Best Steam Games On Mac 2018 Rating: 3,9/5 7067 reviews

Gaming on macOS is still not much of a 'thing' as many enthusiasts would like. In fact, iOS is a far better gaming platform in terms of sheer number of games than is macOS. However, you can get your gaming on if you are so inclined. If there is a will there's a way! So, if you have a Mac mini setup for use as a media center or a file server, why not add some gaming to the mix to get the most out of your $799 investment? Here's how!

Top 250 – Hidden gems – 2020 – New – Players; Join Club 250. Top 150 best Steam games released in 2018, according to gamer reviews. Despite representing a historical segment, this ranking is subject to change as votes change and old games are released on Steam. Dec 27, 2018  The best strategy games for Mac have always been excellent, but in recent years, they got even better. Whether you’re into fast-paced real-time strategy (RTS), complex turn-based games or more casual alternatives for your MacBook, this list has something for everyone. Jan 16, 2020 These are the best Steam games 2020 on offer, from bona fide classics to new slices of gaming gold, that will keep you entertained for hours on end. Find out which made our best Steam games list.

Some caveats

Although I'll be setting up my Mac mini in my living room as an entertainment hub that will offer movies, TV, and gaming, I'd be lying if I said that this was an all-in-one solution. Although many aspects of the Mac mini on its own could be used for gaming, I'll be recruiting the help of some extra hardware and non-Mac software to get us to the point where we can use the Mac mini as a proper gaming hub.

The hardware

2018 Mac mini

For our 'ultimate' gaming Mac mini, I'll be buying the lowest end 2018 Mac mini for $799 Apple. This comes with:

  • 3.6GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i3 processor
  • 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory
  • Intel UHD Graphics 630
  • 128GB PCIe-based SSD storage

I know what you're thinking. I can feel your look. Those specs aren't powerful enough to run the latest games. The GPU and CPU is way too weak, and the storage space is far too small. Well, you're correct for most modern games. Not only will we be adding some hardware to the mix, we'll also setup some gaming software that the Mac mini is able to play right out of the box. So sit tight.

We'll be connecting the Mac mini to a 5K display with a gigabit ethernet wired connection to my network. You'll get better performance out of this lowest end Mac mini if you limit your resolutions to 1080p but you can decide if higher resolutions are worth the performance hit.

External SSD (optional)

Extra disk space is completely optional depending on your needs. If you have an external NAS or are simply very good at managing your disk space (installing a single game and uninstalling it when no longer in use to save space), you can get away with not having to add external storage. In my case, I have both a Synology Diskstation, $370 on a gigabit ethernet connection and a Samsung 500GB thunderbolt 3 portable ssd, $299.

External GPU (optional)

If you want to play more modern macOS versions of 3D games, then you'll need a more powerful GPU. macOS Mojave has added excellent eGPU support for AMD Polaris and Vega GPUs right out of the box supported directly by Apple. You can also optionally add Nvidia GPUs but will be beholden to the company for driver updates and support.

Revolt game download mac. Best hiden object games for mac 2019. You needn't add an eGPU if you plan on using the Mac mini for either emulated console and arcade games from yesteryear, or if you plan on streaming all of your games from a more powerful computer (we show you how shortly).

I do plan on running native macOS games directly from the Mac mini so I got Apple's own eGPU enclosure, $599. It comes with a mid-range AMD RX 580 GPU which is a good match for the Coffee Lake CPU's in our Mac mini. You plug it in to the TB 3 port on the back of the Mac mini, and Mojave just makes it work.

Gamepad

You can use a number of gamepads of your choosing. You can attach wireless bluetooth device such as the Steam Controller, a PS4 controller or even an Xbox One controller that supports Bluetooth. You can also use a regular USB wired gamepad that is Xbox compatible as well. If you plan on connecting via bluetooth, simply pair your controller to your Mac using the Bluetooth System Preference panel.

Windows Gaming PC (optional)

If you want to be able to play any game without limitations, you'll actually need a powerful Windows based PC somewhere on your network. We'll still be using the more aesthetically pleasing and living room friendlier Mac mini as our front-end, but the Windows PC will be our gateway to all things gaming. The PC I'll be using is running Windows 10 with a 6700k Intel Skylake CPU, 16 GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB SSD and a Nvidia GTX 1080ti.

The software

macOS Mojave

In order to get the best possible performance and compatibility, we'll be using macOS Mojave. Mojave offers support for the eGPU connected RX 580 without any configuring or hacking.

Xbox controller support

Download and install the open source 360Controller driver to be able to run your non-macOS native gamepads like the Xbox 360 or Xbox One controller. This will install a new System Preference panel that allows you to configure your gamepads. I strongly suggest to checkmark the Spoofing Preferences option to Pretend to be an Xbox 360 Controller under the Advanced tab if you don't actually have a true Xbox controller for compatibility purposes.

OpenEmu

OpenEmu is a multiple console and arcade machine emulator. It has a slick and easy to use interface where you and just drag and drop your supported game ROMs into the OpenEmu application and things get installed automatically. If you need M.A.M.E. support make certain you download the 'Experimental' version of the software. Download it. Run it. Use the wizard and install all defaults. That's it.

You can then configure your controllers per game or per emulated console. The lowest end Mac mini will likely run all of these types of games without the need of externally connected hardware like the eGPU or need copious amounts of disk space from an external SSD.

Configure your Gamepad settings as needed. Note that OpenEmu tries it's best to automatically bind the proper buttons to your selected gamepad.

Steam

For modern gaming, you'll likely want to install Valve's Steam platform. With Steam, you'll be able to buy and play a mountain of native macOS titles as well as a handful of pretty modern titles as well. If you opted to use a powerful Windows based PC on your network as well, you'll need to install Steam on both the PC and the Mac mini.

Simply download Steam and install it. Create an account and download your games. If using a networked PC to power your games, use the same account for both your Mac mini and your PC.

For a list of owned games that can run natively on macOS, Click Library > Mac. Once you install your macOS native game, make certain to set your eGPU (if you have one) as the preferred device for graphics. You'll need to find the installed game with Finder, Option-click the Application > Get Info and set the check box.

If you added an external SSD for more storage. Be certain to add your SSD as one of the default download directories for steam in Preferences > Downloads > Steam Library Folders.

To Stream games, you'll need the game installed on the machine that you'll be streaming from and on the Mac mini Steam client, click Stream to play the game. The PC will provide the power, you Mac mini will be the interface.

If you have an eGPU and you want to stream from a PC, you can enable more advanced streaming options in Steam Preferences > In home Streaming > Advanced Client Options. Here you can enable hardware decoding for better visual performance capabilities. (Note that at the time of this writing the ethernet cable was faulty. Wireless streaming was used so the performance through streaming was worse than expected).

Your Controllers should also be automatically configured in Steam.

You can enable Steam's Big Picture Mode to get a controller-centric interface where you can sit on your couch and use your controller input to navigate Steam.

Final comments

Above is a near no compromise gaming option for using your Mac mini as a gaming hub in your den or living room. It's ideal since it's sleek, very quiet, and is able to do things beyond gaming such as serving as a media player. Adding the ability to run emulators is an extra benefit as well as simply having a full blown OS at your disposal. The ability to stream via Steam and connect a controller via bluetooth makes this setup very unobtrusive. A more integrated option could have been to use my AppleTV but unfortunately, at this time, Apple has put the kibosh on the Steam Link App from Valve to be able to stream games through my AppleTV. Let's hope that Apple gets with the program on this and makes that happen. Let us know your comments or thoughts in the comments section!

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On a Windows PC or a computer, it is comparatively easy to install and play games you like. Mac computers are best in productivity and in the design but since a long time Mac users have compromised on gaming. Well there is some good news, now even Mac users can enjoy best gaming on their Mac. Now Mac users have a dedicated revolutionary gaming store that is Steam. So, without further delay let’s look at some of the best games on Steam.

10 Best Games on Mac Steam in 2019

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. Completion of each round gives you money to upgrade your weapons. The quality of the game is proven by it being one of the most loved game since 2009

2. Besiege

If you know what is art of destructions then another best Mac game on Steam is Besiege. There is a lot of building and destruction involved. It can be an hour’s task or can also be ended earlier. We love the game because there is no need to be stuck on it for days or months to solve the mysteries. You can create something which is magnificent or something that will be destroyed by just pressing space bar. You can get it for $6.99 which is definitely worth considering what the game has to offer.

Best Steam Games On Mac 2018 Download

3. League of legends

League of legends is one of the most popular game people play online. There are around 68 million players who play this game. If we talk about MOBA world then this game is the perfect entry. This game is one of the top 10 Mac games for free to play and there is nothing to lose. You can spend hours playing this game and enjoying the new battle grounds.

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4. Counter Strike: Global Offensive

When it comes to top steam games almost every gamer knows this game very well. Like it always happens in CS you have to join either terrorists or the counter terrorist team. You can choose from 5 different game modes and in all the modes you should defend yourself from getting killed, because in that case you need to wait until next round for re-spawn.

Best Steam Games On Mac

5. Team Fortress 2

The classic game Team Fortress doesn’t require an introduction. It is a team based game. Goofy and riddled it is a perfect pick for everyone. Despite the number of years that this game has been around for, it still has a growing fan base. In this game you will find different people with different weapons.

6. BioShock

BioShock is a FPS game and has been around from the last 10 years. It is compatible with multiple gaming platforms such as PlayStation Xbox. So, you may find large number of online partners. Graphics of the game are beautifully designed and give you a real feel of diving deep inside.

7. Tomb Raider

Every day you will find new steam games but who hasn’t heard of Tomb Raider? Lara croft, one of the biggest gaming icons made a comeback in 2013 with a new title Tomb Raider. For those who need introduction for this game, Lara Croft is an archaeologist who stumbles across many adventures. Like always this game is known for its beautiful design and you will love to uncover the adventure.

8. Broken Age

Broken Age is an art style story book game which is really refreshing. All and all you can control two main characters, a girl and a boy who live abroad with computerized parents. The relationship between characters is something which you will have to solve by yourself.

Best Steam Games On Mac 2018 Release

9. Final Soccer

Next pick is for sports lovers. If soccer is your favorite sport and you have VR compatible kit then you will find this game the best Mac game on Steam. Visuals of this game are awesome and you will find yourself lost in it. With your VR kit you need to stretch yourself but you will really enjoy playing it.

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Best Free Mac Steam Games

10. Golfing Over It

Best Steam Games On Mac 2018 Release

For all the golf lovers this game will be a perfect pick. You might have played lots of games with the Normal golf set but this game is different. You need to bounce the golf ball over different shapes and creations. If you can do it perfectly you will level up. The game is lightweight and a perfect pick to refresh your mind.

So, these were 10 best Mac games on Steam. Apart from this you can choose from more than 6000 games on the store but if you are a beginner then first you should choose from top 10 Mac games for free. With this now Mac lovers will also have better gaming experience than ever before.