Since the early days of Apple, Macs have not been known for their video game support. While Apple was focusing on their beautiful operating system and tightly controlled experience, Windows was branching out into an open platform that gave rise to highly innovative video games.
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. Verdict: 🔶 Fairly demanding 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. Part 1: Top 10 Best Mac Games to Play 1. Dota 2 is an online battle arena game that gamers can play in 2 teams. Millions of players enter Dota 2 to battle as Dota heroes worldwide.
However, over the past few decades, the gap between platforms has been reduced significantly. Apple today has an impressive library of good games for Mac, thanks to a more popular hardware platform, and even released its own subscription model for gaming — Apple Arcade.
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So now that gaming on Macs is both viable and compelling, what are some of the best Mac games in 2020?
The main reason that Windows PCs enjoyed a greater selection of games than Apple is simply due to hardware. Apple has always produced their own proprietary hardware and software, which has allowed it to maintain a higher degree of control over how its systems physically look while ensuring its design standards are upheld for a consistent experience.
Contrarily, Microsoft made its Windows operating system open to run on a wider selection of hardware. For example, Dell could assemble its own hardware and then licence the Microsoft operating system accordingly. By opening up to more flexible hardware, Windows PCs were able to take advantage of the latest graphics and CPU innovations upon release — something critical in the early days of video game development. More importantly, Windows had a greater user base, which simply meant it was a more attractive business opportunity to develop games for the PC over Mac.
That was until Apple Macs started to borrow from some of the same open hardware architecture as PCs. Suddenly, video games made for PC could be easily ported to the Mac platform, which was becoming capable of running games smoothly due to newer, more powerful hardware.
That said, your hardware specifications are still an important consideration when looking for the best games on Mac.
Generally speaking, video games fall into three broad categories — indie games (casual, made by one or a few people), e-sport games (competitive games which are usually fairly accessible to run), and blockbuster games (often requiring powerful hardware to run smoothly).
Almost any modern Apple Mac, including MacBooks, made in the past 5–10 years can run indie games without hassle. However, e-sport and blockbuster games may require you to pay more attention to the Mac’s specifications before attempting to run them.
When deciding if your Mac is going to perform well for gaming, consider some of the following:
Ensure your Mac has a dedicated graphics card (GPU). Many Macs, and especially MacBooks, use onboard graphics chips, which are built into the CPU unit. While efficient, these are usually not powerful enough to run really taxing games.
Aim for at a quad-core CPU, as many modern games take advantage of the extra cores over older units
Demanding games will usually call for a minimum of 8 GB of system RAM, but if you’re a multi-tasker or creator you might want 16 GB instead
Ensure you have enough hard disk space, as newer titles can take up a lot of storage. Receipts 1 9 2 – smart document collection center. If you plan to have multiple games installed at once, you’ll want at least 256 GB of fast storage, preferably SSD over HDD.
Now that you know what kind of hardware is best for gaming, it’s time to look at some good games for Mac that will run well on your machine.
The library of available games for Mac is constantly being updated with new and exciting titles — especially on the popular digital store called Steam and the App Store game collection.
However there are a few Steam games for Mac that really stand out — many of which were critically acclaimed titles on Windows PC before being ported across.
Here are some of the best Mac games in 2020 to get you started:
Diablo 3 is an action role playing game (ARPG) that’s all about loot. Level up your magic-wielding hero and slay thousands of demon-spawn in the search for more powerful gear and items. You can even play online or cooperatively with friends. Best for intermediate to powerful machines.
Cuphead is a retro-styled run-and-gun for up to two players which lets you tackle an increasingly challenging roster of bosses. Known for its beautiful cartoon-style graphics, Cuphead is a pleasure to look at while being fairly simple to run, and is one of the best Steam games for Mac. Ideal for basic machines, including MacBooks.
Fortnite is one of the world’s most popular online games for Mac, which finds you landing on an island and fighting other players to be the last standing. The addictive recipe of land, loot, shoot, and survive has become a world-wide phenomenon — especially as one of the top free games for Mac.
Civilization VI is one of the best games on Steam, period. It’s the latest instalment of a long-running series that lets you build entire civilizations from scratch. Advance through the ages, expand your empire, and use resources wisely to defeat your opponents through a variety of means. Reviews have shown Civilization V to be one of the best Steam games for Mac for years, and Civilization VI should become available soon. Better enjoyed on intermediate to powerful machines.
Starcraft II is one of the best free games for Mac, which lets you command one of three space-faring armies and battle them against each other for victory. It’s also one of the most popular online games for Mac ever.
Those are just a handful of the many exciting titles to land on Mac in recent years, with more being added every day. Even if you have an older Mac, you might be able to game comfortably without paying for costly hardware upgrades.
However, given that Macs don’t always have the same hardware options as their more powerful PC counterparts, it’s important to ensure your Mac is best prepared for high-speed gaming. This is especially critical for e-sport games, such as Fortnite, where one small hiccup or performance hit could cost the match. https://campus-free.mystrikingly.com/blog/cyberbyte-antivirus-and-internet-security-premium-3-0-59.
Thankfully, you don’t need to be an advanced Mac user to optimize it for faster performance — developers have spent years making clever apps that can do just that for you.
Set up your Mac for gaming with CMM X
Disk cleanup and protection against malware — all you need for a perfect gaming environment. CleanMyMac X gives you just that.
If you're playing any online game, the first thing to check is that you have a strong and stable connection. Many users mistake slow performance with their hardware, when in fact it can be isolated to their internet.
Unfortunately, mousing over the WiFi icon in your menu bar doesn't tell you enough. That’s why WiFi Explorer was created. This app presents a much richer view of your network status with a few must-have features:
See the band, range, signal quality, and security status of all available networks in your vicinity
Use the network analyzer to identify channel or coverage conflicts. This is very useful for apartment buildings where WiFi routers are competing with each other for signal.
View simple recommendations by WiFi Explorer to improve your connection based on best practices
If you’re still running into issues, make use of the extensive help manual, which can help guide you through the troubleshooting process
When you’re running out of disk space, the best games for Mac can begin to crawl because there’s not enough room to write new data to the drive. CleanMyMac X is a lightweight app that lets you manage your disk space and maintain your Mac for optimal performance. Some of its best features allow you to easily:
Uninstall any app from your hard drive, including a shredder function to leave no trace behind. See a simple list of apps that you don’t use often, making it easier to determine what should go and what should stay.
Perform a disk cleanup in just a few clicks, removing any unnecessary or fragmented files that can accumulate over time
Protect your Mac from malicious software with the Malware Removal tool. Based on the most up-to-date attack libraries, your games can run at full speed without being hindered by background viruses.
Optimize the performance of your Mac by letting CleanMyMac X run a series of scripts designed to surface some extra power
Half of knowing how to improve your Mac’s performance is understanding what the bottlenecks are. Instead of blindly speculating, use iStat Menus to see your current Mac status at a glance while playing the best games on Mac. iStat Menus is a fully fledged system monitor that integrates seamlessly with the menu bar. Some of the core features let you:
See an overview of your Mac’s status, including CPU and GPU usage, fan speeds, temperatures, and more
Customize your view, ensuring you’re only seeing the information you care about. Either minimize each figure to an icon in your menu bar or expand them into a single clickable window that provides more information.
Experiment with different color schemes, including a dark mode that’s easy on the eyes
Configure alerts that trigger when certain system performance criteria are met. For example, if your GPU temperature exceeds a specific figure, you can be notified.
It may sound like a lot of preparation, but when it comes to gaming you know that the extra performance can go a long way.
The best part is that WiFi Explorer, CleanMyMac X, and iStat Menus mentioned above are available for a free seven-day trial through Setapp — a subscription service for Mac which gives you access to over 150 powerful apps. Just head over to the Setapp homepage to get started, and you’ll be playing the best games for Mac right on your current laptop in no time.
Meantime, prepare for all the awesome things you can do with Setapp.
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Game developers often leave Mac gamers in the cold when they release A-list games. Many believe the best gaming experience comes through a Windows-based device and, as a result, avoid Mac games. But now things have changed. There are several quality game titles available for Mac gamers.
Perhaps you just got your Mac and you are wondering what games to play on your Mac in 2019. With hundreds of Mac games being released each month, you are likely to get confused while searching for games that deserve your attention. In this post, we will look at the best Mac games every gamer needs to play in 2019. Our selection features both fun-loving and adrenaline-fueled games; it is a varied collection ranging from RPGs to adventures and shooters. But first, here is the rundown:
If you have ever fantasized being a contract killer, then Contract Killer 2 is your game. As the name suggests, it gets you into that life. In Contract Killer 2, you will play as Jack Griffin, a notorious killer for hire who always gets to carry out long-range assassinations. To sneak into your opponents’ territory, use the cover, and if the adversaries are within your radar, blow them away.
The game also offers badges, major titles, and converted rewards to make the shooting adventure more exciting. Crack as many extraordinary challenges as you can to collect these goodies, which will propel you to be the most wanted shooter.
Besides Contract Killer 2, another exciting battle royale is Fortnite. It is a 100-player battle game with intense PvP combat. At the start of the battle, all the players join the same madcap arena, where they fight it out for the top title. This game is free to play.
Of all the grand strategies that Paradox Development Studio has ever released, Imperator: Rome is the largest. The developer released this title in late April, and it is a sequel to Europa Universalis: Rome. The main difference with the latter is that Imperator: Rome lets you deal with the squabbling, power-hungry senators instead of the usual rabble of queens and kings. It is a perfect grand strategy set in the violent centuries from Alexander’s Successor Empires to the base of the Roman Empire.
Playing this game involves asking god for favors, passing laws, and sometimes going to war. Even if you are used to the dizzying strategy adventures from this developer, Imperator: Rome can get overwhelming.
Katana ZERO is an ideal game if you love brutal and fast-paced action platformers. This game from Askiisoft features instant death combat and stylish pixel art. In fact, what makes it stand out is its intense combat. Besides this, Katana ZERO also tells an interesting story.
To dominate this game, you should be ready to dash, dodge, slash, and sometimes manipulate time to demolish your enemies. You may also need to deflect bullets and scramble through hidden passages. If you are a novice gamer, you will probably die several times before ascending to higher levels. Suffice it to say that it takes a bit of work.
Stardew Valley is a Harvest Moon-inspired RPG available to Mac gamers. It has won a lot of hearts as a first-class farming RPG for macOS. You will spend most of your time in the countryside, working to be the best farmer. You can start with a small amount of money, simple old tools, and a plot of land that your grandfather left for you. It is your responsibility to till the land, take good care of the livestock, bond with locals, and harvest crops.
This masterpiece was first released on PC in 2014, but Mac users can now smile because the game is available on Steam. If you fancy adventure games, then A Story About My Uncle is one of the best games to play on your Mac in 2019. It is based on the story of a young boy who goes out to look for his uncle. Uncle Fred is an intrepid explorer who got lost in a complex inter-dimensional landscape occupied by floating islands and weird alien creatures.
At the start of the game, you will be asked to find clues about the missing uncle. You will start the adventure with a single power boost that will help you to hop from one island to the next one. On top of this, you will get a grappling hook to help you explore your immediate surroundings.
If you have elementary school or middle-aged kids, then Minecraft is one of the best Mac games to play this 2019. Minecraft has made its mark as a kid-friendly game. The game involves going on adventures and building things with blocks. Young gamers can explore an engaging world while using their imaginations to create interesting structures. They have absolute freedom over a huge, randomized map.
There could be more games you want to try, but the above are the best Mac games every gamer needs to play in 2019. So if stress is threatening to get stuck in mind, pick one of the above Mac games to get out of the shackles. When compared to PC, the options for playing games on Mac are still limited. Nevertheless, the Mac gaming library has come a long way.
Speaking of the best games, your gaming experience will depend to a greater extent on the status of your Mac. You will agree with me that there are few things that are more frustrating than your Mac crashing while playing an exciting game. For the best gaming experience, ensure your Mac is in good condition.
To save yourself from the frustration, scan for and remove junk on your Mac. Thankfully, you can easily accomplish this task using a reputable repair tool. The Tweakbit MacRepair application is an excellent Mac repair tool with advanced features that help you find and fix errors on your system.
Is there any other Mac game you’d like to suggest? Share it with us by leaving a comment in the comments section below.