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Mac has finally upped its gaming game with the new MacBook Pro, and we’re more than excited. M1 Macs -MacBooks that come with the new souped-up M1 chip are now so powerful that the software providers are actually taking it seriously. We’re seeing more and more games written specifically for M1, ARM-based processors, and thanks to the Rosetta 2 translator, Mac users can also play a whole bunch of awesome non-native games without losing any quality of gameplay.
If you’ve been on the fence about getting yourself a MacBook in the past, now is the time to jump. Mac games no longer look like the handy casino games with simple graphics and a linear plot. The Intel Macs, and all the problems associated with them, such as lag problems and overheating, are a thing of the past. We’ve moved on. We’ve turned our attention towards all the awesome games that are now available for proud new MacBook Pro owners, and we’ve found that there are plenty of exciting options. No matter what genre of gaming you’re into, you’re sure to find a game that gets you fired up. And we’ve gone ahead and put together a list of games to whet your appetite.
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Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Mankind Divided lifts the Deus Ex series back up to where it’s meant to be. As you walk in Adam Jensen’s shoes, you’ll make choices that determine your gaming experience, and you’ll get to approach each new element from a variety of different angles, so the game never gets old. You’ll need to use a Rosette ARM translator if you’re running on a 1st generation M1, but with an M1 Max, you’ll get approx. 70-80fps with 1080 resolution.
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Shadow of the Tomb Raider
Shadow of the Tomb Raider is the third instalment of the latest Tomb Raider trilogy featuring the incomparable Lara Croft. The game is set in Cozumel, Mexico, and Lara is chasing down an organisation called Trinity. This cinematically stunning game performs incredibly well on Apple’s signature chip engineering, even though it’s not a fully optimised Mac Port and therefore doesn’t use MacOS graphics API. The M1 Pro chip can easily process the intricately detailed backdrop graphics and huge draw distances. On a 14’ MacBook Pro that is equipped with a M1 Pro chip, the game will render at approx. 50 -60fps with 1080 resolution. You’ll need a Rosetta translator for Apple Silicon.
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A Total War Saga: Troy
The Total War games are examples of turn-based strategy games at their best. We’ve chosen to highlight the Troy instalment, Total War: Three Kingdoms is also well worth your time. The Troy saga focuses on the Trojan War – the conflict between Troy and Mycenaean Greece that spanned 20 years during the Bronze Age. You’ll get to play as one of the 8 renowned heroes of the war, and you’ll either be trying to protect Troy or conquer it. Troy runs as a native game for Apple Silicon, so you won’t experience lag during the real-time gameplay battles. Thanks to the M1 Max chip, you’ll get up to 100 frames per second at 1080 resolution.
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Metro Exodus
Metro Exodus is a first-person shooter game, and it’s one of the most visually impressive games on the market. The game does need a Rosetta translator to run, but the M1 chips handle the game’s effects easily. You’ll get approx. 100fps at 1080p while you’re battling it out in combat mode, moving through the map in stealth mode, and experiencing all the delightful horror of trying to survive.
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Baldur’s Gate 3
If role-playing games are your go-to for gaming entertainment, you’re going to love Baldur’s Gate 3. The early release version of this game is already making waves, and we can’t wait for the full version. Baldur’s Gate is the long-awaited sequel to a game that many consider to be the best role-playing games of all time. It’s set in the Forgotten Realms, and Mind Flayers are once again invading, the game embraces the rules of classic D&D, but Larian Studios have made it with their own brand of magic. The game is native for Apple silicon, and at 1080p M1 Pro and M1 Max hit 90 -100 frames per second.
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Divinity: Original Sin 2
Yet another incredible game by Larian Studios, Divinity: Original Sin 2 is now available for MacBook Pro. This RPG will take you a journey through the Northern Empireand where your combat skills will be pushed to the limit. You’ll be responsible for picking your team, and your picks will determine how well you fare throughout the game. Huge improvements have been made since the first Divinity game, but the core concepts of war and intrigue remain the beating heart of this epic fantasy. Thanks to the brilliant Mac port, this PC game feels like it has been designed especially for MacBooks.
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A Story About My Uncle
This one’s a little different. A Story About My Uncle follows the journey of a boy who is searching for his missing uncle. Uncle Fred, an explorer, has gone missing in a strange, inter-dimensional universe where islands float in the sky and alien creatures roam the land. The game skips from 2D to 3D, and your mission is to jump around the landscapes looking for clues and interacting with the aliens that you come across. This is a no-kill game, so you’ve got to use your smarts rather than your guns. It’s a great game for family game night, and it works beautifully on MacBook Pro.
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A Few More Titles
Unfortunately, we can’t list all of the worthy MacBook games that are on the market right now. Hopefully, our selection will get you started off on the right foot. But if you manage to work your way through all of them and you’re hankering for more, here are a few more titles that your MacBook Pro will handle like a pro:
- The Banner Saga, by Stoic
- Layers of Fear, by Aspyr Media
- J.U.L.I.A. Among The Stars, by CBE Software
Welcome to the glorious world of gaming MacBookers, you’re going to love it here.
