The 10 Best Mac Games (So Far)

Key Points:

• While you won’t be able to play a majority of the latest console titles on a Mac, there are Mac games that run the full range of subgenres and modes from single-player to 100-person multiplayer.
• Stardew Valley is open-ended, incredibly relaxing, gorgeously designed, and fun to play, combining all the best qualities of other simulation and role-playing games into one top-of-the-line title.
• Comprised of live-action video clips and gameplay that replicates the act of searching through a database, Her Story tasks players with solving the case of a missing man.

The Mac probably isn’t the first computer you think of when you hear the term “PC gaming.” That’s because—compared to a proper gaming computer—Macs typically can’t handle the kind of graphics gaming PCs are built to support.

However, that doesn’t mean that the Mac is totally devoid of games for you to play. While you won’t be able to play a majority of the latest console titles on a Mac, there are still some really great titles available to you today. So, we’ve compiled a list of the best Mac games below.

These Mac games run the full range of subgenres and modes. From action-adventure to RPG, from single-player to 100-person multiplayer, there’s a Mac game for every kind of gamer. (Even in spite of Mac’s apparent lack of those next-gen titles you’ll find on a proper gaming PC.)

After going over these ten titles, we’ll talk about where to buy, what to know, and what to expect. Read on to learn more.

10. Gris

You already know that a Mac isn’t going to be able to run a next-gen title like Elden Ring or Horizon Forbidden West. Alas, there are still plenty of new and exciting indie titles available to Mac users. (Some might even argue these indie games are even better than the blockbuster games.)

Gris is one of the best examples of this.

Developed by two former Ubisoft employees, Gris follows the titular character as she searches her environment for ways to restore light to her world. Part platformer, part puzzle, part adventure, Gris is a gorgeously designed game with an engaging story and a powerful message to boot.

9. Papers, Please

Indie games often receive heaps of praise for their ingenious gameplay, enveloping stories, and daring designs. Papers, Please checks all these boxes still to this day, despite being almost 10 years old now.

Described by developers as a “dystopian document thriller,” Papers, Please sees gamers playing as an immigration officer in a fictional nation plagued by political tension. Grim, stressful, thought-provoking… Papers, Please is all these things. (Not to mention an excellent use of relatively simple mechanics, which Macs can easily handle.)

Listed among some of the best games of the year upon its release, Papers, Please continues to have an impact still to this day.

8. Her Story

Billed as an interactive film (not unlike Netflix‘s Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, only years earlier), Her Story is one of the most unique games you’ll likely ever play.

Comprised of live-action video clips and gameplay that replicates the act of searching through a database, Her Story tasks players with solving the case of a missing man. Players have access to a series of interviews with the man’s wife along with various files and paperwork to help you keep the story straight.

It was unlike anything else released for the Mac at the time, and it remains one of the most impressive games for the Apple OS to this day.

7. Cuphead

One of the most popular Mac titles to date, Cuphead remains something of a sensation even though it’s been out for years now.

Inspiring merch, expansion packs, and even a Netflix series, Cuphead is a massively popular game that’s still a total blast. (And not just because of its gameplay, which literally requires you to blast away enemies.)

Done in a 1930s animation style that harkens back to the early days of cartoons, Cuphead successfully recreates the look and feel of a jazzy, retro short film. Don’t let the aesthetic fool you, though: Cuphead is easy to learn but difficult to master. You’ll have fun with it, but just try to avoid a serious rage-quit.

6. Graveyard Keeper

Based on the enormous success and continued appeal of Harvest Moon, Graveyard Keeper is a 2D-style management sim that tasks players with managing and maintaining a medieval fantasy cemetery.

From cleaning up the land to tending to the graves to keeping the nearby church up to quality, Graveyard Keeper is no doubt one of the best Mac games.

You could definitely spend hours playing Graveyard Keeper… and then you’ll have even more fun as you explore its several DLCs. (There’s been a new one released every Halloween season since its initial debut in 2018.)

5. Celeste

Another incredible indie platformer, Celeste follows players as they embody the titular character who must face her fears as she ascends a treacherous mountain.

It’s a simple setup, but it opens itself up to some seriously deep scenarios as the main character, Madeline, grapples with her inner demons. A delight for gamers of all types—from speed runners to casual players alike—Celeste proves that the platformer genre still has new and impressive directions to go in.

What’s more, once you’ve beaten Celeste, there’s a newly released sequel you can master next.

4. Diablo III

While you might think of Diablo as a franchise made for consoles, the truth is that Diablo III actually hit Macs before the PS3 and Xbox 360.

One of the best-selling computer games of its release year, this action RPG asks players to slice, dice, and fight their way through an army of demonic bad guys on a journey to defeat the big bad: the titular Diablo.

Easily one of the longest-running and most popular RPG franchises ever, Diablo III is a must for any Mac gamer even more than a decade after its release. (Plus, it’s time to get ready for Diablo IV, due out in 2023).

3. Fortnite

While many of us didn’t even know about this game prior to 2020, Fortnite actually dates back to 2017.

Another fun fact? The record-breaking success of the game is tied to the battle royale mode, which was initially only an add-on to the main survival mode. (Needless to say, the battle royale mode is now the main mode).

Even if you’ve played Fortnite more than enough times for a lifetime now, it’d be wrong to ignore the sheer success and the massive continued appeal of the game for gamers of all types… yes, even Mac gamers. Fortnite is undoubtedly an all-timer.

2. emThe Sims 4/em

The Sims 4 - PC/Mac

$39.99

• Create unique sims: A variety of sims are yours to personalize, each with distinct appearances, dynamic personalities, and inspiring aspirations
• Build the perfect home: Construct the home of your, and their dreams by planning its layout, choosing furnishings, and altering the landscape and terrain
• Explore vibrant worlds: Travel between locations, discover amazing and distinctive neighborhoods, and encounter captivating venues
• Play with life: Control the rich and entertaining moments of your Sims’ lives from their relationships to their careers

Buy on Amazon

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

08/28/2023 05:06 pm GMT

The Sims franchise is endlessly appealing, and the fourth entry is no exception. Released for Mac in 2015, only a handful of months after its initial PC release in the fall of 2014, emThe Sims 4/em was instantly a pop culture staple, like all its predecessors before it.

From custom characters to hilarious scenarios and hours upon hours of little tasks and activities to take part in, emThe Sims 4/em is a fun way to spend endless afternoons goofing around. It’s the ultimate social simulation game, and with all its excellent expansion packs, it’s still worth playing after all these years.

You can get the digital code for Mac on Amazon here.

1. Stardew Valley

While Harvest Moon is obviously the pre-eminent farming simulator, Stardew Valley is just about the best successor you’ll find today.

That’s what makes it the best of the best Mac games: it’s open-ended, incredibly relaxing, gorgeously designed, and just plain fun to play. It combines all the best qualities of other simulation and role-playing games into one top-of-the-line title.

As an added bonus, you can even open up your farming world to as many as three others for four-person multiplayer games. Stardew Valley just can’t be beaten!

Where to Buy the Best Mac Games

If you’re looking to buy one of the best Mac games to play for yourself, there are a few different places you can look. As of this writing, you’re not going to find any Mac games in any physical stores. Online’s going to be your best (and only) bet. From Mac’s own shop to a couple of other online gaming stores, these are the places to buy the best Mac games.

In rare cases, you can find the digital codes on Amazon.

The Sims 4 - PC/Mac

$39.99

• Create unique sims: A variety of sims are yours to personalize, each with distinct appearances, dynamic personalities, and inspiring aspirations
• Build the perfect home: Construct the home of your, and their dreams by planning its layout, choosing furnishings, and altering the landscape and terrain
• Explore vibrant worlds: Travel between locations, discover amazing and distinctive neighborhoods, and encounter captivating venues
• Play with life: Control the rich and entertaining moments of your Sims’ lives from their relationships to their careers

Buy on Amazon

We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

08/28/2023 05:06 pm GMT

Best Mac Games on Steam

If you play online games, you’ve likely used Steam before. (Or, at the very least, you’ve heard of Steam).

From blockbuster games to indie hits and everything in between, Steam is an excellent online game shop with its own designated Mac section. Not to mention, Steam often runs great sales and deals to save you some money.

Best Mac Games on Mac App Store

Of course, you can always check the Mac App Store. Already pre-loaded onto your Mac, the App Store is where you’ll find all the compatible Mac games available today. While sales are less frequent on the App Store compared to your other options here, there are still the occasional discounts to be found from time to time.

Best Mac Games on MacGameStore

Last but not least, there’s MacGameStore.

Unlike Steam, which has both Mac and PC games on its platform, MacGameStore is a designated place for Apple-compatible games only. It’s similar to the Mac App Store in this way, but it tends to run far more sales than the App Store. You can’t go wrong with it.

What to Know Before Buying the Best Mac Games

Before you buy one of the best Mac games, you’ll want to make sure your MacOS is up-to-date and compatible.

Some older Macs or older operating systems can’t handle the latest games, even if they’re supposed to be made especially for Macs. Just to be safe, you can go into your settings and check your Mac’s specs with the game’s required specs.

If you’re planning to game on a Macbook, you’ll also want to ensure you’re fully charged or plugged into your charger before booting up a game. Your battery will reduce a lot faster while gaming, and you don’t want your Mac to die in the middle of gameplay.

Playing the Best Mac Games: What to Expect

Before playing one of the best Mac games, you should know what to expect.

Simply put, Mac games aren’t going to boast the kind of graphics of a PS5 or Xbox One game. Likewise, they aren’t going to be as massive or as complicated as one of those console games, either.

Mac games are limited by their graphics and memory, which means even the best Mac games are going to be a little smaller and a little less complex than a console game (or even a Windows PC game, for that matter).

Alas, the Mac games that are available to you are still well worth playing. Mac game developers know their limitations and still manage to make incredibly fun games regardless.

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