Valve is known for its high-quality game releases, but Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) has fallen short of expectations. While it has received mixed reviews, there is another Valve game that is even worse: Artifact, the Dota 2 trading card game.
As of October 1, CS2 has a 68% positive review score on Steam, based on 164,203 reviews in the past 30 days. However, this includes reviews from the final two weeks of CS:GO, so the actual CS2 review percentage is lower at 59.1% since its launch on September 27.
Artifact, on the other hand, has a dismal all-time review score of 46% positive, making it the worst-rated Valve game on Steam.
When Artifact was announced as a Dota 2 trading card game in 2017, it was met with disappointment and disinterest from fans. The game’s $20 price point and in-game purchases were seen as greedy, leading to a significant drop in player base within months. Valve attempted to salvage the game with a 2.0 overhaul but eventually halted development due to lack of player interest. The original game and the 2.0 beta, called Artifact Foundry, were made available to play for free.
While CS2 has faced its own challenges with launch issues and player resistance, it is still faring better than Artifact. Player reviews have been more negative compared to Valve’s other popular titles like Dota 2, Team Fortress 2, Half-Life, and Portal series. However, there has been a recent increase in positive reviews, and as Valve continues to release updates and fixes, the review score for CS2 is expected to improve over time.
| Game | Review Score |
|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 59.1% positive |
| Artifact | 46% positive |
Valve’s reputation for high-quality games has taken a hit with the mixed reviews for Counter-Strike 2. However, it’s important to remember that Artifact remains the worst-rated Valve game on Steam. Despite its initial disappointment, CS2 has the potential to improve as Valve addresses player concerns and makes necessary updates.
Source: DOTESPORTS
