Battle Carnival vs Counter-Strike: Source
Battle Carnival
Battle Carnival is a unique MMO shooter game that attempts to combine the strategy that goes into character-switching in character-based shooters like Overwatch with the somewhat arcade-like gameplay that the fans of the age-old yet iconic franchise, Counter Strike, might be very familiar with. Featuring 7 early access characters that you can access right from the start, the game puts a lot of emphasis on the roles these characters can play and how by switching some of them up, your team may be able to counter the enemy's lineup. Of course, knowing how to aim is still a crucial skill needed in any MMO shooter.The game provides 2 game modes at the moment - Demolition and Domination. Demolition is the clear favorite since the 5-vs-5 matches there are usually pretty fast-paced - 3 mins per round and the game can be won simply by winning 5 rounds. Domination, however, is slower-paced and features the "capture and hold the area" gameplay. It's a 6-vs-6 match that can last up to 12 minutes or so. The maps are all very well-designed with multiple flanking and outflanking routes, though some may complain that the maps are confusing and "maze-like".
Battle Carnival is currently in early access and as such, the game does have plenty of problems that need to be fixed, areas that need improving and of course, more features and content that need to be released. The player population is a bit on the low end as well. Regardless, the game does seem to have a potential to fill a niche that buy-to-play shooters have hogged and with changes, it can be better. In the meantime though, you might still want to give the game a try, just so you can let the developers know about your feedback and help them turn the game into a game you'd want to stick around in.
Counter-Strike: Source
Counter-Strike: Source is the second installment in the incredibly popular MMOFPS franchise, Counter-Strike. Despite being a rather old game, Counter-Strike: Source still manages to hold its own in this day and age, with some even claming this game is so much better than the more recent Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or CS:GO. Unlike CS:GO, this game doesn't offer buyable skins and the most important thing - the community is definitely not as toxic as those you'd find in the CS:GO servers. Although the game modes can be rather limited, you can easily find some really good new ones in modded servers.So, if you're looking for the Counter-Strike experience without all the hate that most new players will get, this might be a good game to start.