The move to make CS:GO free-to-play should have removed all barriers to entry from the game. However, the games long history, extreme learning curve and generally protective and snobbish player base could turn even the most adept FPS player turn away. This guide aims to assist people starting out and give them the guidance that I wish I had when I first picked up the game over 5 years ago. Even those who have had some experience in the game may find some of the following resources, tips and tricks of use.

Upon starting the game for the first time you will, most likely, be deafened by the drums of the Counter Strike soundtrack. This will lead you nicely to the options page, where we make our first important decisions. The following advice is, of course, very dependent on your system and what it can support. If you have experience with competitive gaming or previous Counter Strike titles you will know the importance of FPS (Frames per Second) - configure your settings with the goal of achieving the highest and most stable FPS you can. There are many ways to measure FPS, but i would recommend using Steam’s FPS counter and Mr. uLLeticaL's benchmark map which can be found here. Full instructions on how to use this tool can be found on the workshop page.

For a very loose guideline on what kind of things you should be looking to alter, I have included my settings below.