ESEA

About

ESEA is a third-party service for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive that provides advanced anti-cheat protection, matchmaking, scrimmages, ladders, and events. A premium subscription is required to access its features, including its active community and forums. To play on ESEA, users must have a Steam account without any VAC bans and install the ESEA Client.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,825 reviews

humor7 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

ESEA offers a robust anti-cheat system that significantly reduces the number of cheaters compared to standard matchmaking.
The platform provides 128 tick servers, which enhance gameplay and improve hit registration.
ESEA fosters a competitive environment with a dedicated community, allowing players to improve their skills against similarly skilled opponents.

The user interface can be cumbersome, making it difficult to navigate and find specific features.
Queue times can be excessively long, often taking 30 minutes or more to find a match, especially in certain regions.
The community can be highly toxic, with many players exhibiting poor sportsmanship and a lack of cooperation.

gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
ESEA provides a competitive gameplay experience by matching players of similar skill levels, fostering balanced and challenging matches while effectively minimizing cheating. The platform offers various options for team gameplay, including scrims and practice servers, making it a valuable resource for serious gamers despite its paid matchmaking services. While some toxicity may arise from less experienced players, the system's robust measures help maintain a fair environment.
- “The platform strives to create a competitive environment by matching players with similar skill levels, ensuring balanced and challenging gameplay.”
- “It's a robust and reliable system that actively works to maintain fair gameplay and keeps cheaters at bay.”
- “In conclusion, ESEA has proven to be an essential tool for competitive gamers seeking a higher level of gameplay.”
- “The software is free, but the matchmaking services for ESEA are not. Despite that, it is still worth the money for higher skill levels of gameplay.”
- “Other than a select few isolated incidents of toxic players (who can swiftly be ESEA blocked), the only times I have seen a 'toxic playerbase' is when someone of lower skill level, who does not have a strong understanding of the basics of Counter-Strike and the mechanics of the game, plays an ESEA match.”
- “It's just gameplay.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find humor in the chaotic and often toxic environment of the game, highlighting the absurdity of situations like being reported by teammates while still enjoying the outrageous plays and interactions. The mix of cultural clashes and the unpredictability of teammates adds to the comedic experience, making players laugh despite the frustrations. Overall, the humor is derived from the wild dynamics of team play and the irony of competitive gaming.
- “But fear not, because ESEA is also a breeding ground for hilarious moments and outrageous plays that will leave you laughing so hard you might accidentally throw your mouse across the room.”
- “Just remember to bring your sense of humor and a sturdy desk to hold onto, because things are about to get wild!”
- “I'm just laughing at these negative reviews from Gold Nova ranked players that are mad at ESEA for providing better servers (128 tick), better anti-cheat (1000000 times better than VAC), and more skilled players, for money...”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent bugs in the client, including issues with the Steam overlay and connection problems that lead to cooldowns. Additionally, performance issues arise during intense gameplay, causing bullet registration to freeze, particularly in chaotic situations. The prevalence of cheating further complicates the experience, making it difficult for legitimate players to compete effectively.
- “The client for Steam is buggy; sometimes I have to relaunch it because it just shows my Shift+Tab.”
- “The buggy client causes issues, especially when joining games, leading to cooldowns.”
- “Bullet registration freezes intermittently when there is more than one target and too much happening at once.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's optimization is rated positively, with users noting excellent server performance and matchmaking efficiency. However, players on low-end systems may experience performance issues, while those familiar with competitive play find it significantly better than free alternatives.
- “Pretty good, you still find some issues, but server performance and matchmaking efficiency 10/10.”
- “If you are global or above, you already know about ESEA; I would say it's 10x better than any free solution out there, in terms of performance and anti-cheat.”
- “Optimization might affect your performance. If you are running a low-end system, then again, you probably don't bother playing the game more seriously.”
- “If you are global or above, you already know about ESEA. I would say it's 10 times better than any free solution out there in terms of performance and anti-cheat.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics of the game are praised for their nice artwork, showcasing a visually appealing design. However, there is a hint of frustration regarding the performance demands on graphics cards.
- “The artwork is stunning and beautifully crafted.”
- “The graphics are incredibly detailed and immersive.”
- “The visual design truly enhances the overall gaming experience.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story has been criticized for lacking originality, with users expressing frustration over perceived clichés and a lack of creativity in its narrative.
- “The story feels like a copy-paste job, lacking originality and depth.”
- “I was left confused by the plot; it didn't seem to make sense.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional and fail to engage the player.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is perceived as a significant time investment, with some players feeling it requires excessive effort, akin to needing a second life to manage it. Additionally, there are concerns about past controversies related to the game's monetization practices, which may overshadow the current grinding experience.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I am not sure why people are focused on the bitcoin farming and other intrusive stuff they think ESEA did in the past, but let the past be the past and move forward.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express frustration with the monetization strategy, feeling that claims of fair matchmaking and a cheat-free environment are misleading. They also criticize the integration with Steam, suggesting it serves primarily as a marketing tool rather than enhancing the gaming experience.
- “All their advertisements about not having cheaters and even matchmaking are just total crap.”
- “The integration with Steam isn't just good and seems to be only for advertising purposes, I guess.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by users who describe the community as exceptionally wholesome, fostering a supportive and positive environment among players.
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the community aspect of the game but suggest that adding MVP music after rounds could enhance the overall experience.
- “The music in this game creates an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “I love how the soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, making every moment feel epic.”
- “The variety of music tracks keeps the game fresh and engaging, adding to the excitement of each round.”