Borderlands 2
Sure, Borderlands 3 came out to replace it, but why fix something that ain’t broke? If you’re looking for the best Borderlands game, this is it.
Borderlands 2 combines first-person shooter gameplay with RPG elements, creating one hell of an experience. This game is all about killing enemies to find cool weapons. If Diablo and Halo had a baby, it would look something like this. Killing baddies to find that fire legendary gun you wanted is tons of fun, but Borderlands 2 is even better when you’re playing it with friends. Borderlands 2 is best experienced as a four-player co-op multiplayer. The Borderlands formula is so good, many games are still trying to reproduce with varying degrees of success such as The Division or Destiny 2.
Borderlands 2’s Mac version is a good-looking game too, and you will need some horsepower to run it properly.
System requirements: macOS 10.8.5, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4 GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 2600 / NVidia Geforce 8800/ Intel HD 3000, 13 GB hard drive space
Alien: Isolation
Granted, many Alien games have come and gone, and most were bad. But Isolation is different. For the first time ever, an Alien game finally captured the essence of the original film. This is truly a scary game, and the Alien is to be feared and respected. You can’t kill it. All you can do is run and hide. The game does take place in an abandoned space station, which offers many places to hide. Alien: Isolation is the complete package. The story is interesting, the gameplay is solid, and the graphics are beautiful.
Feral Interactive did a fine job with Alien: Isolation’s Mac version. It runs great and is bug-free.
System requirements:OS X 10.10.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 35 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, ATI Radeon HD 5670, or Intel Iris Pro with 1 GB of Video Memory.
Bastion
Bastion takes place in a floating world that constantly changes. But what sets this game apart is the narrator. Throughout the campaign, a voice narrates your every move. This gives impact to even the most mundane fights. Bastion is the complete package. It offers fun combat, a good story, and a beautiful, colorful world. And that narrator makes it even better in ways that are hard to explain.
You do not want to miss this classic, which also happens to be easy on your Mac.
System requirements:OS X 10.5.8, 1.8 Ghz Intel Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 1 GB HD space, ATI Radeon 2600, nVidia GeForce 8600 GT, Intel HD 4000 with 256 MB of Video Memory.
Batman: Arkham City
The first Arkham game surprised us all, showing the world that superhero games could be fun. Arkham City took that same recipe and improved everything. The story is good, the graphics look great, and the environments are bigger than ever. But what makes this game great is the combat. The combat involves dodging, counter-attacking, and building combos.
It sounds simple, but everything is smooth and feels great. Just take on a gang of 11 thugs and you'll see what I mean. As Batman, this game makes you feel powerful and fast.
Feral Interactive did a great job with Arkham City's Mac port. For such a big and beautiful game, the system requirements aren't too high. Even better, they recently updated the game to 64-bit to make it compatible with macOS Catalina.
System requirements:OS X 10.14, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 16 GB HD space, 512 MB NVIDIA 640M, 1.5 GB Intel HD4000, 2GB AMD 290M or newer.
Besiege
The gameplay of Besiege consists of you solving challenges by building machines that can fulfil the task at hand. The fun bit about these challenges is that it usually involves destroying something or murdering a bunch of sheep, resulting in you creating tons of war machines to satisfy these demands. These machines can range from a simple catapult flinging rocks, to a mechanical worm digging through terrain.
This game also offers multiplayer PvP and Co-op, allowing you and your friends to duel in bloody machine warfare, or help each other build a fire-breathing T-Rex to go toast some knights. With mod support and plenty of community-made content, there's always something to siege.
This game is not demanding and should work fine on any Mac.
System requirements: macOS 10, 2.2 Ghz Dual Core, 2 GB RAM, 1 GB HD space, 512 MB VRAM OpenGL 2.0 compatible.
BioShock Remastered
Unfortunately, it was starting to become too old to wholeheartedly recommend it. That is no longer the case with the release of BioShock Remastered. This new version features improved graphics, 5K resolution support, finer textures and better effects.
If you missed your chance to visit the infamous underwater city of Rapture the first time around, BioShock Remastered will give you another opportunity to experience one of the most original shooters from the past two decades. This is a game that won perfect scores from many critics, multiple awards, and is one of my personal favorite horror games.
Plus, the beauty of this Remastered version is that although the game looks much better, it doesn’t need a particularly fast Mac to run.
System requirements:OS X 10.12.5, 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 or greater, 8 GB RAM, 27 GB HD space, 2GB NVIDIA 680MX, 2GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5GB Intel Iris Pro 5200.
Borderlands 3
Borderlands 3—available for Mac gamers directly from Gearbox—brings the mayhem back to adventurers in this fun-filled “shooter-looter.” Select one of four new Vault Hunters and customize him/her to suit your playing style as you attempt to stop the Calypso from taking over the galaxy. Multiplayer fans will be thrilled that Borderlands 3 offers seamless co-op regardless of level or mission progress. With all the available DLC and special events, there’s plenty here to keep loot-collectors busy.
New worlds, new weapons, new bad guys. Same sense of style and fun.
System requirements:macOS 10.12.6, 4.2 Ghz Intel Core i7 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 75 GB HD space, 8 GB AMD Radeon Pro 580 Graphics card.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
This first-person shooter from Treyarch and Activision provides three full game modes to keep you busy: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies. Each mode features multiplayer options, its own unique story, and hoards of zombies to kill. And since you likely want even more zombies, the Zombies Chronicles expansion is now part of the base purchase.
If that’s too many zombies for you, Steam users also have the option to get the less expensive stand-alone Multiplayer Starter Pack that excludes the Campaign and Zombies modes.
System requirements:macOS 10.13.6, 2.3 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 150 GB HD space, 2 GB ATI Radeon M295X (NVIDIA and Intel GPUs are not officially supported).
Celeste
Celeste centers around a young girl named Madeline and her adventure to the top of Celeste Mountain. She’ll meet many personable characters in her travels, and will learn more about herself along the way. The touching narrative is actually one of the highlights of the game, providing more character development and incentive than we’re used to seeing from platformers.
There are 700+ screens to beat and secrets to unlock (including “Brutal B-side chapters…built for only the bravest mountaineers”), and dying is just part of the process. You’ll respawn right away, so no backtracking is necessary. Jump, dash, climb, die, jump, dash, climb, advance. See if you don’t get hooked.
System requirements:OS 10.7.5, Intel Core i3 Processor, 2 GB RAM, OpenGL 3.0+ (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable), 1.2 GB hard drive space.
Cities: Skylines
Cities: Skylines is a city-building simulation similar to SimCity. The game gives you control of zoning areas (for housing, commerce, or industry), public utilities, taxation, public transportation, and more. The gameplay is so deep, even your choice of civic policies will affect the development of the entire city. Skylines learned from all of EA’s mistakes with SimCity and delivered a better game. There’s no always-online DRM, your cities can be much bigger, and it also supports mods through Steam Workshop (if you’re into riding helicopters and stuff).
This is a fun and addictive game, and I’m glad Skyline’s Mac version was handled with care. This game does demand some horsepower to run, though.
System requirements:OS X 10.9, 3.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 4 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260, 512 MB or ATI Radeon HD 5670, 512 MB (Does not support Intel Integrated Graphics Cards).
Company of Heroes 2
The game takes place during World War 2, but luckily it moves away from the tired battles we all know too well (Battle of Normandy, anyone?). Instead, it focuses on the infamous battles led by the Red Army on the eastern front. Company of Heroes 2 has improved the formula in other ways too. For example, the weather effects and destructible environments are amazing.
This is currently my go-to strategy game, and in my opinion, one of the finest strategy games today. And if I ever want to take a break from the campaign, I know the skirmish mode can provide a quick 20 minutes of fun.
For a strategy game, Company of Heroes 2 looks amazing. The downside to that are the steep system requirements. Feral Interactive did a fine job with Company of Heroes 2’s Mac version, but you will still need horsepower to run it.
System requirements:OS X 10.10.3, 1.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 35 GB HD space, AMD R9 series graphics card, an Intel Iris Pro graphics card, or an NVIDIA 600 series graphics card or better with 512 MB of Video Memory.
Crusader Kings 3
At its very core, Crusader Kings 3 is a strategic medieval life-sim RPG. You start by creating a character and choosing which kingdom to rule over. Thanks to the immense amounts of customizability this game offers, you can make your king/queen a god-fearing cannibal, a diplomatic saint, or a bloodthirsty lunatic.
Managing your ruler's life is the main appeal of this game. Make decisions that affect your kingdom, your family, your neighboring countries, and most importantly, yourself. The game also doesn't end when your character dies. It replaces your character with a new one, in the form of your chosen heir. So take note of how you raise your children, your kingdom's future depends on it.
If you're a fan of crusades, policymaking, and Game of Thrones, try checking out Crusader Kings 3.
System requirements: macOS 10.14, Intel Core i5-7600K, 16 GB RAM, 8 GB HD space, 8GB AMD Radeon Pro 580.
Cuphead
Cuphead turned a few heads early on because of its unique looks. This game looks like it came out straight from one of those old-school cartoons from the 1930s. Not only was it the first time someone tried it, Cuphead completely nailed it. But this game is not only about looks. Cuphead also nailed its run and gun gameplay, featuring very precise controls that you’ll need as every level and boss are extremely challenging. Some have called it a “cute” Dark Souls and I can only agree.
So dust off your controller of choice and prepare to have tons of fun endlessly dying and restarting over!
System requirements: macOS 10.9, Intel Core i5 Processor, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4000 or higher, 20 GB hard drive space.
Dawn of War 3
Just like Dawn of War 2, the game focuses on hero units and upgrades, and instead of encouraging you to build huge armies, it encourages you to upgrade your most experienced units and heroes. Dawn of War 3 also brings more polish, an exciting 17-mission campaign, and cross-platform multiplayer between macOS and Linux.
Dawn of War 3 comes with great graphics too. Feral Interactive did a great job on this port making Dawn of War 3’s Mac port easy to run on recent hardware.
System requirements:OS X 10.12.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 30 GB HD space, 1 GB Nvidia 650, 2 GB AMD Radeon M290, Intel Iris Pro or better.
Dead Cells
Dead Cells is an action platformer that is all about dying to start over in order to progress and acquire new abilities. The skills you unlock as you explore the procedurally generated levels are permanent, so you get to keep them even when you die. These skills will allow you to reach new areas each time you head out, allowing you to dig deeper into the game every time you play.
The action is presented in a 2D retro-inspired world that will make fans of classic Castlevania and Metroid feel right at home.
System requirements:OS 10.9, OpenGL 3.2 support, 2 GB RAM, 500 MB available space.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
In this latest edition, augmented humans such as yourself have become outcasts and it will be up to you to fix that. Just like its predecessor, Mankind Divided can be played like an action game, a stealth game, or a combination of both. You can use stealth, sneak up on enemy soldiers, and hide bodies, or you can just run and gun your way to the final boss,it’s your call.
The game’s futuristic graphics are also worth mentioning. Mankind Divided is without a doubt one of the most graphically-impressive games on Mac, but that also means it’s one of the most demanding.
System requirements:OS X 10.13.1, 3.0GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 67 GB HD space, 2GB AMD R9 M290 or better.
Diablo 3
In Diablo 3, you get to create a character and set out to defeat the Lord of Terror himself. Diablo 3 is by all means a good role-playing game, but it truly excels because it’s fast and action-packed. Diablo 3 is about killing waves of monsters and getting tons of loot. The story is fine, but it’s the loot that will keep you coming back for more. Reaper of Souls is Diablo’s latest expansion. It adds many features and changes Diablo 3 for the better.
The graphics aren't impressive, but with that much action happening at once, you will need a good machine to run Diablo 3. Luckily, Blizzard takes good care of all their Mac ports.
System requirements:OS X 10.8.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 MB RAM, 25 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro with 256 MB of Video Memory.
Disco Elysium
In Disco Elysium, you play as a detective. What kind of detective you want to be is entirely up to you. Be the good detective who solves crimes and saves lives, or take bribes and turn a blind eye as a champion of corruption. You can even choose the kinds of cases you want to do. Either go for the high-profile cases, or take it easy and solve some minor ones. This game takes the role-playing part of RPG really seriously.
It also features complete English voice acting, adding to the investigative experience. Combine that with the cold atmosphere and dark topics you deal with, and you get an immersive experience of the intricate world of Disco Elysium.
Write poetry, get drunk, seduce someone, or figure out the meaning of life, the choice is yours.
System requirements: macOS 10.13.4, Intel Core i3, 8 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, Intel Iris and Intel HD 4000 or newer.
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Adventurers can now join up to three other players online or split-screen multiplayer as you seek to take control of Divinity. Whether you’re a human, lizard, elf, dwarf or undead will determine how the world sees you, and you can interact with nearly everything and everyone. Even the fates of seemingly inconsequential NPCs are now yours to control, but your actions will, of course, have consequences.
Over 200 skills are at your command, and you’ll need a powerful arsenal to deal with the game’s devious AI. A must-play game for RPG fans.
System requirements:64-bit processor, macOS 10.13.6, Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, Intel HD Graphics 5000 or AMD Radeon R9 M290X or better.
Doki Doki Literature Club!
It all starts innocently, though. You play as a character that is part of a high school literary club. You get to write poems and flirt with the various girls in the club. But things take a turn when the objective becomes keeping the girls alive...
Strangely enough, this is one of the few games that try to be many different things at once and succeeds. It’s part horror, part dating simulation and many other things in-between. Doki Doki Literature Club is a memorable experience and the fact it can be played for free makes it a no-brainer if you’re ever so slightly interested by visual novels.
As can be expected from a visual novel, this is a good looking game that won’t be too taxing on your hardware.
System requirements:OS X 10.9, 1.8GHz Dual-Core Processor, 4 GB RAM, 375 MB space, Integrated graphics.
Dota 2
DotA 2 is a MOBA involving two teams and one objective: to destroy the enemy’s “Ancient.” Throughout the game, you control one of 111 playable heroes with unique powers and abilities. As you progress, you collect XP, gold, and better items and gear. If this sounds like Warcraft, it’s simply because DotA 2 is the sequel to Defense of the Ancients (DotA), the infamous fan-made Warcraft 3 mod. Word of caution, though—just like League of Legends, this game is hyper-competitive, and the community won’t hesitate to trash you if you mess up.
DoTA 2 is another risk-free game to test the waters if you’re new to Mac gaming. It's also one of the best games on Steam. DoTA 2’s Mac version is a good port that can run on many machines.
System requirements:OS X 10.9, Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 8 GB HD space, Nvidia 320M, Radeon HD 2400, or Intel HD 3000.
Dota Underlords
Based on DOTA's universe, you play as a crime boss vying for power in the criminal underworld of White Spire. Assemble your team of minions and watch them duke it out on a tabletop board. Your realm of control exists only in the pre-battle phases, where you figure out which character synergizes with who, which items to equip on heroes, and what formation you'd like to start off with. The rest is up to your motley crew to win the fight. When you first start assembling your team, you get to choose a character called an Underlord, which is a powerful unit that fights alongside your other troops. There are a couple to choose from with their own unique quirks, so strategize appropriately.
This game is also very easy to run, so no beefy Macs are required here.
System requirements: macOS 10.13.6 or newer, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core i5 or better, 4 GB RAM, 5 GB HD space, Intel HD 4000 or newer (requires Metal).
Dwarf Fortress
A typical Dwarf Fortress game involves a randomly generated world in which you control a group of dwarves and attempt to build an underground fortress. Needless to say, without much direction and text-based graphics, this game is hard. But that’s also Dwarf Fortress’ charm. Many consider it the most complex video game ever created, and the game is notorious for being difficult. But once you’ve passed the steep learning curve, there’s a real gem hidden here.
Also, text-based graphics may not sound sexy, but at least you can play this even on the old Mac Mini you found at a garage sale.
Dying Light
Dying Light is a survival game set in a devastated open world. A mysterious epidemic ravaged the world, and you’re left scavenging for supplies and crafting weapons to defend yourself from hordes of zombies.
This all sounds great, but the best part is that Techland delivered an Enhanced Edition, which includes a massive expansion, a year’s worth of DLC, improved visuals, major gameplay enhancements, and more. Dying Light also supports Steam Play and Cross-platform multiplayer. Enough to make this my favorite shooter right now.
This thing is both gorgeous and demanding, so to run it, you better have a powerful machine.
System requirements:OS X 10.12.1, 3.2 Ghz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB HD space, AMD Radeon R9 M370X with 2 GB VRAM.
Euro Truck Simulator 2
Turns out, there’s more than meets the eye. Much more. First of all, this game is both a truck-driving simulator and a business management simulator. You start as a freelance driver delivering goods to win money and XP. But once you have enough saved up, you can buy your own truck and start running your own business.
You also get to travel across Europe and explore dozens of cities from the UK, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and many more. But more importantly, the actual driving is quite good. The handling is precise, the scenery beautiful, and the attention to detail impressive. All this works together to create a relaxing and almost hypnotic driving experience.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a good-looking game too and you'll need a modern Mac to run it smoothly.
System requirements:OS X 10.9, Dual core CPU 2.4 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 3 GB HD space, GeForce GTS 450-class (Intel HD 4000).
Europa Universalis 4
Developer Paradox succeeded, creating the finest grand strategy game out there. Don’t get me wrong, though—EU4 may be a more accessible game, but it’s still complex and hard to play. The game puts you in control of a nation’s military, diplomacy, and economy. Because a nation cannot excel everywhere, you will need to make some decisions. Should you strive for a strong economy or a powerful military? EU 4 is a real simulation and puts the world’s history at your fingertips. The entirety of Earth can be owned, conquered, and colonized.
This is another example of Paradox’s commitment to macOS. Europa Universalis 4’s Mac version works great and runs even on modest hardware.
System requirements:OS X 10.6.8, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 6750, NVIDIA GeForce 320, NVIDIA GeForce 9600 or higher with 1 GB of Video Memory.
EVE Online
In EVE, you can choose from a variety of professions including mining, manufacturing, trading, piracy, and more. Everything happens in real-time, meaning that the universe continues to exist even when you’re not logged in. There’s a real economy going on here, and it doesn’t stop for anyone. EVE also features amazing space battles and an endless supply of ships. There are are small little jumpers but also giant vessels, some larger than entire cities. After ten years of steady growth and 20 free expansions, EVE Online isn’t going anywhere. If you like space combat, you should definitely give it a shot.
As with most MMOs, EVE Online’s Mac version does require some horsepower to run.
System requirements:OS X 10.9, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 320m or Intel HD 3000.
F1 2017
The game features the official 2017 World Championship, including the full calendar of 21 tracks and roster of 22 drivers from 11 teams. But beyond yearly updates, F1 2017 introduced improved graphics, a new gameplay mode, invitational events, and pretty much everything a Formula 1 fan could ask for.
Finally, F1 2017’s photorealistic cars and tracks simply are outstanding. In fact, I believe this is the best looking racing game you can play on MacOS. Feral Interactive used Metal to ensure the game runs as smoothly as possible, but this is still an extremely demanding game.
System requirements:OS X 10.12.5, 2.0GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 36 GB HD space, 2GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5GB Intel Iris Pro 6200.
Factorio
In Factorio, you design, build, and maintain an industrial system. Harvest resources from the area around you and figure out the most efficient way to transport it. Since enough is never enough, keep expanding your factory until you become an industrial powerhouse, draining the planet of all its natural resources. As your factories grow larger, create robots to help manage and control your machine empire. Defend your domain well, for the natives living there are not pleased with your exploitation of planetary resources.
And if you ever feel lonely in your mechanical kingdom, the game offers multiplayer for you to go start another thriving factory with your friends. This game also offers mod support, so feel free to customize your playing experience.
System requirements: macOS 10.10 or better, 3 GHz Quad Core, 8 GB RAM, 3 GB HD space, 2 GB GeForce GTX 750 Ti, 2 GB 2015 Mac or better.
Firewatch
Firewatch 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 favorite games.
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.
System requirements: OS X 10.8, Intel Core i5, 6 GB RAM, 4 GB HD space, Nvidia or ATi GPU with 1GB Memory.
Football Manager 2021
It is quite similar to its predecessors in terms of gameplay. Featuring recruitment of your team, managing it, choosing their coach, and deciding which strategies to use. But being the latest installation of the series, there have been improvements to the game. The match engine for your games has been improved, and the A.I. of your football players has been increased to allow better performance.
Another great thing about this game is their new player friendliness. The game does a good job of not overwhelming new players with information as they learn the mechanics, and they have well-detailed rules for each football league to aid understanding.
If you don't know much about football or are new to this genre, Football Manager 2022 is a great place to start.
System requirements: macOS 10.13.6 or better, 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 7 GB HD space, 256 MB Intel GMA X4500, 256 MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT or 256 MB AMD Mobility Radeon HD 3650 (requires Metal API).
Frostpunk
Do you choose to mobilize child labor when there are not enough workers? Let your people eat well but risk not having enough food to last? Starve your people so your supplies will last? There is rarely a moment in the game where you feel comfortable about your decisions.
Even worse, the game has a mechanic where your citizens feel hope or discontentment. Keeping your citizens hopeful can help push through the worst of times through their sheer belief in you. On the other hand, discontentment can drag you down into a pit of never-ending troubles.
The game does a great job of immersing you into their world, with its constant icy diorama alongside the troubling decisions you'll have to
System requirements: macOS 10.15, 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM, 4 GB AMD Radeon Pro 5300M betterr, 10 GB HD space.
FTL: Faster than Light
The game gives you control of a ship carrying critical information. Problem is, a large enemy fleet is on your tail. You must guide the ship through several planetary systems to escape, and each comes with random events that will put you to the test—an enemy ship, a pirate, or something else. At the same time, you'll have to recruit new crew members and upgrade your ship. Combat takes place in real time and leaves no room for mistakes. Death is permanent, and losing your ship or crew will force you to start all over again.
FTL shares one huge benefit with most of the indie games on this list—it doesn’t require much to run.
System requirements:OS X 10.5.8, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core Duo, 1 GB RAM, 175 MB HD space, OpenGL 2.0 Support with 128 MB of Video Memory.
Gone Home
Gone Home is set in a big empty mansion. As you return home from a long trip abroad, you realize your family is missing. The only clue is a note from your sister asking you not to try to find them. That is Gone Home’s premise. The gameplay is limited to you investigating the mansion and inspecting objects. It certainly doesn’t sound like much, but Gone Home manages to create a great story and a memorable connection between you and the missing family.
I still don’t understand how they pulled it off, but Gone Home is a unique and compelling experience you can’t miss. Gone Home’s Mac version is well-polished too.
System requirements:OS X 10.7, 1.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, any card with 512 MB of Video Memory.
Hades
In this game, you play as an immortal prince of the Greek underworld, Zagreus. Zagreus, (or Zag), fights through the land of the dead in an attempt to escape his father Hades and flee to his relatives in Olympus. But even a godling has troubles escaping from death's domain. The story of this father-son conflict and the effects on their relatives is continually revealed the more attempts you make at escaping.
Gameplay wise, it delivers a crisp, reactive, and rhythmic combat flow. Your reflexes, wit, and luck will be tested in this randomly changing environment, where each run will bring different dungeons, weapons, and powerups. Try and try again, with different combinations of weapons and boons to break free of the underworld.
In short, calling Hades a fast-paced, rouge-like, dungeon-crawling masterpiece of a game would not do it justice. With stunning visuals, a killer soundtrack, an immersive story, and memorable voice acting, Hades is an experience to remember.
System requirements: macOS 10.13.6, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core 2, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD 5000 (must support Metal API), 15 GB HD space.
Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
Can you really call a collectible card game a gem? You can if the game is this much fun! And if you thought collectible card games weren’t your thing, think again. Based on the popular Warcraft universe, Hearthstone is a simple game to grasp. In every match, you pull three or four cards (depending on who goes first) out of your customized deck of 30 cards. There are different card types, but the aim is simple: kill you opponent. The rules are easy, but the strategy behind the game is complex, challenging, and satisfying.
Hearthstone is an excellent strategy game, and I'd recommend it to anybody.
And if you happen to have a machine that you think is too old to play games, give Hearthstone’s Mac version a try. It’s one of the best free macOS games out there.
System requirements:OS X 10.9.5, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 3 GB HD space, NVIDIA® GeForce 8600M GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro.
Her Story
Her Story is an interactive movie game that lets you use police video clips to solve the case of a murder that occurred in 1994. The tapes revolve around the interrogation of a man’s wife, and all of her words are transcribed. The interviews are broken up into hundreds of pieces, but as you watch more and more clips, everything starts to make sense. Your job is to explore and search the huge database until you can eventually piece together her story.
This is a game that doesn’t require fancy graphics, as the narrative drives it home. Everyone can experience Her Story’s Mac port, even those of you with older or low-powered Macs.
System requirements:OS X 10.8, 2 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, 512 MB of video memory.
Heroes of the Storm
Heroes of the Storm involves two teams of “heroes” who fight it out with the sole objective of destroying the opposing team’s nexus (read: base). Throughout the game, your team will gain experience and “level up,” giving you more abilities and power. If you happen to enjoy other Blizzard games (like StarCraft or World of Warcraft), the experience is even better. This is your chance to play as James Raynor or Diablo himself. Compared to the reigning champion, League of Legends, this is a more team-oriented and beginner-friendly experience.
Heroes of the Storm is currently my favorite free Mac game, and if you ever wanted to give the MOBA genre a try, this is your best choice.
System requirements:OS X 10.9.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 10 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M or ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 256 MB of Video Memory.
Hitman
In Hitman, your job is to infiltrate complex locations full of secrets, weapons, disguises and, of course, targets to eliminate. And just as every Hitman game I’ve ever played, this game is a refreshing experience.
Most games ask you to run and shoot at everything that moves. Hitman asks you to do the opposite—to be invisible. Unnoticed. Hitman will ask you to think for a change and figure out the best way to approach the situation at hand, taking into account environments and enemies.
This sixth installment in the series brings the graphics to a whole new level. The game looks great, and thanks to Feral Interactive’s work, the Mac version (which luckily wasn’t released in episodes) plays beautifully.
System requirements:OS X 10.12.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 68 GB HD space, 2GB AMD M290 or better.
Hotline Miami
Hotline Miami is an ultra-violent top-down shooter set in 1989. The game tells the story of two characters who have to commit massacres against the Russian Mafia in Miami. But what made this game an indie classic was the way it combined stealth and extreme violence, along with a soundtrack and visuals that perfectly matched that 1980s feeling. The gameplay is simple but precise and solid. You will want to retry levels for the sake of getting a perfect score.
Hotline Miami 2 did a lot of the same, but it never managed to be as good as the original. If in doubt, get the cheaper and better Hotline Miami and thank me later. This is a retro game that can run on even older Macs.
System requirements:OS X 10.7, 2.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 512 MB RAM, 130 MB HD space.
Hyper Light Drifter
Hyper Light Drifter is an homage to the games I grew up with. Some consider it a combination of The Legend of Zelda and Diablo, and I couldn’t agree more. The game doesn’t reinvent the wheel; but everything just clicks together. The combat is fun, the sound effects are intense, and the art style looks great. And don’t get me started with the music, which is sublime. It all creates an atmosphere that is hard to describe.
Speaking of graphics, the retro style here looks great and makes this a lightweight game. This means you can play Hyper Light Drifter on your MacBook without a problem.
System requirements: OS X 10.7, 1.2 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, 512 MB video memory.
Into the Breach
In Into the Breach, you'll have to protect the world from enormous monsters that are set to destroy the few remaining cities still standing. Luckily, you'll have a few giant mechs at your disposal to get rid of them. Or at least try...
Into the Breach is a simple game to get into, yet missions can quickly get dicey. You'll often have to make hard choices and either loss a mech or city. And by the way, this is one of the few games that actually encourages you to protect civilians instead of simply killing the monsters.
System requirements: OS 10.7, 1.7 GHz Intel processor, 1 GB RAM, OpenGL 2.1 support, 200 MB available space.
Kerbal Space Program
In KSP, you take control of an entire space program. You get to build spacecrafts and launch them. It sounds simple, but this is a hardcore physics simulator where you will fail. A lot. One rocket is too heavy, another doesn’t hold enough fuel, etc. This game is hard, but the beauty is that it’s also fun and rewarding. And the cute characters and sense of humor certainly help too. The bottom line: You don’t have to be into rocket flight simulation to enjoy this game.
Kerbal Space Program is complex, fun, and extremely rewarding. And it also happens to have reasonable system requirements.
System requirements:OS X 10.6, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, ATI Radeon HD 4850, or Intel HD 5000 with 512 MB of Video Memory.
League of Legends
In League of Legends, players form two teams that compete against each other. You take control of a single “champion” that you can improve as you play. The game has over 120 champions to choose from, each with unique abilities, weaknesses, and strengths. This makes it a hard game to learn and master. And that’s a problem, because LoL is an extremely competitive game. Their community is known for being a bit aggressive, so expect some abuse if you mess up!
But do you know what really makes LoL worth a shot anyway? The fact that it’s free to play. What you’ll need to play League of Legends' Mac version.
System requirements:OS X 10.7.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 5 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600.
Life is Strange
The game follows the story of a highschool senior. Although she looks like your average teenager, she can actually rewind time and affect the past, present, and future. Throughout the game, she will use it to try to save her friend and figure out what’s happening in her hometown.
This is a game that focuses on story-telling, so if you’re looking for combat and action sequences, move along; you won’t find that here. You will, however, find a great story full of choices and consequences.
Other than being one of the most interesting adventure games I’ve recently played, Life is Strange’s Mac version is also a great port. The game looks quite good and yet it can run on low-specs machines, such as my aging MacBook Air.
System requirements: OS X 10.11, 1.8 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 15 GB HD space, Intel HD 4000, AMD 4850 (512 MB VRAM), Nvidia 130 (512 MB VRAM) or better.
Limbo
In Limbo, you guide a boy through dangerous places in search of his missing sister. The environments not only look gloomy, they are full of puzzles, traps, and monsters. In fact, people refer to Limbo's gameplay as “trial and death,” which means that you will have to die a lot before solving a puzzle. And those deaths are quite gruesome too, making the experience a little more tense.
Limbo uses simple graphics to create a dark and nightmarish feel. That simplicity provides another benefit—you can play Limbo even on older Macs.
System requirements:OS X 10.6.6, 1.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 150 MB HD space, OpenGL 2.0 compatible video card with 256 MB of Video Memory.
Mafia 3
Play as Lincoln Clay and go around killing the mafioso responsible for your family's deaths. The plot may sound generic, but Mafia 3 delivers its story wonderfully and provides us with a gripping tale. Like most other campaign based shooters, you can pick your style of combat between stealthy kills or sheer brute force. The game also does a great recreation of the 60's time period, adding to the mafioso mood.
However, this game is known for its bugs and technical glitches, as well as being repetitive in the later half of the game. AI in this game also occasionally behaves in odd ways.
Other than that, Mafia 3 is a solid game for gunning down mobsters and driving around in a nice car.
System requirements: macOS 10.12.4, 3.2 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 50 GB HD space, 2 GB AMD Radeon R9 M290X.
Metro 2033 Redux
Metro: Last Light is the sequel, but developer 4A Games decided to remaster the original Metro 2033 and include all the improvements and goodies from the original. For a long time, Metro 2033 was used as a benchmark to test the latest graphics cards—it looked that good. So why on earth was it remastered? Well, turns out Metro 2033 had a lot to learn from the newer Last Light. This is a true remaster with polishes, improved lighting and weather effects, expanded environments, and even new features, such as weapon customization.
If you missed Metro 2033 the first time, Metro 2033 Redux is the perfect excuse to try one of the best-looking games you can play on Mac. Be careful though, you'll require a powerful machine.
System requirements:OS X 10.9.5, 3.2 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 8 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750m 1GB, or Radeon HD7950 3GB with 1 GB of Video Memory.
Minecraft
Minecraft’s buildings have no limitations. I can barely build a fort, but some people have recreated the Death Star, Rohan, and more. Minecraft is also a survival game. Monsters come out at night, so make sure you build a shelter. You will also have to find food, craft weapons, and explore to find useful resources. Minecraft’s graphics are as retro as it gets, but that doesn’t stop it from looking good.
Plus, retro graphics mean that Minecraft can run on most Macs, including my 13-inch Macbook Air.
System requirements:OS X 10.6.6, 1.4 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 512 MB RAM, 185 MB HD space, ATI Radeon 9500 or better, NVIDIA GeForce FX 5900 or better, Intel GMA 950 or better with 64 MB of Video Memory.
Outlast
As a freelance journalist investigating a psychiatric hospital lost in the mountains, you soon realize that was a bad idea. Hell breaks loose, and you find yourself in the middle of mutilated corpses, terrified inmates, insane doctors, and disfigured patients. And to make matters worse, you are completely incapable of combat. With no way to fight, you basically have two choices: run or hide. Either way, the game plays beautifully. It offers tons of places to hide, and if you decide to run for it, the gameplay is fluid and fast.
This is a great-looking game too, so you’d need horsepower if you want to run Outlast’s Mac version at its highest settings.
System requirements:OS X 10.9, 2.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 5 GB HD space, GeForce GT 750M, Intel Iris Pro 5200, or Radeon HD 3xxx.
Owlboy
Owlboy is a pixel-art adventure game where you’ll face obstacles and enemies with the help of friends. As you progress through the story, you’ll unlock sidekicks, each with special abilities that will help you fight or solve puzzles. You can swap your sidekick at any time, making the game feel fluid and varied.
But what struck me the most were the graphics. Owlboy features some of the most beautiful pixel-art worlds in recent memory and the fact it can be played in modest hardware makes it even better.
System requirements:OS X 10.7.5, Dual core processor, 2 GB RAM, 600 MB HD space, OpenGL 3.0+ support (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable).
Oxygen Not Included
Oxygen Not Included is a space-colony sim that tasks you with mastering new technology, dealing with strange lifeforms, and using your scientific skills to keep your base running. You’ll need to dig and explore in order to uncover the resources need to keep your support systems running and your citizens stable. And did we mention the oxygen supply? It’s so important that the game gives you the ability to watch it move through your base in real-time!
Plenty of DLC will keep management fans busy.
System requirements:
A 64-bit processor, macOS 10.9, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, Intel HD 4600 (AMD or NVIDIA equivalent).
Papers, Please
Paper, Please puts you in the shoes of an immigration officer and focuses on the emotional toll that comes from deciding who comes in and who doesn’t. You get to inspect arrivals’ documents and use several tools to weed out potentially dangerous people, such as terrorists, wanted criminals, or smugglers. You can also interrogate people and request fingerprints or even a full-body scan. The idea behind this sounds simple, but once you start playing, you’ll realize it’s complex and stressful. This is the perfect game if you’re looking for a change from traditional triple-A games.
It’s also a great choice if you own a low-powered Mac, as Papers, Please’s Mac version has minimal system requirements.
System requirements:OS X 10.8, 1.5 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 100 MB HD space, OpenGL 1.4 or better.
ParkitectIt basically brings the theme park genre to modern times. And unlike Planet Coaster, it is natively available for Mac. And it all takes in a beautiful 3D world. Parkitect is the roller coaster sim Mac gamers have been waiting for.
System requirements:macOS 10.9, 2.3 GHz Intel Core i3, 4 GB RAM, 2 GB HD space, graphics supporting shader Model 3.0 capabilities.
Path of Exile
Path of Exile is a Diablo-esque RPG, featuring a similar looking HUD, potions, inventory, and combat system. But don't write it off as some wannabe Diablo clone, because Path of Exile is fun in its own right. With interesting classes that you can customize towards a particular style, items that dictate what kind of skills you can use, and a skill tree so massive it should be renamed to a skill forest, PoE allows tons of builds and pathways for your characters. The visuals of this game are also great. It fulfils the gritty and grim atmosphere of the story, and the characters and enemies are interesting to look at.
If you're looking to scratch that Diablo itch and more, give Path of Exile a try.
System requirements: macOS 10.15, 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM, 40 GB HD space, AMD Radeon Pro 555X.
Planet Coaster
As the name implies, Planet Coaster is a theme park simulation game. Build your theme park, earn money, and draw visitors in, until you become the next Disneyland. It features your usual theme park attractions, but with a big emphasis on roller coasters. Spend hours designing and building your magnum opus of a roller coaster, while making sure none of your riders die from excessive amounts of G force.
Building on the back of its predecessors, Planet Coaster offers an even larger range of control over your creations. Change the color of a wall or add a pattern to a rollercoaster, it's every perfectionists' secret dream.
Unfortunately, this game will lag on a slow computer, especially when there are lots of visitors, so a beefy computer is recommended.
System requirements: macOS 10.14 or later, 2.7 GHz 4 core Intel Core i5, 6 GB RAM, 15 GB HD space, 2 GB AMD Radeon R9 M290, 2 GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 775M.
Prison Architect
In Prison Architect, you get to manage your very own maximum-security prison. In Sandbox mode, you start off with an empty plot of land that you can transform into the most efficient prison you can craft. You can build cells and kitchens, install cameras, hire guards, and so on. Prison Architect provides a lot of freedom, and you can take whichever direction you prefer.
Want to build a monstrous maximum security prison or a comfortable rehabilitation center? The choice is yours. Be advised: Fail to meet your inmates’ minimum expectations and you will have a riot on your hands.
The graphics are very simplistic, though, but at least an older Mac should be able to run it.
System requirements:Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 300 MB HD space.
Return of the Obra Dinn
It’s not just the setting; a derelict ship that has drifted back to port in the early 1800s, five years after it originally set sail. It’s not just the gameplay; exploration and logical deduction from the point-of-view of an insurance investigator.
Rather, it’s Return of the Obra Dinn’s graphics presentation—stippled black-and-white as if on an old Mac SE but with modern animation capabilities—that makes the largest immediate impression. An intriguing mystery that’s beautifully presented.
System requirements:macOS Sierra, 2 GHz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, dedicated GPU, 2 GB space.
RimWorld
RimWorld may seem somewhat simplistic at first, probably because of the bare-bones graphics, but this simulation game is nothing but simple. As your colony grows, you’ll need to take care of so many things at once, from building infrastructures to gathering raw materials.
Plus, you'll also be in charge of nearly every aspect of your colonists' lives: their mood, wounds, illnesses, addictions, relationships and more. Of course, there’s danger, too. To survive, you’ll have to fend off pirates, animals, giant insects, and even ancient killing machines.
System requirements:OS X 10.5, Core 2 Duo CPU, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 3000, 500 MB available disk space.
Rocksmith 2014 Remastered
This game is similar to Guitar Hero and Rock Band, two of the best Music-based games out there. The screen follows a hot rock song and shows you what buttons to press to “play” the song—except Rocksmith doesn’t use cheap guitar-shaped controllers. It requires a real guitar. As a noob guitar player myself, I can tell you that this game can really teach you the basics. You can start at the lowest difficulty to learn how a guitar works, or you can set the difficulty to 100 and actually learn to play the real song. Rocksmith 2014 takes the teaching part seriously and offers over 85 lessons covering bends, accents, slides, and more.
I love this game because it can really teach you something in a fun way. Plus, Rocksmith 2014’s Mac version can run on most machines.
System requirements:OS X 10.7, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 12 GB HD space, NVidia GeForce 8600 GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600 with 256 MB of Video Memory.
Rust
Rust is a game about doing whatever it takes to survive in a post apocalyptic world. You start with practically nothing and must scavenge the basics to survive: food, shelter, fire, and weapons. The world is full of savage beast that will attack you on sight, but the real danger are other human players.
You can technically team up with others to increase your chances of survival, but people usually end up killing each other. Every encounter with another player is a dangerous and tense affair, but that’s part of the fun.
Rust uses the Unity engine and is as stable as can be expected from an open-world online game. Still, the game takes place in huge environments and requires decent hardware and a fast internet connection.
System requirements:OS X 10.7, Intel Core i7-3770 or better, 8 GB RAM, 10 GB HD space, GTX 670 2GB / AMD R9 280 better.
Shovel Knight
This game plays a lot like the older Mario Bros games. You have to go through each level until reaching a boss, and there’re coins to be grabbed and baddies you can attack with your shovel. This may sound like a ripoff of Super Mario Bros, but Shovel Knight has a lot of modern twists. For example, all the coins you grab are not for bragging rights only. You can use them to buy upgrades and more.
As can be expected from a retro game such as Shovel Knight, this is a lightweight game with low system requirements—perfect for a MacBook.
System requirements:OS X 10.7.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 250 MB HD space.
Slay the Spire
With over 350 cards to discover and match up, Slay the Spire challenges gamers to work their way up an ever-changing and uniquely designed spire, collecting powerful relics along the way. Whether you choose the safe path or the risky path, you'll need to survive numerous encounters and events that can either harm or hurt you.
Daily climbs and tons of replayability will keep strategy gamers busy for quite some time.
System requirements: OS 10.9.5, 2.0 GHz Processor, 2 GB RAM, 1 GB Video Memory capable of OpenGL 3.0+ suppor or higher, 1 GB hard drive space.
Sleeping Dogs
Taking place in Hong Kong, you play as an undercover cop that aims to take down the Triad. As you try to infiltrate it, you’ll take part in crimes, shootings, fist fights, and car chases. Hong Kong will be at your disposal, and you’ll be able to explore it by foot, car, or boat. The game plays a lot like Grand Theft Auto. But that’s a good thing. As Rockstar isn’t porting GTA 5 anytime soon, Sleeping Dogs is the next best thing.
Plus, this is the Definitive Edition we’re talking about which features improved graphics, audio, and gameplay. In fact, it can look extremely good when all the settings are maxed out, but you can lower the settings to enjoy it on more average hardware.
System requirements: OS X 10.10.5, 2.0 Ghz processor, 4 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, 1 GB VRAM.
Spelunky
Spelunky has it all—it generates random levels, it’s extremely difficult, and it has permadeath (if you die, you will have to start all over) and cute 2D graphics. In Spelunky, you have to gather as many treasures as possible while avoiding the traps and enemies that fill the tunnels. The gameplay is straightforward—you can whip or jump on enemies, pick up items, or use bombs and ropes to further explore the caves.
Spelunky also happens to be a very lightweight game. It’s so light, in fact, that you can even play it on your browser. That means that Spelunky’s Mac version can be played on even the oldest Macs.
Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic 2
KOTOR 2 is very similar to the original KOTOR. There’s definitely a feeling that the developer wanted to play it safe, but when the original game is so good, you can’t really complain. KOTOR 2 picks up around five years after the events from the original game and features a more complex moral system, a new influence system, better combat, and a great story. KOTOR 2 is certainly old (first released in 2005), but Aspyr remastered it and released it for the first time on Mac last year.
This new version includes Steam Workshop support, achievements, controller support, and native widescreen resolution support. There has never been a better time to experience KOTOR 2 than now.
System requirements:OS X 10.9.5, 2.2 Ghz Intel Core i3, 4 GB RAM, 10 GB HD space, NVIDIA Geforce 330M, ATI Radeon HD 3870, or Intel HD 3000 with 256 MB of Video Memory.
StarCraft 2: Legacy of the Void
Most know StarCraft 2 because it's one of the most competitive and challenging games out there. New units and balance changes make Legacy of the Void faster and even more challenging—perfect for skilled players.
But Legacy of the Void also offers a variety of new elements, especially for casual players (thank god). For starters, it includes the final 20 missions of StarCraft 2’s campaign. It also introduces a fun cooperative mode that involves special characters and missions. Whether you’re looking for a challenge or just want to have fun, Legacy of the Void is a great choice. Blizzard did a stellar job with StarCraft 2's Mac version.
This is one of the best-looking strategy games, but it doesn't require too much power to run.
System requirements:OS X 10.9.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 30 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M, ATI Radeon HD 4670 or better with 256 MB of Video Memory.
Subnautica: Below Zero
Subnautica's gameplay consists mainly of exploration. In this game, you'll explore and harvest materials to upgrade your gear, base, and vehicles. Similar to other survival-type games, except this one takes place underwater. The alien aquatic life in this game is stunning, with memorable and strange designs in their own planetary ecosystem. Even though a large part of the game takes place in water, there is also a fair amount of dry land exploration. There are icy areas for you to explore, and cavern ruins for you to unlock and uncover their secrets. The game also does a great job of making you feel alone at the bottom of the sea, giving a sense of vulnerability and fear.
Subnautica: Below Zero has a storyline, but it's not the most well-crafted one. But that shouldn't detract too much from the game's beautiful environment and certainly doesn't hamper your survivor experience.
System requirements: macOS 10.11, Intel Core i5 processor, 8 G RAM, Intel Iris Pro 650 or better, 15 GB hard drive space.
Super Meat Boy
This game is hard, and you will have to die a lot. You will die hundreds of times, but the sense of accomplishment is much bigger because of it. Super Meat Boy actually evokes fond memories of times when games were hard. The game offers more than 300 levels, all filled with traps like fans, rockets, lava pits, and other things designed to crush you. And you can only run and jump to survive. This may sound simplistic, but Super Meat Boy has tight controls that will reward skill.
Super Meat Boy's Mac version is lightweight and will run smoothly even on older Macs.
System requirements:OS X 10.7.4, 1.2 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 256 MB RAM, 300 MB HD space, card supporting Pixel Shader 2.0 and Vertex Shader 2.0 with 128 MB of Video Memory.
SUPERHOT
In Superhot, time only moves when you move. Most shooters are about quick reflexes. Superhot is about stopping to take the time to figure out your next move. You will often be surrounded, and pausing time will be your best weapon. Once you learn how to use it, you will be able to dodge bullets, aim for headshots, and pretty much kick ass.
There’s a lot of trial and error involved here, so prepare to die. That said, once you master a scenario and watch the replay, you’ll feel like Neo from The Matrix.
Did I mention how much I love the game’s art style? Your enemies are made of glass, and watching them explode is priceless. Plus, the lack of detailed textures gives this game moderate system requirements and should play fine on most modern Macs.
System requirements:OS X 10.9, Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 3 GB HD space, graphics card with 1 GB RAM.
Terraria
The game’s world is randomly generated, and no two games will be the same. This makes the exploration side of the game extremely fun. Plus, there are lots of creeps, so crafting a shelter, weapons, and combat play an important role. The crafting system is ridiculously deep and gives you tons of options to create weapons. Terraria is very similar to Minecraft. In fact, many see it as Minecraft in 2D, but once you start playing, you will notice all the things that make it unique. There are many more creeps to kill, tons of weapons to craft, and even bosses.
Like Minecraft, the game uses retro graphics that are cute but also happen to be easy on your Mac. You won’t need a powerful Mac to enjoy this game.
System requirements:OS X 10.9.5, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2.5 GB RAM, 200 MB HD space, 128 MB Video Memory, capable of OpenGL 3.0+ support (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable).
The Banner Saga 3
The Banner Saga series puts you at the helm of a caravan that you have to guide and protect. Along the way, the game will throw moral dilemmas at you and will hit you when you’re down. The world is bleak, and survival doesn’t come easy. The Banner Saga offers many twists. For example, instead of focusing on one hero, it focuses on the caravan as a whole. Throughout the campaign, you will get to use different characters, and every character will have the power to change the story.
In the graphics department, The Banner Saga 3 looks better than its predecessors while still having low system requirements.
System requirements:macOS 10.7.5, 4 GB RAM, 8 GB HD space.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
Because of the endless supply of dungeons, items, monsters, and bosses, this game never feels old. Do keep in mind that this is a challenging game, especially because it features permadeath—if you die, you’ll have to start from scratch. This is often painful (and frustrating), especially when you just found a cool rare item. Rebirth is a remake of The Binding of Isaac built on a newer engine. It features updated art, effects, music, and "hundreds upon hundreds of designs, redesigns, and re-tuned enhancements."
It also happens to be an easy game to run because of its light Mac system requirements.
System requirements:OS X 10.8, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 450 MB HD space.
The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited
It was also the first Elder Scrolls to come to macOS and the first to attempt multiplayer. This created impossibly high expectations that made the game suffer at launch. But that was in 2014, when the game required an upfront purchase and a monthly subscription. A lot has changed since. Relaunched as Tamriel Unlimited, it introduced lots of new features and changed for the better. The monthly subscription disappeared, and now you only need to buy the game once. At the end of the day, this game is similar to World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2. But if you really want to play an Elder Scrolls on your Mac, Tamriel Unlimited is a good choice.
It looks better than the competition too, so you’d better have a capable Mac to run this game.
System requirements:OS X 10.7, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 60 GB HD space, Intel HD Graphics 4000, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M or ATI Radeon HD 6490M or other with 256 MB of Video Memory.
The Sims 4
The Sims 4 lets you build a house, create a Sim character, and dress him. But the game doesn’t stop there. You’re also responsible for your Sim’s social life, including love, friends, and work. The Sims 4 doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel and keeps the same ideas and goals that made its predecessors so successful. On the plus side, Maxis has learned a lot, and worthwhile additions include the ability to multitask and improved character creation.
The Sims 4’s Mac version works fine, but it has surprisingly high system requirements.
System requirements:OS X 10.7.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 4 GB RAM, 10 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 320M, 9600M, 9400M, ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro or better with 256 MB of Video Memory.
The Talos Principle
This game is full of clever puzzles and reminds me of Portal, which is a hell of a compliment. There are 120 puzzles in total, and they're all hard enough to make you feel smart once you figure them out. The game provides a lot of tools to succeed too. There are blocks, signal jammers, lasers, motion-recording devices, and even turrets. The game also has a philosophical side, but you can completely ignore it if you prefer. Plus, the puzzles are what truly make this a good game.
The Talos Principle's Mac version isn't particularly demanding.
System requirements:OS X 10.5.8, 2.2 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 5 GB HD space, ATI Radeon HD 4670, NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT or video card with 512 MB of Video Memory.
The Witness
Many 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 to run it you’ll need some horsepower.
System requirements:OS X 10.11.6, 1.8 Ghz processor, 5 GB HD space, integrated Intel HD 4000.
Total War: ROME REMASTERED
Total War: Rome allows you to experience historical combat in a cool cinematic fashion. Immerse yourself in historical Roman battles, taking command of each battle in real-time. If you think that you can do better than the Romans at sacking Carthage, try it yourself as a Roman commander. With the amount of customization and control you have, each scene will have you feeling like a cinematic director. As long as you're a fan of RTS, military, civilization management games, Total War: Rome should feel great for you.
Gameplay-wise it takes a lot to get used to, especially if you're new to this genre. The controls will take some getting used to, and the military commands and formations you'll have to learn as you play.
A word of caution, this game is EXTREMELY computer-intensive. It will not run well on low specs Macs.
System requirements: macOS 10.11, 3.4 GHz Intel Core i3, 8 GB RAM, 2 GB AMD Radeon R9 M290, Intel Iris Graphics 540 or Apple M1, 45 GB HD space.
Total War: Three Kingdoms
Total War: Three Kingdoms sticks with the tried-and-true combination of turn-based strategy and real-time battles that test the limits of players’ leadership skills. Whether you seek victory through diplomacy skills and military might or betrayal and underhanded politics, the goal is the same; unite ancient China and forge the next great dynasty.
An incredible number of massive battles (including available chapter packs) across beautiful settings will keep gaming strategists fighting for a long time to come.
System requirements:A 64-bit processor, macOS 10.14.4, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 52 GB HD space, Nvidia 680MX, AMD R9 M290, Intel Iris Graphics 540 or better.
Total War: Warhammer 2
Warhammer 2 stays true to the Total War formula and combines a turn-based campaign with real-time battles. And like every Total War game that came before it, the game's battles are huge, counting hundreds of units fighting at once. Yet, just like the first Total War: Warhammer, the realistic scenarios of ancient Europe are left behind in favor of a fantastical setting that includes armies of orcs, undead, monsters, flying creatures, legendary heroes and more.
Plus, Feral Interactive managed to take one the best looking strategy games of all times and deliver a solid Mac version that plays and looks as good as the Windows version.
System requirements:OS X 10.14, 2.0 Ghz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 51 GB HD space, 2GB Nvidia 680MX, 2GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5GB Intel Iris Graphics 540 or better.
Totally Accurate Battle Simulator
Most of the gameplay in TABS consists of you pitting your units against other enemy units. It is important to note that these units range from medieval knights to modern-day soldiers, and to God and Death himself. Unlike the Total War series, you cannot control what your units do on the battlefield.
There is a campaign mode that challenges you to solve their military puzzles by thinking of the best way to destroy the enemy with what you have. Once you're done with the campaign, feel free to create your own maps, scenarios, and even your own units. TABS also has a system where you can share your newly created work with other players, letting them try to solve your scenarios or have fun with a unit you've created.
If you enjoy watching a large-scale barfight happen, consider playing TABS.
System requirements: macOS Mojave, 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, Intel Iris Pro 640 or better, 3 GB HD space.
Towerfall: Ascension
In Towerfall, you are one of four archers that battle it out until one player remains. You can only use arrows and head-stomps to kill your opponents. The formula is quite simple, but Towerfall is packed with some exhilarating moments. It definitely reminds me of the fun I had with the first Smash Brothers on the GameCube. Towerfall: Ascension is the perfect game for offline sessions with friends.
With its 2D retro graphics, Towerfall’s Mac version is a lightweight game to play. If you’re looking for a good game to play on an older Mac, look no further.
System requirements:OS X 10.6.8, Intel Core i3, 2 GB RAM, 400 MB space, OpenGL 3.0+.System requirements:OS X 10.9, 2.0 Ghz Intel 2 Core Duo, 2 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 320m or Intel HD 3000.
Transistor
Like Bastion, Transistor also has a narrator that keeps you company as you play. Surprisingly, it still works just as well as it did before (and comes from the same voice actor). Transistor includes many RPG elements, but the real highlight is the combat. Combat can take place both in real-time and also in a planning mode where you can pause the action. As you level up, you gain more combat skills, and you will have to plan your attacks carefully.
Transistor’s Mac version is also easy on the system requirements. If you’re looking for a game to play on a MacBook, Transistor is a good candidate.
System requirements:OS X 10.7.5, 2.6 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4 GB RAM, 3 GB HD space, OpenGL 3.0+ (2.1 with ARB extensions acceptable) with 1 GB of Video Memory.
Undertale
As you go about your adventure, you can decide whether you should kill your enemies or befriend them. Undertale is a tricky game to describe, because the less you know about it, the better it works its magic on you. Suffice it to say, this game has a story that constantly changes as you decide whether you want to make friends or increase the body count. This is a funny game too and can easily make you laugh out loud. And don’t let the goofy graphics trick you. There’s a reason why Undertale was chosen as the best game of all time.
The best I can do is advise you to try it yourself. Also, this is a very lightweight game. Think your hardware is too old to play video games? Give Undertale a try.
System requirements:2 GB RAM, 200 MB HD space.
Untitled Goose Game
Nothing short of a pop culture phenomenon, Untitled Goose Game puts you in the role of a goose and places you in a town full of unsuspecting people just trying to get along. It’s up to you to prevent that from happening.
Sneak your way through this sandbox-style game to play pranks, cause mayhem, and annoy as many people as you can. Did we mention there’s a dedicated honk button? Because there’s a dedicated honk button. Coming to Mac later this year.
System requirements: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating, macOS 10.12, 820 MB HD space.
Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut
This is a hardcore role-playing game that is both difficult and dark. It offers tactical combat and tons of RPG elements. You’ll get to set up a party of up to seven characters. Four of them are fully customizable, with many skills, stats, and appearances to choose from. The remaining three are NPCs with their own agendas and motivations.
It took 26 years and a $3 million Kickstarter campaign to create a worthy sequel, but Wasteland 2 lives up to its legacy. Wasteland 2 is a great RPG that is not easy to get into, but it’s totally worth it once you’re hooked.
System requirements:OS X 10.5, 2.4 Ghz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, 30 GB HD space, NVIDIA GeForce 300 Series or Radeon equivalent (512 MB).
X-Plane 11
X-Plane 11 is quite an achievement because it appeals to both detail-obsessed geeks and recreational enthusiast. For the pro pilots, the game now features a better physics engine and improved flight dynamics, allowing you to “feel” the plane. For the “noobs”, you can quickly get the hang of the main controls, and, as in real life, you can automate much of the work.
In both cases, the realistic 3-D co*ckpits, the busy airports, and the beautiful sceneries will let you absorb the beauty of flight.
X-Plane 11 can be an impressive looking game too. Turn all settings to high and the game will populate the world with buildings and roads. Turn them to low and it should be able to run on modest hardware.
System requirements:OS X 10.10, Intel Core i3, 8 GB RAM, 20 GB HD space, video card with 512 MB of Video Memory.
XCOM 2
As 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, you can always try 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.
