The best Mac games come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, from epic, blockbuster role-playing games (RPGs) to pensive sci-fi classics.
While the collection of games may be more limited than our list of the best PC games, Mac users still have access to a wide range of excellent titles including some of the best RPGs (role-playing games) and best story games. Some of the best PC strategy games are also available on Mac, as are some fantastic indies. Thanks to the availability of a range of absolutely top-tier titles, there's no reason for Mac users to miss out.
Here at TechRadar Gaming, we know video games. Collectively, we've played tens of thousands of hours of the things, and we know fantastic titles when we see them. Below, you'll find a list of Mac-friendly games that stand the test of time, offering quality that puts them head and shoulders above the rest. Read on to find out more.
"My favorite new addition comes in the form of Arachne, an adorable spider that can weave special dresses for Melinoë to wear. Beyond some fun aesthetic changes, these dresses also provide an amount of armor to protect your precious health, and powerful buffs to improve your chances against Chronos’ minions." - Rhys Wood, TechRadar Gaming Hardware Editor.
Hades 2 is currently in Early Access, but has launched on MacOS. From what we've played, it manages to be both a step up from its predecessor and a smart subversion of what made Hades so special. This time around, you have access to various magical abilities, as you fight beyond the Underworld, taking down harder enemies than ever. Th core loop remains unchanged, though there's definitely more depth in Hades 2's combat systems.
As time goes on, developer Supermasive Games continues to add new content to Hades 2, making it easy to recommend. You can play it with the base M1 chip as well, making Hades 2 playable on a variety of machines without the need to upgrade your setup. Give Hades 2 a try, as it finds its balance in Early Access. It's already a compelling and worthy sequel, and one that we think will only get better as the full launch inches closer.
"Balatro is easily one of the freshest roguelites to come out in some time. By loosely applying the rules of poker to a deckbuilding format, developer LocalThunk has managed to forge something special." - Rhys Wood, TechRadar Gaming Hardware Editor.
Balatro is one of the breakout hits of 2024, managing to offer a fresh spin on Poker. You'll start with one of the game's many decks, and attempt to make your way through a roguelike gauntlet. The meat of it, then, is how you’re encouraged to build and improve your deck through a variety of means. A baseline knowledge of poker actually won’t get you very far in Balatro; it’s playing its own game, with its own unique set of rules; this is what truly sets it apart from other deckbuilders on the market.
The result of all this genre mixing is a seriously addictive one, a unique and tactile game that somehow manages to be as deep as it is rewarding. New decks are on the way via DLC, tying into franchises like Among Us and The Witcher. If you're even remotely interested in card games, or if you're looking for something fresh, give Balatro a shot.
"Baldur’s Gate 3 is a fine contender for one of the best video game RPGs ever made. It’s the most ambitious RPG out there, and the painstakingly accurate rendition of Dungeons & Dragons will delight fans. A must-play, even if some frustrations with D&D’s format might grate." - Jake Tucker, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Baldur's Gate 3 is a wildly popular role-playing game (RPG) that has you step into the world of classic tabletop RPG Dungeons & Dragons. Developed by Larian Studios, this fantasy epic will take you on a soaring fantasy adventure, full of delightful characters and difficult choices. What's more, though you can play a range of pre-made characters, Baldur's Gate 3 allows you to build your adventurer from the ground up, creating a hero (or villain) to your exact specifications.
One of the best Mac games of the RPG ilk, Baldur's Gate 3, tells a memorable, immersive story, full of stellar voice acting and top-notch writing. On top of this, the story-driven RPG makes liberal use of motion capture, lending its cutscenes a feeling of cinematic realism that transports you as you play. The game's core cast of characters is beautifully realized, drawing you into the drama with graceful ease.
"A brilliant remake of Resident Evil 4 that ticks all the boxes. The few changes Capcom makes are clearly smart and much needed. This is a brilliant revision of a beloved game." - Ellie Gould, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Are you a bad enough dude to save the president's daughter? This is the question posed by the Resident Evil 4 remake, which has you step into the shoes of government agent Leon Kennedy as he attempts to rescue Ashley Graham from a group of macabre cultists in rural Spain. Full of thrills, spills, and horror, Resident Evil 4 is over-the-top fun and qualifies as one of the best horror games of recent years.
The remake gives the original Resident Evil 4 a glorious modern-day makeover, offering eye-watering graphics and welcome modernizations to some of the more dated aspects of the story. We were so impressed that the game earned a place on our 2023 Game of the Year list. Since it's available on Mac, that easily makes it one of the best Mac games, too.
Disco Elysium manages to provide a gritty, grounded experience while also addressing big philosophical questions. Political and personal ideologies of all kinds are interrogated throughout the story and it doesn't pull any punches.
As well as being one of the best Mac games, Disco Elysium is arguably one of the best games ever made. An isometric RPG, Disco Elysium has you take on the role of an amnesiac detective as he attempts to solve a murder in the seaside district of Martinaise in the fictional city of Revachol.
Taking place in an alternate reality reminiscent of our own, Disco Elysium grounds its characters in a bleak post-war setting. Memorable, challenging dialogue peppers the game's encounters - all of which run off of a dice-rolling system based on your stats. The kind of detective you play is up to you, as are the choices you make in pursuit of solving the case. Whatever you decide to do, your decisions compound throughout the game, rippling outwards as you continue to explore the thought-provoking RPG.
Final Fantasy 14's main storyline may start off slow, but, once you sink your teeth in, you'll quickly find that this MMO contains some of the best single-player storytelling in modern gaming.
One of the best MMORPGs and best Mac games of recent years, Final Fantasy 14 boasts a gripping story, strong character customization, and a famously welcoming community. In Final Fantasy 14, you become the Warrior of Light, fated to protect the world from all sorts of nefarious horrors and conspiracies. Along your journey, you'll meet a vibrant cast of NPC characters, across hundreds of hours of gripping RPG storytelling.
No MMO is complete without its community, however, and Final Fantasy 14 has plenty to offer in that department, too. From Free Companies (14's version of guilds), and player housing to full-on player-run nightclubs, Square Enix's beloved MMO has something for everyone.
Hades is not only full of thrilling battles and poignant emotional moments but also boasts an ear-meltingly good soundtrack from composer Darren Korb. Come for the gorgeous art style but stay for the pulse-pounding, tear-jerking soundtrack.
A thrilling third-person action RPG, Hades follows the story of Zagreus, son of Hades, as he attempts to escape the underworld of ancient Greek myth. Though our hero perishes in short order, it turns out that death is merely a setback for the idealistic young demigod. A roguelike game through and through, Hades demands persistence and cunning, but the payoff is fantastic.
As you progress on your journey you'll encounter figures from Greek myth, gorgeously reimagined with a distinctive art style and captivating voice acting. As you gradually get closer to the surface, more of the game's story will unfold, granting you an insight into Zagreus' trials, relationships, and dreams. This well-loved title easily ranks amongst the best Mac games available at the moment, especially when it comes to roguelikes.
Stellaris doesn't just put you in the driver's seat of a space empire, it also gives you a license to build your own faction from the ground up. This agency, when combined with the game's penchant for random events, creates gripping emergent storylines.
Stellaris is a grand strategy game of ambitious scale and impressive customizability. In Paradox Interactive's sci-fi empire sim, you manage a space-faring civilization as it takes its first steps into the stars. You get to manage every aspect of your faction, right down to its political values and aesthetic of choice.
With sophisticated diplomacy, espionage, research, and economic mechanics, Sterllaris will keep even genre veterans busy with its wide scope for strategy and choice. Should relations with rival powers sour, you'll be able to deploy fleets of custom spaceships to make war on your enemies. With a wealth of mods and robust multiplayer modes, Stellaris easily stands as one of the best Mac games of 2023.
The Sims 4 allows you to simulate all sorts of different human beings, offering refreshing representation for LGBTQ+ people as well as disabled folks. Players from many different walks of life can see themselves reflected in The Sims 4, helping to make it an accessible and welcoming title.
The Sims 4 is a social simulation game developed by Maxis Studios. Rather than give you a specific goal or task, The Sims is a sandbox, allowing you to build your own communities of virtual people called 'Sims'. As the player, you'll direct their actions perhaps guiding them towards their goals, or perhaps opting to mess with them instead, if you're so inclined.
It's deeply satisfying to watch your own curated groups of people live out their lives. However, in addition to the social simulation elements, The Sims 4 also includes a Build Mode which allows you to construct homes and environments for your Sims. The game also includes an online content exchange system, allowing you to share your creations and download the creations of others. One of the best Mac games out there, The Sims 4 offers a fun virtual sandbox that's full of surprises.
"Lies of P is as slick and well-done as it is dark and mysterious. With weighty combat, cool weapons and tools, and some exquisite - though very creepy - enemy design, it’ll scratch the ‘souls’ itch for many, despite a few blemishes." - Rob Dwiar, TechRadar Gaming Managing Editor.
Lies of P was a pleasant surprise when it came out last year, proving that there's still plenty of life left in the Souls-like formula. What the game does better than most of its peers is stand out with unique and downright beautiful art direction. This, paired with brilliant combat that rests on much deeper systems than you may think at first, make it well worth your time.
Don’t let the children’s fairytale-inspired setting fool you: Lies of P is pitch-perfect soulslike action that’s cut from the same cloth as Sekiro and Bloodborne. Its rapid and weighty combat strikes a balance of aggression and patience - a la Bloodborne - with Sekiro-style parries being thrown in for good measure. Whether you're a newbie to the genre, or a seasoned veteran, you'll find plenty to keep you entertained while battling the huge array of formidable foes that stand between you and the credits.
Given how few Soulslike games are available for MacOS, it's refreshing to see one of the best now available for Apple users. Lies of P is modern, mechanically solid, and genuinely surprising at times. Just make sure you land your parries.
"Death Stranding is a wonderfully ambitious sci-fi adventure that combines affecting performances with a compellingly original narrative structure. Its seemingly monotonous premise proves to only further catapult it from ordinary to extraordinary, and its singular sense of self marks it as a distinctly unique and memorable game." - Gerald Lynch, TechRadar Gaming reviewer.
Death Stranding Director's Cut is finally available on Mac and iOS, bringing Kojima Productions' hit 2019 sci-fi thriller to a whole new platform. Death Stranding has you play as Sam Bridges, a porter whose job it is to carry cargo across a post-apocalyptic North America. However, this isn't your run-of-the-mill apocalypse. Thanks to the cataclysmic Death Stranding, the veil between life and death has stopped working. Supernatural horrors stalk the land and the remnants of what was once the USA huddle in underground bunkers.
Thanks to sophisticated systems for balancing and traversal, Death Stranding manages to make cargo delivery fun and rewarding - comfortably securing it a place on our best Mac games list. For instance, even something as mundane as carrying a massive package through running water can become a gripping challenge as you frantically try to stop Sam from stumbling over his feet. What's more, the confident and melodramatic sci-fi plot makes for a compelling ride. One part action-thriller Metal Gear Solid, one part indie cult classic Getting Over It with Bennet Foddy, Death Stranding isn't one to miss.
If you love pixel art and or cozy games then Stardew Valley should be on your radar. The premise is simple: your grandfather has left you a small patch of land in the scenic village of Stardew Valley, prompting you to move out there and start a new life. Once you arrive, you can build a cozy farm of your very own, complete with charming pixel art animals.
Gentler than the other entries on this best Mac games list, you'll be able to form relationships with the other residents, making them gifts and immersing yourself in local culture. You can also take the fight to the sinister Joja Corporation as it attempts to muscle in on the village. Between farming, mining, combat, fishing, and foraging, there's plenty to do in this delightful open-ended RPG. What's more, it's also one of the best co-op games and can be great fun with friends.
Best Mac games: FAQs
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
What games will run on my Mac?
From Baldur's Gate 3 to Stardew Valley, there are plenty of titles out there that'll run well on your Mac. While not every game is Mac-friendly, our list of the best Mac games is full of titles that are suitable for your platform.
That said, though more modern Macs and MacBooks will have no trouble running recently released games, always be sure to check a game's system requirements before purchasing. It's never fun to spend money on a title, only to find that your hardware won't be able to run it.
Are Macs good for gaming?
Though the answer varies depending on the game in question, the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max) is your best bet when it comes to buying a macOS product that's well-suited for gaming. In his review of the product, TechRadar Managing Editor Matt Hanson said it's "the first MacBook we'd recommend as a gaming device. At this price[,] it won't be for everyone, but it's an incredible piece of tech."
However, even if you're not able to afford this high-end product, there's every possibility that your Mac will still be able to play the titles on our best Mac games list - just be sure to check the specs first.
How we made our best Mac games list
Our best Mac games list is the product of hundreds of hours of testing across a wide range of games and genres. Though the Mac has a smaller library of games compared to PC, we wanted to show that Apple computers are still very much viable game consoles. Many of the best single-player games as well as more than a few multiplayer gems are available on Mac, and we wanted our list to reflect this.
In addition, we wanted to ensure that a wide range of genres was on offer to account for varying personal tastes. As fun as it can be to spend dozens of hours getting lost in Disco Elysium's extensive storyline, some prefer to just dip into a game like Stardew Valley for a short burst before moving on to something else. Our list attempts to cater to as many as possible by accounting for these different player preferences.
You Might Also Like...
- The best MacBooks and Macs of 2024
- The best Nintendo Switch games
- Our picks for the best free Steam games
