Maybe you just got your first Mac, or maybe you’re simply new to gaming. Either way, this will surprise you:
Most of the best video games are available on Mac.
Some still believe there are no good games to play on Mac, but Mac gaming has come a long way (Can a Mac be a gaming PC? is a great read). Nowadays, 7 out of the 10 most-played games on Steam have a Mac version and all the best indies support it too. This Best Mac games list is nothing but a sample of all the possibilities Mac gaming has to offer.
Before we get started, this table should help you easily navigate the top Mac games:
| Game | Name | Genre | Requirements | PC Metascore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XCOM 2 | XCOM 2 | Strategy | High | 88 |
| BioShock Infinite | BioShock Infinite | Shooter | ⚠️️ Medium | 94 |
| Firewatch | Firewatch | Adventure | High | 81 |
| Civilization 6 | Civilization 6 | Strategy | High | 88 |
| Rocket League | Rocket League | Sports | ⚠️️ Medium | 86 |
| The Witness | The Witness | Adventure | ⚠️️ Medium | 87 |
| Tomb Raider | Tomb Raider | Action | ⚠️️ Medium | 86 |
| Pillars of Eternity | Pillars of Eternity | Role-Playing | ⚠️️ Medium | 89 |
| Total War: Warhammer | Total War: Warhammer | Strategy | ⚠️️ Medium | 86 |
| Borderlands 2 | Borderlands 2 | Shooter | ⚠️️ Medium | 89 |
| Shadow of Mordor | Shadow of Mordor | Action | High | 84 |
| Dawn of War 3 | Dawn of War 3 | Strategy | ⚠️️ Medium | 77 |
| Sleeping Dogs | Sleeping Dogs | Action | ⚠️️ Medium | 81 |
| COD: Modern Warfare 3 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | Shooter | ⚠️️ Medium | 78 |
| Company of Heroes 2 | Company of Heroes 2 | Strategy | ⚠️️ Medium | 80 |
| Alien Isolation | Alien: Isolation | Horror | High | 81 |
| Braid | Braid | Platformer | ✅ Low | 90 |
| GRID 2 | GRID 2 | Racing | ✅ Low | 80 |
| Life is Strange | Life is Strange | Adventure | ✅ Low | 83 |
| League of Legends | League of Legends | MOBA | ⚠️️ Medium | 78 |
| Superhot | Superhot | Shooter | ⚠️️ Medium | 82 |
| Batman: Arkham City | Batman: Arkham City | Action | ⚠️️ Medium | 91 |
| Deus Ex: Human Revolution | Deus Ex: Human Revolution | Shooter | ⚠️️ Medium | 90 |
| World of Warcraft | World of Warcraft | MMO | ⚠️️ Medium | 93 |
| Hitman | Hitman | Action | ⚠️️ Medium | 83 |
| Divinity: Original Sin Remastered | Divinity: Original Sin Remastered | Role-Playing | ⚠️️ Medium | 94 |
| Gone Home | Gone Home | Adventure | ⚠️️ Medium | 86 |
| Minecraft | Minecraft | Adventure | ✅ Low | 93 |
| Bastion | Bastion | Role-Playing | ✅ Low | 86 |
| Limbo | Limbo | Platformer | ✅ Low | 88 |
| Spec Ops: The Line | Spec Ops: The Line | Shooter | ✅ Low | 76 |
| F1 2016 | F1 2016 | Racing | ⚠️️ Medium | 86 |
| Lord of the Rings Online | Lord of the Rings Online | MMO | ⚠️️ Medium | 86 |
| This War of Mine | This War of Mine | Strategy | ⚠️️ Medium | 83 |
| Stardew Valley | Stardew Valley | Strategy | ✅ Low | 88 |
| SOMA | SOMA | Horror | ⚠️️ Medium | 84 |
| Max Payne 3 | Max Payne 3 | Action | ⚠️️ Medium | 87 |
| Heroes of the Storm | Heroes of the Storm | MOBA | ⚠️️ Medium | 86 |
| Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut | Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut | Role-Playing | ⚠️️ Medium | 87 |
| Team Fortress 2 | Team Fortress 2 | Shooter | ⚠️️ Medium | 92 |
| The Witcher 2 | The Witcher 2 | Role-Playing | ⚠️️ Medium | 88 |
| Owlboy | Owlboy | Adventure | ⚠️️ Medium | 88 |
| Star Wars KOTOR 2 | Star Wars: KOTOR 2 | Role-Playing | ⚠️️ Medium | 85 |
| Hearthstone | Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft | Strategy | ✅ Low | 88 |
| Metro 2033 Redux | Metro 2033 Redux | Shooter | High | 90 |
| SimCity 4: Deluxe Edition | SimCity 4: Deluxe Edition | Simulation | ✅ Low | 84 |
| DiRT 3 | DiRT 3 | Racing | ⚠️️ Medium | 86 |
| SC 2: Legacy of the Void | StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void | Strategy | ⚠️️ Medium | 88 |
| Transistor | Transistor | Role-Playing | ⚠️️ Medium | 83 |
| The Sims 4 | The Sims 4 | Simulation | ⚠️️ Medium | 70 |
| Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 | Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 | Simulation | ✅ Low | 81 |
| Portal 2 | Portal 2 | Puzzle | ✅ Low | 95 |
| Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls | Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls | Role-Playing | ⚠️️ Medium | 87 |
| Dying Light | Dying Light | Shooter | High | 87 |
| Rayman: Origins | Rayman: Origins | Platformer | ⚠️️ Medium | 86 |
| Guild Wars 2 | Guild Wars 2 | MMO | ⚠️️ Medium | 90 |
| Super Meat Boy | Super Meat Boy | Platformer | ✅ Low | 87 |
| Fez | Fez | Platformer | ✅ Low | 91 |
| Left 4 Dead 2 | Left 4 Dead 2 | Shooter | ⚠️️ Medium | 89 |
| FTL: Faster than Light | FTL: Faster than Light | Strategy | ✅ Low | 84 |
| Mark of the Ninja | Mark of the Ninja | Platformer | ⚠️️ Medium | 91 |
| Crusader Kings 2 | Crusader Kings 2 | Strategy | ⚠️️ Medium | 82 |
| Football Manager 2017 | Football Manager 2017 | Sports | ✅ Low | 80 |
| Rocksmith 2014 | Rocksmith 2014 | Music | ✅ Low | 89 |
| AC: Brotherhood | Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood | Action | ⚠️️ Medium | 88 |
| Europa Universalis 4 | Europa Universalis 4 | Strategy | ⚠️️ Medium | 87 |
| Trine 2 | Trine 2 | Platformer | ✅ Low | 84 |
| CS: Global Offensive | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Shooter | ✅ Low | 83 |
| Hyper Light Drifter | Hyper Light Drifter | Role-Playing | ✅ Low | 84 |
| OUTLAST | OUTLAST | Horror | High | 80 |
| The Elder Scrolls Online | The Elder Scrolls Online | MMO | ⚠️️ Medium | 80 |
| Papers, Please | Papers, Please | Simulation | ✅ Low | 85 |
| American Truck Simulator | American Truck Simulator | Simulation | ⚠️️ Medium | 76 |
| Dota 2 | Dota 2 | MOBA | ⚠️️ Medium | 90 |
| Cities: Skylines | Cities: Skylines | Simulation | ⚠️️ Medium | 85 |
| Hotline Miami | Hotline Miami | Action | ✅ Low | 85 |
| Torchlight 2 | Torchlight 2 | Role-Playing | ⚠️️ Medium | 88 |
| Grim Fandango: Remastered | Grim Fandango: Remastered | Adventure | ⚠️️ Medium | 84 |
| Kerbal Space Program | Kerbal Space Program | Simulation | ⚠️️ Medium | 88 |
| Elite: Dangerous | Elite: Dangerous | Adventure | High | 80 |
| Towerfall Ascension | Towerfall Ascension | Action | ⚠️️ Medium | 87 |
| Legend of Grimrock 2 | Legend of Grimrock 2 | Role-Playing | ⚠️️ Medium | 85 |
| Tales from the Borderlands | Tales from the Borderlands | Adventure | ⚠️️ Medium | 85 |
| Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance | Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance | Action | ⚠️️ Medium | 83 |
| Shovel Knight | Shovel Knight | Platformer | ✅ Low | 85 |
| X-Plane 11 | X-Plane 11 | Simulation | ⚠️️ Medium | NA |
| The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth | The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth | Platformer | ✅ Low | 86 |
| Homeworld Remastered Collection | Homeworld Remastered Collection | Strategy | ⚠️️ Medium | 86 |
| Terraria | Terraria | Adventure | ✅ Low | 83 |
| Dwarf Fortress | Dwarf Fortress | Strategy | ✅ Low | NA |
| Crypt of the NecroDancer | Crypt of the NecroDancer | Platformer | ✅ Low | 87 |
| Cave Story | Cave Story | Platformer | ✅ Low | NA |
| The Walking Dead | The Walking Dead | Adventure | ✅ Low | 89 |
| The Talos Principle | The Talos Principle | Puzzle | ⚠️️ Medium | 85 |
| Undertale | Undertale | Role-Playing | ✅ Low | 92 |
| EVE Online | EVE Online | MMO | ⚠️️ Medium | 88 |
| Spelunky | Spelunky | Platformer | ✅ Low | 90 |
| Her Story | Her Story | Adventure | ✅ Low | 86 |
| Prison Architect | Prison Architect | Simulation | ✅ Low | 83 |
| The Banner Saga | The Banner Saga | Role-Playing | ✅ Low | 79 |
PS: I know you often wonder if your Mac has the chops to run modern games. To give you an idea, I included my take on what type of Mac you will need to play these games.
Finally—and I shouldn’t have to say this—every game listed here works on Mac. No Windows needed. I’ve seen “Best games for Mac” lists with games that are not even available on Mac. That pisses me off and I promise it will never happen around here. Let’s get started.
The 100 Best Mac Games You Can Play Today:
| Sort by name? | 100 Best Mac Games | Sort by genre? | Free games only? | Performance requirements? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XCOM 2 | XCOM 2As 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's Mac version, you can always play 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 | No | High |
| BioShock Infinite | BioShock InfiniteThe 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 | No | Medium |
| Firewatch | FirewatchFirewatch 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 top games from February 2016. 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. Also, the game is available everywhere, but GOG remains the store I love to support: System requirements: OS X 10.8, Intel Core i5, 6 GB RAM, 4 GB HD space, Nvidia or ATi GPU with 1GB Memory. | Adventure | No | High |
| Sid Meier’s Civilization 6 | Sid Meier’s Civilization 6In 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: System requirements: OS X 10.11, 2.7 Ghz Intel Core i5, 6 GB RAM, 15 GB HD space, 1 GB VRAM GeForce 775M, Radeon HD 6970, Intel Iris Pro. | Strategy | No | High |
| Rocket League | Rocket LeagueRocket 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, you won’t need a powerful Mac to run it: 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 | No | Medium |
| The Witness | The WitnessMany 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 you’ll need a recent Mac to run it: System requirements: OS X 10.11.6, 1.8 Ghz processor, 5 GB HD space, integrated Intel HD 4000. | Adventure | No | Medium |
| Tomb Raider | Tomb RaiderAs always, you take control of the charming archaeologist Lara Croft. Except this time, the game tells the story of how a younger Lara Croft became the adventurer we all know. This new Tomb Raider is about exploration, combat, and survival in a more realistic way. Everything stands out here. The combat is fun (be it hand-to-hand or using a weapon), the cutscenes are intense, and the graphics are beautiful. You will need a powerful Mac to run this game, but Feral Interactive did a great job with Tomb Raider’s Mac port. This is a smooth port with reasonable system requirements: |
This post first appeared on Mac Gamer HQ: Mac Games News, Guides, Videos, And, please read the originial post: here
