The 12 best CS2 cases to open in 2023

There are a lot of CS2 cases you can open, but some are better than others, and the best cases to open in CS2 contain some of the most fashionable skins in the game.

Recommended Videos

The best cases in CS2 breathe life into two separate areas. First, they ensure that there’s always a demand for keys and cases. Secondly, their overall demand ensures that there are always individually sold skins on the marketplace so players can also purchase their favorite cosmetics without taking any chances.

Though you can head over to the Steam Community Market and purchase the skins you want, opening cases in CS2 has an appeal that continues to draw the masses. Fans looking to get the most out of their buck often search for the best cases to open in CS2 so they can maximize their chances of getting their hands on some of the coolest-looking cosmetics. The loot box experience can also be mesmerizing, causing players to open way more cases than they intended to, so you should consider setting a hard limit on your case budget before starting.

How to get cases in CS2

If you’re looking to go on a case-opening rampage in CS2, you should have everything ready in your inventory to avoid any downtime. There are two ways to get cases in CS2, and I recommend combining the two in the long run to reduce costs.

1) Play CS2 to get free case drops

Case drops reward CS2 players for their efforts in the game. Whenever you rank up for the first time in a week, you’ll get a free case drop in CS2. In addition to this guaranteed chest, CS2 players will also have a chance to get a case drop after each match played.

The case drops in CS2 are random, and the cases you’ll get from these drops will be on a rotation that changes when Valve adds a new chest to the game.

Buying CS2 cases is the fastest way to get them. The cases have ranging prices that depend on their contents, and you’ll also need to purchase their respective keys to open them inside the game.

Before buying a ton of CS2 cases, I recommend checking their contents to ensure that you want at least a few skins inside them.

Deciding on which cases to open may be a struggle because Valve has been creating CS2 skins and cases since CS:GO. To save you time, we came up with a list of the best CS2 cases to open both in terms of value and popularity in 2023.

Which CS2 case should you open based on odds?

Every time I purchase a CS2 case, I cross my fingers and hope to get a valuable skin to make a profit. The odds of this happening won’t be the same for all cases. If you’re looking to increase your chances of profiting from your case-opening adventures, then you should prioritize opening the best CS2 cases with the highest return on investment rates.

The following calculations were made by Daniel Morris of esports.net.

Case nameCase costKey costAverage monetary return of one caseReturn on investment (ROI)
Operation Wildfire Case$2$2.49$2.5557 percent
CS:GO Weapon Case 2$12$2.49$8.2056.5 percent
Recoil Case$0.80$2.49$1.6550 percent
CS:GO Weapon Case 3$9.50$2.49$650 percent
Shadow Case$1.10$2.49$1.7047 percent

What are the chances of getting a knife in CS2?

Based on case odds revealed by Valve in 2017, players have a 0.26 percent chance to get a knife from CS2 cases. This means that if you open 400 CS2 cases, you should at least get one knife or one glove.

Tip:

Don’t forget: collecting as many AK skins as possible is an excellent way to bolser the value of your inventory. I typically aim for cases featuring skins on AKs, AWPs, and either M4. This makes the Dreams & Nightmares Case one of my favorites.

The best CS2 cases to open in 2023

Dreams & Nightmares Case

The Dreams & Nightmares Case in CS2 contains 17 community designs as skins and was released on Jan. 20, 2022. The rarest skins inside the case feature bright designs, and fans will also have a chance to unlock an even rarer item that will come in the form of a Gamma knife.

All items in the Dreams & Nightmares Case. Screenshots by Dot Esports

Recoil Case

The Recoil Case was released on July 1, 2022. This loot box contains 17 community-designed weapon finishes, including an AWP, a USP-S, and an AK-47, in addition to several pairs of gloves—if you’re lucky enough to get one of them.

The USP-S Printstream is one of, in my opinion, the cleanest-looking pistol skins on the market. If you’re lucky and land a Factory New Printstream, you’ll increase the value of your inventory by hundreds of dollars.

All skins in the Recoil Case. Screenshots by Dot Esports

Operation Riptide Case

Valve added the Operation Riptide Case to CS2 in September 2021. The cases contain a selection of skins from the Operation Riptide Collection, featuring bright colors and superb designs. There are a total of 17 skins inside this case, and all of them were designed by community members.

While I might use the M4A1-S over the M4A4, the CT assault rifle meta changes on a dime. This is where gathering M4A4 skins is still important, so I continue to open all Operation Riptide cases that come my way.

All skins in the Riptide Case. Screenshots by Dot Esports

Chroma 3 Case

The Chroma 3 Case in CS2 was added to the franchise in April 2016. The case consists of community weapons and can be opened with a Chroma 3 Case Key. The skins featured in the collection feature Neon colors making them look futuristic.

While the Legend of Anubis skin is for an incredibly underused gun, the skin had some legs on the market. As far as red skins go, the price pales in comparison to AK or AWP cosmetics, but it’s still relatively expensive.

All skins in the Chroma 3 Case. Screenshots by Dot Esports

Operation Broken Fang Case

Each operation introduces unique skins that rival the previous releases. Operation Broken Fang was no different, and its case added a bunch of colorful skins to CS2. In addition to multiple valuable drops with excellent looks, it’s the glove drop that separates this case from the rest.

As one of the best CS2 cases, it features both a high-level USP-S and Glock-18 skin which are rare finds to begin with. The Broken Fang case also hosts an incredibly clean M4A1-S skin. I personally, can’t go past a Printstream skin, and if you’re a fan of the USP-S Printstream, you’ll be able to add this to your collection if you seek out the Broken Fang case.

All skins in the Broken Fang Case. Screenshots by Dot Esports

Revolution Case

The Revolution Case is a 2023 addition to CS2‘s skin library. It’s one of the best CS2 cases to open since it’s one of the rare ones that feature skins for all the most popular weapons in the game, AK-47, M4A4, M4A1-S, and AWP.

While almost all cases in CS2 feature at least one skin for the big four, it’s a unique occurrence to have a case that has a skin for all four. The Revolution Case also tops it off with a high return on investment rate since most of the skins inside it will be worth more than its unlocking costs, making it a solid choice for players who’d like to get their money’s worth from a case.

All skins in the Revolution Case. Screenshots by Dot Esports

Gamma Case

The Gamma Case features detailed skins that laid the foundation of some of the most incredible skins to hit the Steam market. Some of the textures included in the case resemble professional street art and give you a gangsta look in the game.

The Mecha Industries sits alongside the Printstream as the cleanest skins in CS2. You’ll be able to add the Wasteland Rebel skin to match your AK47 Wasteland Rebel, making your T kit the sharpest on the server.

All skins in the Gamma Case. Screenshots by Dot Esports

Prisma Case

The Prisma Case includes some of the most colorful skins in CS2. M4A1 The Emperor is also one of the most popular skins for the gun. It may look even cooler if you have a blue knife to go with it.

You’ve more than likely seen the Light Rail Deagle skin in your matches and for good reason. It’s simple and doesn’t fill your screen with vibrant colors to distract you as you tap heads all over the server.

All skins in the Prisma Case. Screenshots by Dot Esports

Clutch Case

The Clutch Case includes some of the best skins with a darker color range. The pink USP-S skin is the only exception to its theme. It’s also one of the few cases that offer a pair of gloves instead of a knife skin.

The Neo-Noir sits atop the skins in the Clutch Case for good reason It’s an incredibly well-designed skin, providing several different patterns without being overwhelming on the eyes. I also tried to get the worst possible R8 Revolver Grip in CS2. I would advise against this, as you’ll never use the R8—unless you’re trolling.

All skins in the Clutch Case. Screenshots by Dot Esports

Prisma 2 Case

The Prisma 2 Case is similar to its predecessor and improves upon the colorful tones that the CS2 community loved. The case features futuristic-looking skins with bright colors and great art.

The M4A1-S and the Glock-18 bring the Prisma 2 Case to the top of best CS2 cases lists around the globe. The exciting and creative designs make these an essential addition to your collection.

All skins in the Prisma 2 Case. Screenshots by Dot Esports

CS20 Case

The CS20 Case was introduced to celebrate Counter-Strike’s 20th anniversary. It features some of the most stylish skins to date, like the Wildfire AWP and the Commemoration FAMAS. Aside from those, the overall color scheme of the case is on the darker side and they’re all great mementos to remember CS’ 20th birthday.

All skins in the CS20 Case. Screenshots by Dot Esports

The best CS2 case: Danger Zone Case

Danger Zone was one of the most impactful patches in CS2 history. Alongside introducing a unique Battle Royale mode, it also came with awesome skins. The AK-47 joined the Asiimov family while the AWP got another futuristic skin.

The Asiimov might be one of the best AK skins alongside the Vulcan. You’ll be able to add the Asiimov to your collection for a lovely pairing with the AWP Asiimov. The Deagle in the Danger Zone case is one of my favorite pistol skins, and if I could have all of them, I would.

All skins in the Danger Zone Case. Screenshots by Dot Esports

There are loads of different skins to try acquiring in Counter-Strike 2, but now that you know cases are the best CS2 cases you’ll have a better chance at adding the best skins to your collection.

ncG1vNJzZmicn6mytLzOq6usZpOkunCvzq6lrZ2iYsC1vsiknGimlazAcMDHnmSbnaOpeqS%2FkWaamquVqHq1u4yop56m