How to Play CS2 With Friends and Bots (Private Match Guide)

To play CS2 with friends and bots, invite your friends to your lobby first, then go to Play, Practice, pick a map and start. Your party loads into a match hosted on your PC, and you control bots from the console with commands like bot_add_t and bot_difficulty. For longer sessions, bigger groups or a private 5v5 without bots, a private server works better because it does not depend on one player's PC. This guide covers both, plus every bot command you need.

Option 1: The in game Practice lobby

This is free and takes a minute:

1. Everyone turns on the console: Settings, Game, Enable Developer Console, Yes. The host needs it most.
2. The host invites friends from the friends list so everyone is in the same party. Do this before loading the map.
3. The host goes to Play, then Practice, picks a mode and map and presses Go.
4. The whole party loads in together, and the host adds bots from the console.

Good to know:

• The match runs on the host's PC, so everyone's ping depends on the host's internet and hardware.
• When the host quits or crashes, the match ends for everyone.
• Friends cannot join mid match unless the host invites them again, and people outside the party cannot find it.

For a quick game tonight, that is fine. For a regular group, a server is smoother.

Option 2: A private CS2 server

A private server runs on its own machine, so nobody's PC is the host, it keeps running when someone leaves, and friends join whenever they like with connect and a password. It also keeps your bot settings and configs between sessions.

On a GamezServers CS2 server, a 4 GB plan covers a 10 player lobby. It is live in about 60 seconds, and you control bots and maps from the panel console. Set a password in game/csgo/cfg/server.cfg so only your group gets in:

hostname "Friends vs Bots"
sv_password "changeme"

Friends then join from their console:

password changeme
connect 203.0.113.10:27015

How to host a CS2 server walks through the setup, including the free Steam token the server needs. If you would rather run it on your own PC, see how to make a CS2 server.

Bot commands

None of the basic bot commands need sv_cheats. Type them in the host's console in a Practice lobby, or the server console on a private server.

Bot difficulty goes from 0 (easy) to 3 (expert). It only applies to bots added after you change it, so run bot_kick, set the difficulty, then add them again.

Popular setups

All of you vs bots

Great for groups with different skill levels. Put every human on CT and fill T with bots:

mp_autoteambalance 0
mp_limitteams 0
mp_humanteam ct
bot_difficulty 2
bot_quota 10
bot_quota_mode fill
mp_restartgame 1

With four friends, that gives five humans on CT against five bots on T. Raise bot_quota for a bigger bot team.

Mixed teams with bots filling gaps

Only six of you? Keep teams mixed and let bots fill to 5v5:

mp_humanteam any
mp_autoteambalance 1
bot_quota 10
bot_quota_mode fill
mp_restartgame 1

As more friends join, bots leave to make room.

Private 5v5, no bots

For an in house match between two teams of friends:

bot_kick
bot_quota 0
mp_autoteambalance 0
mp_limitteams 0
game_type 0; game_mode 1; changelevel de_mirage

That loads competitive rules on Mirage. The panel's Restart match and End warmup buttons start it when everyone is in.

Bots on Workshop maps

Bots need navigation data for the map. Official maps have it, but many Workshop maps do not, so bots stand still or spawn and do nothing. Stick to official maps for bot games, or pick Workshop maps whose page says they support bots. Loading them is covered in how to play CS2 Workshop maps on a server.

Common problems

• Friends are not in the match: the party was not made before the host started Practice. Everyone leaves, the host invites first, then starts.
• Bot commands do nothing: the console is not enabled, or you typed them in your own console on a server where you are not the host. On a server, use the server console or RCON.
• Bots are too easy or too hard: change bot_difficulty, then bot_kick and add them again.
• Too many bots keep appearing: set bot_quota lower, or bot_quota 0 for none.
• Lag for everyone in the Practice lobby: the host's connection is the bottleneck. A server in a data center fixes that.

FAQ

Can you play CS2 with friends against bots?

Yes. Make a party, start Practice from the Play menu, and add bots from the console. On a private server, use mp_humanteam ct and bot_quota so all humans play against a bot team.

How do I make CS2 bots harder?

Run bot_kick, then bot_difficulty 3 for expert, then add the bots again. Difficulty only applies to newly added bots.

Do bot commands need sv_cheats?

No. Adding, kicking and setting bot difficulty work without cheats. Commands like bot_place that move bots around do need sv_cheats 1.

Can friends join a CS2 practice match later?

Only if the host invites them. On a private server, they can join any time with the address and password.