CS-CLI

A terminal-based Counter-Strike clone with true 3D mesh rendering - not raycasting! Built entirely in TypeScript, rendering to your terminal using ANSI escape codes.

Features

• Real 3D Engine: Software rasterizer with perspective projection, z-buffering, and triangle rendering
• Mouse Look: Full mouse capture with smooth sensitivity controls (SGR 1006 mode)
• Weapons: Knife, pistol, rifle, shotgun, and sniper with distinct behaviors
• Bot AI: Bots with pathfinding, combat behaviors, and difficulty levels
• Spatial Audio: Procedural 8-bit sound effects with stereo panning
• Deathmatch Mode: Kill limit, respawning, scoreboard, and kill feed
• Debug Console: Source-engine style console with ~ key

Requirements

• Node.js 18+ or Bun
• A modern terminal with mouse support (iTerm2, Ghostty, Kitty, Alacritty, etc.)
• macOS, Linux, or WSL

Installation

git clone https://github.com/idanbeck/cs-cli.git
cd cs-cli
npm install

Running

# Recommended - suppresses audio library warnings
npm run play

# Or with bun for faster startup
npm run dev

Controls

Key	Action
WASD	Move
Mouse	Look around (when captured)
Arrow Keys	Look around (keyboard fallback)
Click / C	Capture/release mouse
Space	Jump
F	Fire weapon
R	Reload
1-5	Select weapon
Tab	Show scoreboard
~	Open debug console
Esc	Release mouse / Quit
Q	Quit

Console Commands

Press ~ to open the console:

Command	Description
help	List all commands
sensitivity <0.1-10>	Set mouse sensitivity
fov <30-120>	Set field of view
bot_add [easy|medium|hard]	Spawn a bot
bot_kick	Remove all bots
god	Toggle invincibility
noclip	Toggle collision
tp <x> <y> <z>	Teleport
stats	Show K/D ratio

Architecture

src/
├── engine/          # 3D rendering pipeline
│   ├── math/        # Vector3, Matrix4, Quaternion
│   ├── Camera.ts    # View/projection matrices
│   ├── Rasterizer.ts # Triangle rasterization
│   └── Renderer.ts  # Main render loop
├── game/            # Game logic
│   ├── Player.ts    # Player state
│   ├── Weapon.ts    # Weapon definitions
│   └── GameMode.ts  # Deathmatch rules
├── ai/              # Bot AI
│   ├── Bot.ts       # Bot entity
│   └── Pathfinding.ts # A* navigation
├── audio/           # Sound system
│   └── SoundEngine.ts # Procedural 8-bit audio
└── ui/              # UI components
    └── Console.ts   # Debug console

How It Works

Unlike traditional terminal "3D" games that use raycasting (like the original Wolfenstein 3D), CS-CLI uses a complete 3D rendering pipeline:

1. Mesh Geometry: Maps and objects are defined as triangle meshes
2. Matrix Transforms: Model → World → View → Projection space
3. Triangle Rasterization: Barycentric coordinate interpolation
4. Z-Buffer: Proper depth sorting for overlapping geometry
5. ANSI Output: Converts framebuffer to terminal escape sequences

This allows for true 3D features like:

• Ramps and stairs (not just flat floors)
• Objects at any angle
• Proper perspective projection
• Billboard sprites for entities

License

This project uses the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0.

Free for: Personal use, education, research, hobby projects, non-profits

Requires license for: Commercial use, commercial products, revenue-generating applications

For commercial licensing, contact: Idan Beck

Credits

Built with:

• Ink - React for CLI
• TypeScript
• Lots of math and late nights