How to Watch Demos in CS2 – Record & Download

Demos and Counter-Strike have had a rocky relationship. The feature rarely worked as intended, and the viewing experience was often frustrating. However, with the arrival of CS2, the demo feature has improved significantly. Now players can showcase their in-game stats and clips without relying on third-party applications.

That said, finding and using this feature can still be challenging. Many players, including myself, have turned to Reddit, searching for answers on how to watch demos in CS2. But worry not! I’m here to save you the hassle and share everything I learned about the demo viewer and the demo watching feature in Counter-Strike 2!

Key Takeaways

• Record CS2 Demos Easily: Use simple console commands to record and review gameplay from multiple angles for better analysis.
• Watch & Analyze Demos: Use in-game developer commands to control playback speed, switch perspectives, and review key moments.
• Advanced Insights: Tools like SCOPE.GG, CSGO Demos Manager, and Leetify offer deeper analytics and personalized improvement tips.

How to Watch a Demo in CS2

Watching demos in CS2 is a straightforward process. Essentially, here is what you need to do:

1. Locating Downloaded Demo Files

Locating your demo files is the first step to watching your recorded matches. By default, CS2 saves your demo files within the game’s installation directory, typically under the ‘replays’ folder.

If you downloaded your demo from an external source, ensure that you move it to the ‘Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Global Offensive\csgo’ directory for ease of access.

2. Opening Demos with Developer Console

Once you’ve located your demo files in the program files folder, it’s time to watch them. But before that, make sure you have already downloaded demos to your system. Once done, just follow these steps:

Step 1: Access the Demo Viewer

1. Open CS2 and bring up the Developer Console (~).
2. Type:playdemo demo_name(Replace demo_name with the name of your recorded file.)
3. OR Use the command below for advanced controls:demoui

Step 2: Navigate the Demo

The DemoUI interface allows you to:

• Play/Pause the demo.
• Fast-forward or Rewind using the timeline slider.
• Change Player Perspective by clicking Next/Previous Player.
• View Through GOTV Mode for a free camera experience.

How to Watch Professional Match Demos

Visit websites like HLTV.org to access a vast collection of professional CS2 match demos.

Alternatively, check esports tournament organizers’ websites like ESL.com for available match demos. Once done, do the following:

1. Choose the match demos you’re interested in and download them to your computer.
2. Extract the Files:
3. Once downloaded, the demo files will likely be in compressed archives. Use a file extraction program to extract them.
4. Locate the specified installation folder for CS2 on your computer.
5. Move the extracted demo files to this folder for viewing.

Learn More: Match Demo Has Expired CS2 Error Explained

What Are CS2 Demos?

CS2 demos are in-game recordings that allow you to replay matches from any player’s perspective. These files are saved as .dem files and can be shared, analyzed, or rewatched later. Demos are useful for:

• Learning from Pros: Study professional player demos to enhance your skills.
• Analyzing Your Gameplay: Spot mistakes and improve your strategy.
• Sharing with Others: Upload your best plays or funny moments

How to Record CS2 Demos

Everyone loves analyzing their plays, right? It’s fun, it helps you learn, but best of all, it’s a free pass to some bragging rights! There’s no denying the value recording demos in CS2 can offer.

Step 1: Enable Developer Console

Console commands are the keys (and the easiest way by far) to recording your demos in CS2. Here’s how to do it:

1. Launch CS2 and go to Settings.
2. Navigate to the Game tab and enable Developer Console (~).

Step 2: Start Recording a Demo

1. Open the console by pressing the ~ key.
2. Type the command: record demo_name (replace demo_name with your chosen name).
3. Play your match as usual. CS2 will record everything until you stop it.

Step 3: Stop Recording

When you’re ready to stop recording, open the console again and type:stop


Your demo will be saved to:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Counter-Strike 2\csgo\replays

How to Download CS2 Matches

To download a demo from a match:

1. Open CS2 and click Watch Matches from the main menu.
2. Select Your Matches to view recent game replays.
3. Click Download to save the demo.

To share a demo:

• Share the download link with friends or on forums.
• Upload your .dem file to a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox.

Troubleshooting: Can’t Download CS2 Matches

If you encounter issues with downloading matches, such as “CS2 can’t download matches” or “can’t download CS2 matches,” consider these troubleshooting steps:

• Check Your Internet Connection: Ensure that your connection is stable.
• Restart the Game: Sometimes, simply restarting CS2 can resolve downloading issues.
• Check Storage Space: Ensure you have enough space on your hard drive to download matches.
• Verify Game Files: Use Steam’s built-in feature to verify the integrity of game files, which can fix any corrupted files affecting downloads.
• Update Your Game: Make sure that CS2 is fully updated to the latest version.

How to Download GOTV Replays

Another excellent way to gain insights into your gameplay is by downloading GOTV replays (GOTV demo). Here’s how:

1. Log in to your Steam account through a web browser.
2. Select Games.
3. Find Counter-Strike 2.
4. Click on Personal Game Data under Premier Matches.
5. Choose the specific game you want to analyze.
6. Click the Download GOTV Replay button.

The downloaded replay file should be placed in the csgo directory.

All Demo Controls in Counter-Strike 2

In Counter-Strike 2, demo controls allow you to review and analyze gameplay by recording and replaying matches thoroughly. Here’s how to use the demo and replay controls within the game:

Recording Demos

• Start Recording: Open the developer console in-game and type record [demo_name] to begin recording.
• Stop Recording: To stop and save the demo, type stop in the console.

Playing Back Demos

• Loading Demos: To watch a recorded demo, use playdemo [demo_name] in the console. If the demo file is not in the default CS2 folder, you’ll need to provide the full path.

Navigating Demos

• Demo UI: Access the demo controls by typing demoui in the console or pressing Shift + F2. This brings up a UI for playback control.

Basic Playback Controls

• Play/Pause: Start or pause the demo playback.
• Speed Control: Adjust the playback speed to view actions in slow motion or speed them up.
• Skipping Rounds: Move forward or backward through the demo by rounds or specific time intervals.
• Spectator Controls: Choose to follow a specific player or use the free camera mode for a more comprehensive view.
• Visibility Controls: Commands like cl_draw_only_deathnotices 1 can tailor what information is displayed on the screen, focusing on death notices, for example.

Advanced Replay Controls in CS2

• Timestamp Tracking: Shows elapsed and total time.
• Instant Replay: Jump back or forward 15 seconds to review specific moments.
• Round Navigation: Easily navigate to the beginning of the current round or move to the previous or next round.
• Player Cycling: Use mouse clicks or number keys to cycle through players’ perspectives.
• Camera Modes: Switch between first-person, third-person, and free-camera views with the Space bar.
• Tactical Overview: Press the Q key to open a map view, showing all players’ positions for tactical analysis.
• Scoreboard Access: View the match scoreboard with the Tab key.

Going Through Different Angles and Perspectives in CS2 Demos

One of the best things about watching demos is the ability to view the game from different angles and perspectives. You can cycle through players’ perspectives and even select a player directly by pressing their corresponding number key.

You can control the playback speed of the demo using the ‘speed’ command or through the extended demo viewer interface after pressing Shift+F2, enabling fast forwarding and rewinding.

Analyzing Demos with Third-Party Tools

While CS2 demos offer a wealth of information, third-party tools can take your analysis to the next level. Tools such as SCOPE.GG, CSGO Demos Manager, and Leetify offer enhanced capabilities, offering in-depth insights that the native demo viewer may not provide.

If you want more advanced analysis features, several third-party tools provide enhanced demo playback, statistical analysis, and more. Here are the best tools available in 2025:

Tool	Features	Website
Noesis	Upload and analyze CS2 demos, heatmaps, utility tracking.	noesis.gg
JumpThrow.gg	Crosshair customization, key bindings, pro team demo analysis.	jumpthrow.gg
CS2Lens	Professional demo replayer with performance insights.	cs2lens.com

Summary

Mastering demo recording and playback in CS2 can dramatically improve your skills and give you an edge over your opponents. Whether you’re using the built-in Demo Viewer or advanced third-party tools, consistently reviewing your gameplay is a crucial step in becoming a better player.

Frequently Asked Questions