Best Survival Games For Mac 2018

Maybe you just got your first Mac, or maybe you’re new to gaming. Either way, this may surprise you:

Most of the best games are available on Mac.

• First contender on our list of best multiplayer horror games is Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment’s Dying Light. Dying Light is a First-person Horror and Survival video game. It takes you to an Apocalyptic Zombie-Infested World and lets you explore it.
• The best 50 Survival-horror games for Mac OS daily generated by our specialised A.I. Comparing over 40 000 video games across all platforms for Mac OS. The order in this selection is not absolute, but the best games tends to be up in the list.
• ARK: Survival Evolved is as yet a standout amongst the best PC games right now. Fortunately, this Android rendition is emulating its elder sibling’s example regarding gameplay, so now you can investigate this dinosaur-swarmed island wherever you go.
• Best Mac games in 2018. Even though the MacOS platform isn't exactly known for the wide variety of games available for it, each year there are a few gaming masterpieces that can be played on Apple-made machines.

Note: Keep in mind that this list pertains only to survival games—ones in which you have to struggle to find resources and survive for as long as you can, as it were. 10 Best Games on Steam in 2018 1. Killing floor. If you love to play horror games then killing floor should be the first choice. The game is a survival horror FPS in which you need to cleanse hostile creatures in an English countryside with your team of six which must work cooperatively.

Indeed, Mac gaming has come a long way… Nowadays, 5 out of the 10 most-played games on Steam support MacOS and all the top indies support it too. This Best Mac games list is nothing but a sample of all the possibilities Mac gaming has to offer.

We’re about to dive into a massive list with 100 games in total, so feel free to jump to your favorite genre if you prefer:

But can your Mac run it? It’s great to find a bunch of cool new games to play, but what good are they if your Mac can’t run them? We’ve got your back. This is the only guide that includes system requirements and actual benchmark results.

Real-world MacOS tests

This is what makes our guides unique. We test our games on at least three different Mac models.

This is an overview of our results (find more information about our tests, including machine specifications, in our MacOS performance section):

Ready to get started?

This one is a biggy so we made sure you can easily explore all of the games covered. You can either:

1. Read on for an overview of our absolute Top 10 games, one per genre (including benchmarks).
2. Explore the remaining 90 games, which you can filter by genre, price and demand level.

Let’s get started!

Last updated: June 30, 2019

Unfortunately, sometimes games drop MacOS support, or even worse, they are entirely abandoned by their developers. This was the case of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Elite: Dangerous and RollerCoaster Tycoon…

Don’t worry though, we replace them with some of the best Mac games of 2018. Also, actual tests and benchmarks were performed on our Top 10 so don’t miss our Criteria section to learn more about our tests.

Rise of the Tomb Raider

Mac Release date: 2018

MacOS developer: Feral Interactive

Metascore: 88

Rise of the Tomb Raider is the sequel to the stellar Tomb Raider reboot from 2013.

Starring the young archaeologist Lara Croft, this action-adventure game takes place one year after her adventure in Yamatai. This time, Lara sets out to the lost city of Kitezh to recover the Divine Source, an ancient artifact with the power to grant immortality.

With a focus on combat and survival, this game plays a lot like its predecessor. And that’s a good thing. Rise of the Tomb Raider improves and refines everything that made the original great while adding more systems to play with. Unsurprisingly, it already is one of the best games for Mac of 2018 so far.

Feral Interactive did an excellent job with Rise of the Tomb Raider’s Mac port, but unlike the previous 2013 reboot, this is a demanding game.

Our benchmark results (in FPS):

Expand to see if your Mac run it

Testing Conditions:

Can your Mac run it?The most demanding game on this list, you better make sure your Mac meets the minimum requirements.

Any bugs you should be aware of? If your Mac can handle it, you should encounter a bug-free experience.

Verdict: Very Demanding

System Requirements: OS 10.13.4, 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 2 GB NVIDIA 680MX, 2 GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5 GB Intel Iris Graphics 540 or better, 27 GB hard drive space.

SOMA

Mac Release date: 2015

MacOS developer: Frictional Games

Metascore: 84

Have you ever heard of Amnesia: The Dark Descent? Well, SOMA is the latest horror game from that same developer, and in my opinion, it’s their best game yet.

SOMA is a first-person shooter that takes place in an underwater research facility. It’s Rapture meets the Nostromo, and that’s the best part of the game. The horror and tension come from the environments here, not the characters. The game will ask you to go from one end of the facility to the other to discover what happened to all the missing employees along the way. Similar to Outlast, there are no weapons, and you can’t fight back. You can only hide from the monsters or—eventually—run.

Frictional Games did a fine job with SOMA’s Mac version. This is a good-looking game with system requirements that aren’t too high.

Our benchmark results (in FPS):

Expand to see if your Mac run it

Testing conditions & results:

Can your Mac run it?Taking into account that even our 2013 13-inch MacBook Pro handled the game just fine, most Macs from 2013 onwards should be able to handle it.

Any bugs you should be aware of? If your Mac can handle it, you should encounter a bug-free experience.

Verdict: 🔶 Fairly demanding

System Requirements: 2.4 GHz Intel Core i3; 4GB RAM; 25 GB HD space; NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260, AMD Radeon HD 5750, or better with 512 MB of Video Memory.

Visit our dedicated Horror games for Mac guide for more

Grab Thimbleweed Park for free on the Epic Games Store!

Usually $19.99, you can get this excellent adventure game for free:

World of Warcraft

Mac Release date: 2018 (latest Expansion)

MacOS developer: Blizzard

Metascore: 93

Does this need an introduction? There’s a reason why this MMORPG from Blizzard is one of the most famous games ever created.

WoW defined the genre 10 years ago and continues to evolve and compete with the many MMOs that have come and gone in its wake. In WoW, you create a character, complete quests, and kill baddies to level up and become stronger. Once you’ve reached your maximum level, the real fun begins. You can take part in “raids,” which are basically harder dungeons with tougher bosses and more powerful gear. Word of caution: This game is so good, it can be extremely addictive. I once lost around 6 months of my life playing WoW!

Blizzard did a great job with WoW’s Mac version and the game should run on most modern Macs, especially now that it supports Metal.

Our benchmark results (in FPS):

Expand to see if your Mac run it

Testing conditions & results:

Can your Mac run it?You’ll need a recent MacBook or a MBP from 2013 onwards.

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Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience on Mac.

Verdict: Not Demanding

System Requirements: OS 10.12.5, 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 1GB AMD 5750, Nvidia 650M, 1.5GB Intel Iris Pro 5200, 78 GB hard drive space.

Visit our dedicated MMORPG games for Mac guide for more

DiRT Rally

Mac Release date: 2017

MacOS developer: Feral Interactive

Metascore: 86

It was a sad day when DiRT 3 suddenly became unavailable. That game had a special place in this Top 3 and for months I wondered how we could ever replace it.

Turns out we only had to wait for a few months until DiRT Rally was released for Mac. With sophisticated handling and high-risk, high-reward gameplay, this game will challenge you. But you can always change a few settings and assists to turn it into a more casual game if you’d prefer.
Dirt Rally also features impressive graphics with photo-realistic cars and beautifully rendered tracks.

Feral Interactive clearly put Apple’s Metal API to good use because, in spite of looking great, Dirt Rally has surprisingly low system requirements.

Our benchmark results (in FPS):

Expand to see if your Mac run it

Testing conditions & results:

Can your Mac run it?In this case, you’ll need at least a baseline MBP from 2013 onwards.

Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience on Mac.

Mac.

Verdict: Not Demanding

System Requirements: OS 10.13, 1.8 GHz Intel Core i3 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 1 GB Nvidia 650M / 2 GB AMD Radeon M290 / Intel HD 4000 graphics card or better, 48 GB hard drive space.

Visit our dedicated Racing games for Mac guide for more

Pillars of Eternity 2

Mac Release date: 2018

MacOS developer: Obsidian Entertainment

Metascore: 88

Because of the success of the original Pillars of Eternity, expectations were incredibly high. But developer Obsidian delivered, raising over $4 Million from over 33,000 backers.

Pillars of Eternity 2 is not only a worthy successor, it improved upon everything the original game did. This is still an old-school game, reminiscent of the golden age of classic RPGs, but it plays better, looks better and has brand-new naval combat.

Pillars of Eternity 2 also features real-time gameplay, an elevated camera angle, detailed party customizations, and tons of dialogue. This game has all the ingredients to do old-school RPGs justice. Pillars of Eternity may look and feel old-school, and that might turn you off. But don’t be fooled by appearances. This is a great game that tells a great story, and if you’re into RPGs, you owe it to yourself to try it.

Also, Obsidian Entertainment did an excellent job on Pillar of Eternity’s 2 Mac version. The port is bug-free and easy on the system requirements.

Our benchmark results (in FPS):

Expand to see if your Mac run it

Testing Conditions:

Can your Mac run it?For a top-down RPG, this is one surprisingly demanding game. Make sure your Mac can handle it before spending your hard earned cash on it…

Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience thanks to the great support the Unity engine has given to MacOS.

Verdict: Very Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.12.6, 2.9 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT750M, 45 GB hard drive space.

Visit our dedicated RPG games for Mac guide for more

Borderlands 2

Mac Release date: 2012

MacOS developer: Aspyr

Metascore: 89

Borderlands 2 is hands down the best first-person shooter in the Borderlands series.

Sure, Borderlands: The Pre-sequel came out to replace it, but why fix something that ain’t broke? If you’re looking for the best Borderlands game, this is it.

Best Survival Games For Android

Borderlands 2 combines first-person shooter gameplay with RPG elements, creating one hell of an experience. This game is all about killing enemies to find cool weapons. If Diablo and Halo had a baby, it would look something like this. Killing baddies to find that fire legendary gun you wanted is tons of fun, but Borderlands 2 is even better when you’re playing it with friends. Borderlands 2 is best experienced as a four-player co-op multiplayer.

Borderlands 2’s Mac version is a good looking game too, and you will need some horsepower to run it properly.

Our benchmark results (in FPS):

Expand to see if your Mac run it

Testing Conditions:We tested the game using Medium settings, 2X Anisotropic Filtering, FXAA, and 1280×800 resolution:

Can your Mac run it?You’ll need eithera MBPfrom 2013 onwards or one of the latest MacBooks or MBA.

Any bugs you should be aware of? The game sometimes crashes on the start menu. To avoid that problem, just launch a game as soon as you enter the open menu.

Verdict: Not Demanding

System Requirements: OS 10.8.5, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4 GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 2600 / NVidia Geforce 8800/ Intel HD 3000, 13 GB hard drive space.

Visit our dedicated FPS games for Mac guide for more

Stardew Valley

Mac Release date: 2016

MacOS developer: ConcernedApe

Metascore: 89

Stardew Valley is the country-life RPG that took everyone by surprise, shattering sales records on Steam.

This pixelated farming simulator is a tribute to the old Harvest Moon games and follows a boy who inherits a farm. But compared to Harvest Moon, it’s a much more detailed and complex game, which is amazing considering it was entirely created by one person.

Stardew Valley is an open-ended game and gives you control over everything: the design of your farm, the kinds of animals and crops to raise, etc. For months I wondered how an old-looking game about a farmer could be any fun. Well, turns out Stardew Valley is addictive and fun, no matter your gaming preferences.

Plus, as the game uses retro-looking graphics, Stardew Valley version can be played on most Macs, including older models.

Our benchmark results (in FPS):

Expand to see if your Mac run it

Testing Conditions & Results:

Notice frames arecapped at 60 FPS. That explains why both MacBooks didn’t do better.

Can your Mac run it?Definitely! Even an older model will do fine.

Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience on Mac.

Verdict: Not Demanding

System Requirements: OS 10.10, 2 GHz Processor, 2 GB RAM, 256 MB Video RAM, 500 MB hard drive space.

Visit our dedicated Simulation games for Mac guide for more

Civilization 6

Mac Release date: 2016

MacOS developer: Aspyr

Metascore: 88

Civilization 5 was one of my favorite strategy games of all times and yet Civilization 6 managed to top it.

In Civ 6, you take control of an entire civilization. You get to create cities, raise armies, research technologies, build an economy, and expand your empire. Civ 6 may not be the most detailed Mac strategy game on the market (that honor goes to Europa Universalis 4), but it’s certainly the most fun.

Everyone feared Civ 6 would simply ride Civ 5’s coattails, but thankfully, it didn’t. Firaxis managed to create something that feels both familiar and fresh at the same time. Civ 6 brings welcome additions such as complex city-planning and hundreds of other improvements.

Also, Civ 6 also sports improved graphics, making it the best-looking turn-based strategy game today. The downside is that you will need some horsepower to run it smoothly.

Our benchmark results (in FPS):

Expand to see if your Mac run it

Testing Conditions: We tested the game using Medium Performance impact, Medium Memory impact, MSAA 2X Anti-Aliasing, and 1280×800 resolution.

Can your Mac run it? Unfortunately, Civ 6 suffers from MacOS’s aging OpenGL graphics API, which is why the game is incredibly demanding. Only those with a high-end Mac will be able to enjoy it…

Any bugs you should be aware of? You can expect a smooth, bug-free experience.

Verdict: Very Demanding
<System Requirements: OS 10.11, 2.7 GHz Intel i5 Processor, 6 GB RAM, GeForce 775M, Radeon HD 6970, Intel Iris Pro, 1 GB Video RAM or better, 15 GB hard drive space.

Visit our dedicated Strategy games for Mac guide for more

Fortnite: Battle Royale

Mac Release date: 2017

MacOS developer: Epic Games

Metascore: 81

Fortnite seems to be everywhere right now. Everyone is either playing it or talking about it. But give it a chance, and you’ll understand what the fuss is all about.

In Fortnite Battle Royale (the free PvP mode), you and up to 99 opponents are dropped into a giant map where you’ll have to find randomly placed weapons, shields, and resources to survive until you’re the last person (or squad) standing. Battle Royale games are all the rage right now and new ones appear each week. Still, I’m confident Fortnite will remain the most popular choice for a long time. This is a solid game with great shooting mechanics and a strong community and you really can play it for free and be successful.

Fortnite also features detailed environments and good-looking, albeit cartoonish, graphics that really make you wonder how Fortnite can be free at all. The Mac version of the game is stable but it’s clearly not as well optimized as the Windows version. To play it, you’ll need a recent Mac.

Our benchmark results (in FPS):

Expand to see if your Mac run it

Testing Conditions: We tested the game using Medium settings, 100% 3D Resolution, V-Sync Off and 1280×800 resolution:

Can your Mac run it? Fortnite is quite demanding. Even our 2016 MacBook Pro couldn’t manage 30 FPS (the absolute minimum required for a fast-paced online shooter). The Mac performance of the game keeps improving with every new update, but performance is low.

Any bugs you should be aware of? Not exactly a bug, but be aware that performance is terrible as soon as your character jumps from the bus. Be patient and wait a few minutes until performance improves and FPS stabilize.

Verdict: Very Demanding

System Requirements: OS 10.12.6 and a machine that supports Metal, 2.4 GHz Intel Core i3 Processor, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD 4000 or better.

Visit our dedicated Free games for Mac guide for more

Cuphead

Mac Release date: 2018

MacOS developer: Studio MDHR

Metascore: 88

Overnight success stories of indie games that appear of nowhere and captivate are nothing new. But even if great indies are released every month, few are become as insanely popular as Cuphead, a run and gun action game from Studio MHDR.

Cuphead turned a few heads early on because of its unique looks. This game looks like it came out straight from one of those old school cartoons from the 1930s. Not only was it the first time someone tried it, Cuphead completely nailed it. But this game is not only about looks. Cuphead also nailed its run and gun gameplay, featuring very precise controls that you’ll need as every level and boss are extremely challenging. Some have called it a “cute” Dark Souls and I can only agree.

So dust off your controller of choice and prepare to have tons of fun endlessly dying and restarting over!

Our benchmark results (in FPS):

Expand to see if your Mac run it

Testing Conditions:We tested the game using VSync On and 1440×900 resolution:

Notice frames arecapped at 60FPS. That explains why the 2016 MacBook didn’t do better.

Can your Mac run it?Definitely! Even an older MacBook Air will do fine.

Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience on Mac.

Verdict: Not Demanding

System Requirements: OS 10.9, Intel Core i5 Processor, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4000 or higher, 20 GB hard drive space.

Visit our dedicated Best Mac games of 2019 guide for more

We had a hard time limiting the best FPS for Mac to a Top 10 list, so we decided to honor the games that didn’t quite make the cut but were close.

It can be hard to remain objective when selecting the best of anything. But when it comes to video games, it’s nearly impossible… Tastes are nearly as important as quality, hence the need to have some guidelines. Every game featured here will follow these simple principles:

Only native support: You’d be surprised how many Top Games for macOS lists feature Windows-only games. Not here. Each and every one of the games mentioned here are officially supported on MacOS and do not require Bootcamp or Wine.

Focus on MacOS performance: Many of the games featured here have been tested on several Macs as part of our dedicated guides. These are the specifications of the main test machines:

iMac (5K, 27-inch, Late 2014)

3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2GB)

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2013)

2.4 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, Intel Iris 5100 (1.5GB)

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016):

2.0 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, Intel Iris Graphics 540 (1.5GB)

For the record, we test our games on Medium settings (to give older models a chance) and 1280×800 resolution.

These are all the results of our tests in Frames per Second (FPS):

And for reference, this is how we interpret the results:

We usually aim for 30 FPS, because 30 FPS is enough to guarantee a smooth and fluid experience.

Critically acclaimed: We know that our opinions are not the only ones that matter. To keep this guide as relevant as possible, we only considered proven games with positive reviews from both professional reviewers and average gamers.

After 14,000 words and many hours creating the biggest Macintosh games list out there, all I can ask you is toget your first Mac gameand bookmark this page (you will need the inspiration later).

Mac gaming can only grow if more gamers give it a shot. Perhaps you’re a casual gamer, or perhaps you are convinced your Mac is too old to play modern games. In any case, start with a few free games and see how it goes. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

Do you think I missed a very good Mac game already available? Let me know in the comments section.

Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission (this is how we pay the bills). This commission comes at no additional cost to you.

Itching for some interactive thrills? We’ve got a nice stack of Halloween-ready options that you can download on your Mac today. If you’re looking for gruesome, violent adventures filled with aggressive enemies, we’ve got those. Prefer something atmospheric and eerie, albeit with the occasional well-timed jump-scare? Well, we definitely have those covered, too.

Inside are 15 games you can play on a modern Mac, ranging from well-known titles like The Walking Dead and Doom 3 to indie favorites like Devil Daggers and Layers of Fear. Whatever you chose, these games are all designed to shock and startle. Don’t say we didn’t warn you!