No one buys a MacBook expecting to play the latest games at the highest settings. That said, getting one doesn’t mean giving up on gaming either.

That’s because MacBooks are perfectly capable of playing some amazing games.

And in case you find that hard to believe, today we cover the 20 best MacBook games out there, old and new. And unlike most lame MacBook gaming lists out there, we actually tested every single one of the games featured today.

For the record, by “MacBooks” we are not only referring to 12-inch MacBooks but also MacBook Airs (MBA) and 13-inch MacBook Pros (MBP). Basically all models without dedicated graphics.

And if you’re planning to buy a new Mac or would like to see how yours compares with the latest models from Apple, check out our Best Mac for gaming guide.

The rest of the best:

Left 4 Dead 2 | Starcraft 2 | Dead Cells | DiRT Rally | World of Warcraft | Rocket League | BioShock Remastered | Civilization 5 | Minecraft | Lord of the Rings Online | RimWorld | Sega All-Stars Racing | Undertale | SUPERHOT | Darkest Dungeon | Stardew Valley

You can find more benchmark results (including results from 12-inch models and MBAs), system requirements and all the details involving our tests in our Performance section.

Note that all of our benchmarks were done using Medium settings and 1280x800 resolution. You can expect better performance if you’re willing to play on Low settings.

So, are MacBooks good for gaming? This overview of all of our results should easily answer that question:

Our absolute favorite MacBook games

You expected a bunch of old games no one wants to play anymore, right? Wrong! These are all great games you’d play all day, even if you had a brand-new iMac Pro, and Cuphead is our favorite.

Cuphead became an instant indie classic when it was released for Windows last year. Mashing excellent run and gun gameplay with a beautiful art style (the game looks straight out of a cartoon from the 1930s), Studio MDHR achieved something special. But don’t get fooled by the cute graphics, this is one punishing game. So much so that some compare it with Dark Souls.

And did we mention Cuphead is also a great multiplayer game you can play on co-op with a friend?

One more thing… Cuphead is the perfect choice for MacBook gaming: no compromises are required. This is a modern game with graphics that look great but still run smoothly on older machines.

Cuphead benchmark results (in FPS):

Our runner-up is Cuphead’s opposite. Borderlands 2 is neither new nor an indie. This is an older AAA game that happens to be a great choice for MacBook gamers.

The Borderlands series is known for its winning combination of FPS gameplay and RPG mechanics, and in our opinion, Borderlands 2 gives you the best of that. What makes it special is that both the role-playing and the shooting are solid. You’ll spend your time finding loot, leveling up and learning new skills while having lots of fun thanks to accurate and satisfying shooting mechanics. And to round things up, Borderlands 2 features some of the best 4-player co-op out there.

One more thing… Because the game uses a cel-shaded art style, it still looks great while keeping the system requirements low enough for our 2013 13-inch MBP.

Borderlands 2 benchmark results (in FPS):

It’s no surprise Hearthstone easily won our Budget Pick. After all, few free-to-play games are as generous as Blizzard’s collectible card game.

Based on the popular Warcraft universe, Hearthstone nails the essence of card games. It’s much simpler than anything that came before while remaining hard to master. There are different card types (weapons, spells and minions) and creating the “perfect” deck will be nearly impossible, yet the goal is simple: empty your opponent’s health before he empties yours.

And before you complain that you’re not into card games, remember, this is an excellent game that you can play for free.

One more thing… Collectible card games are rarely demanding and Hearthstone is no exception. Because of its simple graphics, virtually all Intel-powered models should be able to play it.

Hearthstone benchmark results (in FPS):

Every game featured here is technically a MacBook pick, so let’s take it one step further and call this one of the finest Macbook Air games.

Into the Breach is a tactical strategy game from the same team that did FTL: Faster than Light. Set in a far future, you’ll take control of huge mechs to fight off hordes of gigantic monsters and save the World.

This may sound a lot like Pacific Rim, but the game comes with a twist: saving cities and civilians is more important than killing the monsters. So prepare to make some tough choices as this game can feel like playing chess, and you’ll often have to cut your losses and accept smaller defeats.

One more thing… Featuring retro graphics, Into the Breach is an extremely easy game to run. And if you happen to have a particularly old machine that can’t run it smoothly, don’t worry, the turn-based gameplay won’t suffer.

Into the Breach benchmark results (in FPS):

Also great Mac first-person shooters

Slow turn-based games aren’t your cup of tea? Left 4 Dead 2 is a frantic first-person shooter that will pit you and 3 of your friends against hordes of zombies.

Developed by Valve, Left 4 Dead 2 is an oldie but goodie that may not impress in the graphics department anymore but is still extremely fun to play. The game will force you and your friends to work as a team and go through zombie-infested areas until you reach a safe zone. Left 4 Dead 2 will throw hundreds of hideous easy-to-kill creatures at you, but also tougher boss monsters to keep you on your toes.

One more thing… The more than 11,000 gamers that still play it daily can’t be wrong. After all these years Left 4 Dead 2 remains one of the most fun shooters out there and most machines should be able to handle it just fine.

Left 4 Dead 2 benchmark results (in FPS):

The sequel to the legendary StarCraft, Starcraft 2 is a real-time strategy game that continues the war between the Terran, Zerg and Protoss races.

While the game features interesting lore and fascinating characters, StarCraft 2 shines because of its gameplay; like the original, this is a fast and precise game that is easy to get into but insanely hard to master.

And if you don’t feel like getting destroyed in competitive multiplayer, you can give the game’s Human campaign, a co-op mission or the occasional skirmish a try for free. StarCraft 2 used to be a premium paid package, but Blizzard now gives away huge chunks of the game. You no longer have an excuse to not try StarCraft 2.

One more thing… With StarCraft 2, Blizzard once again proved they know how to optimize a game for Mac. The game features nice graphics that stand the test of time, yet most recent machines should be able to run it without breaking a sweat.

StarCraft 2 benchmark results (in FPS):

Dead Cells is an action-platformer that many have called the best Castlevania game in years.

In Dead Cells, there are no checkpoints and you’ll have to get comfortable with dying… a lot. You’ll get plenty of weapons to help you on your way, and each time you die will be an opportunity to explore more, improve your skills and acquire new abilities.

The 2D retro-inspired world will make fans of classic Castlevania and Metroid feel right at home, but don’t think Dead Cells is just another retro knock-off. This is an indie with tight controls, smooth animations and great art-style that could possibly earn it Best Indie of 2018 title. So prepare to experience both frustration and triumph across 16 to 20 hours of platformer action.

One more thing… Thanks to its retro graphics, Dead Cells manages to look great and play great on low-specced machines.

Dead Cells benchmark results (in FPS):

For the racing fans out there, allow me to introduce you to DiRT Rally, truly a technical MacOS feat.

The latest Dirt game available on Mac, Dirt Rally has everything a racing fan could ask for. With accurate handling, risky gameplay, and great graphics, some call it the best rally game ever released. And just like Dirt 3 and Grid 2, Dirt Rally is a versatile game. It can be either a challenging and precise simulation or a fun and casual racer; all you need to do is adjust the in-game settings to match your preferences.

Dirt Rally for Mac was handled by Feral Interactive, one of the top porting companies, and it shows. This is a brilliant port that features all the bells and whistles of the Windows version and looks just as good.

One more thing… This game is so well optimized for Mac, we were surprised to see it run smoothly on older machines.

DiRT Rally benchmark results (in FPS):