Key Takeaways
- I made sure to check game system requirements on Steam or websites before downloading.
- You can use Boot Camp to download Windows-only games, but you need to manage storage carefully.
- I would play games on a web browser or the Mac App Store and learned to game with a trackpad.
Before I got into video games, I owned a MacBook Pro for school. I slowly got into gaming, where I downloaded Steam and found other ways to play games on a Mac. Since then, I’ve upgraded my setup to include a PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and gaming PC. While it may seem hard to believe, here are some of the ways I was able to game on my Mac.
1 Checking the System Requirements
First, it’s necessary to check and see the system requirements to run the game you’d like to play. You can check system requirements on Steam or on a website where you’re downloading a game. For example, on Steam, you can scroll down to view the system requirements. Alternatively, you can use the search function on Steam to only show Mac-compatible games.
To see what Mac operating system you have, click the Apple logo in the top left corner, then click About This Mac. From here, you can compare your current OS to the one required to run that game.
2 Downloading Windows Games With Boot Camp
Additionally, I learned how to download Boot Camp, which installs Windows on a Mac. This allowed me to use the Windows system on my Mac, so I could download games that are only available on Windows. Here is how to install Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp if you’d like to try it out.
While this is a great option if you only have a Mac and want to game, it’s important to check the storage capacity of Boot Camp. I recently tried to download Wuthering Waves via Boot Camp, but I only had 12 gigabytes of space on Windows remaining—and the game requires about 20 gigabytes of space.
While this storage limit means I can’t play as many big titles, there are still gaming options via Boot Camp. I downloaded the 2013 version of Tomb Raider nearly a decade ago on Boot Camp and was able to play. For reference, this game is only 12 gigabytes.
This may not be a feasible alternative in the future, however, as Apple stopped making Macs with Intel processors in 2023—which are necessary to run Boot Camp. If you have a Mac with an Apple Silicon processor, you won’t be able to run Boot Camp.
3 Playing Games on a Web Browser
There are plenty of games I play on a web browser as well. Facebook has some fun games like Bricks Breaker. Additionally, Google has free games like Solitaire that can help pass the time.
Other websites host a variety of nostalgic games like Cool Math Games which has games like Papa’s Freezeria available to play on a web browser.
4 Playing Games on the Mac App Store
The Mac App Store also has some games to play. Console titles like Stray, where you play as a stray cat exploring a futuristic city, are available for purchase on the Mac App Store. Also, other titles are coming to the Mac App Store soon, including Wuthering Waves.
Another big title, the upcoming Assassin’s Creed: Shadow, is available for preorder, too.
5 Learning to Play With a Trackpad
While this may sound impossible, gaming on a trackpad is feasible. When I only had a Mac, I desperately wanted to play the 2013 reboot of Tomb Raider. However, I didn’t own a controller, so I was forced to learn how to aim and shoot with a trackpad.
It took a bit to get around the learning curve, but I was able to complete the entire game with only a trackpad. If you’re willing to overcome the hurdle, this won’t be a roadblock for gaming on a Mac. Alternatively, some games may support controllers. You can also connect a PS5 DualSense controller to your Mac.
Gaming on a Mac is possible in a pinch, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re a serious gamer. I only played games on a Mac out of necessity and dealt with plenty of frustrations.
For one, I didn’t have a ton of space to download games because I primarily used my Mac for work and school. This meant I had to stick to pretty small games, and even then, they didn’t run great on a Mac.
Additionally, Steam games would often not work with the latest Mac updates. When I used Boot Camp to run Windows, it was also a hassle to switch between Windows and macOS by restarting my laptop each time.
It’s possible to game on a Mac if that’s the only operating system you have, but there are limitations, especially as newer Macs will no longer support Boot Camp. While I made it work for years, I eventually upgraded my system to a Windows PC and consoles to access more games with better performance.
