Gone are the days when Macs weren’t considered suitable for gaming. Over time, macOS has greatly evolved to better support games. Also, thanks to Apple’s in-house M-Series chipset, Macs have become more capable than ever at running games. From fully-fledged titles on the Mac App Store and Steam to Apple Arcade games, Mac users have a lot of options to choose from. In this article, we’ll share a list of the best Mac games you can play in 2024. From blockbuster role-playing games to sci-fi classics, we’ve covered some top-tier Mac titles for you. So, let’s get started!
1. Stardew Valley
Inspired by the Story of the Seasons series, Stardew Valley is now considered the gold standard of farming games. The premise is pretty simple: you have inherited your grandfather’s small patch of land in the scenic location of Stardew Valley. Your job is to start a new life and build a cozy farm, all with beautiful pixel art animals. While you’re growing crops and raising livestock, you can also befriend the local townsfolk, form relationships with the other residents, take part in seasonal festivals, and immerse yourself in local culture.
Initially started with small ambitions, Stardew Valley has now become extremely content-rich so you can be hooked for hours without getting bored. Between farming, fishing, mining, and foraging, you can do a lot more in this number-one role-playing game for Mac. All in all, if you love cozy life simulation games, Stardew Valley is one of the best Mac games you can play with your friends.
2. Death Stranding Director’s Cut
Legendary game creator Hideo Kojima, the name behind the long-running Metal Gear Series, offers a genre-defying experience with its Death Stranding Director’s Cut. The gameplay is set in a near-future version of the United States after a mysterious event called the Death Stranding, which has destroyed society. You play as Sam Bridges, a porter whose job is to carry supplies and reunite the last survivors of a decimated America. During your journey, you’ll face terrorists and creepy invisible monsters called BTs (‘beached things’).
Death Stranding involves some combat, but your main task is to deliver the cargo of medicines and other supplies across the rocky countryside. It may sound mundane, but the dramatic sci-fi plot and 3D graphics make cargo delivery fun and rewarding, comfortably securing a spot in the best Mac games in 2024. For instance, you have to smartly control Sam as he walks, jumps, and paddles across the rocky terrain. If you’re a fan of action games, you must try the Death Stranding Director’s Cut sci-fi thriller on your Mac.
3. Hades
Hades is one of the best Mac games, period. This action RPG thriller revolves around the story of Zagreus, son of Hades, as he attempts to escape the underworld to find his mother Persephone. During your journey, you’ll encounter figures from Greek myth, beautifully reimagined with a unique art style and captivating voice acting. As you gradually get closer, you’ll gain insight into Zagreus’ trials, dreams, and relationships. The hero is short-lived and you’ll experience death a lot of times in Hades.
Interestingly, the game never becomes frustrating but demands persistence. With every defeat, you’re encouraged to get up and try again. When you beat the final boss, your adventure starts through the hall of Greek mythology. A compelling gameplay loop is blended with engrossing storytelling and stunning visuals that make every run worthwhile. Hades is one of the most-loved Mac games when it comes to roguelikes.
4. Baldur’s Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the most popular role-playing games that transports you into the world of Dungeons and Dragons (5th Edition). It’s an immersive open-world epic where your choices matter and you have the freedom to figure out your own path. This RGP Mac title takes you on a fantasy journey with delightful characters and some difficult choices. You can choose a range of pre-made characters or build your adventurer from scratch. So, you can create a hero or villain according to your specifications.
What makes Baldur’s Gate 3 a must-try Mac game is its memorable story, tactical RPG combat, top-notch writing, and remarkable voice acting. The 3D graphics bring life to your game and the characters feel pretty fresh. The game also packs a nice sense of humor and can be hilarious as it stems out of your poor decisions, failed dice rolls, and unpredictable combat interactions. Unarguably, Baldur’s Gate 3 has evolved to become one of the best Mac games of all time.
5. The Sims 4
The Sims is a sandbox game that’s full of surprises. It doesn’t give you a specific goal or task but allows you to build your communities of virtual people called ‘Sims’. You’ve got the freedom to simulate all sorts of different human beings, including LGBTQ+ people and disabled folks. Your job is to direct their actions to help them meet their goals. It’s utterly satisfying to watch how your curated groups are living their lives.
Day-to-day tasks are fun too. For instance, if your Sim is hungry, just click on the hunger bar and the Sim can automatically feed themselves. Besides character simulation, The Sims 4 also offers a Build & Design Mode where you can construct environments and homes for your Sims. The best part, you can also share your creations with others and download theirs. With deeper customization, a wide range of actions, and new places to explore, The Sims 4 is one of the most enjoyable games you can play on your Mac.
6. Celeste
Like Stardew Valley in 2017, Celeste received the Take This Dr Mark Award in 2020 for its remarkable portrayal of mental health, healing, and hope through video games. Unlike the chill gameplay of Stardew Valley, Celeste has brutally challenging gameplay where many of the obstacles represent Madeline’s struggles, a young woman who’s climbing Mount Celeste while dealing with depression and anxiety.
The main point of Celeste is to remind you to take care of yourself and make self-improvements to avoid hurting others. This Mac game gracefully depicts the struggles for mental health and how to overcome them. It’s a rewarding adventure Mac game with some incredible secrets and a beautifully crafted emotional storyline. The gameplay of Celeste is quite challenging, but you can master it with enough practice and patience. If you’re looking for a challenging game you can play on your Mac, you must check out Celeste.
7. Resident Evil 4
Searching for the best horror games for Mac? We recommend checking out Resident Evil 4. The original Resident Evil gets a modern-day makeover with a stunning graphics overhaul, reimagined storyline, and modern gameplay, making it one of the most scary games you can play on Mac in 2024. You play as Agent Leon S. Kennedy, one of the survivors of the biological disaster in Raccoon City, who is sent to a mysterious village to rescue the President’s kidnapped daughter. Once you arrive on location, you sense that something’s terribly wrong with the locals and they have turned feral animals.
To survive this daring rescue, you’ll need to use your limited resources. All kinds of powerful creatures will stand in front of you, making your survival even more challenging. It’s worth knowing that you can play a limited part of the base game for free, but you’ll have to go for the paid version to full complete access. All in all, Resident Evil 4 is one of the best Mac games you need to try right now.
8. Lies of P
Here comes a super-challenging Mac game that can put all your gaming abilities to the test. Lies of P is one of the few Souslike games available on the Mac App Store that challenges you with a wide range of combat moves and skills you need to master to fight everything off. You play as a puppet created by Geppetto who’s caught in a web of lies with unimaginable monsters. The task is to adjust yourself and your tools to face unknown dangers. Along the way, decide whether to handle problems with honesty or by telling lies as you seek to discover who you are.
The game throws some extreme obstacles that are difficult to achieve, and once you get past them, there’s a deep sense of satisfaction. There’s a weapon customization system so you can craft a character to match your playstyle. With a unique art direction and brilliant combat, the game stands out from the crowd and keeps you entertained for a long time. Lies of P is a must-try game for Mac users and the best substitute for Bloodborne, which we may never get to play on a keyboard and mouse.
9. Papers, Please
Launched in 2013, the award-winning critically-acclaimed border inspector game, Papers Please still remains one of the best puzzle games for Mac. You take up the post of immigration inspector in an authoritarian regime. Every day, people will enter your booth and present papers. Along the throngs of immigrants and visitors who are going for work, there are hidden smugglers, spies, and terrorists. You have to carefully examine everyone’s papers and decide who can enter Arstotzka and who needs to be turned away or arrested.
People will tell you stories to escape. If a sob story touches you, you can let the person in. But if you allow too many dodgy types or work too slowly, your money will take a dip. Papers, Please is an interesting and quirky game that offers unlockable multitouch support for faster paperwork, Game Center achievements, an enhanced inspection mode, leaderboards, mid-day resumes, and more. If you’re a fan of simulation and puzzle games, this Macbgame offers the best of both worlds.
10. Football Manager 2024
For all the football fans out there, Football Manager 2024 delivers the ultimate eSports gaming experience on your Mac. Today, there aren’t a lot of sports games available for Mac, but the Football Manager series is one of the long-standing supporters, and it’s now available on Apple Arcade as well. The game offers smoother animations, realistic physics, and improved lighting effects so you can enjoy a more realistic atmosphere. You get Soccer’s most dominant tactical styles at your fingertips and you can add a unique twist to them to climb the leaderboard.
You can build your dream squad, level up your superstars, and develop your own club. The new edition also includes advanced AI features, like ‘Intermediaries’ you can hire to negotiate the best prices when selling players. This Mac game also follows the latest trends in tactical play like positional play. Casual users may find it daunting in the first place, but you can always check out the demo version before buying the full game. Putting it simply, if you’re a football superfan, you have to try this game on your Mac.
Those were the 10 best Mac games that should be on your radar. In case, you don’t want to spend, check out our list of best free mac games as well. We hope you’ve enjoyed this roundup and marked your favorites. Which games do you like to play on your Mac? Don’t forget to drop your favorites in the comments below.
Anshuman Jain
