Apple is making a notable entry into the world of cutting-edge video games. The PC has ongoing competition and has been taking shape for some months now.
What if the Windows PC is no longer the only computer on which to enjoy the most ambitious video games? This is somewhat of what is emerging in the current video game landscape. For a long time poor cousin of games with iMacs or MacBooks not quite sized for it, Apple sent a thrill and excitement among developers with the arrival of its powerful puce M1 and M2.
From now on, Apple brand computers present themselves as monsters of power capable of anything in terms of creative productivity, the most ambitious video or audio editing with 4K or even 8K content, or even the craziest 3D creations. So obviously, Apple wouldn’t take long to watch video games and anything other than through its Apple Arcade service.
The M1 chip, Apple’s game card
From 28 October Resident Evil Village is available on Mac. Capcom’s horror game, which launched on consoles and PC last year, has been acclaimed for its atmosphere and especially its graphics. A challenging “real game” that now also works on Apple computers. But a performance throat that requires a machine with an M1 or M2 chip; Therefore, Apple devices with Intel processors are excluded. A sign that something is really brewing for Apple gamers.
RE village it’s not the first major title to settle at Apple. But for a long time, for lack of a sufficient supply of players, developers have been reluctant to design versions for macOS, the operating system for Mac computers.
The arrival of the M1 chip changed that and showed that the most demanding games could run without hurting the machine, with the same quality of detail as the PC. If most games were to start pointing their nose next year, developers are more likely to adapt their more or less recent work for the latest Macs.
There are now downloadable games from the App Store or dedicated spaces on Steam such as the Epic Game Store. It is thus possible to play Rise of the Tomb Raider, Myst (special version M1 and later chip), Football Manager 2023 or Cuphead et asphalt 9.
Know that if you want to play at all costs on your MacBook, even an old one, you can use alternatives such as cloud gaming. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate games are accessible from Safari.
GeForce now offers an identical solution for games owned by Steam, Gog, Epic and others. Or Shadow provides a Windows environment from its downloadable software, via a powerful setup on a server, to have access to PC games … on Mac.
Games to try on Mac
Here is a selection of games playable on iMac, Mac or even MacBook Air and Pro. Some work easily even on newer computers with an Intel processor (released before 2021).
Resident Evil Village
Do you want to play scare? Between the game of survival and horror, Resident Evil Village it is perfect for playing with the nerves of the players. After RE7 Biological risk, Ethan Winters, his wife Mia and their daughter Rose have settled in silence, away from their nightmares of the past. But Rose is kidnapped and Ethan finds himself investigating a strange and hostile abandoned village. To be played on Apple with a minimum M1 chip and running on macOS Monterey or Ventura.
Cuphead
Sous ses broadcasts cartoons, Cuphead is one of the most difficult and challenging games in recent years. Hand-drawn, retro-style (30’s style) fighting game, pits its two heroes against different bosses, one stronger than the other, all to the rhythm of jazz music. A nervous game with sharp gameplay.
Disc Elisio
It is difficult to resist one of the surprise successes of recent years. This role-playing game, which combines point’n’click and a text game of dice, makes you embody an amnesic cop who comes to his senses in a hotel room after a drunk night out. He has to investigate a murder. The choices made will be decisive for the progress of the investigation and for the fate of our detective.
The Rise of the Tomb Raider
If you haven’t experienced the latest adventures of young Lara Croft, the latest trilogy is available on Mac. The 20th Anniversary Edition also offers all expansions released on PC and consoles with the game.
Divinity: original sin 2
The game benefited from an optimization for the M1 chip, on both Macs and iPads equipped with the same chip. Considered one of the best RPGs in history, Divinity: original sin 2 it is offered in the same version as the Windows PC, which is also aesthetically beautiful. And the title goes even further on Mac with HDR support and iCloud backup to play across different media.
The Sims 4
Now free to download, The Sims 4 is a life simulation game that requires a pretty powerful computer to avoid sticking out your tongue when you want to build your dream house on multiple levels or add the many extensions like university, city life, Star Wars or adding pets. But it is fully playable with keyboard and pad / mouse.
Mist
For the nostalgic, Mist will bring back some memories. A cult game of the early 90s, it is renewed in a version specially optimized for devices with M1 chips. But it’s still the same recipe as the original game, with its challenging puzzles, fascinating environments, and compelling soundtrack. The game is more beautiful (it is possible to play in 4K) and is enriched with some new features.
The scenario remains the same. The player is transported to a mysterious island where he must understand what happened to Atrus, the author of a strange book, and his children. Solving various puzzles unlocks areas to explore.
