Everything You Need to Play on Mac
Are Macs good gaming machines? Varieties. Macs and especially MacBooks are not optimized for gaming, to say the least, and many games simply don’t support macOS. However, Mac games have come a long way in the past few years, and it’s now easier than ever to find and play games on Apple computers (relatively, you know). Yes, Windows desktops and laptops are the best choice for hardcore gamers, but the Mac is a perfectly viable gaming platform if you have the right setup.
Find games for macOS
Despite the Mac’s longstanding reputation for having a lackluster game library, the truth is that thousands of PC and iOS games support macOS out of the box. Digital storefronts such as Steam , the Epic Game Store , and GOG have macOS search filters, and many games on the App Store and Apple Arcade run natively on M1 Mac hardware.
However, these showcases do not feature all existing macOS-enabled games. Many popular Blizzard games, including World of Warcraft , Overwatch , and Diablo III, will run on the Mac, but can only be downloaded throughthe Blizzard Battle.Net Launcher .
Wherever you plan to purchase your games, take the time to review the hardware requirements for each and make sure your Mac can play them before you buy. If you’re eyeing a new Mac and gaming is on your wish list, a newer MacBook with at least 16GB of memory, 256GB of storage, and an Apple M1 processor or an Intel i7 or i9 processor is your best bet. , although some older Mac devices may handle lower specification headers. In fact, many of the best games you can play on weaker PCs will also work on macOS. If you’d rather have games on disc than download them, you can check their macOS and hardware compatibility on websites such as the Macintosh Repository .
Cloud gaming on Mac
It’s important to note that while many great games natively support macOS, many more don’t. Luckily, cloud gaming can help fill in the gaps. Subscription services such as Google Stadia , Amazon Luna , and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate allow you to play hundreds of the latest PC and console games through a web browser. You can also stream PC, PlayStation or Xbox games to your MacBook via your home Wi-Fi network. Because these games can be played remotely, you can select games that are not usually compatible with macOS or Apple hardware. (Our guide to gaming on Chromebooks has more information on these and other services, and this information also applies to gaming on Mac.)
While cloud gaming has its downsides – they require a constant internet connection and are prone to input lag and inconsistent visuals – it’s a great solution for playing modern games on any Mac that supports the latest version of Chrome (as long as the speed your internet is high). and reliable enough, i.e.).
How to make Mac games better
While finding games to play is arguably the most important part of gaming on a Mac, we also have a few final tips to help optimize the performance of your Apple computer:
- Use peripherals. Mac trackpads and chiclet keyboards aren’t fun to play with, and many MacBook speakers are weaker than dedicated speakers or headphones. Fortunately, most PC gaming peripherals, such as controllers, gaming headsets, mice, and keyboards, work on a Mac—either via a USB connection or wirelessly via Bluetooth.
- Delete unnecessary data. Modern games consume a lot of data – an average of 20 GB, and in rare cases – up to 100 GB or more. If you plan on installing games directly, take the time to clean up your Mac’s memory first.
- Always play while connected to your MacBook charger. Games take a lot of energy and eat up the battery. Even worse, battery saving modes often slow down your Mac’s gaming performance, so keep them off too.
- Use the maximum possible Internet connection. If you play cloud games or play online multiplayer game, you need a reliable and stable internet connection to keep your performance. Connecting directly to your router with an Ethernet cable or using a 5G mobile hotspot will be better than a regular Wi-Fi connection.
- Close background applications. Games require your Mac’s full attention to run well, so close other applications before playing. Similarly, if you’re playing online or in the cloud, disable other bandwidth-intensive tasks such as video or music streaming, and cancel or pause file downloads.
While these tips won’t magically turn your Mac into a PC playground, they will help make your Mac gaming sessions that much more fun, even (or especially) if you’re a casual gamer.