Mac Gamer HQ picks its favorite Mac games from all genres, including worthy free alternatives.
Here are our picks for the best Mac games of 2018, including titles such as The Banner Saga 3, Fortnite, and Donut County. Just because you play games on an Apple computer doesn't mean there aren.
Maybe you just got your first Mac, or maybe you’re new to gaming. Either way, this may surprise you:
Most of the best games are available on Mac.
Indeed, Mac gaming has come a long way… Nowadays, 5 out of the 10 most-played games on Steam support MacOS and all the top indies support it too. This Best Mac games list is nothing but a sample of all the possibilities Mac gaming has to offer.
We’re about to dive into a massive list with 100 games in total, so feel free to jump to your favorite genre if you prefer:
But can your Mac run it? It’s great to find a bunch of cool new games to play, but what good are they if your Mac can’t run them? We’ve got your back. This is the only guide that includes system requirements and actual benchmark results.
Real-world MacOS tests
This is what makes our guides unique. We test our games on at least three different Mac models.
This is an overview of our results (find more information about our tests, including machine specifications, in our MacOS performance section):
| Game | ★ Best Overall | Runner Up | Best Value |
| Genre | Action | Strategy | Shooter |
| Release date | 2018 | 2016 | 2017 |
| Metascore | |||
| Our rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Requirements | High | High | Medium |
| Check Price |
Ready to get started?
This one is a biggy so we made sure you can easily explore all of the games covered. You can either:
- Read on for an overview of our absolute Top 10 games, one per genre (including benchmarks).
- Explore the remaining 90 games, which you can filter by genre, price and demand level.
Let’s get started!
Last updated: June 30, 2019
Unfortunately, sometimes games drop MacOS support, or even worse, they are entirely abandoned by their developers. This was the case of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Elite: Dangerous and RollerCoaster Tycoon…
Don’t worry though, we replace them with some of the best Mac games of 2018. Also, actual tests and benchmarks were performed on our Top 10 so don’t miss our Criteria section to learn more about our tests.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Mac Release date: 2018
MacOS developer: Feral Interactive
Metascore: 88
Starring the young archaeologist Lara Croft, this action-adventure game takes place one year after her adventure in Yamatai. This time, Lara sets out to the lost city of Kitezh to recover the Divine Source, an ancient artifact with the power to grant immortality.
With a focus on combat and survival, this game plays a lot like its predecessor. And that’s a good thing.
Feral Interactive did an excellent job with
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing Conditions:
Can your Mac run it?The most demanding game on this list, you better make sure your Mac meets the minimum requirements.
Any bugs you should be aware of? If your Mac can handle it, you should encounter a bug-free experience.
Verdict: Very Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.13.4, 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 2 GB NVIDIA 680MX, 2 GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5 GB Intel Iris Graphics 540 or better, 27 GB hard drive space.
SOMA
Mac Release date: 2015
MacOS developer: Frictional Games
Metascore: 84
Have you ever heard of Amnesia: The Dark Descent? Well, SOMA is the latest horror game from that same developer, and in my opinion, it’s their best game yet.
SOMA is a first-person shooter that takes place in an underwater research facility. It’s Rapture meets the Nostromo, and that’s the best part of the game. The horror and tension come from the environments here, not the characters. The game will ask you to go from one end of the facility to the other to discover what happened to all the missing employees along the way. Similar to Outlast, there are no weapons, and you can’t fight back. You can only hide from the monsters or—eventually—run.
Frictional Games did a fine job with SOMA’s Mac version. This is a good-looking game with system requirements that aren’t too high.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing conditions & results:
Can your Mac run it?Taking into account that even our 2013 13-inch MacBook Pro handled the game just fine, most Macs from 2013 onwards should be able to handle it.
Any bugs you should be aware of? If your Mac can handle it, you should encounter a bug-free experience.
Verdict: 🔶 Fairly demanding
System Requirements: 2.4 GHz Intel Core i3; 4GB RAM; 25 GB HD space; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260, AMD Radeon HD 5750, or better with 512 MB of Video Memory.
Visit our dedicated Horror games for Mac guide for more
Grab Thimbleweed Park for free on the Epic Games Store!
Usually $19.99, you can get this excellent adventure game for free:
World of Warcraft
Mac Release date: 2018 (latest Expansion)
MacOS developer: Blizzard
Metascore: 93
Does this need an introduction? There’s a reason why this MMORPG from Blizzard is one of the most famous games ever created.
WoW defined the genre 10 years ago and continues to evolve and compete with the many MMOs that have come and gone in its wake. In WoW, you create a character, complete quests, and kill baddies to level up and become stronger. Once you’ve reached your maximum level, the real fun begins. You can take part in “raids,” which are basically harder dungeons with tougher bosses and more powerful gear. Word of caution: This game is so good, it can be extremely addictive. I once lost around 6 months of my life playing WoW!
Blizzard did a great job with WoW’s Mac version and the game should run on most modern Macs, especially now that it supports Metal.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing conditions & results:
Can your Mac run it?You’ll need a recent MacBook or
Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience on Mac.
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.12.5, 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 1GB AMD 5750, Nvidia 650M, 1.5GB Intel Iris Pro 5200, 78 GB hard drive space.
Mac for 2018. It’s been three years since the Mac mini got an update—and let’s be honest, the last update was both minor and disappointing. 2018 is the year for the Mac mini revival. New Mac mini (2018) Preview: What will it be and why? Running down the rumors and sparking up the speculation around a potential new Mac mini for 2018. A pro user is definitely going to appreciate all the horsepower offered by the 2018 MacBook Pro. A pro laptop also needs an equally good set of apps though.
Visit our dedicated MMORPG games for Mac guide for more
DiRT Rally
Mac Release date: 2017
MacOS developer: Feral Interactive
Metascore: 86
It was a sad day when DiRT 3 suddenly became unavailable. That game had a special place in this Top 3 and for months I wondered how we could ever replace it.
Turns out we only had to wait for a few months until DiRT Rally was released for Mac. With sophisticated handling and high-risk, high-reward gameplay, this game will challenge you. But you can always change a few settings and assists to turn it into a more casual game if you’d prefer.
Dirt Rally also features impressive graphics with photo-realistic cars and beautifully rendered tracks.
Feral Interactive clearly put Apple’s Metal API to good use because, in spite of looking great, Dirt Rally has surprisingly low system requirements.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing conditions & results:
Can your Mac run it?In this case, you’ll need at least a baseline MBP from 2013 onwards.
Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience on Mac.
Mac.
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.13, 1.8 GHz Intel Core i3 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 1 GB Nvidia 650M / 2 GB AMD Radeon M290 / Intel HD 4000 graphics card or better, 48 GB hard drive space.
Visit our dedicated Racing games for Mac guide for more
Pillars of Eternity 2
Mac Release date: 2018
MacOS developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Metascore: 88
Because of the success of the original Pillars of Eternity, expectations were incredibly high. But developer Obsidian delivered, raising over $4 Million from over 33,000 backers.
Pillars of Eternity 2 is not only a worthy successor,
Pillars of Eternity 2 also features real-time gameplay, an elevated camera angle, detailed party customizations, and tons of dialogue. This game has all the ingredients to do old-school RPGs justice. Pillars of Eternity may look and feel old-school, and that might turn you off. But don’t be fooled by appearances. This is a great game that tells a great story, and if you’re into RPGs, you owe it to yourself to try it.
Also, Obsidian Entertainment did an excellent job on Pillar of Eternity’s 2 Mac version. The port is bug-free and easy on the system requirements.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing Conditions:
Can your Mac run it?For a top-down RPG, this is one surprisingly demanding game. Make sure your Mac can handle it before spending your hard earned cash on it…
Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience thanks to the great support the Unity engine has given to MacOS.
Verdict: Very Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.12.6, 2.9 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT750M, 45 GB hard drive space.
Visit our dedicated RPG games for Mac guide for more
Borderlands 2
Mac Release date: 2012
MacOS developer: Aspyr
Metascore: 89
Borderlands 2 is hands down the best first-person shooter in the Borderlands series.
Sure, Borderlands: The Pre-sequel came out to replace it, but why fix something that ain’t broke? If you’re looking for the best Borderlands game, this is it.
Borderlands 2 combines first-person shooter gameplay with RPG elements, creating one hell of an experience. This game is all about killing enemies to find cool weapons. If Diablo and Halo had a baby, it would look something like this. Killing baddies to find that fire legendary gun you wanted is tons of fun, but Borderlands 2 is even better when you’re playing it with friends. Borderlands 2 is best experienced as a four-player co-op multiplayer.
Borderlands 2’s Mac version is a good looking game too, and you will need some horsepower to run it properly.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing Conditions:We tested the game using Medium settings, 2X Anisotropic Filtering, FXAA, and 1280×800 resolution:
Can your Mac run it?You’ll need either
Any bugs you should be aware of? The game sometimes crashes on the start menu. To avoid that problem, just launch a game as soon as you enter the open menu.
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.8.5, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4 GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 2600 / NVidia Geforce 8800/ Intel HD 3000, 13 GB hard drive space.
Visit our dedicated FPS games for Mac guide for more
Stardew Valley
Mac Release date: 2016
MacOS developer: ConcernedApe
Metascore: 89
Stardew Valley is the country-life RPG that took everyone by surprise, shattering sales records on Steam.
This pixelated farming simulator is a tribute to the old Harvest Moon games and follows a boy who inherits a farm. But compared to Harvest Moon, it’s a much more detailed and complex game, which is amazing considering it was entirely created by one person.
Stardew Valley is an open-ended game and gives you control over everything: the design of your farm, the kinds of animals and crops to raise, etc. For months I wondered how an old-looking game about a farmer could be any fun. Well, turns out Stardew Valley is addictive and fun, no matter your gaming preferences.
Plus, as the game uses retro-looking graphics, Stardew Valley version can be played on most Macs, including older models.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing Conditions & Results:
Notice frames arecapped at 60 FPS. That explains why both MacBooks didn’t do better.
Can your Mac run it?Definitely! Even an older model will do fine.
Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience on Mac.
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.10, 2 GHz Processor, 2 GB RAM, 256 MB Video RAM, 500 MB hard drive space.
Visit our dedicated Simulation games for Mac guide for more
Civilization 6
Mac Release date: 2016
MacOS developer: Aspyr
Metascore: 88
Civilization 5 was one of my favorite strategy games of all times and yet Civilization 6 managed to top it.
In Civ 6, you take control of an entire civilization. You get to create cities, raise armies, research technologies, build an economy, and expand your empire. Civ 6 may not be the most detailed Mac strategy game on the market (that honor goes to Europa Universalis 4), but it’s certainly the most fun.
Everyone feared Civ 6 would simply ride Civ 5’s coattails, but thankfully, it didn’t. Firaxis managed to create something that feels both familiar and fresh at the same time. Civ 6 brings welcome additions such as complex city-planning and hundreds of other improvements.
Also, Civ 6 also sports improved graphics, making it the best-looking turn-based strategy game today. The downside is that you will need some horsepower to run it smoothly.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing Conditions: We tested the game using Medium Performance impact, Medium Memory impact, MSAA 2X Anti-Aliasing, and 1280×800 resolution.
Can your Mac run it? Unfortunately, Civ 6 suffers from MacOS’s aging OpenGL graphics API, which is why the game is incredibly demanding. Only those with a high-end Mac will be able to enjoy it…
Any bugs you should be aware of? You can expect a smooth, bug-free experience.
Verdict: Very Demanding
<System Requirements: OS 10.11, 2.7 GHz Intel i5 Processor, 6 GB RAM, GeForce 775M, Radeon HD 6970, Intel Iris Pro, 1 GB Video RAM or better, 15 GB hard drive space.
Visit our dedicated Strategy games for Mac guide for more
Fortnite: Battle Royale
Mac Release date: 2017
MacOS developer: Epic Games
Metascore: 81
Fortnite seems to be everywhere right now. Everyone is either playing it or talking about it. But give it a chance, and you’ll understand what the fuss is all about.
In Fortnite Battle Royale (the free PvP mode), you and up to 99 opponents are dropped into a giant map where you’ll have to find randomly placed weapons, shields, and resources to survive until you’re the last person (or squad) standing. Battle Royale games are all the rage right now and new ones appear each week. Still, I’m confident Fortnite will remain the most popular choice for a long time. This is a solid game with great shooting mechanics and a strong community and you really can play it for free and be successful.
Fortnite also features detailed environments and good-looking, albeit cartoonish, graphics that really make you wonder how Fortnite can be free at all. The Mac version of the game is stable but it’s clearly not as well optimized as the Windows version. To play it, you’ll need a recent Mac.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing Conditions: We tested the game using Medium settings, 100% 3D Resolution, V-Sync Off and 1280×800 resolution:
Can your Mac run it? Fortnite is quite demanding. Even our 2016 MacBook Pro couldn’t manage 30 FPS (the absolute minimum required for a fast-paced online shooter). The Mac performance of the game keeps improving with every new update, but performance is low.
Any bugs you should be aware of? Not exactly a bug, but be aware that performance is terrible as soon as your character jumps from the bus. Be patient and wait a few minutes until performance improves and FPS stabilize.
Verdict: Very Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.12.6 and a machine that supports Metal, 2.4 GHz Intel Core i3 Processor, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD 4000 or better.
Visit our dedicated Free games for Mac guide for more
Cuphead
Mac Release date: 2018
MacOS developer: Studio MDHR
Metascore: 88
Overnight success stories of indie games that appear of nowhere and captivate are nothing new. But even if great indies are released every month, few are become as insanely popular as Cuphead, a run and gun action game from Studio MHDR.
Cuphead turned a few heads early on because of its unique looks. This game looks like it came out straight from one of those old school cartoons from the 1930s. Not only was it the first time someone tried it, Cuphead completely nailed it. But this game is not only about looks. Cuphead also nailed its run and gun gameplay, featuring very precise controls that you’ll need as every level and boss are extremely challenging. Some have called it a “cute” Dark Souls and I can only agree.
So dust off your controller of choice and prepare to have tons of fun endlessly dying and restarting over!
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing Conditions:We tested the game using VSync On and 1440×900 resolution:
Notice frames arecapped at 60FPS. That explains why the 2016 MacBook didn’t do better.
Can your Mac run it?Definitely! Even an older MacBook Air will do fine.
Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience on Mac.
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.9, Intel Core i5 Processor, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4000 or higher, 20 GB hard drive space.
Visit our dedicated Best Mac games of 2019 guide for more
We had a hard time limiting the best FPS for Mac to a Top 10 list, so we decided to honor the games that didn’t quite make the cut but were close.
| Filter by name | 100 Best Mac Games | Filter by genre | Filter by demand level | Free games only? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total War: Warhammer 2 | Total War: Warhammer 2 Warhammer 2 stays true to the Total War formula and combines a turn-based campaign with real-time battles. And like every Total War game that came before it, the game's battles are huge, counting hundreds of units fighting at once. Yet, just like the first Total War: Warhammer, the realistic scenarios of ancient Europe are left behind in favor of a fantastical setting that includes armies of orcs, undead, monsters, flying creatures, legendary heroes and more. Plus, Feral Interactive managed to take one the best looking strategy games of all times and deliver a solid Mac version that plays and looks as good as the Windows version. System requirements: OS X 10.14, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 51 GB HD space, 2GB Nvidia 680MX, 2GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5GB Intel Iris Graphics 540 or better. | Strategy | High | No |
| Paladins | Paladins Paladins is an incredibly solid shooter that handles great but also manages to capture the same diversity that made Overwatch so famous. You can play as sharpshooting humans, mech-riding goblins, mystical elves, and even jetpack-clad dragons! Teamwork is key to victory, so choose your Champion wisely and set up a diverse team that communicates well. Still not convinced? Paladins is free-to-play and anything you can buy can also be acquired by playing. Eventually. System requirements: OS 10.10, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, ATI Radeon 3870 or higher, Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT or higher, 10 GB hard drive space. | Shooter | Medium | Yes |
| Hitman | Hitman In Hitman, your job is to infiltrate complex locations full of secrets, weapons, disguises and, of course, targets to eliminate. And just as every Hitman game I’ve ever played, this game is a refreshing experience. Most games ask you to run and shoot at everything that moves. Hitman asks you to do the opposite—to be invisible. Unnoticed. Hitman will ask you to think for a change and figure out the best way to approach the situation at hand, taking into account environments and enemies. This sixth installment in the series brings the graphics to a whole new level. The game looks great, and thanks to Feral Interactive’s work, the Mac version (which luckily wasn’t released in episodes) plays beautifully. System requirements: OS X 10.12.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 68 GB HD space, 2GB AMD M290 or better. | Action | Medium | No |
| The Sims 4 | The Sims 4 The Sims 4 lets you build a house, create a Sim character, and dress him. But the game doesn’t stop there. You’re also responsible for your Sim’s social life, including love, friends, and work. The Sims 4 doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel and keeps the same ideas and goals that made its predecessors so successful. On the plus side, Maxis has learned a lot, and worthwhile additions include the ability to multitask and improved character creation. The Sims 4’s Mac version works fine, but it has surprisingly high system requirements. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 10 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 320M, 9600M, 9400M, ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro or better with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Simulation | Medium | No |
| Dead Cells | Dead Cells Dead Cells is an action platformer that is all about dying to start over in order to progress and acquire new abilities. The skills you unlock as you explore the procedurally generated levels are permanent, so you get to keep them even when you die. These skills will allow you to reach new areas each time you head out, allowing you to dig deeper into the game every time you play. The action is presented in a 2D retro-inspired world that will make fans of classic Castlevania and Metroid feel right at home. System requirements: OS 10.9, OpenGL 3.2 support, 2 GB RAM, 500 MB available space. | Platformer | Low | No |
| Into the Breach | Into the Breach In Into the Breach, you'll have to protect the world from enormous monsters that are set to destroy the few remaining cities still standing. Luckily, you'll have a few giant mechs at your disposal to get rid of them. Or at least try.. Into the Breach is a simple game to get into, yet missions can quickly get dicey. You'll often have to make hard choices and either loss a mech or city. And by the way, this is one of the few games that actually encourages you to protect civilians instead of simply killing the monsters. System requirements: OS 10.7, 1.7 GHz Intel processor, 1 GB RAM, OpenGL 2.1 support, 200 MB available space. | Strategy | Low | No |
| Subnautica | Subnautica The game starts with you landing on an oceanic alien planet and in order to survive, you’ll have to explore your surroundings. Exploration and survival are equally important and you’ll have to scavenge, craft equipment and more to stay alive. As you upgrade your equipment, you’ll be able to venture deeper underwater to find rarer items, discover beautiful locales and fight increasingly dangerous monsters. Open-world games on Mac are rare and the few that exist take place in the tired post-apocalyptic desserts we all know too well. Subnautica’s approach is different and refreshing. No wonder it’s one of the best-selling indies from 2018 so far. One warning though, Subnautica’s beautiful open-world requires a powerful machine to run. System requirements: OS X 10.9, 2.5Ghz Intel Haswell 2 cores, 4 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, Intel HD 4600 or equivalent. | Adventure | Medium | No |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Like previous entries, Global Offensive is an objective-based multiplayer first-person shooter. Players are either terrorists or counter-terrorists and must complete objectives or kill the opposing team. There is no single-player here, but the multiplayer precision makes up for it. CS games are famous for being ultra-competitive—precise, punishing, and nothing like Call of Duty. Global Offensive does exactly what you would expect from a Counter-Strike game, but it also manages to refresh the experience. The game features classic content such as revamped versions of classic maps, as well as new maps and game modes. Valve has always done a great job porting their games to the Mac, and CS: GO is no exception. Global Offensive’s Mac version works great and should run on modest hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.6.6, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 8 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or other with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Shooter | Low | No |
| Starcraft 2 | StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void Most know StarCraft 2 because it's one of the most competitive and challenging games out there. New units and balance changes make Legacy of the Void faster and even more challenging—perfect for skilled players. But Legacy of the Void also offers a variety of new elements, especially for casual players (thank god). For starters, it includes the final 20 missions of StarCraft 2’s campaign. It also introduces a fun cooperative mode that involves special characters and missions. Whether you’re looking for a challenge or just want to have fun, Legacy of the Void is a great choice. Blizzard did a stellar job with StarCraft 2's Mac version. This is one of the best-looking strategy games, but it doesn't require too much power to run. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 30 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, ATI Radeon HD 4670 or better with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Strategy | Low | No |
| Owlboy | Owlboy Owlboy is a pixel-art adventure game where you’ll face obstacles and enemies with the help of friends. As you progress through the story, you’ll unlock sidekicks, each with special abilities that will help you fight or solve puzzles. You can swap your sidekick at any time, making the game feel fluid and varied. But what struck me the most were the graphics. Owlboy features some of the most beautiful pixel-art worlds in recent memory and the fact it can be played in modest hardware makes it even better. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, Dual core processor, 2 GB RAM, 600 MB HD space, OpenGL 3.0+ support (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable). | Adventure | Medium | No |
| Guild Wars 2 | Guild Wars 2 Guild Wars 2 is a “traditional” MMO where you need to quest and level up. Nothing special, except it does have unique twists. For example, the story changes according to your actions (like in single-player games), and you’ll notice dynamic events and faster combat. But do you know what’s the best part? Guild Wars 2 is free to play, and it’s very generous too. Guild Wars 2 offers its best features without asking a dime. This change came with the Heart of Thorns expansion, which adds a new class, a new PvP mode, a reworked Fractal system, and “Adventures.” Heart of Thorns is paid, but it doesn’t require a monthly subscription. That makes it the best Mac MMO hands down. Guild Wars 2’s Mac version works fine for most (myself included), but some report poor performance. You should try the free version first to see how your machine handles it. System requirements: OS X 10.8, Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 35 GB HD space, NVIDIA® GeForce 320M, ATI Radeon HD 6630M, Intel HD 3000 or better. | MMO | Medium | Yes |
| Tales from the Borderlands | Tales from the Borderlands They’re all good and take place in more famous universes, but Tales from the Borderlands is still better. Based on the Borderlands series, the game follows the same formula as before: some puzzle-solving, lots of dialogue, and huge choices to make. Choices here matter, and the consequences will be felt throughout the game. Tales from the Borderlands also happens to be funnier and more lighthearted than other Telltale games, but that doesn’t stop it from throwing agonizing choices at you. Tales from the Borderlands’ Mac version was handled with care. And because of the simple graphics, this game can be enjoyed on most hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.6.8, 2.3 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 3 GB space, Nvidia or ATI with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Adventure | Medium | No |
| Cities: Skylines | Cities: Skylines Cities: Skylines is a city-building simulation similar to SimCity. The game gives you control of zoning areas (for housing, commerce, or industry), public utilities, taxation, public transportation, and more. The gameplay is so deep, even your choice of civic policies will affect the development of the entire city. Skylines learned from all of EA’s mistakes with SimCity and delivered a better game. There’s no always-online DRM, your cities can be much bigger, and it also supports mods through Steam Workshop (if you’re into riding helicopters and stuff). This is a fun and addictive game, and I’m glad Skyline’s Mac version was handled with care. This game does demand some horsepower to run, though. System requirements: OS X 10.9, 3.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 4 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260, 512 MB or ATI Radeon HD 5670, 512 MB (Does not support Intel Integrated Graphics Cards). | Strategy | Medium | No |
| The Witness | The Witness Many wondered, myself included, if Bow could do it again and deliver another great indie. Turns out, he did. The Witness is a powerful puzzle game with a wealth of mysteries to unravel. The game features dozens of locations to explore and over 500 puzzles. That is enough to keep you busy for tens of hours, while respecting you as an intelligent player every step of the way. The Witness has no filler. Each puzzle brings its own new idea into the mix and it treats your time as precious. The Witness is a beautiful game that benefits from Apple’s Metal API. This means the game looks great, but to run it you’ll need some horsepower. System requirements: OS X 10.11.6, 1.8 Ghz processor, 5 GB HD space, integrated Intel HD 4000. | Adventure | Medium | No |
| Max Payne 3 | Max Payne 3 This third-person shooter from the creators of Grand Theft Auto is a great game, but the problem is the macOS version itself. Many have reported bugs that can at best detract from the whole experience and at worst break the game. I’ve never had a problem with this game, but you should be aware that some issues do exist. The game itself follows the story of former detective and vigilante Max Payne. Long story short, the game will ask you to kill. A lot. But the best part is the variety of tools at your disposal. You’ll get lots of different guns, but special abilities like slowing time and diving to avoid enemy bullets during gun fights are the real highlight. If you are worried about potential technical issues, pick up the game on Steam (they can offer refunds). I got it from the Mac App Store, as it’s the easiest way to get a game on your Mac. In any case, Max Payne 3 is demanding. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB HD space, NVIDIA 8800GT or AMD Radeon HD 4870 with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Action | Medium | No |
| Company of Heroes 2 | Company of Heroes 2 The game takes place during World War 2, but luckily it moves away from the tired battles we all know too well (Battle of Normandy, anyone?). Instead, it focuses on the infamous battles led by the Red Army on the eastern front. Company of Heroes 2 has improved the formula in other ways too. For example, the weather effects and destructible environments are amazing. This is currently my go-to strategy game, and in my opinion, one of the finest strategy games today. And if I ever want to take a break from the campaign, I know the skirmish mode can provide a quick 20 minutes of fun. For a strategy game, Company of Heroes 2 looks amazing. The downside to that are the steep system requirements. Feral Interactive did a fine job with Company of Heroes 2’s Mac version, but you will still need horsepower to run it. System requirements: OS X 10.10.3, 1.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 35 GB HD space, AMD R9 series graphics card, an Intel Iris Pro graphics card, or an NVIDIA 600 series graphics card or better with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Strategy | High | No |
| Batman: Arkham City | Batman: Arkham City The first Arkham game surprised us all, showing the world that superhero games could be fun. Arkham City took that same recipe and improved everything. The story is good, the graphics look great, and the environments are bigger than ever. But what makes this game great is the combat. The combat involves dodging, counter-attacking, and building combos. It sounds simple, but everything is smooth and feels great. Just take on a gang of 11 thugs and you'll see what I mean. As Batman, this game makes you feel powerful and fast. Feral Interactive did a great job with Arkham City's Mac port. For such a big and beautiful game, the system requirements aren't too high. System requirements: OS X 10.7.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 16 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT, ATI Radeon HD 3870, or Intel HD Graphics 4000 with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Action | Medium | No |
| Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced | Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition This is a very traditional RPG. However, everything it does, it does well. The game includes turn-based combat, cooperative multiplayer, an interactive world, and even a modding tool. And it goes much deeper than that—it offers freedom and depth. Your choices really matter in such a way that even mundane events become interesting. Original Sin was a big success when it was first released, and now the remastered edition makes it even better. It fixes the awful menus and makes everything simpler. It even includes new content, such as an expanded storyline and new gameplay options. Original Sin’s Mac version is not demanding in terms of requirements. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 10 GB HD space, Intel HD4000 or better. | Role-Playing | Medium | No |
| Terraria | Terraria The game’s world is randomly generated, and no two games will be the same. This makes the exploration side of the game extremely fun. Plus, there are lots of creeps, so crafting a shelter, weapons, and combat play an important role. The crafting system is ridiculously deep and gives you tons of options to create weapons. Terraria is very similar to Minecraft. In fact, many see it as Minecraft in 2D, but once you start playing, you will notice all the things that make it unique. There are many more creeps to kill, tons of weapons to craft, and even bosses. Like Minecraft, the game uses retro graphics that are cute but also happen to be easy on your Mac. You won’t need a powerful Mac to enjoy this game. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2.5 GB RAM, 200 MB HD space, 128 MB Video Memory, capable of OpenGL 3.0+ support (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable). | Adventure | Low | No |
| Heroes of the Storm | Heroes of the Storm Heroes of the Storm involves two teams of “heroes” who fight it out with the sole objective of destroying the opposing team’s nexus (read: base). Throughout the game, your team will gain experience and “level up,” giving you more abilities and power. If you happen to enjoy other Blizzard games (like StarCraft or World of Warcraft), the experience is even better. This is your chance to play as James Raynor or Diablo himself. Compared to the reigning champion, League of Legends, this is a more team-oriented and beginner-friendly experience. Heroes of the Storm is currently my favorite free Mac game, and if you ever wanted to give the MOBA genre a try, this is your best choice. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 10 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M or ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 256 MB of Video Memory. | MOBA | Medium | Yes |
| Dota 2 | Dota 2 DotA 2 is a MOBA involving two teams and one objective: to destroy the enemy’s “Ancient.” Throughout the game, you control one of 111 playable heroes with unique powers and abilities. As you progress, you collect XP, gold, and better items and gear. If this sounds like Warcraft, it’s simply because DotA 2 is the sequel to Defense of the Ancients (DotA), the infamous fan-made Warcraft 3 mod. Word of caution, though—just like League of Legends, this game is hyper-competitive, and the community won’t hesitate to trash you if you mess up. DoTA 2 is another risk-free game to test the waters if you’re new to Mac gaming. It's also one of the best games on Steam. DoTA 2’s Mac version is a good port that can run on many machines. System requirements: OS X 10.9, Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 8 GB HD space, Nvidia 320M, Radeon HD 2400, or Intel HD 3000. | MOBA | Medium | Yes |
| Deus Ex: Mankind Divided | Deus Ex: Mankind Divided In this latest edition, augmented humans such as yourself have become outcasts and it will be up to you to fix that. Just like its predecessor, Mankind Divided can be played like an action game, a stealth game, or a combination of both. You can use stealth, sneak up on enemy soldiers, and hide bodies, or you can just run and gun your way to the final boss,it’s your call. The game’s futuristic graphics are also worth mentioning. Mankind Divided is without a doubt one of the most graphically-impressive games on Mac, but that also means it’s one of the most demanding. System requirements: OS X 10.13.1, 3.0GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 67 GB HD space, 2GB AMD R9 M290 or better. | Shooter | High | No |
| The Elder Scrolls Online | The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited It was also the first Elder Scrolls to come to macOS and the first to attempt multiplayer. This created impossibly high expectations that made the game suffer at launch. But that was in 2014, when the game required an upfront purchase and a monthly subscription. A lot has changed since. Relaunched as Tamriel Unlimited, it introduced lots of new features and changed for the better. The monthly subscription disappeared, and now you only need to buy the game once. At the end of the day, this game is similar to World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2. But if you really want to play an Elder Scrolls on your Mac, Tamriel Unlimited is a good choice. It looks better than the competition too, so you’d better have a capable Mac to run this game. System requirements: OS X 10.7, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 60 GB HD space, Intel HD Graphics 4000, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M or ATI Radeon HD 6490M or other with 256 MB of Video Memory. | MMO | Medium | No |
| Football Manager 2019 | Football Manager 2019 Football Manager (FM) puts you in charge of any squad from more than 50 countries across the world. As the team’s manager, you get to decide who plays, how they train, how to manage the stadium, and even how to deal with the media. FM 2019 builds on the strengths of its excellent predecessor to offer the best football manager experience so far. New features and enhanced game mechanics enable you to control your team in fresh and authentic ways, creating an ever more emergent way of storytelling. One thing you’ll notice right away is how FM successfully presents data more visually, instead of looking like a glorified spreadsheet. This latest entry also features the Bundesliga for the first time ever, revamped training mechanism, an inmproved tactics module and more. Sure, the most recent Fifa game is not available on Mac, but if you truly love the beautiful game, Football Manager 2019 can scratch that itch. System requirements: OS X 10.10.5, 1.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 7 GB HD space, Intel GMA X4500, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT or AMD/ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650. | Simulation | Low | No |
| Towerfall: Ascension | Towerfall: Ascension In Towerfall, you are one of four archers that battle it out until one player remains. You can only use arrows and head-stomps to kill your opponents. The formula is quite simple, but Towerfall is packed with some exhilarating moments. It definitely reminds me of the fun I had with the first Smash Brothers on the GameCube. Towerfall: Ascension is the perfect game for offline sessions with friends. With its 2D retro graphics, Towerfall’s Mac version is a lightweight game to play. If you’re looking for a good game to play on an older Mac, look no further. System requirements: OS X 10.6.8, Intel Core i3, 2 GB RAM, 400 MB space, OpenGL 3.0+.System requirements: OS X 10.9, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 320m or Intel HD 3000. | Platformer | Low | No |
| Rocket League | Rocket League Rocket League is a physics-based soccer game where flying cars take on each other in a huge arena. You have to learn to use your rockets to boost yourself in the air to score amazing goals (or saves). Team play is important, but understanding your car’s physics is critical. Timing is everything and becoming good requires skill. Needless to say, these matches are intense. But the feeling when you score a goal is priceless. Pro tip: Precision is key and a controller is highly recommended. You can learn to play the game against bots, but Rocket League truly shines when playing with friends. The game also features a nice-looking futuristic style and as Psyonix did a great job with Rocket League’s Mac port. System requirements: OS X 10.8.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 7 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 5670, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, Intel HD Graphics 4000 or Iris Pro Graphics. | Sports | Medium | No |
| Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls | Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls In Diablo 3, you get to create a character and set out to defeat the Lord of Terror himself. Diablo 3 is by all means a good role-playing game, but it truly excels because it’s fast and action-packed. Diablo 3 is about killing waves of monsters and getting tons of loot. The story is fine, but it’s the loot that will keep you coming back for more. Reaper of Souls is Diablo’s latest expansion. It adds many features and changes Diablo 3 for the better. The graphics aren't impressive, but with that much action happening at once, you will need a good machine to run Diablo 3. Luckily, Blizzard takes good care of all their Mac ports. System requirements: OS X 10.8.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 MB RAM, 25 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Role-Playing | Medium | No |
| Torchlight 2 | Torchlight 2 Torchlight 2 is one of the finest hack-and-slash RPGs available. Like the original Torchlight, it’s all about randomly generated dungeons and tons of monsters to kill for XP and loot. If you’re thinking this sounds a lot like Diablo 3, it does. Torchlight 2 isn’t particularly original, but everything it does, it does well. Compared to Diablo, it offers character customization, more flexibility, no mandatory internet connection, and pets! Plus, for an indie game developed with limited resources, it’s impressive how they managed to challenge Blizzard’s efforts. Torchlight 2’s Mac version is easy on the system requirements too. If you own a Macbook Air, for example, this game should do just fine (my 2013 MacBook Air can run it no problem). System requirements: OS X 10.8, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 1.7 GB HD space, OpenGL 2.0 compatible video card with at least 256 MB of addressable video RAM. | Role-Playing | Medium | No |
| Prison Architect | Prison Architect In Prison Architect, you get to manage your very own maximum-security prison. In Sandbox mode, you start off with an empty plot of land that you can transform into the most efficient prison you can craft. You can build cells and kitchens, install cameras, hire guards, and so on. Prison Architect provides a lot of freedom, and you can take whichever direction you prefer. Want to build a monstrous maximum security prison or a comfortable rehabilitation center? The choice is yours. Be advised: Fail to meet your inmates’ minimum expectations and you will have a riot on your hands. The graphics are very simplistic, though, but at least an older Mac should be able to run it. System requirements: Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 300 MB HD space. | Simulation | Low | No |
| The Lord of the Rings Online | The Lord of the Rings Online LotRO is a traditional MMO. You control a character that will need to fetch quests and kill monsters to level up and become stronger. LotRO doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s still a polished game that's also free to play. There are many free-to-play MMOs out there, but LotRO is the best one. Am I saying this because I'm a Lord of the Rings geek? Partly, but it’s also because this is a great game with solid gameplay and graphics. Plus, LotRO offers a ton of content before forcing you to pay for anything. As with most MMOs, LotRO requires a reliable internet connection. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 25 GB HD space, Intel HD Graphics 3000 or better. | MMO | Low | Yes |
| Transistor | Transistor Like Bastion, Transistor also has a narrator that keeps you company as you play. Surprisingly, it still works just as well as it did before (and comes from the same voice actor). Transistor includes many RPG elements, but the real highlight is the combat. Combat can take place both in real-time and also in a planning mode where you can pause the action. As you level up, you gain more combat skills, and you will have to plan your attacks carefully. Transistor’s Mac version is also easy on the system requirements. If you’re looking for a game to play on a MacBook, Transistor is a good candidate. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.6 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 3 GB HD space, OpenGL 3.0+ (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable) with 1 GB of Video Memory. | Role-Playing | Medium | No |
| Star Wars: KOTOR 2 | Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic 2 KOTOR 2 is very similar to the original KOTOR. There’s definitely a feeling that the developer wanted to play it safe, but when the original game is so good, you can’t really complain. KOTOR 2 picks up around five years after the events from the original game and features a more complex moral system, a new influence system, better combat, and a great story. KOTOR 2 is certainly old (first released in 2005), but Aspyr remastered it and released it for the first time on Mac last year. This new version includes Steam Workshop support, achievements, controller support, and native widescreen resolution support. There has never been a better time to experience KOTOR 2 than now. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 2.2 Ghz Intel Core i3, 4 GB RAM, 10 GB HD space, NVIDIA Geforce 330M, ATI Radeon HD 3870, or Intel HD 3000 with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Role-Playing | Medium | No |
| Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut | Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut This is a hardcore role-playing game that is both difficult and dark. It offers tactical combat and tons of RPG elements. You’ll get to set up a party of up to seven characters. Four of them are fully customizable, with many skills, stats, and appearances to choose from. The remaining three are NPCs with their own agendas and motivations. It took 26 years and a $3 million Kickstarter campaign to create a worthy sequel, but Wasteland 2 lives up to its legacy. Wasteland 2 is a great RPG that is not easy to get into, but it’s totally worth it once you’re hooked. System requirements: OS X 10.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 30 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 300 Series or Radeon equivalent (512 MB). | Role-Playing | Medium | No |
| BioShock Infinite | BioShock Infinite The story is a little weird, especially near the end, but both Elizabeth—the girl you have to rescue—and the flying city of Columbia take the game to a whole new level. Elizabeth is the best NPC I have ever seen. She’s helpful, smart, and lovable. Columbia is simply unique and beautiful. They will both be remembered for a long time. Infinite also offers solid shooting mechanics and lets you combine guns with special powers—enough to give you a well-deserved break from all the “me too” shooters out there. Aspyr did a great job with BioShock Infinite’s Mac version too. In spite its beautiful graphics, the game can run smoothly on a decent Mac. System requirements: OS X 10.8.5, 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 30 GB HD space, Nvidia GeForce 640M, Radeon HD 3870, Intel HD 4000, or better with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Shooter | Medium | No |
| Team Fortress 2 | Team Fortress 2 What’s funny is that even if it cost $50, I would still recommend it. TF2 is a team-based FPS that lets you choose among nine classes. After choosing a character, you then join a team and battle in a variety of game modes, including capture the flag and king of the hill. But no matter the game mode, nothing beats a good combination of players who know how to use their classes. Because this is a free-to-play game with good graphics, this is the game I recommend if you’re wondering what your machine is capable of. Valve did a great job with Team Fortress 2’s Mac port and delivered a game that looks good and runs on modest hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.5.8, 1.7 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 15 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 8 or higher, ATI X1600 or higher, Intel HD 3000 or higher. | Shooter | Medium | Yes |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Modern Warfare 3 follows the winning Call of Duty formula. You get a campaign full of Hollywood-esque movie moments and a multiplayer mode, where most gamers spend 99% of their time. And to make the Mac version even better, it supports cross-multiplayer with Windows, letting you play against the thousands of active Windows users. Kudos to porting studio Aspyr there. Modern Warfare 3 also features great graphics, so you’d better have a recent machine. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 2.2 Ghz Intel Core i3, 4 GB RAM, 13 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 640M, ATI Radeon HD 4850, Intel Iris with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Shooter | Medium | No |
| Left 4 Dead 2 | Left 4 Dead 2 The game focuses on four survivors who have to make their way to a safe house. As one of the survivors, you will have to fight hordes of monsters ranging from zombies to larger creatures. The missions are dynamically altered and will adjust the difficulty and quantity of monsters as you go. This will keep things interesting and challenging no matter your skills. Left 4 Dead 2 is a fun game in and of itself, but it's even better with friends. This is one of the best cooperative games out there, and it would be a shame to miss all the added fun. Left 4 Dead 2 doesn't have particularly impressive graphics, but with so much action happening at once, you will need a recent Mac to run it. System requirements: OS X 10.6.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 13 GB HD space, ATI Radeon 2400, NVIDIA 8600M or Intel HD Graphics 3000. | Shooter | Low | No |
| Euro Truck Simulator 2 | Euro Truck Simulator 2 Turns out, there’s more than meets the eye. Much more. First of all, this game is both a truck-driving simulator and a business management simulator. You start as a freelance driver delivering goods to win money and XP. But once you have enough saved up, you can buy your own truck and start running your own business. You also get to travel across Europe and explore dozens of cities from the UK, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and many more. But more importantly, the actual driving is quite good. The handling is precise, the scenery beautiful, and the attention to detail impressive. All this works together to create a relaxing and almost hypnotic driving experience. Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a good-looking game too and you'll need a modern Mac to run it smoothly. System requirements: OS X 10.9, Dual core CPU 2.4 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 3 GB HD space, GeForce GTS 450-class (Intel HD 4000). | Simulation | Medium | No |
| X-Plane 11 | X-Plane 11 X-Plane 11 is quite an achievement because it appeals to both detail-obsessed geeks and recreational enthusiast. For the pro pilots, the game now features a better physics engine and improved flight dynamics, allowing you to “feel” the plane. For the “noobs”, you can quickly get the hang of the main controls, and, as in real life, you can automate much of the work. In both cases, the realistic 3-D cockpits, the busy airports, and the beautiful sceneries will let you absorb the beauty of flight. X-Plane 11 can be an impressive looking game too. Turn all settings to high and the game will populate the world with buildings and roads. Turn them to low and it should be able to run on modest hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.10, Intel Core i3, 8 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, video card with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Simulation | Medium | No |
| League of Legends | League of Legends In League of Legends, players form two teams that compete against each other. You take control of a single “champion” that you can improve as you play. The game has over 120 champions to choose from, each with unique abilities, weaknesses, and strengths. This makes it a hard game to learn and master. And that’s a problem, because LoL is an extremely competitive game. Their community is known for being a bit aggressive, so expect some abuse if you mess up! But do you know what really makes LoL worth a shot anyway? The fact that it’s free to play. What you’ll need to play League of Legends' Mac version. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 5 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600. | MOBA | Medium | Yes |
| Minecraft | Minecraft Minecraft’s buildings have no limitations. I can barely build a fort, but some people have recreated the Death Star, Rohan, and more. Minecraft is also a survival game. Monsters come out at night, so make sure you build a shelter. You will also have to find food, craft weapons, and explore to find useful resources. Minecraft’s graphics are as retro as it gets, but that doesn’t stop it from looking good. Plus, retro graphics mean that Minecraft can run on most Macs, including my 13-inch Macbook Air. System requirements: OS X 10.6.6, 1.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 512 MB RAM, 185 MB HD space, ATI Radeon 9500 or better, NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 or better, Intel GMA 950 or better with 64 MB of Video Memory. | Adventure | Low | No |
| Kerbal Space Program | Kerbal Space Program In KSP, you take control of an entire space program. You get to build spacecrafts and launch them. It sounds simple, but this is a hardcore physics simulator where you will fail. A lot. One rocket is too heavy, another doesn’t hold enough fuel, etc. This game is hard, but the beauty is that it’s also fun and rewarding. And the cute characters and sense of humor certainly help too. The bottom line: You don’t have to be into rocket flight simulation to enjoy this game. Kerbal Space Program is complex, fun, and extremely rewarding. And it also happens to have reasonable system requirements. System requirements: OS X 10.6, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, ATI Radeon HD 4850, or Intel HD 5000 with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Simulation | Medium | No |
| EVE Online | EVE Online In EVE, you can choose from a variety of professions including mining, manufacturing, trading, piracy, and more. Everything happens in real-time, meaning that the universe continues to exist even when you’re not logged in. There’s a real economy going on here, and it doesn’t stop for anyone. EVE also features amazing space battles and an endless supply of ships. There are are small little jumpers but also giant vessels, some larger than entire cities. After ten years of steady growth and 20 free expansions, EVE Online isn’t going anywhere. If you like space combat, you should definitely give it a shot. As with most MMOs, EVE Online’s Mac version does require some horsepower to run. System requirements: OS X 10.9, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 320m or Intel HD 3000. | MMO | Medium | No |
| Homeworld Remastered Collection | Homeworld Remastered Collection It’s crazy how 15 years later, no strategy game could match the scale and excitement of Homeworld’s space battles. And now thanks to this Remastered Collection’s beautiful graphics, Homeworld looks like any other modern strategy game. The Remastered Collection brings polished graphics, high-res textures, better lighting effects, and a new UI—enough to compete against modern games. This, combined with a great story and atmosphere, makes this collection a must. For a long time, players debated whether this was the best strategy game of all time, and now that both Homeworld games have been modernized, the debate can continue. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 640M, ATI Radeon HD 3870, or Intel HD 4000 with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Strategy | Medium | No |
| Europa Universalis 4 | Europa Universalis 4 Developer Paradox succeeded, creating the finest grand strategy game out there. Don’t get me wrong, though—EU4 may be a more accessible game, but it’s still complex and hard to play. The game puts you in control of a nation’s military, diplomacy, and economy. Because a nation cannot excel everywhere, you will need to make some decisions. Should you strive for a strong economy or a powerful military? EU 4 is a real simulation and puts the world’s history at your fingertips. The entirety of Earth can be owned, conquered, and colonized. This is another example of Paradox’s commitment to macOS. Europa Universalis 4’s Mac version works great and runs even on modest hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.6.8, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 6750, NVIDIA GeForce 320, NVIDIA GeForce 9600 or higher with 1 GB of Video Memory. | Strategy | Medium | No |
| Doki Doki Literature Club! | Doki Doki Literature Club! It all starts innocently, though. You play as a character that is part of a high school literary club. You get to write poems and flirt with the various girls in the club. But things take a turn when the objective becomes keeping the girls alive.. Strangely enough, this is one of the few games that try to be many different things at once and succeeds. It’s part horror, part dating simulation and many other things in-between. Doki Doki Literature Club is a memorable experience and the fact it can be played for free makes it a no-brainer if you’re ever so slightly interested by visual novels. As can be expected from a visual novel, this is a good looking game that won’t be too taxing on your hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.9, 1.8GHz Dual-Core Processor, 4 GB RAM, 375 MB space, Integrated graphics. | Horror | Low | No |
| SUPERHOT | SUPERHOT In Superhot, time only moves when you move. Most shooters are about quick reflexes. Superhot is about stopping to take the time to figure out your next move. You will often be surrounded, and pausing time will be your best weapon. Once you learn how to use it, you will be able to dodge bullets, aim for headshots, and pretty much kick ass. There’s a lot of trial and error involved here, so prepare to die. That said, once you master a scenario and watch the replay, you’ll feel like Neo from The Matrix. Did I mention how much I love the game’s art style? Your enemies are made of glass, and watching them explode is priceless. Plus, the lack of detailed textures gives this game moderate system requirements and should play fine on most modern Macs. System requirements: OS X 10.9, Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 3 GB HD space, graphics card with 1 GB RAM. | Shooter | Medium | No |
| Sleeping Dogs | Sleeping Dogs Taking place in Hong Kong, you play as an undercover cop that aims to take down the Triad. As you try to infiltrate it, you’ll take part in crimes, shootings, fist fights, and car chases. Hong Kong will be at your disposal, and you’ll be able to explore it by foot, car, or boat. The game plays a lot like Grand Theft Auto. But that’s a good thing. As Rockstar isn’t porting GTA 5 anytime soon, Sleeping Dogs is the next best thing. Plus, this is the Definitive Edition we’re talking about which features improved graphics, audio, and gameplay. In fact, it can look extremely good when all the settings are maxed out, but you can lower the settings to enjoy it on more average hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.10.5, 2.0 Ghz processor, 4 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, 1 GB VRAM. | Action | Medium | No |
| Dawn of War 3 | Dawn of War 3 Just like Dawn of War 2, the game focuses on hero units and upgrades, and instead of encouraging you to build huge armies, it encourages you to upgrade your most experienced units and heroes. Dawn of War 3 also brings more polish, an exciting 17-mission campaign, and cross-platform multiplayer between macOS and Linux. Dawn of War 3 comes with great graphics too. Feral Interactive did a great job on this port making Dawn of War 3’s Mac port easy to run on recent hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.12.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 30 GB HD space, 1 GB Nvidia 650, 2 GB AMD Radeon M290, Intel Iris Pro or better. | Strategy | Medium | No |
| The Witcher 2 | The Witcher 2 The original Witcher was a great game, but The Witcher 2 is even better. The Witcher 2’s world is bigger, the graphics are nicer, and the combat is faster. Windows gamers are already enjoying The Witcher 3, which I hope will come to the macOS later this year. Still, The Witcher 2 is a hell of a game, and I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. There’s one caveat with The Witcher 2’s Mac version, though. Some gamers told me it was full of bugs. I played this game for a few hours and didn’t notice anything myself, but still, it’s worth mentioning. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 25 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M 512MB, ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB or better with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Role-Playing | Medium | No |
| Crusader Kings 2 | Crusader Kings 2 The game takes place in real time and lets you use politics, economics, or warfare to build your empire. The combat is fine, but the social and political mechanics are what make this game shine. There are assassinations, marriages, bribes, and countless other situations that you can make work in your favor. Honestly, some situations are just crazy. Does your mother want to kill your brother? Did you discover your son likes to mutilate animals? This shows the commitment from the developer to create something unique. Crusader Kings 2’s Mac version was handled with care too. The game is stable and runs fine even on older Macs. System requirements: OS X 10.9, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 6750, NVIDIA GeForce 320, NVIDIA GeForce 9600 or higher. | Strategy | Medium | No |
| Celeste | Celeste Celeste centers around a young girl named Madeline and her adventure to the top of Celeste Mountain. She’ll meet many personable characters in her travels, and will learn more about herself along the way. The touching narrative is actually one of the highlights of the game, providing more character development and incentive than we’re used to seeing from platformers. There are 700+ screens to beat and secrets to unlock (including “Brutal B-side chapters…built for only the bravest mountaineers”), and dying is just part of the process. You’ll respawn right away, so no backtracking is necessary. Jump, dash, climb, die, jump, dash, climb, advance. See if you don’t get hooked. System requirements: OS 10.7.5, Intel Core i3 Processor, 2 GB RAM, OpenGL 3.0+ (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable), 1.2 GB hard drive space. | Adventure | Low | No |
| Mark of the Ninja Remastered | Mark of the Ninja Remastered As a nameless ninja in the present day, you’ll have to complete many challenging levels. They are all linear, but they offer plenty of different routes and ways to advance. You can hide, kill, or do a combination of both. The choices are limitless, and that is what makes this game special. For example, there are guards, dogs, plants to hide in, shafts, lights that you can turn off, and so much more. Some levels are hard, but the game gives you so many tools that you learn to do things your way. Mark of the Ninja was an already excellent game and now that the game has been remastered, you can enjoy it with enhanced visuals and 4K resolution. System requirements: OS 10.11, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 8 GB HD space, Radeon 6750M. | Platformer | Low | No |
| RimWorld | RimWorld RimWorld may seem somewhat simplistic at first, probably because of the bare-bones graphics, but this simulation game is nothing but simple. As your colony grows, you’ll need to take care of so many things at once, from building infrastructures to gathering raw materials. Plus, you'll also be in charge of nearly every aspect of your colonists' lives: their mood, wounds, illnesses, addictions, relationships and more. Of course, there’s danger, too. To survive, you’ll have to fend off pirates, animals, giant insects, and even ancient killing machines. System requirements: OS X 10.5, Core 2 Duo CPU, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 3000, 500 MB available disk space. | Simulation | Low | No |
| Portal 2 | Portal 2 Portal 2 is all about solving puzzles using your “portal gun.” In a nutshell, this device creates two portals connecting any two places, and with its help, you can solve the unlikeliest of puzzles. Some puzzles are hard, but once you figure them out, you’ll feel like a genius. Portal 2 can also be played cooperatively, and you should. It’s simply way more fun with a friend. It’s not an overstatement to say that Portal 2 is a terrific game. It’s one of those rare gems that scored perfect reviews everywhere, and I can only agree. For a first-person game, Portal 2's Mac version isn't too demanding and can be played on a relatively modest setup. System requirements: OS X 10.7.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 8 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or Intel HD Graphics 3000. | Action | Low | No |
| Hotline Miami | Hotline Miami Hotline Miami is an ultra-violent top-down shooter set in 1989. The game tells the story of two characters who have to commit massacres against the Russian Mafia in Miami. But what made this game an indie classic was the way it combined stealth and extreme violence, along with a soundtrack and visuals that perfectly matched that 1980s feeling. The gameplay is simple but precise and solid. You will want to retry levels for the sake of getting a perfect score. Hotline Miami 2 did a lot of the same, but it never managed to be as good as the original. If in doubt, get the cheaper and better Hotline Miami and thank me later. This is a retro game that can run on even older Macs. System requirements: OS X 10.7, 2.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 512 MB RAM, 130 MB HD space. | Action | Low | No |
| Life is Strange | Life is Strange The game follows the story of a highschool senior. Although she looks like your average teenager, she can actually rewind time and affect the past, present, and future. Throughout the game, she will use it to try to save her friend and figure out what’s happening in her hometown. This is a game that focuses on story-telling, so if you’re looking for combat and action sequences, move along; you won’t find that here. You will, however, find a great story full of choices and consequences. Other than being one of the most interesting adventure games I’ve recently played, Life is Strange’s Mac version is also a great port. The game looks quite good and yet it can run on low-specs machines, such as my aging MacBook Air. System requirements: OS X 10.11, 1.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 15 GB HD space, Intel HD 4000, AMD 4850 (512 MB VRAM), Nvidia 130 (512 MB VRAM) or better. | Adventure | Low | No |
| Gone Home | Gone Home Gone Home is set in a big empty mansion. As you return home from a long trip abroad, you realize your family is missing. The only clue is a note from your sister asking you not to try to find them. That is Gone Home’s premise. The gameplay is limited to you investigating the mansion and inspecting objects. It certainly doesn’t sound like much, but Gone Home manages to create a great story and a memorable connection between you and the missing family. I still don’t understand how they pulled it off, but Gone Home is a unique and compelling experience you can’t miss. Gone Home’s Mac version is well-polished too. System requirements: OS X 10.7, 1.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, any card with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Adventure | Medium | No |
| Her Story | Her Story Her Story is an interactive movie game that lets you use police video clips to solve the case of a murder that occurred in 1994. The tapes revolve around the interrogation of a man’s wife, and all of her words are transcribed. The interviews are broken up into hundreds of pieces, but as you watch more and more clips, everything starts to make sense. Your job is to explore and search the huge database until you can eventually piece together her story. This is a game that doesn’t require fancy graphics, as the narrative drives it home. Everyone can experience Her Story’s Mac port, even those of you with older or low-powered Macs. System requirements: OS X 10.8, 2 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, 512 MB of video memory. | Adventure | Low | No |
| BioShock Remastered | BioShock Remastered Unfortunately, it was starting to become too old to wholeheartedly recommend it. That is no longer the case with the release of BioShock Remastered. This new version features improved graphics, 5K resolution support, finer textures and better effects. If you missed your chance to visit the infamous underwater city of Rapture the first time around, BioShock Remastered will give you another opportunity to experience one of the most original shooters from the past two decades. This is a game that won perfect scores from many critics, multiple awards, and is one of my personal favorite horror games. Plus, the beauty of this Remastered version is that although the game looks much better, it doesn’t need a particularly fast Mac to run. System requirements: OS X 10.12.5, 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 or greater, 8 GB RAM, 27 GB HD space, 2GB NVIDIA 680MX, 2GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5GB Intel Iris Pro 5200. | Horror | Low | No |
| Crypt of the NecroDancer | Crypt of the NecroDancer Crypt of the NecroDancer is a dungeon crawler with a twist: you can only move to the beat of the music, and that applies to your enemies too. This makes every enemy encounter an elaborate dance. You will be punished if you miss a beat, but once you learn your enemy’s rhythmic patterns, this game becomes a masterpiece. This is a roguelike game too, and every dungeon is randomly generated. Combine that with the fact that you can use your own MP3s and you’ve got a winner. Being a pixelated retro-adventure, Crypt of the NecroDancer’s Mac port is lightweight and can be easily played on older machines. System requirements: OS X 10.7, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 1,6 GB HD space, 512 MB Video RAM. | Platformer | Low | No |
| Dying Light: The Following | Dying Light: The Following Dying Light is a survival game set in a devastated open world. A mysterious epidemic ravaged the world, and you’re left scavenging for supplies and crafting weapons to defend yourself from hordes of zombies. This all sounds great, but the best part is that Techland delivered an Enhanced Edition, which includes a massive expansion, a year’s worth of DLC, improved visuals, major gameplay enhancements, and more. Dying Light also supports Steam Play and Cross-platform multiplayer. Enough to make this my favorite shooter right now. This thing is both gorgeous and demanding, so to run it, you better have a powerful machine. System requirements: OS X 10.12.1, 3.2 Ghz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB HD space, AMD Radeon R9 M370X with 2 GB VRAM. | Shooter | High | No |
| The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth | The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth Because of the endless supply of dungeons, items, monsters, and bosses, this game never feels old. Do keep in mind that this is a challenging game, especially because it features permadeath—if you die, you’ll have to start from scratch. This is often painful (and frustrating), especially when you just found a cool rare item. Rebirth is a remake of The Binding of Isaac built on a newer engine. It features updated art, effects, music, and 'hundreds upon hundreds of designs, redesigns, and re-tuned enhancements.' It also happens to be an easy game to run because of its light Mac system requirements. System requirements: OS X 10.8, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 450 MB HD space. | Platformer | Low | No |
| The Banner Saga | The Banner Saga The Banner Saga puts you at the helm of a caravan that you have to guide and protect. Along the way, the game will throw moral dilemmas at you and will hit you when you’re down. The world is bleak, and survival doesn’t come easy. The Banner Saga offers many twists. For example, instead of focusing on one hero, it focuses on the caravan as a whole. Throughout the campaign, you will get to use different characters, and every character will have the power to change the story. In the graphics department, this game won’t impress you, but that also means that The Banner Saga’s Mac version has low system requirements. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 6 GB HD space, 256 MB of video memory. | Role-Playing | Low | No |
| Fez | Fez In Fez, you control Gomez, a character who can see both the 2D and 3D worlds around him. This gives you the ability to actually rotate the world and see all four sides of it. And that makes all the difference. This perspective gives this game a special touch, but it also makes the puzzles all the more difficult. There are no enemies to distract you, but trust me, you will need all your focus to solve those puzzles. Like many indie platformers, Fez uses a retro look and lots of colors to look good. The graphics won't blow your mind, but on the plus side, it runs on even older Macs. System requirements: OS X 10.6.8, 1.8 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 1 GB RAM, 1 GB HD space, OpenGL 3.0+ support however Intel Integrated Graphics (excluding HD series) will not work. | Platformer | Low | No |
| Spelunky | Spelunky Spelunky has it all—it generates random levels, it’s extremely difficult, and it has permadeath (if you die, you will have to start all over) and cute 2D graphics. In Spelunky, you have to gather as many treasures as possible while avoiding the traps and enemies that fill the tunnels. The gameplay is straightforward—you can whip or jump on enemies, pick up items, or use bombs and ropes to further explore the caves. Spelunky also happens to be a very lightweight game. It’s so light, in fact, that you can even play it on your browser. That means that Spelunky’s Mac version can be played on even the oldest Macs. | Platformer | Low | Yes |
| Hyper Light Drifter | Hyper Light Drifter Hyper Light Drifter is an homage to the games I grew up with. Some consider it a combination of The Legend of Zelda and Diablo, and I couldn’t agree more. The game doesn’t reinvent the wheel; but everything just clicks together. The combat is fun, the sound effects are intense, and the art style looks great. And don’t get me started with the music, which is sublime. It all creates an atmosphere that is hard to describe. Speaking of graphics, the retro style here looks great and makes this a lightweight game. This means you can play Hyper Light Drifter on your MacBook without a problem. System requirements: OS X 10.7, 1.2 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, 512 MB video memory. | Role-Playing | Low | No |
| Shovel Knight | Shovel Knight This game plays a lot like the older Mario Bros games. You have to go through each level until reaching a boss, and there’re coins to be grabbed and baddies you can attack with your shovel. This may sound like a ripoff of Super Mario Bros, but Shovel Knight has a lot of modern twists. For example, all the coins you grab are not for bragging rights only. You can use them to buy upgrades and more. As can be expected from a retro game such as Shovel Knight, this is a lightweight game with low system requirements—perfect for a MacBook. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 250 MB HD space. | Platformer | Low | No |
| GRID 2 | GRID 2 GRID 2 is the perfect combination of realism and arcade fun. In fact, you’re always a few settings away from a simulation game, an arcade game, or something in-between. The game includes many real-world locations and a huge car selection. Plus, the physics engine makes every car feel different. This all comes together to guarantee that GRID 2 a joy to play. Granted, even with every assist off, this game won’t match Gran Turismo. But I don’t see that as a bad thing, as GRID 2 can be challenging but remains accessible. For a casual racing fan like me, this is the best Mac racing game. Also, I have no idea what Feral Interactive did with GRID 2’s Mac port, but the game runs really well. Even my 2013 MacBook Air can run it decently! System requirements: OS X 10.9.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 11 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, ATI Radeon HD 3870, or Intel HD 4000 with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Racing | Low | No |
| Undertale | Undertale As you go about your adventure, you can decide whether you should kill your enemies or befriend them. Undertale is a tricky game to describe, because the less you know about it, the better it works its magic on you. Suffice it to say, this game has a story that constantly changes as you decide whether you want to make friends or increase the body count. This is a funny game too and can easily make you laugh out loud. And don’t let the goofy graphics trick you. There’s a reason why Undertale was chosen as the best game of all time. The best I can do is advise you to try it yourself. Also, this is a very lightweight game. Think your hardware is too old to play video games? Give Undertale a try. System requirements: 2 GB RAM, 200 MB HD space. | Role-Playing | Low | No |
| Bastion | Bastion Bastion takes place in a floating world that constantly changes. But what sets this game apart is the narrator. Throughout the campaign, a voice narrates your every move. This gives impact to even the most mundane fights. Bastion is the complete package. It offers fun combat, a good story, and a beautiful, colorful world. And that narrator makes it even better in ways that are hard to explain. You do not want to miss this classic, which also happens to be easy on your Mac. System requirements: OS X 10.5.8, 1.8 Ghz Intel Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 1 GB HD space, ATI Radeon 2600, nVidia GeForce 8600 GT, Intel HD 4000 with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Role-Playing | Low | No |
| Papers, Please | Papers, Please Paper, Please puts you in the shoes of an immigration officer and focuses on the emotional toll that comes from deciding who comes in and who doesn’t. You get to inspect arrivals’ documents and use several tools to weed out potentially dangerous people, such as terrorists, wanted criminals, or smugglers. You can also interrogate people and request fingerprints or even a full-body scan. The idea behind this sounds simple, but once you start playing, you’ll realize it’s complex and stressful. This is the perfect game if you’re looking for a change from traditional triple-A games. It’s also a great choice if you own a low-powered Mac, as Papers, Please’s Mac version has minimal system requirements. System requirements: OS X 10.8, 1.5 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 100 MB HD space, OpenGL 1.4 or better. | Simulation | Low | No |
| The Talos Principle | The Talos Principle This game is full of clever puzzles and reminds me of Portal, which is a hell of a compliment. There are 120 puzzles in total, and they're all hard enough to make you feel smart once you figure them out. The game provides a lot of tools to succeed too. There are blocks, signal jammers, lasers, motion-recording devices, and even turrets. The game also has a philosophical side, but you can completely ignore it if you prefer. Plus, the puzzles are what truly make this a good game. The Talos Principle's Mac version isn't particularly demanding. System requirements: OS X 10.5.8, 2.2 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 5 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 4670, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT or video card with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Adventure | Medium | No |
| Rocksmith 2014 | Rocksmith 2014 Remastered This game is similar to Guitar Hero and Rock Band. The screen follows a hot rock song and shows you what buttons to press to “play” the song—except Rocksmith doesn’t use cheap guitar-shaped controllers. It requires a real guitar. As a noob guitar player myself, I can tell you that this game can really teach you the basics. You can start at the lowest difficulty to learn how a guitar works, or you can set the difficulty to 100 and actually learn to play the real song. Rocksmith 2014 takes the teaching part seriously and offers over 85 lessons covering bends, accents, slides, and more. I love this game because it can really teach you something in a fun way. Plus, Rocksmith 2014’s Mac version can run on most machines. System requirements: OS X 10.7, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 12 GB HD space, NVidia GeForce 8600 GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600 with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Simulation | Low | No |
| Super Meat Boy | Super Meat Boy Fleetwood mac tour dates 2018 europe. Fleetwood Mac 2018-2019 Tour Dates: 10/03 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center 10/06 – Chicago, IL @ United Center 10/10 – Louisville, KY @ KFC Yum! This game is hard, and you will have to die a lot. You will die hundreds of times, but the sense of accomplishment is much bigger because of it. Super Meat Boy actually evokes fond memories of times when games were hard. The game offers more than 300 levels, all filled with traps like fans, rockets, lava pits, and other things designed to crush you. And you can only run and jump to survive. This may sound simplistic, but Super Meat Boy has tight controls that will reward skill. Super Meat Boy's Mac version is lightweight and will run smoothly even on older Macs. System requirements: OS X 10.7.4, 1.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 256 MB RAM, 300 MB HD space, card supporting Pixel Shader 2.0 and Vertex Shader 2.0 with 128 MB of Video Memory. | Platformer | Low | No |
| Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft | Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft Can you really call a collectible card game a gem? You can if the game is this much fun! And if you thought collectible card games weren’t your thing, think again. Based on the popular Warcraft universe, Hearthstone is a simple game to grasp. In every match, you pull three or four cards (depending on who goes first) out of your customized deck of 30 cards. There are different card types, but the aim is simple: kill you opponent. The rules are easy, but the strategy behind the game is complex, challenging, and satisfying. Hearthstone is an excellent strategy game, and I'd recommend it to anybody. And if you happen to have a machine that you think is too old to play games, give Hearthstone’s Mac version a try. It’s one of the best free macOS games out there. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 3 GB HD space, NVIDIA® GeForce 8600M GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro. | Strategy | Low | No |
| Alien: Isolation | Alien: Isolation Granted, many Alien games have come and gone, and most were bad. But Isolation is different. For the first time ever, an Alien game finally captured the essence of the original film. This is truly a scary game, and the Alien is to be feared and respected. You can’t kill it. All you can do is run and hide. The game does take place in an abandoned space station, which offers many places to hide. Alien: Isolation is the complete package. The story is interesting, the gameplay is solid, and the graphics are beautiful. Feral Interactive did a fine job with Alien: Isolation’s Mac version. It runs great and is bug-free. System requirements: OS X 10.10.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 35 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, ATI Radeon HD 5670, or Intel Iris Pro with 1 GB of Video Memory. | Horror | High | No |
| Cave Story | Cave Story Cave Story looks and plays like an old NES game, but beneath that pixelated exterior lies a good story with fun gameplay. In Cave Story, you can explore underground caves, upgrade your weapons, and search for secret loot. Enemies drop experience points too, increasing your weapon’s power. An enhanced version is available on Steam, but you can always try the community-driven free version. This is also an excellent way to test your Mac’s limits for those of you with older machines. | Platformer | Low | Yes |
| FTL: Faster than Light | FTL: Faster than Light The game gives you control of a ship carrying critical information. Problem is, a large enemy fleet is on your tail. You must guide the ship through several planetary systems to escape, and each comes with random events that will put you to the test—an enemy ship, a pirate, or something else. At the same time, you'll have to recruit new crew members and upgrade your ship. Combat takes place in real time and leaves no room for mistakes. Death is permanent, and losing your ship or crew will force you to start all over again. FTL shares one huge benefit with most of the indie games on this list—it doesn’t require much to run. System requirements: OS X 10.5.8, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core Duo, 1 GB RAM, 175 MB HD space, OpenGL 2.0 Support with 128 MB of Video Memory. | Strategy | Low | No |
| Dwarf Fortress | Dwarf Fortress A typical Dwarf Fortress game involves a randomly generated world in which you control a group of dwarves and attempt to build an underground fortress. Needless to say, without much direction and text-based graphics, this game is hard. But that’s also Dwarf Fortress’ charm. Many consider it the most complex video game ever created, and the game is notorious for being difficult. But once you’ve passed the steep learning curve, there’s a real gem hidden here. Also, text-based graphics may not sound sexy, but at least you can play this even on the old Mac Mini you found at a garage sale. | Strategy | Low | Yes |
| Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor | Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Set in the Lord of the Rings universe, Shadow of Mordor combines melee combat, stealth, exploration, and parkour. But what sets it apart is that everything it does, it does well. The combat is as good as Batman: Arkham City’s, and the exploration and parkour are as good as Assassin’s Creed’s. But it gets better. The game also uses the Nemesis System, which allows your enemies to remember all previous confrontations and react accordingly. This game packs some serious graphics, and Feral Interactive managed to bring us a solid port. Still, Shadow of Mordor’s Mac requirements remain high. System requirements: OS X 10.10.3, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 8 GB RAM, 80 GB HD space, ATI 7xxx, Nvidia 6xx, Intel Iris or Iris Pro with 1 GB of Video Memory. | Action | High | No |
| Firewatch | Firewatch Firewatch tells the story of a fire lookout stationed in a forest. After some mysterious occurrences, you set out to explore the forest in search of answers. Your only form of communication is a walkie-talkie, and the way you choose to respond will influence your relationships. This is a great game that feels like an adult game with realistic issues. That drives the story to a level we are no longer used to. Plus, the forest is beautiful and full of breathtaking sights. I just finished the game and totally understand why it's one of Macworld's favorite games. Developer Campo Santo took Firewatch's Mac version very seriously. They are working on adding metal support to make it even better. You don’t need to wait, though—the current version works great and is properly optimized. System requirements: OS X 10.8, Intel Core i5, 6 GB RAM, 4 GB HD space, Nvidia or ATi GPU with 1GB Memory. | Adventure | High | No |
| Trine 2 | This side-scroller game lets up to three players use Amadeus the wizard, Zoya the thief, and Pontius the knight. Each has special skills that will help you solve specific puzzles and progress. If you’re playing alone, you will need to constantly switch between characters until you find the right spell or ability to solve the puzzle. And if you’re playing with friends, you’d better play like a team or you will get stuck. A lot. This game takes place in a beautiful universe too. Trine 2 is a fairytale adventure and it shows, featuring detailed environments that can really make you stop and enjoy the view. Trine 3 came out not too long ago, but Trine 2 is still a better (and cheaper) game. Also, the slightly older Trine 2 can be player on weaker machines. System requirements: OS X 10.6.6, 1.6 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 1.5 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 320M, ATI HD 2400, or Intel HD 3000 with 128 MB of Video Memory. | Platformer | Low | No |
| Grim Fandango: Remastered | Grim Fandango: Remastered Enter Grim Fandango: Remastered, an attempt to bring the game back to modernity. The game follows the story of afterlife travel agent Manny Calavera and revolves around engaging other characters, collecting objects, and solving puzzles. Originally released in 1998, Double Fine remastered and brought improved textures, 3D models, modern control schemes, a new soundtrack, and new lighting effects to this updated version. Adventure games age well, but the updated graphics are a welcome addition. As can be expected from a remastered old classic, the game looks good but is still easy to run on most modern hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.9, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 6 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 4650, NVIDIA GeForce GT 220, Intel HD 4000 Graphics, or equivalent with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Adventure | Medium | No |
| Outlast | Outlast As a freelance journalist investigating a psychiatric hospital lost in the mountains, you soon realize that was a bad idea. Hell breaks loose, and you find yourself in the middle of mutilated corpses, terrified inmates, insane doctors, and disfigured patients. And to make matters worse, you are completely incapable of combat. With no way to fight, you basically have two choices: run or hide. Either way, the game plays beautifully. It offers tons of places to hide, and if you decide to run for it, the gameplay is fluid and fast. This is a great-looking game too, so you’d need horsepower if you want to run Outlast’s Mac version at its highest settings. System requirements: OS X 10.9, 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 5 GB HD space, GeForce GT 750M, Intel Iris Pro 5200, or Radeon HD 3xxx. | Horror | High | No |
| F1 2017 | F1 2017 The game features the official 2017 World Championship, including the full calendar of 21 tracks and roster of 22 drivers from 11 teams. But beyond yearly updates, F1 2017 introduced improved graphics, a new gameplay mode, invitational events, and pretty much everything a Formula 1 fan could ask for. Finally, F1 2017’s photorealistic cars and tracks simply are outstanding. In fact, I believe this is the best looking racing game you can play on MacOS. Feral Interactive used Metal to ensure the game runs as smoothly as possible, but this is still an extremely demanding game. System requirements: OS X 10.12.5, 2.0GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 36 GB HD space, 2GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5GB Intel Iris Pro 6200. | Racing | High | No |
| XCOM 2 | XCOM 2 As expected, this turn-based strategy game plays and looks much better than its predecessor. The critics love it. In XCOM 2, humans lost the war against the aliens and have to resort to guerilla tactics to fight back. This changes the way the game plays and paves the way for cool features, such as the ability to hide from the aliens. One word of caution, though—this game looks great but is very demanding. XCOM 2’s Mac version will require powerful Mac to run, and before you go blame Feral Interactive for a poor port, know that the Windows version is the same: PS: If you don’t have a powerful Mac to run XCOM 2, you can always try the very solid XCOM: Enemy Unknown. System requirements: OS X 10.11.2, 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 45 GB HD space, NVIDIA 650ti (1GB), AMD 5770 (1GB), Intel Iris Pro or better. | Strategy | High | No |
| Rust | Rust Rust is a game about doing whatever it takes to survive in a post apocalyptic world. You start with practically nothing and must scavenge the basics to survive: food, shelter, fire, and weapons. The world is full of savage beast that will attack you on sight, but the real danger are other human players. You can technically team up with others to increase your chances of survival, but people usually end up killing each other. Every encounter with another player is a dangerous and tense affair, but that’s part of the fun. Rust uses the Unity engine and is as stable as can be expected from an open-world online game. Still, the game takes place in huge environments and requires decent hardware and a fast internet connection. System requirements: OS X 10.7, Intel Core i7-3770 or better, 8 GB RAM, 10 GB HD space, GTX 670 2GB / AMD R9 280 better. | Action | Medium | No |
| Metro 2033 Redux | Metro 2033 Redux Metro: Last Light is the sequel, but developer 4A Games decided to remaster the original Metro 2033 and include all the improvements and goodies from the original. For a long time, Metro 2033 was used as a benchmark to test the latest graphics cards—it looked that good. So why on earth was it remastered? Well, turns out Metro 2033 had a lot to learn from the newer Last Light. This is a true remaster with polishes, improved lighting and weather effects, expanded environments, and even new features, such as weapon customization. If you missed Metro 2033 the first time, Metro 2033 Redux is the perfect excuse to try one of the best-looking games you can play on Mac. Be careful though, you'll require a powerful machine. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 3.2 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 8 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750m 1GB, or Radeon HD7950 3GB with 1 GB of Video Memory. | Shooter | High | No |
| Limbo | Limbo In Limbo, you guide a boy through dangerous places in search of his missing sister. The environments not only look gloomy, they are full of puzzles, traps, and monsters. In fact, people refer to Limbo's gameplay as “trial and death,” which means that you will have to die a lot before solving a puzzle. And those deaths are quite gruesome too, making the experience a little more tense. Limbo uses simple graphics to create a dark and nightmarish feel. That simplicity provides another benefit—you can play Limbo even on older Macs. System requirements: OS X 10.6.6, 1.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 150 MB HD space, OpenGL 2.0 compatible video card with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Platformer | Low | No |
It can be hard to remain objective when selecting the best of anything. But when it comes to video games, it’s nearly impossible… Tastes are nearly as important as quality, hence the need to have some guidelines. Every game featured here will follow these simple principles:
Only native support: You’d be surprised how many Top Games for macOS lists feature Windows-only games. Not here. Each and every one of the games mentioned here
Focus on MacOS performance: Many of the games featured here have been tested on several Macs as part of our dedicated guides. These are the specifications of the main test machines:
iMac (5K, 27-inch, Late 2014)
3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2GB)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2013)
2.4 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, Intel Iris 5100 (1.5GB)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016):
2.0 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, Intel Iris Graphics 540 (1.5GB)
For the record, we test our games on Medium settings (to give older models a chance) and 1280×800 resolution.
These are all the results of our tests in Frames per Second (FPS):
And for reference, this is how we interpret the results:
| Below 20 FPS | Unplayable | Laggy gameplay, full of stutters and slowdowns. |
| 20-30 FPS | Borderline | Can be Ok in slow paced games. Still, not optimal. |
| 30-45 FPS | Playable | Acceptable for most (most gaming consoles do this). |
| 45-60 FPS | Smooth | Fluid gameplay, with no perceivable stutters. |
| 60+ FPS | Very Smooth | For hardcore and professional players, a luxury for most. |
We usually aim for 30 FPS, because 30 FPS is enough to guarantee a smooth and fluid experience.
Critically acclaimed: We know that our opinions are not the only ones that matter. To keep this guide as relevant as possible, we only considered proven games with positive reviews from both professional reviewers and average gamers.
After 14,000 words and many hours creating the biggest Macintosh games list out there, all I can ask you is toget your first Mac gameand bookmark this page (you will need the inspiration later).
Mac gaming can only grow if more gamers give it a shot. Perhaps you’re a casual gamer, or perhaps you are convinced your Mac is too old to play modern games. In any case, start with a few free games and see how it goes. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
Do you think I missed a very good Mac game already available? Let me know in the comments section.
Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission (this is how we pay the bills). This commission comes at no additional cost to you.
Mac Gamer HQ picks its favorite Mac games from all genres, including worthy free alternatives.
Maybe you just got your first Mac, or maybe you’re new to gaming. Either way, this may surprise you:
Most of the best games are available on Mac.
Indeed, Mac gaming has come a long way… Nowadays, 5 out of the 10 most-played games on Steam support MacOS and all the top indies support it too. This Best Mac games list is nothing but a sample of all the possibilities Mac gaming has to offer.
We’re about to dive into a massive list with 100 games in total, so feel free to jump to your favorite genre if you prefer:
But can your Mac run it? It’s great to find a bunch of cool new games to play, but what good are they if your Mac can’t run them? We’ve got your back. This is the only guide that includes system requirements and actual benchmark results.
Real-world MacOS tests
This is what makes our guides unique. We test our games on at least three different Mac models.
This is an overview of our results (find more information about our tests, including machine specifications, in our MacOS performance section):
| Game | ★ Best Overall | Runner Up | Best Value |
| Genre | Action | Strategy | Shooter |
| Release date | 2018 | 2016 | 2017 |
| Metascore | |||
| Our rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Requirements | High | High | Medium |
| Check Price |
Ready to get started?
This one is a biggy so we made sure you can easily explore all of the games covered. You can either:
- Read on for an overview of our absolute Top 10 games, one per genre (including benchmarks).
- Explore the remaining 90 games, which you can filter by genre, price and demand level.
Let’s get started!
Last updated: June 30, 2019
Unfortunately, sometimes games drop MacOS support, or even worse, they are entirely abandoned by their developers. This was the case of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Elite: Dangerous and RollerCoaster Tycoon…
Don’t worry though, we replace them with some of the best Mac games of 2018. Also, actual tests and benchmarks were performed on our Top 10 so don’t miss our Criteria section to learn more about our tests.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Mac Release date: 2018
MacOS developer: Feral Interactive
Metascore: 88
Starring the young archaeologist Lara Croft, this action-adventure game takes place one year after her adventure in Yamatai. This time, Lara sets out to the lost city of Kitezh to recover the Divine Source, an ancient artifact with the power to grant immortality.
With a focus on combat and survival, this game plays a lot like its predecessor. And that’s a good thing.
Feral Interactive did an excellent job with
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing Conditions:
Can your Mac run it?The most demanding game on this list, you better make sure your Mac meets the minimum requirements.
Any bugs you should be aware of? If your Mac can handle it, you should encounter a bug-free experience.
Verdict: Very Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.13.4, 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 2 GB NVIDIA 680MX, 2 GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5 GB Intel Iris Graphics 540 or better, 27 GB hard drive space.
SOMA
Mac Release date: 2015
MacOS developer: Frictional Games
Metascore: 84
Have you ever heard of Amnesia: The Dark Descent? Well, SOMA is the latest horror game from that same developer, and in my opinion, it’s their best game yet.
SOMA is a first-person shooter that takes place in an underwater research facility. It’s Rapture meets the Nostromo, and that’s the best part of the game. The horror and tension come from the environments here, not the characters. The game will ask you to go from one end of the facility to the other to discover what happened to all the missing employees along the way. Similar to Outlast, there are no weapons, and you can’t fight back. You can only hide from the monsters or—eventually—run.
Frictional Games did a fine job with SOMA’s Mac version. This is a good-looking game with system requirements that aren’t too high.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing conditions & results:
Can your Mac run it?Taking into account that even our 2013 13-inch MacBook Pro handled the game just fine, most Macs from 2013 onwards should be able to handle it.
Any bugs you should be aware of? If your Mac can handle it, you should encounter a bug-free experience.
Verdict: 🔶 Fairly demanding
System Requirements: 2.4 GHz Intel Core i3; 4GB RAM; 25 GB HD space; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260, AMD Radeon HD 5750, or better with 512 MB of Video Memory.
Visit our dedicated Horror games for Mac guide for more
Grab Thimbleweed Park for free on the Epic Games Store!
Usually $19.99, you can get this excellent adventure game for free:
World of Warcraft
Mac Release date: 2018 (latest Expansion)
MacOS developer: Blizzard
Metascore: 93
Does this need an introduction? There’s a reason why this MMORPG from Blizzard is one of the most famous games ever created.
WoW defined the genre 10 years ago and continues to evolve and compete with the many MMOs that have come and gone in its wake. In WoW, you create a character, complete quests, and kill baddies to level up and become stronger. Once you’ve reached your maximum level, the real fun begins. You can take part in “raids,” which are basically harder dungeons with tougher bosses and more powerful gear. Word of caution: This game is so good, it can be extremely addictive. I once lost around 6 months of my life playing WoW!
Blizzard did a great job with WoW’s Mac version and the game should run on most modern Macs, especially now that it supports Metal.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing conditions & results:
Can your Mac run it?You’ll need a recent MacBook or
Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience on Mac.
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.12.5, 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 1GB AMD 5750, Nvidia 650M, 1.5GB Intel Iris Pro 5200, 78 GB hard drive space.
Visit our dedicated MMORPG games for Mac guide for more
DiRT Rally
Mac Release date: 2017
MacOS developer: Feral Interactive
Metascore: 86
It was a sad day when DiRT 3 suddenly became unavailable. That game had a special place in this Top 3 and for months I wondered how we could ever replace it.
Turns out we only had to wait for a few months until DiRT Rally was released for Mac. With sophisticated handling and high-risk, high-reward gameplay, this game will challenge you. But you can always change a few settings and assists to turn it into a more casual game if you’d prefer.
Dirt Rally also features impressive graphics with photo-realistic cars and beautifully rendered tracks.
Feral Interactive clearly put Apple’s Metal API to good use because, in spite of looking great, Dirt Rally has surprisingly low system requirements.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing conditions & results:
Can your Mac run it?In this case, you’ll need at least a baseline MBP from 2013 onwards.
Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience on Mac.
Mac.
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.13, 1.8 GHz Intel Core i3 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 1 GB Nvidia 650M / 2 GB AMD Radeon M290 / Intel HD 4000 graphics card or better, 48 GB hard drive space.
Visit our dedicated Racing games for Mac guide for more
Pillars of Eternity 2
Mac Release date: 2018
MacOS developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Metascore: 88
Games Mac 2018
Because of the success of the original Pillars of Eternity, expectations were incredibly high. But developer Obsidian delivered, raising over $4 Million from over 33,000 backers.
Pillars of Eternity 2 is not only a worthy successor,
Pillars of Eternity 2 also features real-time gameplay, an elevated camera angle, detailed party customizations, and tons of dialogue. This game has all the ingredients to do old-school RPGs justice. Pillars of Eternity may look and feel old-school, and that might turn you off. But don’t be fooled by appearances. This is a great game that tells a great story, and if you’re into RPGs, you owe it to yourself to try it.
Also, Obsidian Entertainment did an excellent job on Pillar of Eternity’s 2 Mac version. The port is bug-free and easy on the system requirements.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing Conditions:
Can your Mac run it?For a top-down RPG, this is one surprisingly demanding game. Make sure your Mac can handle it before spending your hard earned cash on it…
Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience thanks to the great support the Unity engine has given to MacOS.
Verdict: Very Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.12.6, 2.9 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT750M, 45 GB hard drive space.
Visit our dedicated RPG games for Mac guide for more
Borderlands 2
Mac Release date: 2012
MacOS developer: Aspyr
Metascore: 89
Borderlands 2 is hands down the best first-person shooter in the Borderlands series.
Sure, Borderlands: The Pre-sequel came out to replace it, but why fix something that ain’t broke? If you’re looking for the best Borderlands game, this is it.
Borderlands 2 combines first-person shooter gameplay with RPG elements, creating one hell of an experience. This game is all about killing enemies to find cool weapons. If Diablo and Halo had a baby, it would look something like this. Killing baddies to find that fire legendary gun you wanted is tons of fun, but Borderlands 2 is even better when you’re playing it with friends. Borderlands 2 is best experienced as a four-player co-op multiplayer.
Borderlands 2’s Mac version is a good looking game too, and you will need some horsepower to run it properly.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Best Free Games Mac 2018
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing Conditions:We tested the game using Medium settings, 2X Anisotropic Filtering, FXAA, and 1280×800 resolution:
Can your Mac run it?You’ll need either
Any bugs you should be aware of? The game sometimes crashes on the start menu. To avoid that problem, just launch a game as soon as you enter the open menu.
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.8.5, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4 GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 2600 / NVidia Geforce 8800/ Intel HD 3000, 13 GB hard drive space.
Visit our dedicated FPS games for Mac guide for more
Games Mac Torrent
Stardew Valley
Mac Release date: 2016
MacOS developer: ConcernedApe
Metascore: 89
Stardew Valley is the country-life RPG that took everyone by surprise, shattering sales records on Steam.
This pixelated farming simulator is a tribute to the old Harvest Moon games and follows a boy who inherits a farm. But compared to Harvest Moon, it’s a much more detailed and complex game, which is amazing considering it was entirely created by one person.
Stardew Valley is an open-ended game and gives you control over everything: the design of your farm, the kinds of animals and crops to raise, etc. For months I wondered how an old-looking game about a farmer could be any fun. Well, turns out Stardew Valley is addictive and fun, no matter your gaming preferences.
Plus, as the game uses retro-looking graphics, Stardew Valley version can be played on most Macs, including older models.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing Conditions & Results:
Notice frames arecapped at 60 FPS. That explains why both MacBooks didn’t do better.
Can your Mac run it?Definitely! Even an older model will do fine.
Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience on Mac.
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.10, 2 GHz Processor, 2 GB RAM, 256 MB Video RAM, 500 MB hard drive space.
Visit our dedicated Simulation games for Mac guide for more
Civilization 6
Mac Release date: 2016
MacOS developer: Aspyr
Metascore: 88
Civilization 5 was one of my favorite strategy games of all times and yet Civilization 6 managed to top it.
In Civ 6, you take control of an entire civilization. You get to create cities, raise armies, research technologies, build an economy, and expand your empire. Civ 6 may not be the most detailed Mac strategy game on the market (that honor goes to Europa Universalis 4), but it’s certainly the most fun.
Everyone feared Civ 6 would simply ride Civ 5’s coattails, but thankfully, it didn’t. Firaxis managed to create something that feels both familiar and fresh at the same time. Civ 6 brings welcome additions such as complex city-planning and hundreds of other improvements.
Also, Civ 6 also sports improved graphics, making it the best-looking turn-based strategy game today. The downside is that you will need some horsepower to run it smoothly.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing Conditions: We tested the game using Medium Performance impact, Medium Memory impact, MSAA 2X Anti-Aliasing, and 1280×800 resolution.
Can your Mac run it? Unfortunately, Civ 6 suffers from MacOS’s aging OpenGL graphics API, which is why the game is incredibly demanding. Only those with a high-end Mac will be able to enjoy it…
Any bugs you should be aware of? You can expect a smooth, bug-free experience.
Verdict: Very Demanding
<System Requirements: OS 10.11, 2.7 GHz Intel i5 Processor, 6 GB RAM, GeForce 775M, Radeon HD 6970, Intel Iris Pro, 1 GB Video RAM or better, 15 GB hard drive space.
Visit our dedicated Strategy games for Mac guide for more
Fortnite: Battle Royale
Mac Release date: 2017
MacOS developer: Epic Games
Metascore: 81
Fortnite seems to be everywhere right now. Everyone is either playing it or talking about it. But give it a chance, and you’ll understand what the fuss is all about.
In Fortnite Battle Royale (the free PvP mode), you and up to 99 opponents are dropped into a giant map where you’ll have to find randomly placed weapons, shields, and resources to survive until you’re the last person (or squad) standing. Battle Royale games are all the rage right now and new ones appear each week. Still, I’m confident Fortnite will remain the most popular choice for a long time. This is a solid game with great shooting mechanics and a strong community and you really can play it for free and be successful.
Fortnite also features detailed environments and good-looking, albeit cartoonish, graphics that really make you wonder how Fortnite can be free at all. The Mac version of the game is stable but it’s clearly not as well optimized as the Windows version. To play it, you’ll need a recent Mac.
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing Conditions: We tested the game using Medium settings, 100% 3D Resolution, V-Sync Off and 1280×800 resolution:
Can your Mac run it? Fortnite is quite demanding. Even our 2016 MacBook Pro couldn’t manage 30 FPS (the absolute minimum required for a fast-paced online shooter). The Mac performance of the game keeps improving with every new update, but performance is low.
Any bugs you should be aware of? Not exactly a bug, but be aware that performance is terrible as soon as your character jumps from the bus. Be patient and wait a few minutes until performance improves and FPS stabilize.
Verdict: Very Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.12.6 and a machine that supports Metal, 2.4 GHz Intel Core i3 Processor, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD 4000 or better.
Visit our dedicated Free games for Mac guide for more
Cuphead
Mac Release date: 2018
MacOS developer: Studio MDHR
Metascore: 88
Overnight success stories of indie games that appear of nowhere and captivate are nothing new. But even if great indies are released every month, few are become as insanely popular as Cuphead, a run and gun action game from Studio MHDR.
Cuphead turned a few heads early on because of its unique looks. This game looks like it came out straight from one of those old school cartoons from the 1930s. Not only was it the first time someone tried it, Cuphead completely nailed it. But this game is not only about looks. Cuphead also nailed its run and gun gameplay, featuring very precise controls that you’ll need as every level and boss are extremely challenging. Some have called it a “cute” Dark Souls and I can only agree.
So dust off your controller of choice and prepare to have tons of fun endlessly dying and restarting over!
Our benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Testing Conditions:We tested the game using VSync On and 1440×900 resolution:
Notice frames arecapped at 60FPS. That explains why the 2016 MacBook didn’t do better.
Can your Mac run it?Definitely! Even an older MacBook Air will do fine.
Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience on Mac.
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.9, Intel Core i5 Processor, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4000 or higher, 20 GB hard drive space.
Visit our dedicated Best Mac games of 2019 guide for more
We had a hard time limiting the best FPS for Mac to a Top 10 list, so we decided to honor the games that didn’t quite make the cut but were close.
| Filter by name | 100 Best Mac Games | Filter by genre | Filter by demand level | Free games only? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total War: Warhammer 2 | Total War: Warhammer 2 Warhammer 2 stays true to the Total War formula and combines a turn-based campaign with real-time battles. And like every Total War game that came before it, the game's battles are huge, counting hundreds of units fighting at once. Yet, just like the first Total War: Warhammer, the realistic scenarios of ancient Europe are left behind in favor of a fantastical setting that includes armies of orcs, undead, monsters, flying creatures, legendary heroes and more. Plus, Feral Interactive managed to take one the best looking strategy games of all times and deliver a solid Mac version that plays and looks as good as the Windows version. System requirements: OS X 10.14, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 51 GB HD space, 2GB Nvidia 680MX, 2GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5GB Intel Iris Graphics 540 or better. | Strategy | High | No |
| Paladins | Paladins Paladins is an incredibly solid shooter that handles great but also manages to capture the same diversity that made Overwatch so famous. You can play as sharpshooting humans, mech-riding goblins, mystical elves, and even jetpack-clad dragons! Teamwork is key to victory, so choose your Champion wisely and set up a diverse team that communicates well. Still not convinced? Paladins is free-to-play and anything you can buy can also be acquired by playing. Eventually. System requirements: OS 10.10, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, ATI Radeon 3870 or higher, Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT or higher, 10 GB hard drive space. | Shooter | Medium | Yes |
| Hitman | Hitman In Hitman, your job is to infiltrate complex locations full of secrets, weapons, disguises and, of course, targets to eliminate. And just as every Hitman game I’ve ever played, this game is a refreshing experience. Most games ask you to run and shoot at everything that moves. Hitman asks you to do the opposite—to be invisible. Unnoticed. Hitman will ask you to think for a change and figure out the best way to approach the situation at hand, taking into account environments and enemies. This sixth installment in the series brings the graphics to a whole new level. The game looks great, and thanks to Feral Interactive’s work, the Mac version (which luckily wasn’t released in episodes) plays beautifully. System requirements: OS X 10.12.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 68 GB HD space, 2GB AMD M290 or better. | Action | Medium | No |
| The Sims 4 | The Sims 4 The Sims 4 lets you build a house, create a Sim character, and dress him. But the game doesn’t stop there. You’re also responsible for your Sim’s social life, including love, friends, and work. The Sims 4 doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel and keeps the same ideas and goals that made its predecessors so successful. On the plus side, Maxis has learned a lot, and worthwhile additions include the ability to multitask and improved character creation. The Sims 4’s Mac version works fine, but it has surprisingly high system requirements. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 10 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 320M, 9600M, 9400M, ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro or better with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Simulation | Medium | No |
| Dead Cells | Dead Cells Dead Cells is an action platformer that is all about dying to start over in order to progress and acquire new abilities. The skills you unlock as you explore the procedurally generated levels are permanent, so you get to keep them even when you die. These skills will allow you to reach new areas each time you head out, allowing you to dig deeper into the game every time you play. The action is presented in a 2D retro-inspired world that will make fans of classic Castlevania and Metroid feel right at home. System requirements: OS 10.9, OpenGL 3.2 support, 2 GB RAM, 500 MB available space. | Platformer | Low | No |
| Into the Breach | Into the Breach In Into the Breach, you'll have to protect the world from enormous monsters that are set to destroy the few remaining cities still standing. Luckily, you'll have a few giant mechs at your disposal to get rid of them. Or at least try.. Into the Breach is a simple game to get into, yet missions can quickly get dicey. You'll often have to make hard choices and either loss a mech or city. And by the way, this is one of the few games that actually encourages you to protect civilians instead of simply killing the monsters. System requirements: OS 10.7, 1.7 GHz Intel processor, 1 GB RAM, OpenGL 2.1 support, 200 MB available space. | Strategy | Low | No |
| Subnautica | Subnautica The game starts with you landing on an oceanic alien planet and in order to survive, you’ll have to explore your surroundings. Exploration and survival are equally important and you’ll have to scavenge, craft equipment and more to stay alive. As you upgrade your equipment, you’ll be able to venture deeper underwater to find rarer items, discover beautiful locales and fight increasingly dangerous monsters. Open-world games on Mac are rare and the few that exist take place in the tired post-apocalyptic desserts we all know too well. Subnautica’s approach is different and refreshing. No wonder it’s one of the best-selling indies from 2018 so far. One warning though, Subnautica’s beautiful open-world requires a powerful machine to run. System requirements: OS X 10.9, 2.5Ghz Intel Haswell 2 cores, 4 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, Intel HD 4600 or equivalent. | Adventure | Medium | No |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Like previous entries, Global Offensive is an objective-based multiplayer first-person shooter. Players are either terrorists or counter-terrorists and must complete objectives or kill the opposing team. There is no single-player here, but the multiplayer precision makes up for it. CS games are famous for being ultra-competitive—precise, punishing, and nothing like Call of Duty. Global Offensive does exactly what you would expect from a Counter-Strike game, but it also manages to refresh the experience. The game features classic content such as revamped versions of classic maps, as well as new maps and game modes. Valve has always done a great job porting their games to the Mac, and CS: GO is no exception. Global Offensive’s Mac version works great and should run on modest hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.6.6, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 8 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or other with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Shooter | Low | No |
| Starcraft 2 | StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void Most know StarCraft 2 because it's one of the most competitive and challenging games out there. New units and balance changes make Legacy of the Void faster and even more challenging—perfect for skilled players. But Legacy of the Void also offers a variety of new elements, especially for casual players (thank god). For starters, it includes the final 20 missions of StarCraft 2’s campaign. It also introduces a fun cooperative mode that involves special characters and missions. Whether you’re looking for a challenge or just want to have fun, Legacy of the Void is a great choice. Blizzard did a stellar job with StarCraft 2's Mac version. This is one of the best-looking strategy games, but it doesn't require too much power to run. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 30 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, ATI Radeon HD 4670 or better with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Strategy | Low | No |
| Owlboy | Owlboy Owlboy is a pixel-art adventure game where you’ll face obstacles and enemies with the help of friends. As you progress through the story, you’ll unlock sidekicks, each with special abilities that will help you fight or solve puzzles. You can swap your sidekick at any time, making the game feel fluid and varied. But what struck me the most were the graphics. Owlboy features some of the most beautiful pixel-art worlds in recent memory and the fact it can be played in modest hardware makes it even better. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, Dual core processor, 2 GB RAM, 600 MB HD space, OpenGL 3.0+ support (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable). | Adventure | Medium | No |
| Guild Wars 2 | Guild Wars 2 Guild Wars 2 is a “traditional” MMO where you need to quest and level up. Nothing special, except it does have unique twists. For example, the story changes according to your actions (like in single-player games), and you’ll notice dynamic events and faster combat. But do you know what’s the best part? Guild Wars 2 is free to play, and it’s very generous too. Guild Wars 2 offers its best features without asking a dime. This change came with the Heart of Thorns expansion, which adds a new class, a new PvP mode, a reworked Fractal system, and “Adventures.” Heart of Thorns is paid, but it doesn’t require a monthly subscription. That makes it the best Mac MMO hands down. Guild Wars 2’s Mac version works fine for most (myself included), but some report poor performance. You should try the free version first to see how your machine handles it. System requirements: OS X 10.8, Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 35 GB HD space, NVIDIA® GeForce 320M, ATI Radeon HD 6630M, Intel HD 3000 or better. | MMO | Medium | Yes |
| Tales from the Borderlands | Tales from the Borderlands They’re all good and take place in more famous universes, but Tales from the Borderlands is still better. Based on the Borderlands series, the game follows the same formula as before: some puzzle-solving, lots of dialogue, and huge choices to make. Choices here matter, and the consequences will be felt throughout the game. Tales from the Borderlands also happens to be funnier and more lighthearted than other Telltale games, but that doesn’t stop it from throwing agonizing choices at you. Tales from the Borderlands’ Mac version was handled with care. And because of the simple graphics, this game can be enjoyed on most hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.6.8, 2.3 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 3 GB space, Nvidia or ATI with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Adventure | Medium | No |
| Cities: Skylines | Cities: Skylines Cities: Skylines is a city-building simulation similar to SimCity. The game gives you control of zoning areas (for housing, commerce, or industry), public utilities, taxation, public transportation, and more. The gameplay is so deep, even your choice of civic policies will affect the development of the entire city. Skylines learned from all of EA’s mistakes with SimCity and delivered a better game. There’s no always-online DRM, your cities can be much bigger, and it also supports mods through Steam Workshop (if you’re into riding helicopters and stuff). This is a fun and addictive game, and I’m glad Skyline’s Mac version was handled with care. This game does demand some horsepower to run, though. System requirements: OS X 10.9, 3.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 4 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260, 512 MB or ATI Radeon HD 5670, 512 MB (Does not support Intel Integrated Graphics Cards). | Strategy | Medium | No |
| The Witness | The Witness Many wondered, myself included, if Bow could do it again and deliver another great indie. Turns out, he did. The Witness is a powerful puzzle game with a wealth of mysteries to unravel. The game features dozens of locations to explore and over 500 puzzles. That is enough to keep you busy for tens of hours, while respecting you as an intelligent player every step of the way. The Witness has no filler. Each puzzle brings its own new idea into the mix and it treats your time as precious. The Witness is a beautiful game that benefits from Apple’s Metal API. This means the game looks great, but to run it you’ll need some horsepower. System requirements: OS X 10.11.6, 1.8 Ghz processor, 5 GB HD space, integrated Intel HD 4000. | Adventure | Medium | No |
| Max Payne 3 | Max Payne 3 This third-person shooter from the creators of Grand Theft Auto is a great game, but the problem is the macOS version itself. Many have reported bugs that can at best detract from the whole experience and at worst break the game. I’ve never had a problem with this game, but you should be aware that some issues do exist. The game itself follows the story of former detective and vigilante Max Payne. Long story short, the game will ask you to kill. A lot. But the best part is the variety of tools at your disposal. You’ll get lots of different guns, but special abilities like slowing time and diving to avoid enemy bullets during gun fights are the real highlight. If you are worried about potential technical issues, pick up the game on Steam (they can offer refunds). I got it from the Mac App Store, as it’s the easiest way to get a game on your Mac. In any case, Max Payne 3 is demanding. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB HD space, NVIDIA 8800GT or AMD Radeon HD 4870 with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Action | Medium | No |
| Company of Heroes 2 | Company of Heroes 2 The game takes place during World War 2, but luckily it moves away from the tired battles we all know too well (Battle of Normandy, anyone?). Instead, it focuses on the infamous battles led by the Red Army on the eastern front. Company of Heroes 2 has improved the formula in other ways too. For example, the weather effects and destructible environments are amazing. This is currently my go-to strategy game, and in my opinion, one of the finest strategy games today. And if I ever want to take a break from the campaign, I know the skirmish mode can provide a quick 20 minutes of fun. For a strategy game, Company of Heroes 2 looks amazing. The downside to that are the steep system requirements. Feral Interactive did a fine job with Company of Heroes 2’s Mac version, but you will still need horsepower to run it. System requirements: OS X 10.10.3, 1.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 35 GB HD space, AMD R9 series graphics card, an Intel Iris Pro graphics card, or an NVIDIA 600 series graphics card or better with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Strategy | High | No |
| Batman: Arkham City | Batman: Arkham City The first Arkham game surprised us all, showing the world that superhero games could be fun. Arkham City took that same recipe and improved everything. The story is good, the graphics look great, and the environments are bigger than ever. But what makes this game great is the combat. The combat involves dodging, counter-attacking, and building combos. It sounds simple, but everything is smooth and feels great. Just take on a gang of 11 thugs and you'll see what I mean. As Batman, this game makes you feel powerful and fast. Feral Interactive did a great job with Arkham City's Mac port. For such a big and beautiful game, the system requirements aren't too high. System requirements: OS X 10.7.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 16 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT, ATI Radeon HD 3870, or Intel HD Graphics 4000 with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Action | Medium | No |
| Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced | Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition This is a very traditional RPG. However, everything it does, it does well. The game includes turn-based combat, cooperative multiplayer, an interactive world, and even a modding tool. And it goes much deeper than that—it offers freedom and depth. Your choices really matter in such a way that even mundane events become interesting. Original Sin was a big success when it was first released, and now the remastered edition makes it even better. It fixes the awful menus and makes everything simpler. It even includes new content, such as an expanded storyline and new gameplay options. Original Sin’s Mac version is not demanding in terms of requirements. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 10 GB HD space, Intel HD4000 or better. | Role-Playing | Medium | No |
| Terraria | Terraria The game’s world is randomly generated, and no two games will be the same. This makes the exploration side of the game extremely fun. Plus, there are lots of creeps, so crafting a shelter, weapons, and combat play an important role. The crafting system is ridiculously deep and gives you tons of options to create weapons. Terraria is very similar to Minecraft. In fact, many see it as Minecraft in 2D, but once you start playing, you will notice all the things that make it unique. There are many more creeps to kill, tons of weapons to craft, and even bosses. Like Minecraft, the game uses retro graphics that are cute but also happen to be easy on your Mac. You won’t need a powerful Mac to enjoy this game. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2.5 GB RAM, 200 MB HD space, 128 MB Video Memory, capable of OpenGL 3.0+ support (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable). | Adventure | Low | No |
| Heroes of the Storm | Heroes of the Storm Heroes of the Storm involves two teams of “heroes” who fight it out with the sole objective of destroying the opposing team’s nexus (read: base). Throughout the game, your team will gain experience and “level up,” giving you more abilities and power. If you happen to enjoy other Blizzard games (like StarCraft or World of Warcraft), the experience is even better. This is your chance to play as James Raynor or Diablo himself. Compared to the reigning champion, League of Legends, this is a more team-oriented and beginner-friendly experience. Heroes of the Storm is currently my favorite free Mac game, and if you ever wanted to give the MOBA genre a try, this is your best choice. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 10 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M or ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 256 MB of Video Memory. | MOBA | Medium | Yes |
| Dota 2 | Dota 2 DotA 2 is a MOBA involving two teams and one objective: to destroy the enemy’s “Ancient.” Throughout the game, you control one of 111 playable heroes with unique powers and abilities. As you progress, you collect XP, gold, and better items and gear. If this sounds like Warcraft, it’s simply because DotA 2 is the sequel to Defense of the Ancients (DotA), the infamous fan-made Warcraft 3 mod. Word of caution, though—just like League of Legends, this game is hyper-competitive, and the community won’t hesitate to trash you if you mess up. DoTA 2 is another risk-free game to test the waters if you’re new to Mac gaming. It's also one of the best games on Steam. DoTA 2’s Mac version is a good port that can run on many machines. System requirements: OS X 10.9, Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 8 GB HD space, Nvidia 320M, Radeon HD 2400, or Intel HD 3000. | MOBA | Medium | Yes |
| Deus Ex: Mankind Divided | Deus Ex: Mankind Divided In this latest edition, augmented humans such as yourself have become outcasts and it will be up to you to fix that. Just like its predecessor, Mankind Divided can be played like an action game, a stealth game, or a combination of both. You can use stealth, sneak up on enemy soldiers, and hide bodies, or you can just run and gun your way to the final boss,it’s your call. The game’s futuristic graphics are also worth mentioning. Mankind Divided is without a doubt one of the most graphically-impressive games on Mac, but that also means it’s one of the most demanding. System requirements: OS X 10.13.1, 3.0GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 67 GB HD space, 2GB AMD R9 M290 or better. | Shooter | High | No |
| The Elder Scrolls Online | The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited It was also the first Elder Scrolls to come to macOS and the first to attempt multiplayer. This created impossibly high expectations that made the game suffer at launch. But that was in 2014, when the game required an upfront purchase and a monthly subscription. A lot has changed since. Relaunched as Tamriel Unlimited, it introduced lots of new features and changed for the better. The monthly subscription disappeared, and now you only need to buy the game once. At the end of the day, this game is similar to World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2. But if you really want to play an Elder Scrolls on your Mac, Tamriel Unlimited is a good choice. It looks better than the competition too, so you’d better have a capable Mac to run this game. System requirements: OS X 10.7, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 60 GB HD space, Intel HD Graphics 4000, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M or ATI Radeon HD 6490M or other with 256 MB of Video Memory. | MMO | Medium | No |
| Football Manager 2019 | Football Manager 2019 Football Manager (FM) puts you in charge of any squad from more than 50 countries across the world. As the team’s manager, you get to decide who plays, how they train, how to manage the stadium, and even how to deal with the media. FM 2019 builds on the strengths of its excellent predecessor to offer the best football manager experience so far. New features and enhanced game mechanics enable you to control your team in fresh and authentic ways, creating an ever more emergent way of storytelling. One thing you’ll notice right away is how FM successfully presents data more visually, instead of looking like a glorified spreadsheet. This latest entry also features the Bundesliga for the first time ever, revamped training mechanism, an inmproved tactics module and more. Sure, the most recent Fifa game is not available on Mac, but if you truly love the beautiful game, Football Manager 2019 can scratch that itch. System requirements: OS X 10.10.5, 1.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 7 GB HD space, Intel GMA X4500, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT or AMD/ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3650. | Simulation | Low | No |
| Towerfall: Ascension | Towerfall: Ascension In Towerfall, you are one of four archers that battle it out until one player remains. You can only use arrows and head-stomps to kill your opponents. The formula is quite simple, but Towerfall is packed with some exhilarating moments. It definitely reminds me of the fun I had with the first Smash Brothers on the GameCube. Towerfall: Ascension is the perfect game for offline sessions with friends. With its 2D retro graphics, Towerfall’s Mac version is a lightweight game to play. If you’re looking for a good game to play on an older Mac, look no further. System requirements: OS X 10.6.8, Intel Core i3, 2 GB RAM, 400 MB space, OpenGL 3.0+.System requirements: OS X 10.9, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 320m or Intel HD 3000. | Platformer | Low | No |
| Rocket League | Rocket League Rocket League is a physics-based soccer game where flying cars take on each other in a huge arena. You have to learn to use your rockets to boost yourself in the air to score amazing goals (or saves). Team play is important, but understanding your car’s physics is critical. Timing is everything and becoming good requires skill. Needless to say, these matches are intense. But the feeling when you score a goal is priceless. Pro tip: Precision is key and a controller is highly recommended. You can learn to play the game against bots, but Rocket League truly shines when playing with friends. The game also features a nice-looking futuristic style and as Psyonix did a great job with Rocket League’s Mac port. System requirements: OS X 10.8.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 7 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 5670, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, Intel HD Graphics 4000 or Iris Pro Graphics. | Sports | Medium | No |
| Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls | Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls In Diablo 3, you get to create a character and set out to defeat the Lord of Terror himself. Diablo 3 is by all means a good role-playing game, but it truly excels because it’s fast and action-packed. Diablo 3 is about killing waves of monsters and getting tons of loot. The story is fine, but it’s the loot that will keep you coming back for more. Reaper of Souls is Diablo’s latest expansion. It adds many features and changes Diablo 3 for the better. The graphics aren't impressive, but with that much action happening at once, you will need a good machine to run Diablo 3. Luckily, Blizzard takes good care of all their Mac ports. System requirements: OS X 10.8.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 MB RAM, 25 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Role-Playing | Medium | No |
| Torchlight 2 | Torchlight 2 Torchlight 2 is one of the finest hack-and-slash RPGs available. Like the original Torchlight, it’s all about randomly generated dungeons and tons of monsters to kill for XP and loot. If you’re thinking this sounds a lot like Diablo 3, it does. Torchlight 2 isn’t particularly original, but everything it does, it does well. Compared to Diablo, it offers character customization, more flexibility, no mandatory internet connection, and pets! Plus, for an indie game developed with limited resources, it’s impressive how they managed to challenge Blizzard’s efforts. Torchlight 2’s Mac version is easy on the system requirements too. If you own a Macbook Air, for example, this game should do just fine (my 2013 MacBook Air can run it no problem). System requirements: OS X 10.8, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 1.7 GB HD space, OpenGL 2.0 compatible video card with at least 256 MB of addressable video RAM. | Role-Playing | Medium | No |
| Prison Architect | Prison Architect In Prison Architect, you get to manage your very own maximum-security prison. In Sandbox mode, you start off with an empty plot of land that you can transform into the most efficient prison you can craft. You can build cells and kitchens, install cameras, hire guards, and so on. Prison Architect provides a lot of freedom, and you can take whichever direction you prefer. Want to build a monstrous maximum security prison or a comfortable rehabilitation center? The choice is yours. Be advised: Fail to meet your inmates’ minimum expectations and you will have a riot on your hands. The graphics are very simplistic, though, but at least an older Mac should be able to run it. System requirements: Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 300 MB HD space. | Simulation | Low | No |
| The Lord of the Rings Online | The Lord of the Rings Online LotRO is a traditional MMO. You control a character that will need to fetch quests and kill monsters to level up and become stronger. LotRO doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s still a polished game that's also free to play. There are many free-to-play MMOs out there, but LotRO is the best one. Am I saying this because I'm a Lord of the Rings geek? Partly, but it’s also because this is a great game with solid gameplay and graphics. Plus, LotRO offers a ton of content before forcing you to pay for anything. As with most MMOs, LotRO requires a reliable internet connection. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 25 GB HD space, Intel HD Graphics 3000 or better. | MMO | Low | Yes |
| Transistor | Transistor Like Bastion, Transistor also has a narrator that keeps you company as you play. Surprisingly, it still works just as well as it did before (and comes from the same voice actor). Transistor includes many RPG elements, but the real highlight is the combat. Combat can take place both in real-time and also in a planning mode where you can pause the action. As you level up, you gain more combat skills, and you will have to plan your attacks carefully. Transistor’s Mac version is also easy on the system requirements. If you’re looking for a game to play on a MacBook, Transistor is a good candidate. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.6 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 3 GB HD space, OpenGL 3.0+ (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable) with 1 GB of Video Memory. | Role-Playing | Medium | No |
| Star Wars: KOTOR 2 | Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic 2 KOTOR 2 is very similar to the original KOTOR. There’s definitely a feeling that the developer wanted to play it safe, but when the original game is so good, you can’t really complain. KOTOR 2 picks up around five years after the events from the original game and features a more complex moral system, a new influence system, better combat, and a great story. KOTOR 2 is certainly old (first released in 2005), but Aspyr remastered it and released it for the first time on Mac last year. This new version includes Steam Workshop support, achievements, controller support, and native widescreen resolution support. There has never been a better time to experience KOTOR 2 than now. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 2.2 Ghz Intel Core i3, 4 GB RAM, 10 GB HD space, NVIDIA Geforce 330M, ATI Radeon HD 3870, or Intel HD 3000 with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Role-Playing | Medium | No |
| Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut | Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut This is a hardcore role-playing game that is both difficult and dark. It offers tactical combat and tons of RPG elements. You’ll get to set up a party of up to seven characters. Four of them are fully customizable, with many skills, stats, and appearances to choose from. The remaining three are NPCs with their own agendas and motivations. It took 26 years and a $3 million Kickstarter campaign to create a worthy sequel, but Wasteland 2 lives up to its legacy. Wasteland 2 is a great RPG that is not easy to get into, but it’s totally worth it once you’re hooked. System requirements: OS X 10.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 30 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 300 Series or Radeon equivalent (512 MB). | Role-Playing | Medium | No |
| BioShock Infinite | BioShock Infinite The story is a little weird, especially near the end, but both Elizabeth—the girl you have to rescue—and the flying city of Columbia take the game to a whole new level. Elizabeth is the best NPC I have ever seen. She’s helpful, smart, and lovable. Columbia is simply unique and beautiful. They will both be remembered for a long time. Infinite also offers solid shooting mechanics and lets you combine guns with special powers—enough to give you a well-deserved break from all the “me too” shooters out there. Aspyr did a great job with BioShock Infinite’s Mac version too. In spite its beautiful graphics, the game can run smoothly on a decent Mac. System requirements: OS X 10.8.5, 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 30 GB HD space, Nvidia GeForce 640M, Radeon HD 3870, Intel HD 4000, or better with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Shooter | Medium | No |
| Team Fortress 2 | Team Fortress 2 What’s funny is that even if it cost $50, I would still recommend it. TF2 is a team-based FPS that lets you choose among nine classes. After choosing a character, you then join a team and battle in a variety of game modes, including capture the flag and king of the hill. But no matter the game mode, nothing beats a good combination of players who know how to use their classes. Because this is a free-to-play game with good graphics, this is the game I recommend if you’re wondering what your machine is capable of. Valve did a great job with Team Fortress 2’s Mac port and delivered a game that looks good and runs on modest hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.5.8, 1.7 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 15 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 8 or higher, ATI X1600 or higher, Intel HD 3000 or higher. | Shooter | Medium | Yes |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Modern Warfare 3 follows the winning Call of Duty formula. You get a campaign full of Hollywood-esque movie moments and a multiplayer mode, where most gamers spend 99% of their time. And to make the Mac version even better, it supports cross-multiplayer with Windows, letting you play against the thousands of active Windows users. Kudos to porting studio Aspyr there. Modern Warfare 3 also features great graphics, so you’d better have a recent machine. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 2.2 Ghz Intel Core i3, 4 GB RAM, 13 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 640M, ATI Radeon HD 4850, Intel Iris with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Shooter | Medium | No |
| Left 4 Dead 2 | Left 4 Dead 2 The game focuses on four survivors who have to make their way to a safe house. As one of the survivors, you will have to fight hordes of monsters ranging from zombies to larger creatures. The missions are dynamically altered and will adjust the difficulty and quantity of monsters as you go. This will keep things interesting and challenging no matter your skills. Left 4 Dead 2 is a fun game in and of itself, but it's even better with friends. This is one of the best cooperative games out there, and it would be a shame to miss all the added fun. Left 4 Dead 2 doesn't have particularly impressive graphics, but with so much action happening at once, you will need a recent Mac to run it. System requirements: OS X 10.6.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 13 GB HD space, ATI Radeon 2400, NVIDIA 8600M or Intel HD Graphics 3000. | Shooter | Low | No |
| Euro Truck Simulator 2 | Euro Truck Simulator 2 Turns out, there’s more than meets the eye. Much more. First of all, this game is both a truck-driving simulator and a business management simulator. You start as a freelance driver delivering goods to win money and XP. But once you have enough saved up, you can buy your own truck and start running your own business. You also get to travel across Europe and explore dozens of cities from the UK, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and many more. But more importantly, the actual driving is quite good. The handling is precise, the scenery beautiful, and the attention to detail impressive. All this works together to create a relaxing and almost hypnotic driving experience. Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a good-looking game too and you'll need a modern Mac to run it smoothly. System requirements: OS X 10.9, Dual core CPU 2.4 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 3 GB HD space, GeForce GTS 450-class (Intel HD 4000). | Simulation | Medium | No |
| X-Plane 11 | X-Plane 11 X-Plane 11 is quite an achievement because it appeals to both detail-obsessed geeks and recreational enthusiast. For the pro pilots, the game now features a better physics engine and improved flight dynamics, allowing you to “feel” the plane. For the “noobs”, you can quickly get the hang of the main controls, and, as in real life, you can automate much of the work. In both cases, the realistic 3-D cockpits, the busy airports, and the beautiful sceneries will let you absorb the beauty of flight. X-Plane 11 can be an impressive looking game too. Turn all settings to high and the game will populate the world with buildings and roads. Turn them to low and it should be able to run on modest hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.10, Intel Core i3, 8 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, video card with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Simulation | Medium | No |
| League of Legends | League of Legends In League of Legends, players form two teams that compete against each other. You take control of a single “champion” that you can improve as you play. The game has over 120 champions to choose from, each with unique abilities, weaknesses, and strengths. This makes it a hard game to learn and master. And that’s a problem, because LoL is an extremely competitive game. Their community is known for being a bit aggressive, so expect some abuse if you mess up! But do you know what really makes LoL worth a shot anyway? The fact that it’s free to play. What you’ll need to play League of Legends' Mac version. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 5 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600. | MOBA | Medium | Yes |
| Minecraft | Minecraft Minecraft’s buildings have no limitations. I can barely build a fort, but some people have recreated the Death Star, Rohan, and more. Minecraft is also a survival game. Monsters come out at night, so make sure you build a shelter. You will also have to find food, craft weapons, and explore to find useful resources. Minecraft’s graphics are as retro as it gets, but that doesn’t stop it from looking good. Plus, retro graphics mean that Minecraft can run on most Macs, including my 13-inch Macbook Air. System requirements: OS X 10.6.6, 1.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 512 MB RAM, 185 MB HD space, ATI Radeon 9500 or better, NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 or better, Intel GMA 950 or better with 64 MB of Video Memory. | Adventure | Low | No |
| Kerbal Space Program | Kerbal Space Program In KSP, you take control of an entire space program. You get to build spacecrafts and launch them. It sounds simple, but this is a hardcore physics simulator where you will fail. A lot. One rocket is too heavy, another doesn’t hold enough fuel, etc. This game is hard, but the beauty is that it’s also fun and rewarding. And the cute characters and sense of humor certainly help too. The bottom line: You don’t have to be into rocket flight simulation to enjoy this game. Kerbal Space Program is complex, fun, and extremely rewarding. And it also happens to have reasonable system requirements. System requirements: OS X 10.6, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, ATI Radeon HD 4850, or Intel HD 5000 with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Simulation | Medium | No |
| EVE Online | EVE Online In EVE, you can choose from a variety of professions including mining, manufacturing, trading, piracy, and more. Everything happens in real-time, meaning that the universe continues to exist even when you’re not logged in. There’s a real economy going on here, and it doesn’t stop for anyone. EVE also features amazing space battles and an endless supply of ships. There are are small little jumpers but also giant vessels, some larger than entire cities. After ten years of steady growth and 20 free expansions, EVE Online isn’t going anywhere. If you like space combat, you should definitely give it a shot. As with most MMOs, EVE Online’s Mac version does require some horsepower to run. System requirements: OS X 10.9, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 320m or Intel HD 3000. | MMO | Medium | No |
| Homeworld Remastered Collection | Homeworld Remastered Collection It’s crazy how 15 years later, no strategy game could match the scale and excitement of Homeworld’s space battles. And now thanks to this Remastered Collection’s beautiful graphics, Homeworld looks like any other modern strategy game. The Remastered Collection brings polished graphics, high-res textures, better lighting effects, and a new UI—enough to compete against modern games. This, combined with a great story and atmosphere, makes this collection a must. For a long time, players debated whether this was the best strategy game of all time, and now that both Homeworld games have been modernized, the debate can continue. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 640M, ATI Radeon HD 3870, or Intel HD 4000 with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Strategy | Medium | No |
| Europa Universalis 4 | Europa Universalis 4 Developer Paradox succeeded, creating the finest grand strategy game out there. Don’t get me wrong, though—EU4 may be a more accessible game, but it’s still complex and hard to play. The game puts you in control of a nation’s military, diplomacy, and economy. Because a nation cannot excel everywhere, you will need to make some decisions. Should you strive for a strong economy or a powerful military? EU 4 is a real simulation and puts the world’s history at your fingertips. The entirety of Earth can be owned, conquered, and colonized. This is another example of Paradox’s commitment to macOS. Europa Universalis 4’s Mac version works great and runs even on modest hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.6.8, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 6750, NVIDIA GeForce 320, NVIDIA GeForce 9600 or higher with 1 GB of Video Memory. | Strategy | Medium | No |
| Doki Doki Literature Club! | Doki Doki Literature Club! It all starts innocently, though. You play as a character that is part of a high school literary club. You get to write poems and flirt with the various girls in the club. But things take a turn when the objective becomes keeping the girls alive.. Strangely enough, this is one of the few games that try to be many different things at once and succeeds. It’s part horror, part dating simulation and many other things in-between. Doki Doki Literature Club is a memorable experience and the fact it can be played for free makes it a no-brainer if you’re ever so slightly interested by visual novels. As can be expected from a visual novel, this is a good looking game that won’t be too taxing on your hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.9, 1.8GHz Dual-Core Processor, 4 GB RAM, 375 MB space, Integrated graphics. | Horror | Low | No |
| SUPERHOT | SUPERHOT In Superhot, time only moves when you move. Most shooters are about quick reflexes. Superhot is about stopping to take the time to figure out your next move. You will often be surrounded, and pausing time will be your best weapon. Once you learn how to use it, you will be able to dodge bullets, aim for headshots, and pretty much kick ass. There’s a lot of trial and error involved here, so prepare to die. That said, once you master a scenario and watch the replay, you’ll feel like Neo from The Matrix. Did I mention how much I love the game’s art style? Your enemies are made of glass, and watching them explode is priceless. Plus, the lack of detailed textures gives this game moderate system requirements and should play fine on most modern Macs. System requirements: OS X 10.9, Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 3 GB HD space, graphics card with 1 GB RAM. | Shooter | Medium | No |
| Sleeping Dogs | Sleeping Dogs Taking place in Hong Kong, you play as an undercover cop that aims to take down the Triad. As you try to infiltrate it, you’ll take part in crimes, shootings, fist fights, and car chases. Hong Kong will be at your disposal, and you’ll be able to explore it by foot, car, or boat. The game plays a lot like Grand Theft Auto. But that’s a good thing. As Rockstar isn’t porting GTA 5 anytime soon, Sleeping Dogs is the next best thing. Plus, this is the Definitive Edition we’re talking about which features improved graphics, audio, and gameplay. In fact, it can look extremely good when all the settings are maxed out, but you can lower the settings to enjoy it on more average hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.10.5, 2.0 Ghz processor, 4 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, 1 GB VRAM. | Action | Medium | No |
| Dawn of War 3 | Dawn of War 3 Just like Dawn of War 2, the game focuses on hero units and upgrades, and instead of encouraging you to build huge armies, it encourages you to upgrade your most experienced units and heroes. Dawn of War 3 also brings more polish, an exciting 17-mission campaign, and cross-platform multiplayer between macOS and Linux. Dawn of War 3 comes with great graphics too. Feral Interactive did a great job on this port making Dawn of War 3’s Mac port easy to run on recent hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.12.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 30 GB HD space, 1 GB Nvidia 650, 2 GB AMD Radeon M290, Intel Iris Pro or better. | Strategy | Medium | No |
| The Witcher 2 | The Witcher 2 The original Witcher was a great game, but The Witcher 2 is even better. The Witcher 2’s world is bigger, the graphics are nicer, and the combat is faster. Windows gamers are already enjoying The Witcher 3, which I hope will come to the macOS later this year. Still, The Witcher 2 is a hell of a game, and I can wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. There’s one caveat with The Witcher 2’s Mac version, though. Some gamers told me it was full of bugs. I played this game for a few hours and didn’t notice anything myself, but still, it’s worth mentioning. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 25 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M 512MB, ATI Radeon HD 5770 1GB or better with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Role-Playing | Medium | No |
| Crusader Kings 2 | Crusader Kings 2 The game takes place in real time and lets you use politics, economics, or warfare to build your empire. The combat is fine, but the social and political mechanics are what make this game shine. There are assassinations, marriages, bribes, and countless other situations that you can make work in your favor. Honestly, some situations are just crazy. Does your mother want to kill your brother? Did you discover your son likes to mutilate animals? This shows the commitment from the developer to create something unique. Crusader Kings 2’s Mac version was handled with care too. The game is stable and runs fine even on older Macs. System requirements: OS X 10.9, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 6750, NVIDIA GeForce 320, NVIDIA GeForce 9600 or higher. | Strategy | Medium | No |
| Celeste | Celeste Celeste centers around a young girl named Madeline and her adventure to the top of Celeste Mountain. She’ll meet many personable characters in her travels, and will learn more about herself along the way. The touching narrative is actually one of the highlights of the game, providing more character development and incentive than we’re used to seeing from platformers. There are 700+ screens to beat and secrets to unlock (including “Brutal B-side chapters…built for only the bravest mountaineers”), and dying is just part of the process. You’ll respawn right away, so no backtracking is necessary. Jump, dash, climb, die, jump, dash, climb, advance. See if you don’t get hooked. System requirements: OS 10.7.5, Intel Core i3 Processor, 2 GB RAM, OpenGL 3.0+ (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable), 1.2 GB hard drive space. | Adventure | Low | No |
| Mark of the Ninja Remastered | Mark of the Ninja Remastered As a nameless ninja in the present day, you’ll have to complete many challenging levels. They are all linear, but they offer plenty of different routes and ways to advance. You can hide, kill, or do a combination of both. The choices are limitless, and that is what makes this game special. For example, there are guards, dogs, plants to hide in, shafts, lights that you can turn off, and so much more. Some levels are hard, but the game gives you so many tools that you learn to do things your way. Mark of the Ninja was an already excellent game and now that the game has been remastered, you can enjoy it with enhanced visuals and 4K resolution. System requirements: OS 10.11, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 8 GB HD space, Radeon 6750M. | Platformer | Low | No |
| RimWorld | RimWorld RimWorld may seem somewhat simplistic at first, probably because of the bare-bones graphics, but this simulation game is nothing but simple. As your colony grows, you’ll need to take care of so many things at once, from building infrastructures to gathering raw materials. Plus, you'll also be in charge of nearly every aspect of your colonists' lives: their mood, wounds, illnesses, addictions, relationships and more. Of course, there’s danger, too. To survive, you’ll have to fend off pirates, animals, giant insects, and even ancient killing machines. System requirements: OS X 10.5, Core 2 Duo CPU, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 3000, 500 MB available disk space. | Simulation | Low | No |
| Portal 2 | Portal 2 Portal 2 is all about solving puzzles using your “portal gun.” In a nutshell, this device creates two portals connecting any two places, and with its help, you can solve the unlikeliest of puzzles. Some puzzles are hard, but once you figure them out, you’ll feel like a genius. Portal 2 can also be played cooperatively, and you should. It’s simply way more fun with a friend. It’s not an overstatement to say that Portal 2 is a terrific game. It’s one of those rare gems that scored perfect reviews everywhere, and I can only agree. For a first-person game, Portal 2's Mac version isn't too demanding and can be played on a relatively modest setup. System requirements: OS X 10.7.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 8 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or Intel HD Graphics 3000. | Action | Low | No |
| Hotline Miami | Hotline Miami Hotline Miami is an ultra-violent top-down shooter set in 1989. The game tells the story of two characters who have to commit massacres against the Russian Mafia in Miami. But what made this game an indie classic was the way it combined stealth and extreme violence, along with a soundtrack and visuals that perfectly matched that 1980s feeling. The gameplay is simple but precise and solid. You will want to retry levels for the sake of getting a perfect score. Hotline Miami 2 did a lot of the same, but it never managed to be as good as the original. If in doubt, get the cheaper and better Hotline Miami and thank me later. This is a retro game that can run on even older Macs. System requirements: OS X 10.7, 2.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 512 MB RAM, 130 MB HD space. | Action | Low | No |
| Life is Strange | Life is Strange The game follows the story of a highschool senior. Although she looks like your average teenager, she can actually rewind time and affect the past, present, and future. Throughout the game, she will use it to try to save her friend and figure out what’s happening in her hometown. This is a game that focuses on story-telling, so if you’re looking for combat and action sequences, move along; you won’t find that here. You will, however, find a great story full of choices and consequences. Other than being one of the most interesting adventure games I’ve recently played, Life is Strange’s Mac version is also a great port. The game looks quite good and yet it can run on low-specs machines, such as my aging MacBook Air. System requirements: OS X 10.11, 1.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 15 GB HD space, Intel HD 4000, AMD 4850 (512 MB VRAM), Nvidia 130 (512 MB VRAM) or better. | Adventure | Low | No |
| Gone Home | Gone Home Gone Home is set in a big empty mansion. As you return home from a long trip abroad, you realize your family is missing. The only clue is a note from your sister asking you not to try to find them. That is Gone Home’s premise. The gameplay is limited to you investigating the mansion and inspecting objects. It certainly doesn’t sound like much, but Gone Home manages to create a great story and a memorable connection between you and the missing family. I still don’t understand how they pulled it off, but Gone Home is a unique and compelling experience you can’t miss. Gone Home’s Mac version is well-polished too. System requirements: OS X 10.7, 1.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, any card with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Adventure | Medium | No |
| Her Story | Her Story Her Story is an interactive movie game that lets you use police video clips to solve the case of a murder that occurred in 1994. The tapes revolve around the interrogation of a man’s wife, and all of her words are transcribed. The interviews are broken up into hundreds of pieces, but as you watch more and more clips, everything starts to make sense. Your job is to explore and search the huge database until you can eventually piece together her story. This is a game that doesn’t require fancy graphics, as the narrative drives it home. Everyone can experience Her Story’s Mac port, even those of you with older or low-powered Macs. System requirements: OS X 10.8, 2 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, 512 MB of video memory. | Adventure | Low | No |
| BioShock Remastered | BioShock Remastered Unfortunately, it was starting to become too old to wholeheartedly recommend it. That is no longer the case with the release of BioShock Remastered. This new version features improved graphics, 5K resolution support, finer textures and better effects. If you missed your chance to visit the infamous underwater city of Rapture the first time around, BioShock Remastered will give you another opportunity to experience one of the most original shooters from the past two decades. This is a game that won perfect scores from many critics, multiple awards, and is one of my personal favorite horror games. Plus, the beauty of this Remastered version is that although the game looks much better, it doesn’t need a particularly fast Mac to run. System requirements: OS X 10.12.5, 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 or greater, 8 GB RAM, 27 GB HD space, 2GB NVIDIA 680MX, 2GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5GB Intel Iris Pro 5200. | Horror | Low | No |
| Crypt of the NecroDancer | Crypt of the NecroDancer Crypt of the NecroDancer is a dungeon crawler with a twist: you can only move to the beat of the music, and that applies to your enemies too. This makes every enemy encounter an elaborate dance. You will be punished if you miss a beat, but once you learn your enemy’s rhythmic patterns, this game becomes a masterpiece. This is a roguelike game too, and every dungeon is randomly generated. Combine that with the fact that you can use your own MP3s and you’ve got a winner. Being a pixelated retro-adventure, Crypt of the NecroDancer’s Mac port is lightweight and can be easily played on older machines. System requirements: OS X 10.7, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 1,6 GB HD space, 512 MB Video RAM. | Platformer | Low | No |
| Dying Light: The Following | Dying Light: The Following Dying Light is a survival game set in a devastated open world. A mysterious epidemic ravaged the world, and you’re left scavenging for supplies and crafting weapons to defend yourself from hordes of zombies. This all sounds great, but the best part is that Techland delivered an Enhanced Edition, which includes a massive expansion, a year’s worth of DLC, improved visuals, major gameplay enhancements, and more. Dying Light also supports Steam Play and Cross-platform multiplayer. Enough to make this my favorite shooter right now. This thing is both gorgeous and demanding, so to run it, you better have a powerful machine. System requirements: OS X 10.12.1, 3.2 Ghz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB HD space, AMD Radeon R9 M370X with 2 GB VRAM. | Shooter | High | No |
| The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth | The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth Because of the endless supply of dungeons, items, monsters, and bosses, this game never feels old. Do keep in mind that this is a challenging game, especially because it features permadeath—if you die, you’ll have to start from scratch. This is often painful (and frustrating), especially when you just found a cool rare item. Rebirth is a remake of The Binding of Isaac built on a newer engine. It features updated art, effects, music, and 'hundreds upon hundreds of designs, redesigns, and re-tuned enhancements.' It also happens to be an easy game to run because of its light Mac system requirements. System requirements: OS X 10.8, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 450 MB HD space. | Platformer | Low | No |
| The Banner Saga | The Banner Saga The Banner Saga puts you at the helm of a caravan that you have to guide and protect. Along the way, the game will throw moral dilemmas at you and will hit you when you’re down. The world is bleak, and survival doesn’t come easy. The Banner Saga offers many twists. For example, instead of focusing on one hero, it focuses on the caravan as a whole. Throughout the campaign, you will get to use different characters, and every character will have the power to change the story. In the graphics department, this game won’t impress you, but that also means that The Banner Saga’s Mac version has low system requirements. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 6 GB HD space, 256 MB of video memory. | Role-Playing | Low | No |
| Fez | Fez In Fez, you control Gomez, a character who can see both the 2D and 3D worlds around him. This gives you the ability to actually rotate the world and see all four sides of it. And that makes all the difference. This perspective gives this game a special touch, but it also makes the puzzles all the more difficult. There are no enemies to distract you, but trust me, you will need all your focus to solve those puzzles. Like many indie platformers, Fez uses a retro look and lots of colors to look good. The graphics won't blow your mind, but on the plus side, it runs on even older Macs. System requirements: OS X 10.6.8, 1.8 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 1 GB RAM, 1 GB HD space, OpenGL 3.0+ support however Intel Integrated Graphics (excluding HD series) will not work. | Platformer | Low | No |
| Spelunky | Spelunky Spelunky has it all—it generates random levels, it’s extremely difficult, and it has permadeath (if you die, you will have to start all over) and cute 2D graphics. In Spelunky, you have to gather as many treasures as possible while avoiding the traps and enemies that fill the tunnels. The gameplay is straightforward—you can whip or jump on enemies, pick up items, or use bombs and ropes to further explore the caves. Spelunky also happens to be a very lightweight game. It’s so light, in fact, that you can even play it on your browser. That means that Spelunky’s Mac version can be played on even the oldest Macs. | Platformer | Low | Yes |
| Hyper Light Drifter | Hyper Light Drifter Hyper Light Drifter is an homage to the games I grew up with. Some consider it a combination of The Legend of Zelda and Diablo, and I couldn’t agree more. The game doesn’t reinvent the wheel; but everything just clicks together. The combat is fun, the sound effects are intense, and the art style looks great. And don’t get me started with the music, which is sublime. It all creates an atmosphere that is hard to describe. Speaking of graphics, the retro style here looks great and makes this a lightweight game. This means you can play Hyper Light Drifter on your MacBook without a problem. System requirements: OS X 10.7, 1.2 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, 512 MB video memory. | Role-Playing | Low | No |
| Shovel Knight | Shovel Knight This game plays a lot like the older Mario Bros games. You have to go through each level until reaching a boss, and there’re coins to be grabbed and baddies you can attack with your shovel. This may sound like a ripoff of Super Mario Bros, but Shovel Knight has a lot of modern twists. For example, all the coins you grab are not for bragging rights only. You can use them to buy upgrades and more. As can be expected from a retro game such as Shovel Knight, this is a lightweight game with low system requirements—perfect for a MacBook. System requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 250 MB HD space. | Platformer | Low | No |
| GRID 2 | GRID 2 GRID 2 is the perfect combination of realism and arcade fun. In fact, you’re always a few settings away from a simulation game, an arcade game, or something in-between. The game includes many real-world locations and a huge car selection. Plus, the physics engine makes every car feel different. This all comes together to guarantee that GRID 2 a joy to play. Granted, even with every assist off, this game won’t match Gran Turismo. But I don’t see that as a bad thing, as GRID 2 can be challenging but remains accessible. For a casual racing fan like me, this is the best Mac racing game. Also, I have no idea what Feral Interactive did with GRID 2’s Mac port, but the game runs really well. Even my 2013 MacBook Air can run it decently! System requirements: OS X 10.9.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 11 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, ATI Radeon HD 3870, or Intel HD 4000 with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Racing | Low | No |
| Undertale | Undertale As you go about your adventure, you can decide whether you should kill your enemies or befriend them. Undertale is a tricky game to describe, because the less you know about it, the better it works its magic on you. Suffice it to say, this game has a story that constantly changes as you decide whether you want to make friends or increase the body count. This is a funny game too and can easily make you laugh out loud. And don’t let the goofy graphics trick you. There’s a reason why Undertale was chosen as the best game of all time. The best I can do is advise you to try it yourself. Also, this is a very lightweight game. Think your hardware is too old to play video games? Give Undertale a try. System requirements: 2 GB RAM, 200 MB HD space. | Role-Playing | Low | No |
| Bastion | Bastion Bastion takes place in a floating world that constantly changes. But what sets this game apart is the narrator. Throughout the campaign, a voice narrates your every move. This gives impact to even the most mundane fights. Bastion is the complete package. It offers fun combat, a good story, and a beautiful, colorful world. And that narrator makes it even better in ways that are hard to explain. You do not want to miss this classic, which also happens to be easy on your Mac. System requirements: OS X 10.5.8, 1.8 Ghz Intel Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 1 GB HD space, ATI Radeon 2600, nVidia GeForce 8600 GT, Intel HD 4000 with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Role-Playing | Low | No |
| Papers, Please | Papers, Please Paper, Please puts you in the shoes of an immigration officer and focuses on the emotional toll that comes from deciding who comes in and who doesn’t. You get to inspect arrivals’ documents and use several tools to weed out potentially dangerous people, such as terrorists, wanted criminals, or smugglers. You can also interrogate people and request fingerprints or even a full-body scan. The idea behind this sounds simple, but once you start playing, you’ll realize it’s complex and stressful. This is the perfect game if you’re looking for a change from traditional triple-A games. It’s also a great choice if you own a low-powered Mac, as Papers, Please’s Mac version has minimal system requirements. System requirements: OS X 10.8, 1.5 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 100 MB HD space, OpenGL 1.4 or better. | Simulation | Low | No |
| The Talos Principle | The Talos Principle This game is full of clever puzzles and reminds me of Portal, which is a hell of a compliment. There are 120 puzzles in total, and they're all hard enough to make you feel smart once you figure them out. The game provides a lot of tools to succeed too. There are blocks, signal jammers, lasers, motion-recording devices, and even turrets. The game also has a philosophical side, but you can completely ignore it if you prefer. Plus, the puzzles are what truly make this a good game. The Talos Principle's Mac version isn't particularly demanding. System requirements: OS X 10.5.8, 2.2 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 5 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 4670, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT or video card with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Adventure | Medium | No |
| Rocksmith 2014 | Rocksmith 2014 Remastered This game is similar to Guitar Hero and Rock Band. The screen follows a hot rock song and shows you what buttons to press to “play” the song—except Rocksmith doesn’t use cheap guitar-shaped controllers. It requires a real guitar. As a noob guitar player myself, I can tell you that this game can really teach you the basics. You can start at the lowest difficulty to learn how a guitar works, or you can set the difficulty to 100 and actually learn to play the real song. Rocksmith 2014 takes the teaching part seriously and offers over 85 lessons covering bends, accents, slides, and more. I love this game because it can really teach you something in a fun way. Plus, Rocksmith 2014’s Mac version can run on most machines. System requirements: OS X 10.7, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 12 GB HD space, NVidia GeForce 8600 GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600 with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Simulation | Low | No |
| Super Meat Boy | Super Meat Boy This game is hard, and you will have to die a lot. You will die hundreds of times, but the sense of accomplishment is much bigger because of it. Super Meat Boy actually evokes fond memories of times when games were hard. The game offers more than 300 levels, all filled with traps like fans, rockets, lava pits, and other things designed to crush you. And you can only run and jump to survive. This may sound simplistic, but Super Meat Boy has tight controls that will reward skill. Super Meat Boy's Mac version is lightweight and will run smoothly even on older Macs. System requirements: OS X 10.7.4, 1.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 256 MB RAM, 300 MB HD space, card supporting Pixel Shader 2.0 and Vertex Shader 2.0 with 128 MB of Video Memory. | Platformer | Low | No |
| Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft | Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft Can you really call a collectible card game a gem? You can if the game is this much fun! And if you thought collectible card games weren’t your thing, think again. Based on the popular Warcraft universe, Hearthstone is a simple game to grasp. In every match, you pull three or four cards (depending on who goes first) out of your customized deck of 30 cards. There are different card types, but the aim is simple: kill you opponent. The rules are easy, but the strategy behind the game is complex, challenging, and satisfying. Hearthstone is an excellent strategy game, and I'd recommend it to anybody. And if you happen to have a machine that you think is too old to play games, give Hearthstone’s Mac version a try. It’s one of the best free macOS games out there. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 3 GB HD space, NVIDIA® GeForce 8600M GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro. | Strategy | Low | No |
| Alien: Isolation | Alien: Isolation Granted, many Alien games have come and gone, and most were bad. But Isolation is different. For the first time ever, an Alien game finally captured the essence of the original film. This is truly a scary game, and the Alien is to be feared and respected. You can’t kill it. All you can do is run and hide. The game does take place in an abandoned space station, which offers many places to hide. Alien: Isolation is the complete package. The story is interesting, the gameplay is solid, and the graphics are beautiful. Feral Interactive did a fine job with Alien: Isolation’s Mac version. It runs great and is bug-free. System requirements: OS X 10.10.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 35 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, ATI Radeon HD 5670, or Intel Iris Pro with 1 GB of Video Memory. | Horror | High | No |
| Cave Story | Cave Story Cave Story looks and plays like an old NES game, but beneath that pixelated exterior lies a good story with fun gameplay. In Cave Story, you can explore underground caves, upgrade your weapons, and search for secret loot. Enemies drop experience points too, increasing your weapon’s power. An enhanced version is available on Steam, but you can always try the community-driven free version. This is also an excellent way to test your Mac’s limits for those of you with older machines. | Platformer | Low | Yes |
| FTL: Faster than Light | FTL: Faster than Light The game gives you control of a ship carrying critical information. Problem is, a large enemy fleet is on your tail. You must guide the ship through several planetary systems to escape, and each comes with random events that will put you to the test—an enemy ship, a pirate, or something else. At the same time, you'll have to recruit new crew members and upgrade your ship. Combat takes place in real time and leaves no room for mistakes. Death is permanent, and losing your ship or crew will force you to start all over again. FTL shares one huge benefit with most of the indie games on this list—it doesn’t require much to run. System requirements: OS X 10.5.8, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core Duo, 1 GB RAM, 175 MB HD space, OpenGL 2.0 Support with 128 MB of Video Memory. | Strategy | Low | No |
| Dwarf Fortress | Dwarf Fortress A typical Dwarf Fortress game involves a randomly generated world in which you control a group of dwarves and attempt to build an underground fortress. Needless to say, without much direction and text-based graphics, this game is hard. But that’s also Dwarf Fortress’ charm. Many consider it the most complex video game ever created, and the game is notorious for being difficult. But once you’ve passed the steep learning curve, there’s a real gem hidden here. Also, text-based graphics may not sound sexy, but at least you can play this even on the old Mac Mini you found at a garage sale. | Strategy | Low | Yes |
| Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor | Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Set in the Lord of the Rings universe, Shadow of Mordor combines melee combat, stealth, exploration, and parkour. But what sets it apart is that everything it does, it does well. The combat is as good as Batman: Arkham City’s, and the exploration and parkour are as good as Assassin’s Creed’s. But it gets better. The game also uses the Nemesis System, which allows your enemies to remember all previous confrontations and react accordingly. This game packs some serious graphics, and Feral Interactive managed to bring us a solid port. Still, Shadow of Mordor’s Mac requirements remain high. System requirements: OS X 10.10.3, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 8 GB RAM, 80 GB HD space, ATI 7xxx, Nvidia 6xx, Intel Iris or Iris Pro with 1 GB of Video Memory. | Action | High | No |
| Firewatch | Firewatch Firewatch tells the story of a fire lookout stationed in a forest. After some mysterious occurrences, you set out to explore the forest in search of answers. Your only form of communication is a walkie-talkie, and the way you choose to respond will influence your relationships. This is a great game that feels like an adult game with realistic issues. That drives the story to a level we are no longer used to. Plus, the forest is beautiful and full of breathtaking sights. I just finished the game and totally understand why it's one of Macworld's favorite games. Developer Campo Santo took Firewatch's Mac version very seriously. They are working on adding metal support to make it even better. You don’t need to wait, though—the current version works great and is properly optimized. System requirements: OS X 10.8, Intel Core i5, 6 GB RAM, 4 GB HD space, Nvidia or ATi GPU with 1GB Memory. | Adventure | High | No |
| Trine 2 | This side-scroller game lets up to three players use Amadeus the wizard, Zoya the thief, and Pontius the knight. Each has special skills that will help you solve specific puzzles and progress. If you’re playing alone, you will need to constantly switch between characters until you find the right spell or ability to solve the puzzle. And if you’re playing with friends, you’d better play like a team or you will get stuck. A lot. This game takes place in a beautiful universe too. Trine 2 is a fairytale adventure and it shows, featuring detailed environments that can really make you stop and enjoy the view. Trine 3 came out not too long ago, but Trine 2 is still a better (and cheaper) game. Also, the slightly older Trine 2 can be player on weaker machines. System requirements: OS X 10.6.6, 1.6 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 1.5 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 320M, ATI HD 2400, or Intel HD 3000 with 128 MB of Video Memory. | Platformer | Low | No |
| Grim Fandango: Remastered | Grim Fandango: Remastered Enter Grim Fandango: Remastered, an attempt to bring the game back to modernity. The game follows the story of afterlife travel agent Manny Calavera and revolves around engaging other characters, collecting objects, and solving puzzles. Originally released in 1998, Double Fine remastered and brought improved textures, 3D models, modern control schemes, a new soundtrack, and new lighting effects to this updated version. Adventure games age well, but the updated graphics are a welcome addition. As can be expected from a remastered old classic, the game looks good but is still easy to run on most modern hardware. System requirements: OS X 10.9, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 6 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 4650, NVIDIA GeForce GT 220, Intel HD 4000 Graphics, or equivalent with 512 MB of Video Memory. | Adventure | Medium | No |
| Outlast | Outlast As a freelance journalist investigating a psychiatric hospital lost in the mountains, you soon realize that was a bad idea. Hell breaks loose, and you find yourself in the middle of mutilated corpses, terrified inmates, insane doctors, and disfigured patients. And to make matters worse, you are completely incapable of combat. With no way to fight, you basically have two choices: run or hide. Either way, the game plays beautifully. It offers tons of places to hide, and if you decide to run for it, the gameplay is fluid and fast. This is a great-looking game too, so you’d need horsepower if you want to run Outlast’s Mac version at its highest settings. System requirements: OS X 10.9, 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 5 GB HD space, GeForce GT 750M, Intel Iris Pro 5200, or Radeon HD 3xxx. | Horror | High | No |
| F1 2017 | F1 2017 The game features the official 2017 World Championship, including the full calendar of 21 tracks and roster of 22 drivers from 11 teams. But beyond yearly updates, F1 2017 introduced improved graphics, a new gameplay mode, invitational events, and pretty much everything a Formula 1 fan could ask for. Finally, F1 2017’s photorealistic cars and tracks simply are outstanding. In fact, I believe this is the best looking racing game you can play on MacOS. Feral Interactive used Metal to ensure the game runs as smoothly as possible, but this is still an extremely demanding game. System requirements: OS X 10.12.5, 2.0GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 36 GB HD space, 2GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5GB Intel Iris Pro 6200. | Racing | High | No |
| XCOM 2 | XCOM 2 As expected, this turn-based strategy game plays and looks much better than its predecessor. The critics love it. In XCOM 2, humans lost the war against the aliens and have to resort to guerilla tactics to fight back. This changes the way the game plays and paves the way for cool features, such as the ability to hide from the aliens. One word of caution, though—this game looks great but is very demanding. XCOM 2’s Mac version will require powerful Mac to run, and before you go blame Feral Interactive for a poor port, know that the Windows version is the same: PS: If you don’t have a powerful Mac to run XCOM 2, you can always try the very solid XCOM: Enemy Unknown. System requirements: OS X 10.11.2, 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 45 GB HD space, NVIDIA 650ti (1GB), AMD 5770 (1GB), Intel Iris Pro or better. | Strategy | High | No |
| Rust | Rust Rust is a game about doing whatever it takes to survive in a post apocalyptic world. You start with practically nothing and must scavenge the basics to survive: food, shelter, fire, and weapons. The world is full of savage beast that will attack you on sight, but the real danger are other human players. You can technically team up with others to increase your chances of survival, but people usually end up killing each other. Every encounter with another player is a dangerous and tense affair, but that’s part of the fun. Rust uses the Unity engine and is as stable as can be expected from an open-world online game. Still, the game takes place in huge environments and requires decent hardware and a fast internet connection. System requirements: OS X 10.7, Intel Core i7-3770 or better, 8 GB RAM, 10 GB HD space, GTX 670 2GB / AMD R9 280 better. | Action | Medium | No |
| Metro 2033 Redux | Metro 2033 Redux Metro: Last Light is the sequel, but developer 4A Games decided to remaster the original Metro 2033 and include all the improvements and goodies from the original. For a long time, Metro 2033 was used as a benchmark to test the latest graphics cards—it looked that good. So why on earth was it remastered? Well, turns out Metro 2033 had a lot to learn from the newer Last Light. This is a true remaster with polishes, improved lighting and weather effects, expanded environments, and even new features, such as weapon customization. If you missed Metro 2033 the first time, Metro 2033 Redux is the perfect excuse to try one of the best-looking games you can play on Mac. Be careful though, you'll require a powerful machine. System requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 3.2 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 8 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750m 1GB, or Radeon HD7950 3GB with 1 GB of Video Memory. | Shooter | High | No |
| Limbo | Limbo In Limbo, you guide a boy through dangerous places in search of his missing sister. The environments not only look gloomy, they are full of puzzles, traps, and monsters. In fact, people refer to Limbo's gameplay as “trial and death,” which means that you will have to die a lot before solving a puzzle. And those deaths are quite gruesome too, making the experience a little more tense. Limbo uses simple graphics to create a dark and nightmarish feel. That simplicity provides another benefit—you can play Limbo even on older Macs. System requirements: OS X 10.6.6, 1.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 150 MB HD space, OpenGL 2.0 compatible video card with 256 MB of Video Memory. | Platformer | Low | No |
It can be hard to remain objective when selecting the best of anything. But when it comes to video games, it’s nearly impossible… Tastes are nearly as important as quality, hence the need to have some guidelines. Every game featured here will follow these simple principles:
Only native support: You’d be surprised how many Top Games for macOS lists feature Windows-only games. Not here. Each and every one of the games mentioned here
Focus on MacOS performance: Many of the games featured here have been tested on several Macs as part of our dedicated guides. These are the specifications of the main test machines:
iMac (5K, 27-inch, Late 2014)
3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2GB)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2013)
2.4 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, Intel Iris 5100 (1.5GB)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016):
2.0 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, Intel Iris Graphics 540 (1.5GB)
For the record, we test our games on Medium settings (to give older models a chance) and 1280×800 resolution.
These are all the results of our tests in Frames per Second (FPS):
And for reference, this is how we interpret the results:
| Below 20 FPS | Unplayable | Laggy gameplay, full of stutters and slowdowns. |
| 20-30 FPS | Borderline | Can be Ok in slow paced games. Still, not optimal. |
| 30-45 FPS | Playable | Acceptable for most (most gaming consoles do this). |
| 45-60 FPS | Smooth | Fluid gameplay, with no perceivable stutters. |
| 60+ FPS | Very Smooth | For hardcore and professional players, a luxury for most. |
We usually aim for 30 FPS, because 30 FPS is enough to guarantee a smooth and fluid experience.
Critically acclaimed: We know that our opinions are not the only ones that matter. To keep this guide as relevant as possible, we only considered proven games with positive reviews from both professional reviewers and average gamers.
After 14,000 words and many hours creating the biggest Macintosh games list out there, all I can ask you is toget your first Mac gameand bookmark this page (you will need the inspiration later).
Games Mac Download
Mac gaming can only grow if more gamers give it a shot. Perhaps you’re a casual gamer, or perhaps you are convinced your Mac is too old to play modern games. In any case, start with a few free games and see how it goes. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.
Do you think I missed a very good Mac game already available? Let me know in the comments section.
Best Games Mac 2018
Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission (this is how we pay the bills). This commission comes at no additional cost to you.