Despite having a reputation for being a platform that games tend to avoid, there are a wide range of games currently available on Apple’s Mac computers. From triple-A masterpieces that push the technical limits of the hardware, through to indie delights that will keep you entertained for hours, there are a lot of great Mac games these days. There are still a lot of big names missing on the platform, so you may struggle to find everything you are looking for. But the greatest Mac games that are available certainly make up for that. Finding the best Mac games can require a lot of searching on compatibility websites, but here are 20 of the best you can try right now.
Top Mac Games
Almost every type of game is available on Mac, so unless you are looking for something very niche or that requires specific hardware (which may have compatibility issues) you will likely find it available for Macs. However, many free-to-play games skip the platform, so you may have to pay upfront more than PC.
With the technical improvements when it comes to game streaming, you can play a lot of the biggest games in the world right in your browser on a Mac, which is a great way to access games not officially on the platform. However, to be included on this list there must be an official Mac version of the game that is available natively, with no streaming or crossover OS systems required. The games on this list are based on critical success and popularity.
20. Death Stranding
Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding is a game about walking, but the story from his creative mind is why you want to play this. You’ll spend hours wandering around as a courier, so anyone looking for fast-paced action may be disappointed. It initially released in 2019, but a 2024 Mac release means it isn’t cheap.
19. Cuphead
Cuphead is a brutally hard run-and-gun 2-D platformer with gorgeous art that will frustrate as much as it entertains. If the art style grabs you or you are looking for a challenge, this is a great option from Studio MDHR that released in 2017. It usually gets good discounts, and often sells for under $10.
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18. The Sims 4
The Sims is a classic, and the fourth iteration, despite launching in 2014, is as good as ever. If you’ve ever wanted to control every aspect of someone's life then this is for you, with an incredible level of depth. Maxis spent years releasing downloadable content, which gets pricey, but it is technically free to play.
17. Total War: WARHAMMER III
Arguably the best real-time strategy game available now, Total War: WARHAMMER is for fans of the genre and the subject matter. Released in 2022 by Creative Assembly, it’s a great strategy title that everyone can enjoy even if you aren’t a WARHAMMER fan, although the price tag may put some off.
16. Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon from Red Hook defined the roguelike turn-based role playing game, and despite launching in 2016 is still the best example in the genre. You’ll build a party and take on turn-based battles to try and keep them alive. It’s great for anyone wanting a slow but varied adventure, and it goes cheap in sales.
15. Diablo III
The most recent Diablo isn’t on Mac, but Diablo III is, and it’s a great option for anyone looking for a top-tier ARPG
14. Balatro
The only entry from 2024 on the list, Balatro is a poker roguelike deck-builder that is all about trying to create ridiculous combos to get massive high scores. It’s addictive in the best way, and something any poker, or math, fan should try. It was developed by LocalThunk and is around $15.
13. XCOM 2
A turn-based strategy game that is still the best of its kind despite releasing in 2016, XCOM 2 is one all strategy fans should play. You’ll try to fight the alien rulers of Earth through multiple squad-based missions that are all about decision-making. It’s from Firaxis and can be cheap in sales.
12. Alien Isolation
Take the scariest creature in film and make a survival horror game about it stalking you across a ship, and you get Alien Isolation. It’s as good as it sounds and perfect for fans of the film who like to get their heart racing. Creative Assembly released it in 2014, so it’s very cheap now.
11. Football Manager
The Football Manager games are great soccer management simulations and are available on Mac, which is great for soccer fans. Taking control of every aspect of a real-life soccer team is great fun, and the detail you can go into is impressive. Sports Interactive does a great job every year, but it is pricey.
10. Hades
A 2020 action roguelike, Hades has some of the most satisfying combat ever. If running through hell destroying demons with a massive arsenal of weapons sounds like your thing then you need to try this. Developed by the fantastic Supergiant Games this is an all-timer, but has a big price as a result.
9. Disco Elysium
For anyone who values story and wants to solve a mystery as a detective, Disco Elysium is a must-play. Released in 2019 and made by ZA/UM there is nothing like it, more resembling a tabletop game rather than a video game. It carries a decent price tag, but sales drop it right down.
8. Vampire Survivors
Vampire Survivors is one of the simplest games in years and created its own genre of controlling a 2-d character with hordes of enemies coming at you and auto-firing weapons. It’s simple, but incredible and anyone can lose hours to it without realising. Developed by Poncle in 2022, it's only a couple of bucks.
7. World of Warcraft
The best MMO ever is available on Mac, and the perfect option for anyone looking to live in a fantasy world with chums. Despite releasing in 2004, constant updates from Blizzard have kept Warcraft fresh and filled with lots to do from giant fights to artisan crafting. It does, however, still have a monthly subscription.
6. Civilization VI
Civilization VI is the ultimate strategy game and it’s as good on Mac as any other platform. Following the traditional 4x system, this is all about building your empire across history and destroying others, making it great for strategic thinkers. It’s developed by Firaxis and launched in 2016, but still carries a hefty price tag.
5. Portal 2
The ultimate puzzle game from Valve, Portal 2 will bend your mind as you go through hours of spatial puzzles involving the iconic portal gun. It was released in 2011 but still holds up, and is perfect for anyone looking for a unique but slow-paced puzzle adventure. It also is very cheap in sales.
4. Stardew Valley
A cosy farming sim, Stardew Valley gives you a farm and lets you live the life of a farmer in a small village. For anyone looking for a chill time, this indie game from solo dev ConcernedApe that was released in 2016 is perfect and you can pick it up reasonably cheap these days.
3. Baldur’s Gate Gate 3
The RPG hit of 2023 from Larian Studios, Baldur’s Gate 3 is an epic adventure in the Dungeons and Dragons universe with an impressive story that you can play however you choose. D&D fans, or just RPG fans, have to play this but its recent launch means a premium price tag.
2. League of Legends
Developed by Riot Games and released in 2009, League of Legends is the ultimate competitive game and is entirely free to play. It’s a MOBA where you and four others battle to destroy the opposite team’s base. It’s complex so one for anyone looking to learn a difficult competitive game with friends.
1. Minecraft
Initially released in 2009 by Mojang, Minecraft has become one of the biggest games in the world and is something everyone should play. It’s a sandbox for you to do whatever you want in, with options to mine, craft and much more. You still have to pay full price, but the Mac port is solid.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Are The Best Free Mac Games?
As fewer people play games on a Mac, a lot of the big free to play games skip the platform as the work to port it simply isn’t worth it with the small player base. However there are a few free to play games on the platform and the best is League of Legends.
The MOBA from Riot Games will give you thousands of hours of entertainment for free and works well on Mac. You’ll team up with four others and pick one of over 100 champions to try and take down the other five enemy players and destroy their base. If you get into it spending money to permanently unlock characters is almost a requirement, but technically you never have to spend a penny.
The Sims 4 from Maxis is also technically a free to play option, with the base game being available at no cost and giving you the ability to control the lives of a group of sims down to minute detail. But with 10 years of pricey downloadable content, it gets prohibitively expensive if you want every single bit of content available.
What Are The Best Mac Games On Steam?
Steam is full of great games for Mac, with a lot of the top games being available on the platform. The highlight is currently Baldur’s Gate 3, the epic D&D RPG from Larian Studios that gives you the opportunity to play through an epic story however you want.
Most of the games on this list are on Steam in some form, with other highlights such as cosy farming RPG Stardew Valley from Concernedape and the epic puzzler Portal 2 from Valve, the company behind Steam also available on the platform. While there are notable exceptions, you can expect to find most great Mac games on Steam.
What Are Good MMORPG Games On Mac?
There’s a surprising variety of MMORPGs available on Mac, so you have a ton of choice if that is what you're looking for. Obviously your best option is World of Warcraft from Blizzard, the iconic fantasy MMO that defined the genre. There’s so much to do in Warcraft these days that it’s difficult to sum up, but if fighting in a fantasy land with chums is what you are after, it's the best option.
Other options include The Elder Scrolls Online from ZeniMax Online Studios, which allows you to explore the incredible world of The Elder Scrolls like never before and is perfect for anyone who has enjoyed any of the main games in the series. Or there is EVE Online from CCP Games which, while incredibly complex, is still the best space MMO you can play.
What Are Good First Person Shooter Games On Mac?
The first person shooter genre is certainly lacking on Mac, with most of the big multiplayer titles skipping the platform. However single player FPS fans are still well served with a lot of options and variety. One of the best is Borderlands 2, a FPS RPG that has a beautiful art style and a surpassingly solid story. Developed by Gearbox Software, you play in an alien world and must try to work your way through the story to take down the evil Handsome Jack, levelling up your character and finding your favourite guns out of the literal billions on offer.
Other FPS options include the remastered Bioshock games from 2K, that see you take on the messed up worlds of the underwater city Rapture and the floating town of Columbia, as well as Left 4 Dead 2 from Valve that is a perfect zombie shooter you can play with friends.
What Are Good RPG Games On Mac?
There are a lot of great RPG games on Mac, with the best being Baldur’s Gate 3. The 2024 D&D RPG from Larian Studios gives you a massive story in a fantasy world filled with incredible characters to play through with an impressive amount of variety. It really is the ultimate D&D experience in video game form, and worth checking out.
Other options include Disco Elysium from ZA/UM that is less of a traditional RPG and more of a virtual story you play through as a police detective so solve a case, and Stardew Valley which is a farming RPG from Concernedape that can let you fulfil your agricultural fantasies.
Bottom Line
Despite its reputation, the Mac has some amazing games on it and can legitimately be your main gaming machine. There’s a lot of games in almost every genre and some of them can even be played for free, which is always appreciated. Don’t count out the Mac for gaming, it might surprise you.
