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Best Mac Games

Updated October 2022
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Telltale Games Minecraft: Story Mode
Telltale Games
Minecraft: Story Mode
Choose Your Adventure.

A decision-based spin on the wildly popular world-building that maintains the blocky textures while focusing more on story and action.

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Choose Your Adventure.
Bottom Line

A decision-based spin on the wildly popular world-building that maintains the blocky textures while focusing more on story and action.

Pros

Minecraft: Story Mode' creates more lore while allowing users freedom to do what they want. Decisions snowball into exciting possibilities down the line. Kids will love it.

Cons

Don't confuse it for the the original. The game's no longer updated.

Best Bang for the Buck
Disney Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Disney
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Simple Yet Solid

Great games like this withstand the test of time. The galaxy is still worth saving while making friends with loyal Wookie Zaalbar and droid HK-47.

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Simple Yet Solid
Bottom Line

Great games like this withstand the test of time. The galaxy is still worth saving while making friends with loyal Wookie Zaalbar and droid HK-47.

Pros

Affordable. A rich story set thousands of years before the films. Likable cast. An engaging, turn-based combat system. The choices you make deeply impact the experience.

Cons

Its visuals may seem dated by today’s standards.

2K Games Civilization VI - Digital Deluxe Edition
2K Games
Civilization VI - Digital Deluxe Edition
Fun for Everyone

Popular franchise dating back to the 90s with modern tech, graphics, and intuitive design for complete freedom to lead the world as gamers see fit.

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Fun for Everyone
Bottom Line

Popular franchise dating back to the 90s with modern tech, graphics, and intuitive design for complete freedom to lead the world as gamers see fit.

Pros

Comprehensive set for quintessential turn-based world-building. Beloved by casual gamers and fans who go back to the early days. Make your civilization as good or evil as you please. Modern graphics.

Cons

Steep price tag but includes lots of features.

Aspyr Quake 4
Aspyr
Quake 4
Cinematic Action

The terrifying fourth entry in the classic sci-fi space shooting franchise sprawls across the universe and still holds up well today.

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Cinematic Action
Bottom Line

The terrifying fourth entry in the classic sci-fi space shooting franchise sprawls across the universe and still holds up well today.

Pros

This FPS has an immersive, cinematic world and story that seamlessly blends horror and science fiction. Features massive maps and an arena-style multiplayer mode from the days of local multiplayer.

Cons

The game is well over a decade old, so don't expect modern graphics and gameplay.

Blizzard Entertainment Starcraft 2
Blizzard Entertainment
Starcraft 2
Real-time Fun

Blizzard's acclaimed sequel to the legendary real-time strategy original takes story-based world-building to a brand new level.

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Real-time Fun
Bottom Line

Blizzard's acclaimed sequel to the legendary real-time strategy original takes story-based world-building to a brand new level.

Pros

This one's a classic for a reason - it requires skill and knowledge to compete. The cutscenes are cinematic and the voice acting is top-notch. Tells an epic space odyssey that builds upon the lore.

Cons

Requires Battle.net registration. Internet connection is required.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

First Reviewed
December 21, 2021
30
Models
considered
10
Hours
researched
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Buying guide for Best Mac games

andrew
Written by andrew

Updated October 2022

When the Apple iMac was released in 1998, it sparked a bonafide cultural phenomenon in the electronics world. The computer was sleek, simple, design-focused, and technologically progressive, so it’s no surprise the brand continues to push these philosophies with its modern products. One area of criticism, though, has always been gaming support. Macs don’t quite stack up to Windows-based gaming PCs in terms of graphical processing power, which leaves many Mac gamers feeling left out when they miss out on major releases. We’re here to tell you that’s a thing of the past. There are loads of fantastic Mac games available, and some of them just might surprise you.

Whether it’s a new game, a retro title, an indie release, or even an early-access project, there’s something out there for every gamer of every experience level. This is partly thanks to Apple’s introduction of powerful Intel processors, but part of it is the gaming industry’s recognition of the demand for Mac-compatible games.

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Today, the majority of video games aren’t bought physically. Instead, they’re downloaded digitally through platforms like Steam, Origin, and the App Store. This is good news for Mac gamers, as the majority of modern Macs don’t come with optical disc drives.

Key considerations

Two of the most important considerations when choosing a game are genre and price, but these preferences will vary greatly depending on the person. Only you know what types of games you enjoy — but what games you can play depends on your computer’s specs and your age.

System requirements

If you want to play a game on your Mac and play it well, confirm your machine at least meets the minimum recommended specifications for that title.

The first things to look at are the processor (CPU), graphics card (GPU), and memory (RAM) specifications. Respectively, these figures dictate how well your computer can run programs, translate lines of code into visual data, and multitask.

Meeting minimum specs means your machine may struggle to perform even on low settings, so it’s best to have a little wiggle room if possible. Outside of those elements, double-check that you have enough free space on your hard drive to store the game. Some games can take up 100GB of room or more.

Not sure what your Mac’s specifications are? Click the Apple button on the top left of your screen, press “About This Mac,” and navigate the tabs to get the information you need.

Age rating

If you’re buying games for a young one or a family computer, pay close attention to the age rating. Age ratings are determined by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), which ranks games based on the amount of violence, language, adult themes, sexual content, and frightening moments they contain. For example, a rating of “E” means it’s okay for everyone. A rating of “AO” means the game is for adults only. This should not be confused with an “M” rating, which is for mature audiences.

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Did you know?
Buying games can get expensive quickly. Thankfully, there are frequent publisher sales around holidays, as well as platform-specific specials on Steam, Origin, and other digital storefronts.
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Features

Downloadable content

Some games are released as self-contained, finished products, while others are continuously developed and added to after they’re released. This generally entails downloadable content (DLC), which is a fancy name for an expansion pack. DLC can be anything from a new level to a new campaign to a selection of cosmetic in-game items. DLC is often doled out in season pass form where the customer will buy all of the game’s DLC in one discounted package while also opting into whatever future DLC is released within a certain time period.

Online play or single player

As time passes, more and more games exist purely in the online realm, but there are plenty of fulfilling and interesting single-player experiences too. Choose the experience that’s right for you, but keep in mind that many titles give you the choice to play locally on your machine or over the web with others.

Cross-platform play

Long-time gamers will remember the days when you were locked into the gaming system you bought with no flexibility. Today, however, cross-platform play permits PC gamers, Mac gamers, console gamers, and even mobile gamers to play the same titles together regardless of hardware. Fortnite, for example, allows players with nearly any system to compete against one another on the battlefield. If playing with friends is a priority for you, seek out games with cross-platform compatibility. This does not encompass all online games, but it’s a feature that is becoming more common due to popular demand.

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Did you know?
Laptops aren’t typically the best choices for gaming, but modern MacBook Pros have impressive specs. For instance, the 2019 16-inch model boasts an Intel i9 processor, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an AMD Radeon Pro 5500M graphics card.
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Mac game prices

While Macs don’t typically play as many new AAA titles as PCs, the pricing range for these products is essentially the same. As always, keep in mind some titles feature recurring monthly subscriptions, in-game purchases, DLC, and the like.

Inexpensive

For about $5 to $20, expect to find indie titles, older games, and simplistic simulators. These titles may be cheap, but they’re often of stunning quality and can provide hours of entertainment. 

Mid-range

Spend $30 or so and you’ve entered the realm of fleshed-out, modern titles, including older AAA games. You may even find bundles of several similar games at this price point. 

Expensive

At $60 and more, you’ll find new games, AAA titles, special editions, and series collections. 

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Did you know?
RAM plays a huge role in your machine’s ability to run games smoothly. Some games can technically run on 4GB of RAM, but 8GB is essentially the minimum to run anything considered modern.
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Tips

  • Is your game not running smoothly despite your machine reaching the recommended specs? Dial back the graphics settings for better performance, particularly when it comes to anti-aliasing, water, shadows, and reflections.
  • Mac users often leave their computers running 24/7, putting them to sleep after use rather than fully shutting them down. We recommend restarting yours every week or so to refresh the system.
  • Your Mac will likely have less RAM than a gaming PC, so free up as much as you can before logging in. Close down all non-essential apps — especially web browsers — and consider programs like CleanMyMac to periodically tidy up your machine.
  • A tidy hard drive is crucial for maximum gaming performance. Instead of letting yours fill up, delete old and redundant files, leaving about 10% of your storage space free.
  • Modern Macs typically come with ultra-responsive solid-state drives (SSDs), but this isn’t the case with older models. Thankfully, you can purchase a third-party internal SSD for a couple hundred dollars. These will reap huge rewards in terms of performance.
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Stuck on a difficult part of your game? The internet is the best tutor you could possibly ask for. Search the web for a strategy guide, peruse YouTube for a detailed playthrough, or catch a live stream on Twitch, Mixer, or Facebook Gaming.

FAQ

Q. What else can I buy to improve my Mac gaming experience?

A. Part of the Mac appeal is that they're simple to set up and ready to go right out of the box. If you want to take your gaming experience to the next level, though, there are a few accessories that can flesh out your setup. Consider replacing the standard Apple mouse with a gaming model that has more programmable buttons and doing the same with the keyboard. The integrated Mac keyboard is sleek, but it’s not incredibly ergonomic for long gaming hours. Finally, a larger external monitor will dramatically improve your visual experience, and a quality headset will enhance your multiplayer encounters. All these accessories connect to your Mac via the USB, headphone, and HDMI ports.

Q. Can I turn off my Mac’s mouse acceleration?

A. Mouse acceleration is a feature that increases your cursor’s tracking rate when the mouse is moved quickly. PC gamers often turn this off for more predictable and linear in-game movement, but on a Mac, it isn’t always as simple as ticking a box. To turn off acceleration, open your Terminal app, which is found in the Utilities folder in Applications. You can also use a keyboard shortcut by pressing Command and Space at the same time. Once Terminal is open, type the following:

defaults write .GlobalPreferences com.apple.mouse.scaling -1

Press Enter and log out. When you log back in mouse acceleration will be gone. To restore it, enter the command again with the “-1” removed.

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