[2] One of Counter-Strike's most popular maps, Mirage has been used in a number of esports tournaments and Major Championships due to its balanced level design and its opportunities for players to display their tactical and coordination skills.

Mirage is structured similarly to other bomb defusal maps like Dust II, featuring two bombsites with two main entrances from either spawn, linked to a "mid" area with connecting pathways.

Mirage was included in CS:GO's successor, Counter-Strike 2 at launch in September 2023, and by December 2023 it was the most played map in both Premier and FACEIT matchmaking.

[10] Mike Stubbs of Red Bull stated that the map had "long been a favorite of many" due to its simple layout and unchanging nature.

[11] On Game Rant, PaulAn'drey Pierre-Louis called it a "mainstay" for its "balance, unique aesthetic, and low learning curve", also noting that it gained a reputation in professional play for upsets.