91 rows  Feb 01, 2020  Plus, retro graphics mean that Minecraft can run on most Macs, including my.

Finding good games for Mac® used to be slow and painful. There were very few games to choose from, and the options available were quite old. But things have definitely changed a lot.

Thanks to committed developers such as Aspyr, Feral Interactive, and even Blizzard and Valve, there are now lots of great, recent games you can play on your Mac. And with the continuous improvements of tools such as Parallels Desktop for Mac, playing Windows games on your Mac is becoming easier and easier.

Today Ric from MacgamerHQ.com will share ten of the best games you can play on macOS®, including some of the most exciting Mac games from 2018 and a few Windows-only games that run great thanks to Parallels Desktop.

1. Rise of the Tomb Raider

This action survival game is the follow-up to the critically acclaimed Tomb Raider reboot from 2013. The game picks up right where its predecessor ended and takes Lara around the world in her quest to discover the secret of immortality.

This game has a solid story waiting for you, but what makes it great are the excellent survival elements, shooting mechanics, and insane action sequences. If you enjoy action adventure games, this is the best you will find on macOS.

Developed for Mac by Feral Interactive, Rise of the Tomb Raider is also one of the finest usages of Metal 2, the new graphics API from Apple. For the longest time, Mac games have suffered in terms of performance compared to Windows. With the improvements made to Metal 2 and the great job some studios have done to implement it, Mac games’ performance continues to improve. Also, having one of the best Mac computers for gaming certainly helps, too…

2. Fortnite: Battle Royale

Fortnite is such a sensation, it probably needs no introduction. But in the remote possibility that you’re not aware of this game, Fortnite is not only the most famous Battle Royale game right now, it’s the most famous game of the moment, period.

Pitting you in a huge map with 100 other players, you’ll need to scavenge weapons and armor to survive until you become the last man standing. Fortnite somehow creates tension and excitement for everyone involved, from the experienced to the beginners. That’s what makes it such a fun game to play.

Behind the playful graphics hides an intense game that is free to play. You read that right—the gaming sensation of the moment is one of the best free games for Mac. What are you waiting for?

3. Rocket League

Rocket League is one of those games that is hard to explain. Combining high-flying rocket-powered cars with soccer, the game pits you against another team, and you’ll need to use your battle-car to score.

That is, of course, easier said than done, because the game features an impressive physics-based gameplay that will require you to have perfect timing, placement, and anticipation in order to score. You can play solo against another opponent or as part of a team.

Needless to say, this is a multiplayer game that is ten times more fun when playing with friends. If you haven’t tried it yet and are looking for a team-focused online game, Rocket League is for you.

4. Civilization 6

Perhaps the best strategy game out there, we sure are glad that Aspyr brought Civilization 6 to MacOS. The follow-up to the stellar Civilization 5, Civ 6 lets you once again take the helm of an infant civilization and turn it into a mighty empire.

Your objective is simple: create the greatest and most powerful civilization in the World. It will then be up to you to decide how to best do it. Do you want to conquer the world using your mighty army? Or perhaps you want to create a trade empire that puts the other Civs to shame? It will be up to you. Even if you’ve played hundreds of hours of Civ games before, Civ 6 has plenty of new features and improvements in store for you.

Civ 6 also introduced new mechanics and improved graphics that take the franchise even further. A quick warning, though, Civ 6 is a very demanding game. In fact, you should have a modern Mac from 2016 onwards to properly enjoy it.

5. Subnautica

As you can see, some of the most famous AAA games support macOS. That’s great, but we can’t forget about all the world-class indie games that helped Mac gaming thrive.

Subnautica is one of the latest examples. In this survival adventure game, you’ll have to explore an alien underworld planet and gather whatever resources you can find to survive.

Subnautica somehow manages to find the right balance between survival and exploration. As you progress, you get to upgrade your equipment and go further into the depths to find better loot—but also face bigger dangers.

6. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire

The sequel to one of the highest-rated RPGs of all time, Pillars of Eternity II broke crowdfunding records, raising over four million dollars. Those are insane figures, but I’m happy to report developer Obsidian made good use of every dollar it raised.

This isometric RPG managed to surpass the original in virtually every way. The game features a rich story, deep characters, a fascinating world, and improved tactical combat. Granted, this RPG is reminiscent to old-school RPGs, and if you’re looking for an action-heavy game, Pillars of Eternity might not be for you. But if you’re looking for a good story and fascinating world to immerse yourself in, give it a try.

7. DiRT Rally

DiRT Rally isn’t simply another racing game from Codemasters; this is probably their best game to date.

DiRT Rally features excellent gameplay that is both precise and exciting. The sense of speed is there, and you can always fine-tune the difficulty settings to suit your preferences. Whether you want a challenging simulation or an intense casual game, DiRT Rally can be both. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a rally fan or not—this game has so much to offer.

Plus, DiRT Rally is the perfect example of how to do a Mac port right. Feral Interactive somehow managed to create a bug-free game that looks great and can run flawlessly on older Mac computers.

8. Terraria

Described by many as Minecraft in 2D, Terraria is so much more than that.

In Terraria, every game takes place in a randomly generated world full of monsters to fight, rare resources to find, and dangerous caverns to explore. But then it’s up to you to decide the kind of game you want to play. You can focus on exploring the world in search of treasure and rare resources. You can seek one of the bosses that hide within the world and fight it to the death. Or you can build a city of your own and house mysterious allies.

Terraria may be a few years old, but because of its cool retro graphics and deep gameplay, it’s still an excellent game to play today.

9. Overwatch

In spite of all of these macOS-ready titles, there are a few games that are sorely missing.

Overwatch is one of those games. Released in 2016 and winner of most Game of the Year awards, this team-based multiplayer shooter keeps getting better and better. It currently has over 30 million registered players and has received countless free updates, including new characters and maps.

Games That Can Run On Macbook Air Pro

Overwatch is also the only game from Blizzard that doesn’t support macOS. That makes us miss it even more. Luckily, it can run beautifully on a Mac using Parallels Desktop. The Parallels team recently tested it again to make sure it runs properly under Windows 10 and Parallels Desktop. As you can see from the video below, the game runs beautifully.

Games That Can Run On Macbook Air

So if you were disappointed that Overwatch is not available for Mac, you can still play it with the help of Parallels.

10. Crysis

Conclusion

By now you should be convinced that macOS offers enough quality games to keep most gamers entertained.

And if you ever felt frustrated that the one game you were dying to play is not available on Mac, remember that you can always check if it works with Parallels Desktop. That includes demanding games such as Overwatch or brand-new games such as Jurassic World Evolution.
So, what will you be playing next?

Thanks to Ric from MacgamerHQ.com for this very interesting Guest Blog post.

If you want to try out any Windows Game that doesn’t work on the Mac, check out these instructions how to make it work with Parallels Desktop for Mac and watch our Playlist with different Windows games that work perfectly on the Mac.

BestMacBook for GamingiMore2020

Apple MacBooks have never been designed to perform solely as gaming laptops. Despite this, some models are better than others for this type of use. Our favorite current model, the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) i7 processor, includes numerous features that make it a terrific device for casual gamers. There are other noteworthy models we've gathered to help you choose the one that fits your needs best.

Best Overall: 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) i7 processor

For gamers, we're recommending the least expensive of the two 16-inch models, which includes a 9th-generation Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz. We're picking this one because it offers a nice mix of features at a price that's far more affordable than the premium offering we highlight below.

The base 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory, 512GB SSD storage, and four Thunderbolt 3 ports. The model comes standard with an AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of GDDR6 graphics processor that you can upgrade to an AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with 4GB of GDDR6 or an AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with 8 GB of GDDR6 for better performance.

On the obvious downside, this is still an expensive laptop. Plus, you'll need to recharge this laptop more often than the MacBook Air. And like all MacBooks, it isn't usually on sale at a discount.

Games That Can Run On Macbook Air 4

Pros:

• The least expensive 16-inch model
• Pay extra for a graphics boost
• Biggest MacBook Pro display to date

Cons:

• Still very expensive
• Not the most powerful MBP you can buy
• Up to 11 hours wireless web

Best Overall

16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) i7 processor

Largest display for less

The entry-level 16-inch MacBook Pro is an excellent choice for the occasional computer gamer.

Source: iMore

Much lighter than the 13-inch MacBook Pro that has the same screen size, the 2019 MacBook Air weighs just 2.75 pounds, making it a great take-and-go laptop. Along with being less weighty, the MacBook Air provides an hour more of use between charges, although actual performance depends on the tasks.

We're sold on the entry-level MacBook Air, even for gaming, because of its price. Still, think casual gaming here only thanks to its slower processor and graphics card. There's also fewer Thunderbolt 3 ports on this model.

If you're purchasing a laptop solely for gaming, this isn't the one to buy. However, it will work well in a pinch when you need to take a break from your studies or work.

Pros:

• Same screen size as 13-inch MBP
• Up to 12 hours of wireless web between charges
• Excellent price

Games You Can Play On Macbook Air

Cons:

• Only two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
• Not as powerful as MBP models

Best Value

MacBook Air (2019)

Save money and still game

Casual-casual gamers will enjoy using this MacBook Air model during the occasional break from work or school.

Source: iMore

When it comes to the 2019 13-inch MacBook Pro, $500 separates the base and most complete package. For even more, you can upgrade the machine's For the five memory, storage, and processor.

The smaller of the two MacBook Pro models is a great overall pick. At just over three pounds, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is only slightly heavier than the MacBook Air. For this, you get a better processor and graphics card, more storage availability, and a Touch Bar. You can upgrade the processor and storage. In doing so, however, you'll push the price just shy of $2,000. If that happens, you might want to consider our No. 1 pick instead.

Regardless, if a 13-inch display is what you want and you want the bells and whistles missing on the MacBook Air, this is the one to get. If you intend to spend more than one-fourth of your time gaming, it's even more vital for you to consider this model over the Air.

Best Games On Macbook Pro

Pros:

• Better internals than MacBook Air
• Great mobility
• Much cheaper than the 16-inch model

Games That Can Run On Macbook Air

Cons:

• You can't upgrade the graphics card
• Price can rise as you add components
• Is 13-inches enough?

Best Alternative

13-inch MacBook Pro (2019)

A step up

There's much to love about this model, which offers better internals than the MacBook Air.

Best Premium: 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) i9 processor

If you're a hard-core Mac gamers, or want to be, the 16-inch MacBook Pro with an 8‑core 9th‑generation Intel Core i9 processor and Turbo Boost up to 4.8GHz is the one for you. Compared to the entry-level model, you'll get a graphics card boost and 1TB of storage. If this isn't enough, add more memory, an even better graphics card, and more storage. In doing so, the cost of this model can quickly exceed nearly $6,000, however.

Pros:

• Apple's best MacBook Pro to date
• Graphics boost, upgrades
• Up to 64GB of memory available

Best Premium

16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) i9 processor

The best of the best

If you're okay with the price, no doubt this is the MacBook to get. Happy gaming!

Bottom line

In 2019, the MacBook lineup changed considerably as Apple discontinued the 12-inch MacBook and 15-inch model MacBook Pro. The change brings to four the number of Apple laptops we recommend for gaming purposes. Our favorite, the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) i7 processor, should give you enough power to play your favorite casual computer games. Still, it will cost you, especially if you add extras. It's still an expensive laptop, which no doubt is something to consider too.

The base model includes a 9th-generation Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz with 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory, 512GB SSD storage, and four Thunderbolt 3 ports. The model comes standard with an AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of GDDR6 graphics processor and can be upgraded to an AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with 4GB of GDDR6 or an AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 8 GB of GDDR6 for better performance.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Bryan M. Wolfe is a dad who loves technology, especially anything new from Apple. Penn State (go Nittany Lions) graduate here, also a huge fan of the New England Patriots. Thanks for reading. @bryanmwolfe

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Games That Can Run On Macbook Air 1

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