_id

according to the tables below and load a map by using the map <mapname> or changelevel <mapname> console command.

Risk of Confusion:The 1v1 warmup arenas seen in some official Competitive and Wingman maps do not use an own game mode. If warmup arenas are implemented in a map, they can be played in by launching the map in Competitive or Wingman and invoking mp_warmup_start.

Quick Examples to load Dust II Game Mode Console Commands keep previous map de_dust2 Deathmatch game_type 1; game_mode 2; sv_game_mode_flags 0; sv_skirmish_id 0; map de_dust2 Short Competitive game_type 0; game_mode 1; sv_game_mode_flags 32; sv_skirmish_id 0; map de_dust2 Flying Scoutsman game_type 0; game_mode 0; sv_game_mode_flags 0; sv_skirmish_id 3; map de_dust2

Defined pairs of values for game_type and game_mode game_type game_mode 0 1 2 3 4 Classic 0 Casual Competitive Wingman Weapons Expert Training Day Gun Game 1 Arms Race Demolition Deathmatch Training 2 Training Custom 3 Custom Cooperative 4 Guardian Co-op Strike Skirmish 5 War Games Free For All 6 Danger Zone For details, see #Game Type and Game Mode.

Some values for sv_skirmish_id ID War Game Game Mode 0 None (default) 3 Flying Scoutsman Casual 10 Arms Race Arms Race 11 Demolition Demolition 12 Retakes Casual For details, see #Skirmish Modes.

Loading a Map

When loading a map, the game will...

1. set the whitelisted ConVars (the ones listed in csgo/bspconvar_whitelist.txt) to their default value,^{[no such file in CS2]}
2. execute the CFG files associated with the current values of game_type and game_mode (defined in csgo/gamemodes.txt and csgo/gamemodes_server.txt),
3. execute the CFG file associated with the current value of sv_game_mode_flags, see below, and
4. execute the CFG file associated with the current value of sv_skirmish_id (defined in csgo/scripts/items/items_game.txt under skirmish_modes), see below.

If these four ConVars are not set before loading a map, the map launches in the last game mode played. Their initial value is 0 (Casual).

Tip:The map and changelevel commands have an optional <game mode alias> parameter. Example: map de_dust2 deathmatch or changelevel myCustomMap coop. If such an alias parameter is given and if it is valid, the game will adjust game_type and game_mode and launch the map with the associated game mode. See the map command aliases column in the following big table.

Tip:Maps can have a default game mode, which can be read with map <mapname> default or map <mapname> auto. See #Map default.

Tip:Set Launch Options can be used, e.g: +game_type <number> +game_mode <number> +map <mapname>

Tip:You can use aliases to make frequent testing easier, for example alias MyMapRetake "game_type 0; game_mode 0; sv_skirmish_id 12; map MyMap". Best used in autoexecs which allows to quickly launch and test custom maps in the right game mode.

Note: If you want to run a map in a Classic game mode with bots, make sure bot_quota_mode is not set to competitive, as this causes them to stop.

Idea:You can create gamemode_competitive_server.cfg (see below) to automatically set bot_quota and bot_quota_mode to have bots on your local server whenever you load a map in Competitive.

Note:The game mode icons seen on the loading screen (and on this page) are loaded from csgo/materials/panorama/images/icons/ui/<internal mode name>.svg. If sv_skirmish_id is not 0, the internal name of the skirmish mode is used. If the game doesn't have the file, one can put a custom one to that place.

Game Type and Game Mode

game_type and game_mode are console variables that determine how the next map is initialized when loaded, including but not limited to the execution of CFG files, used to set some of the countless ConVars that control game rules, for example mp_roundtime, mp_t_default_secondary, sv_deadtalk and so forth.

Apart from that, there are also other game rules or settings for which the value of game_type and game_mode is checked during the current match. Examples are the UI for all players, the events when weapon_c4 is planted or defused, whether item_heavyassaultsuit causes a screen tint, whether players can pick up experimental weapons such as weapon_axe, ...

The following table lists all available game modes along with their values for game_type and game_mode, their internal name, their aliases for the map command, their default maximum number of players, the CFG files that are executed when a map is launched in this game mode, and a description.

Note: The CFG files ending with _offline.cfg are only executed if the server was launched via Practice with Bots from the main menu. Valve uses them to enable bots in offline competitive since bots have been disabled in competitive by default, see bot_quota.
The CFG files ending with _server.cfg don't exist locally by default. You can create them and write commands into them that will be executed every time you locally launch the corresponding game mode.

Note:With no adjustments, maxplayers is a hard limit for the number of players and bots on the server.

Note: The information of these tables can be found in csgo/gamemodes.txt.
The possible map command aliases can be found in the function GameTypes::GetGameTypeAndModeFromAlias defined in gametypes.cpp.

Game Mode		type	mode	Internal Name	map command aliases	max- players	CFG filenames executed, if existent	Description
	Casual (default)	0	0	casual	casual	20	gamemode_casual.cfg, gamemode_casual_server.cfg	Like Competitive but with fewer rounds, shorter freezetime per round, no friendly fire, no team collision, free armor and free defuse kit/cutters.
	Competitive	0	1	competitive	competitive, comp	10	gamemode_competitive.cfg, gamemode_competitive_offline.cfg (!) gamemode_competitive_server.cfg	The classic game mode, usually made for 5v5. Best of 30 rounds, teams are switched at halftime, friendly fire is on. Round-ending objectives are elimination, bomb explosion, bomb defusal, hostage rescue and timeout.
	Wingman	0	2	scrimcomp2v2	scrimcomp2v2	4	gamemode_competitive2v2.cfg, gamemode_competitive2v2_offline.cfg (!) gamemode_competitive2v2_server.cfg	Like Competitive, but adjusted for 2v2 and for a smaller map or a map section. Best of 16 rounds. Also, each round is shorter.
	Weapons Expert	0	3	scrimcomp5v5	scrimcomp5v5	10	gamemode_competitive.cfg, gamemode_competitive_offline.cfg (!) op08_weapons_expert.cfg, gamemode_competitive_server.cfg	Like Competitive but every player can buy each weapon at most once per match. The freezetime is a bit longer.
	Training Day (only in )	0	4	new_user_training	new_user_training	10	gamemode_new_user_training.cfg	Like Competitive with bots but automatically assigning humans to Terrorists with game instructions turned on. This game mode's CFG file also specifies a behavior tree for the bots that is made for Dust II.
	Arms Race	1	0	gungameprogressive	armsrace, arms, gungame, gg, gungameprogressive	10	gamemode_armsrace.cfg, gamemode_armsrace_server.cfg	The game is one perpetual round where killed players respawn at the default spawns. A weapon progression (a number of guns and their order) is defined where players win by making a specified number of kills with each of these weapons.
	Demolition	1	1	gungametrbomb	demolition, demo, gungametrbomb	10	gamemode_demolition.cfg, gamemode_demolition_server.cfg	A mixture of Casual with Armsrace. Best of 20 rounds. Each player is given a fixed weapon for each round, depending on their individual progress. Each player can progress one gun per round by making at least one kill.
	Deathmatch	1	2	deathmatch	deathmatch, dm	16	gamemode_deathmatch.cfg, gamemode_deathmatch_server.cfg	Like Armsrace but with free weapon choice and respawns across the map. Kills grant points, depending on the weapon type and if it is currently the bonus weapon. A player wins by scoring the highest after the round's time limit.
	Training	2	0	training	training	1	gamemode_training.cfg, gamemode_training_server.cfg	Assigns clients to CT with no weapon. No round limit, no time limit, no freezetime, minimal HUD. Good for singleplayer maps, used on CS:GO's Training Course.
	Custom	3	0	custom	custom	100	gamemode_custom.cfg, gamemode_custom_server.cfg	Like Undefined, see below. This is an "empty" game mode allowing mapmakers to implement any map-specific custom game mode, if they wish to. If sv_autoexec_mapname_cfg is not 0 (which however it its default value), the CFG file csgo/maps/cfg/<mapname>.cfg is executed with whitelist.
	Guardian	4	0	cooperative	guardian, guard, cooperative	20	gamemode_competitive.cfg, gamemode_cooperative.cfg, gamemode_cooperative_server.cfg	Two human players must defend a bombsite as CT or hostages as T against rushing bots. Maps must support this mode to work as intended.
	Co-op Strike	4	1	coopmission	coop, coopstrike, coopmission	10	gamemode_competitive.cfg, gamemode_coopmission.cfg, gamemode_coopmission_server.cfg	Usually a custom mission for two human players on a custom map that is designed primarily for this mode.
	War Games	5	0	skirmish	skirmish	12	-	Like Undefined, see below. Risk of Confusion:This game type is not used for #Skirmish Modes, also known as War Games.
	Danger Zone	6	0	survival	survival	16	gamemode_survival.cfg, gamemode_survival_server.cfg	A Battle Royale mode for big maps where players win by being the last man (or team) standing. Maps must be designed for this mode to work as intended.
	Workshop (only in )	7	0	workshop	-	1	gamemode_workshop.cfg, gamemode_workshop_server.cfg	Clarify: Seems not yet implemented. Appears in the file csgo/pak01_dir.vpk/gamemodes_tools.txt. This combination of game_type and game_mode is not yet recognized by the game, but it is reserved, as a comment in .../gamemodes.txt states.
	Map default	see description		-	default, auto	depends	depends	This is not a game mode itself, rather a "redirect". The game picks game_type and game_mode from the map's default_game_type and default_game_mode values, defined in either csgo/maps/<mapname>.kv, csgo/gamemodes.txt (under maps/<mapname>/) or csgo/gamemodes_server.txt. If they are defined in more than one of these files, the latter of the named files overrides the former. If they are not defined in any of these, the current type and mode are kept. All official maps use this appropriately (just that competitive maps use Casual). Example: Invoking map de_dust2 auto launches Dust II in Casual. Invoking map ar_shoots auto launches Shoots in Arms Race.
	Undefined	none of the above		-	-	?	-	No CFG file is executed, only the whitelisted ConVars are set to their default value. By default this results in game rules like Casual but with no round limit, instead with a time limit of 5 minutes for the game and map. mp_roundtime is also set to 5 minutes.

Game Mode Flags

The ConVar sv_game_mode_flags is used for game mode variations. It can determine more CFG files that will be executed after the game mode CFG files when a map is launched. Its value is read bitwise, meaning that adding values of the following table together results in all associated CFG files being executed.

sv_game_mode_flags

Value	CFG file executed, if existent
4	gamemode_<internal game mode name>_tmm.cfg
32	gamemode_<internal game mode name>_short.cfg

Note:This works for all game modes except Custom.

Note:A _short CFG is executed before a _tmm CFG.

Example:

• If set to 32 and a map is launched in Wingman, it will cause the execution of the CFG file gamemode_scrimcomp2v2_short.cfg.
• If set to 36 and a map is launched in Wingman, it will cause the execution of the CFG files gamemode_scrimcomp2v2_short.cfg and gamemode_scrimcomp2v2_tmm.cfg, in this order.

Valve currently uses this to implement game mode variations without touching sv_skirmish_id.

Current usage of Game Mode Flags

Game Mode		Flags Value
		0	4 (tmm)	32 (short)
	Competitive	default		Short Match
	Deathmatch	default	Team vs Team	Free For All

Example:To play Team vs Team, invoke game_type 1; game_mode 2; sv_game_mode_flags 4; map <mapname>, or shorter: sv_game_mode_flags 4; map <mapname> dm.

Skirmish Modes

War Games are game mode variations.

The ConVar sv_skirmish_id determines the War Game that a map will be launched in. Each War Game can have CFG files associated to it that are executed if a map is launched in that War Game, namely if sv_skirmish_id is set to the ID of that War Game. These CFG files contain only few commands and are executed after the CFG files of a game mode and after the CFG files of the game mode flags. They can be loaded in any game mode, but each skirimsh CFG file has a game mode that is intended to be used as a base which can be found in the appropriate game's text file and also in the skirmish CFG file itself.

To play one of the following skirmish modes, type sv_skirmish_id <number> in the console and launch a map with the intended game mode, see above.
Alternatively, one could also do exec <cfg filename> and mp_restartgame 1 in-game or even write own configs for that matter.

To return to a "pure" game mode found in the above table, set sv_skirmish_id back to 0, so the game will not load any additional CFG files to a game mode.

Example:

• To launch Stab Stab Zap on de_dust2, enter sv_skirmish_id 1 and map de_dust2 casual. This is equivalent to sv_skirmish_id 1; game_type 0; game_mode 0; map de_dust2.
• To launch Competitive on de_dust2 after having played a skirmish mode, enter sv_skirmish_id 0 and map de_dust2 comp. This is equivalent to sv_skirmish_id 0; game_type 0; game_mode 1; map de_dust2.

Note:The skirmish IDs 5 and 9 are undefined. However, there are CFG files in csgo/cfg/ that have no associated skirmish ID. They are mentioned at the end of the following table.

Note:The information of this table can be found in csgo/scripts/items/items_game.txt under skirmish_modes or in csgo/scripts/items/skirmish_ids.txt.

War Game		skirmish _id	Internal Name	Intended Game Mode	CFG filenames executed with whitelist	Description
	None (default)	0	-	-	-	No Skirmish Mode, i.e. the game mode defined by game_type and game_mode.
	Stab Stab Zap	1	stabstabzap	Casual	op08_stab_stab_zap.cfg	Only knives, recharging taser and grenades.
	Free For All	2	dm_freeforall	Deathmatch	gamemode_dm_freeforall.cfg	Like Deathmatch, but teammates are enemies. Note:The official FFA Deathmatch mode is not this skirmish mode, see #Game Mode Flags.
	Flying Scoutsman	3	flyingscoutsman	Casual	op08_flying_scoutsman.cfg	Only scouts and knives, low gravity, high precision.
	Trigger Discipline	4	triggerdiscipline	Casual	op08_trigger_discipline.cfg	Gunshots that a player does not hit an enemy with damage theirselves down to a minimum of 1 HP.
	Boom! Headshot!	6	headshots	Deathmatch	op08_headshots.cfg	Helmets are disabled and bodyshots deal no damage, causing a small spark effect instead of blood.
	Hunter-Gatherers	7	huntergatherers	Deathmatch	op08_hunter_gatherers.cfg	Team deathmatch with collecting dogtags: Killed enemies will drop dogtags that anyone can pick up. Collecting dogtags from the enemy team awards victory points. Killing enemies with the Deathmatch bonus weapon makes them drop an extra dogtag. The team with the most victory points at the end of the time limit wins.
	Heavy Assault Suit	8	heavyassaultsuit	Casual	op08_heavy_assault_suit.cfg	Heavy armor can be purchased for $6000. Deprecated:The item is no longer accessible, neither using the buy menu, nor with the command buy heavyarmor, rendering this skirmish mode useless.
	Arms Race	10	armsrace	Arms Race	-	Equivalent to #Arms Race.
	Demolition	11	demolition	Demolition	-	Equivalent to #Demolition.
	Retakes	12	retakes	Casual	gamemode_retakecasual.cfg	Each round, 3 Terrorists spawn on a bomb site with a bomb being planted and 4 CTs spawn at fixed locations around it or on the other bomb spot. Each player can choose a loadout card at round start. Warning:If there is exactly one bombsite, the game crashes with a probability of 50 %.
	Bloodletter	-	-	Arms Race	op08_bloodletter.cfg	Dealing damage heals you 100 % of the damage dealt (max 200). Players take non-lethal damage over time while they are alive.
	Bounty Hunter	-	-	Deathmatch	op08_bounty_hunter.cfg	All players are enemies, killed enemies will drop dogtags that anyone can pick up. Killing players awards less points. Collecting dogtags awards additional Deathmatch points.
	Team Deathmatch	-	-	Deathmatch	op08_team_deathmatch.cfg	Killing enemies is worth team victory points, killing enemies with the Deathmatch bonus weapon awards additional victory points. The team with the most victory points at the end of the time limit wins. Note:The official Team Deathmatch mode is not this skirmish mode, see #Game Mode Flags.

Game Mode dependent Events

local nType = ScriptGetGameType() // game_type local nMode = ScriptGetGameMode() // game_mode if (nType == 0 && nMode == 2) { // code executed only in Wingman EntFire( "spawnpoints.2v2", "SetEnabled", "", 0 ) } else { // code executed only in any other game mode EntFire( "spawnpoints.2v2", "SetDisabled", "", 0 ) } Note:The variable names nType, nMode are arbitrary.

In VScript, there are the specific VScript functions ScriptGetGameType() and ScriptGetGameMode() which return the current integer value of game_type and game_mode, respectively.

Note:This is independent of the current value of sv_skirmish_id.

These allow VScript structures such as the one on the right; If this example code is executed, it will fire an I/O event to entities named spawnpoints.2v2 depending on the current game mode. Code can be executed every round by saving it in a .nut file under csgo/scripts/vscripts/ and by adding it to the Entity Scripts of any entity in a map. See also: VScript Fundamentals and Squirrel.

With this concept, one can manipulate gameplay depending on the current game mode, which is a really powerful tool to make other game modes such as Co-op Strike work.

Example:The script csgo/scripts/vscripts/2v2/2v2_enable.nut provided by Valve is commonly used to shift player spawn points and activate blockers in Wingman.

Idea:When making a map, you can create a VScript exclusively for that map and use this concept to make game mode dependent changes to: the map flow, player spawns, gamerules and much more. For example, it is possible to make closed areas on a map that are opened up only in some game modes, such as Deathmatch and Armsrace.