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Best Free FPS Games for Beginners (Tested & Ranked)
We've all been there. You load into your very first FPS match, full of excitement — and then promptly get headshot five times before you even figure out which button makes you sprint. It's brutal. It's demoralizing. And it almost made more than a few of us quit before we ever got good. But here's the thing: not every FPS has to feel like that. After years of playing (and sometimes rage-quitting) first-person shooters, we put together this guide specifically for players who ar
JV
May 612 min read


CS2 Settings Guide: The Complete Setup for All Skill Levels
Counter-Strike 2 boasts over 1 million daily active players on Steam, making it one of the most competitive shooters on the planet. Yet the majority of those players are actively sabotaging their own performance — not through poor aim or bad game sense, but through misconfigured settings. This CS2 settings guide exists to fix that. The right configuration can reduce input lag, stabilize your frame rate, sharpen your crosshair visibility, and — critically — bring your in-game
John Carter
May 614 min read


The Complete CS2 Aim Training Guide: How to Actually Get Better
You know the feeling. You peek a corner, the enemy is right there — dead center in your screen and you miss. Or you spray down someone at close range and half your bullets hit the wall. You're not bad at the game. You're just training wrong. This CS2 aim training guide exists to fix that. Whether you're stuck in Silver or grinding through MG, the problem usually isn't your reaction time or your mouse — it's that no one ever taught you what to practice or how to practice it. T
John Carter
May 613 min read


Counter-Strike 2 Tips for Beginners: The Ultimate Starter Guide (No Experience Needed)
You just launched Counter-Strike 2 for the first time. You get shot before you even see an enemy. Your team types things you don't understand. You're not sure what to buy or where to go. Sound familiar? Don't worry - every great CS2 player started exactly where you are right now. This guide gives you the best Counter-Strike 2 tips for beginners so you can go from totally lost to genuinely competitive. Whether you've never played a tactical shooter or you're just switching fro
John Carter
Apr 3011 min read


How to Master Smokes in CS:GO: A Complete Training Guide
If you have ever searched for a CS2 smoke practice routine and come back with a list of 30 lineups and no structure around how to actually learn them — you are not alone. Most guides dump information on you. This one builds you a system. At The Gaming Diary, we analysed what separates players who land smokes consistently in ranked from those who practice for hours and still choke the throw mid-round. The answer is not more lineups. It is a repeatable, structured routine built
John Carter
Apr 208 min read


New Counter-Strike Map de_Splinter: Full breakdown and what to expect
QUICK SUMMARY Field Details Release Date April 12, 2026 Map Type Bomb Defusal (de_) Created By Shawn 'FMPONE' Snelling Setting Canadian Rockies — sawmill & industrial complex Engine Source 2 Key Strength Exceptional visuals, vertical gameplay, tactical depth Key Weakness Performance issues, visual clarity, technical bugs Current Status Steam Workshop only — NOT in Active Duty pool Introduction: Why de_Splinter Matters The Counter-Strike 2 community received a notable addition
John Carter
Apr 1513 min read


CS2 Competitive Guide 2026: Meta, Settings, Economy & Strategy
Expert guide on Counter Strike 2 in 2026. Become beginner to expert in counter strike with The Gaming Diary Expert.
John Carter
Apr 917 min read


The Ultimate Guide to AUG Skins in Counter-Strike 2
The AUG rifle has carved out a unique niche in Counter-Strike 2's competitive landscape. As the CT side's only scoped assault rifle, it bridges the gap between the versatility of the M4 series and the precision of sniper rifles. Beyond its tactical advantages, the AUG has become a canvas for some of CS2's most creative and valuable skin designs. Whether you're a collector seeking rare items, an investor analyzing market trends, or a player wanting to personalize your loadout,
John Carter
Nov 3, 20258 min read


CS2 vs CSGO Crosshair Settings: Which Dot Crosshair Works Best?
The transition from CS:GO to Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) wasn't just a graphical upgrade, it was an engine change that subtly but significantly impacted how the game looks and feels, and the crosshair is no exception.
JV
Sep 30, 20253 min read


Master Your Aim: The Best Dot Crosshair Settings for CS2 and CSGO (Pro Players’ Style)
In competitive titles like Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO), precision is paramount. While a standard crosshair works for most, an increasing number of elite professional players—especially those with an emphasis on one-taps and incredible headshot accuracy—have adopted the minimalist Dot Crosshair . This expert guide dives deep into the philosophy and optimal settings for a dot crosshair, mirroring the focused, high-precision style favored b
JV
Sep 30, 20254 min read


How to Set a Dot Crosshair in CS2 2026 | Best Settings + Console Commands
n the high-stakes, pixel-perfect world of Counter-Strike, your crosshair is more than just a targeting reticle, it's the focal point of your aim, precision, and consistency.
JV
Sep 30, 20257 min read


The Ultimate Guide to Mastering CS2 Dot Crosshair
In the competitive world of first-person shooter games, precision and accuracy are crucial elements that can make all the difference...
Rohit Kanzariya
Jul 2, 20242 min read


How To Get The Dot Crosshair In Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)
Many players struggle with aiming in Counter-Strike 2 (CS2). The game offers multiple crosshair styles, including a dot. This article...
Rohit Kanzariya
Jun 19, 20244 min read


ESL Pro League Season 19 - Teams, Results, Schedule, Format, How to Watch, More
Finding the best Counterstrike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) action can be tough. ESL Pro League Season 19 has 32 teams fighting in 79...
Rohit Kanzariya
Apr 26, 20247 min read


Thrilling Esports Action
Welcome to the adrenaline-fueled world of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO), where precision, strategy, and teamwork reign...
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Mar 27, 20241 min read


Precision Shooting
Welcome to the adrenaline-fueled world of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO), where precision, strategy, and teamwork reign...
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Mar 27, 20241 min read


Counter-Strike: Global Offensive – The Ultimate Tactical Shooter Experience
Welcome to the adrenaline-fueled world of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO), where precision, strategy, and teamwork reign...
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Mar 27, 20241 min read


Experimental Builds
xplore any unconventional item builds that have gained traction in recent games. While some builds may seem unorthodox at first glance,...
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Mar 27, 20241 min read
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