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Apple has been making huge strides in the computer industry by developing its own processors, and the new Apple Silicon-based Macs are evidence of that. With the M1 chip, Apple has achieved unparalleled performance and efficiency, which has made it possible to run iOS and iPadOS apps natively on macOS. While this is an excellent feature, gaming has been a challenge on Macs for a long time. However, with the introduction of the M1 chip, Apple Silicon games for Mac are now a reality.
What is Apple Silicon?
Apple Silicon is the term used to describe the ARM-based processors that power Apple’s Macs. These processors are designed by Apple and are built on the same architecture used in the iPhone and iPad. With Apple Silicon, Macs can now run iOS and iPadOS apps natively, as well as Mac apps that have been optimized for the M1 chip. This has greatly increased the performance and efficiency of Macs.
Apple Silicon Games for Mac
One of the significant advantages of the M1 chip is its ability to run iOS and iPadOS apps natively on macOS. This has opened up a new world of possibilities for Mac gaming. With Apple Silicon, games that were previously only available on the iPhone and iPad can now be played on Macs. Many popular games such as Among Us, Genshin Impact, and PUBG Mobile are now available on Macs with the M1 chip.
How to Find Apple Silicon Games for Mac?
Finding Apple Silicon games for Mac is relatively easy. The App Store on macOS has a section specifically for M1-compatible apps. Simply open the App Store and click on the “M1” tab to see a list of all the apps that have been optimized for the M1 chip. From there, you can find many Apple Silicon games for Mac.
| Game | Genre | API | M1 Support | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt 8 | Racing | Metal | Native | Excellent |
| Asphalt 9 | Racing | Metal | Native | Excellent |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | RPG | Metal | Native | Good |
| Disco Elysium | RPG | Metal | Native | Good |
| Factorio | Strategy | OpenGL | Native | Excellent |
| Farming Simulator 22 | Simulation | Metal | Native | Good |
| Football Manager 2023 | Simulation | Metal | Native | Good |
| Gang Beasts | Action | Metal | Native | Good |
| Horizon Chase Turbo | Racing | Metal | Native | Good |
| Minecraft | Sandbox | Metal | Native | Good |
| Myst | Adventure | Metal | Native | Good |
| NBA 2K22 Arcade | Sports | Metal | Native | Good |
| Old World | Strategy | Metal | Native | Good |
| Pascal’s Wager: Definitive Edition | RPG | Metal | Native | Good |
| Prodeus | Shooter | Metal | Native | Good |
| Resident Evil Village | Action | Metal | Native | Excellent |
| RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 | Simulation | Metal | Native | Good |
| Runescape | MMO | Metal | Native | Good |
| SimCity 4 | Strategy | Metal | Native | Good |
| Spacebase Startopia | Strategy | Metal | Native | Good |
| The Wandering Village | Strategy | Metal | Native | Good |
| Timberborn | Strategy | Metal | Native | Good |
| Tunic | Adventure | Metal | Native | Good |
| World of Warcraft | MMO | Metal | Native | Good |
| World of Warcraft: Classic | MMO | Metal | Native | Good |
| X-Plane 12 | Simulation | Metal | Native | Good |
| Among Us | Party | Metal | iOS | Good |
| Pokemon Quest | Adventure | Metal | iOS | Good |
| Horizon Chase Turbo | Racing | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| 0 A.D. | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| 7 Days to Die | Shooter | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| 911 Operator | Simulation | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| A Total War Saga: Troy | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Age of Wonders: Planetfall | Strategy | TBC | Rosetta | Average |
| Albion Online | MMO | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Alien: Isolation | Horror | OpenGL | Rosetta | Average |
| American Truck Simulator | Simulation | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Aragami | Action | OpenGL | Rosetta | Average |
| ARK: Survival Evolved | Survival | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Art of Rally | Racing | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Baba is You | Puzzle | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Bastion | Adventure | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Batman: Arkham City | Action | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Battle for Wesnoth | Strategy | OpenGL | Rosetta | Average |
| BATTLETECH | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | NA |
| Beholder | Adventure | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Beyond A Steel Sky | Adventure | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Bioshock 2 Remastered | Shooter | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| BioShock Remastered | Shooter | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Bitburner | Simulation | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Borderlands 2 | Shooter | Metal | Rosetta | Average |
| Borderlands 3 | Shooter | Metal | Rosetta | Average |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 | Shooter | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| CARRION | Action | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Cave Story | Adventure | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Celeste | Action | Vulkan | Rosetta | Poor |
| Chivalry: Medieval Warfare | Action | OpenGL | Rosetta | NA |
| Cities: Skylines | Simulation | OpenGL | Rosetta | Average |
| Civilization 5 | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Civilization 6 | Strategy | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Company of Heroes 2 | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Counter Strike: Global Offensive | Shooter | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Crab Game | Action | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Crusader Kings 3 | Strategy | OpenGL | Rosetta | Average |
| Cult of the Lamb | Action | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Cuphead | Action | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Darkest Dungeon | RPG | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Dead Cells | Action | TBC | Rosetta | NA |
| Descenders | Racing | TBC | Rosetta | Average |
| Desperados 3 | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Deus Ex: Man-kind Divided | Shooter | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Diablo 3 | RPG | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| DiRT 4 | Racing | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| DiRT Rally | Racing | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Distance | Racing | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Divinity: Original Sin | RPG | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Divinity: Original Sin 2 | RPG | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Doki Doki Literature Club! | Visual Novel | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Dome Keeper | Action | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Don’t Starve Together | Simulation | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Dota 2 | MOBA | Vulkan | Rosetta | Good |
| Dota Underlords | Strategy | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Dwarf Fortress | Strategy | OpenGL | Rosetta | NA |
| Dying Light | Shooter | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Elder Scrolls Online | MMO | Vulkan | Rosetta | Poor |
| Euro Truck Simulator 2 | Simulation | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Europa Universalis 4 | Strategy | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| EVE Online | MMO | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Everspace | Action | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| F1 2016 | Racing | Metal | Rosetta | Average |
| F1 2017 | Racing | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Final Fantasy 14 Online | MMO | Metal | Rosetta | Poor |
| Firewatch | Adventure | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Fishing Planet | Simulation | Metal | Rosetta | Average |
| Football Manager 2021 | Simulation | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Football Manager 2022 | Simulation | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Fortnite | Shooter | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Frostpunk | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Average |
| Garry’s Mod | Sandbox | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| GRID: Autosport | Racing | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Hades | RPG | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Hearthstone | CCD | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Hearts of Iron 4 | Strategy | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Hellpoint | RPG | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Her Story | Adventure | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Heroes of the Storm | MOBA | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Hitman | Action | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Hollow Knight | Action | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| House Flipper | Simulation | TBC | Rosetta | Average |
| Human: Fall Flat | Adventure | OpenGL | Rosetta | Excellent |
| Inscryption | CCD | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| INSIDE | Adventure | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Insurgency | Shooter | OpenGL | Rosetta | NA |
| Into the Breach | Strategy | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Keep Talking And Nobody Explodes | Simulation | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Kerbal Space Program | Simulation | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Kingdoms and Castles | Strategy | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Layers of Fear | Horror | TBC | Rosetta | NA |
| League of Legends | MOBA | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| LEGO: The Incredibles | Adventure | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Life is Strange | Adventure | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Life is Strange 2 | Adventure | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Life is Strange: Before the Storm | Adventure | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime | Action | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Mad Max | Action | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Magic The Gathering Arena | CCD | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Metro: 2033 Redux | Shooter | OpenGL | Rosetta | NA |
| Metro: Exodus | Shooter | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Metro: Last Light Redux | Shooter | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor | Action | OpenGL | Rosetta | Average |
| Moonlighter | RPG | OpenGL | Rosetta | NA |
| Moto Racer 4 | Racing | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Mount & Blade: Warband | Strategy | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Night in the Woods | Adventure | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Northgard | Strategy | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Obduction | Adventure | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| OpenTTD | Simulation | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Outlast | Horror | OpenGL | Rosetta | Average |
| Overcooked! 2 | Action | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Owlboy | Adventure | TBC | Rosetta | NA |
| Oxenfree | Adventure | OpenGL | Rosetta | NA |
| Oxygen Not Included | Simulation | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Path of Exile | RPG | Vulkan | Rosetta | Good |
| Pathfinder: Kingmaker | RPG | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous | RPG | Metal | Rosetta | Average |
| Phoenix Point | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | NA |
| Planet Coaster | Simulation | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Prison Architect | Simulation | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Project Zomboid | Survival | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Psychonauts 2 | Adventure | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Realm of the Mad God Exalt | MMO | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Return of the Obra Dinn | Adventure | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Return to Monkey Island | Adventure | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| RimWorld | Simulation | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Rise of the Tomb Raider | Action | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Robocraft | Action | OpenGL | Rosetta | NA |
| Rocket League | Racing | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Rocksmith 2014 Edition: Remastered | Simulation | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Rust | Survival | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Shadow of The Tomb Raider | Action | Metal | Rosetta | Average |
| Skul: The Hero Slayer | Action | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Slay the Spire | CCD | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Sleeping Dogs | Action | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Slime Rancher | Shooter | Metal | Rosetta | Average |
| SOMA | Horror | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| SpeedRunners | Racing | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 | RPG | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Starcraft 2 | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Poor |
| Stardew Valley | Simulation | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Stellaris | Strategy | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| STRAFE: Gold Edition | Shooter | OpenGL | Rosetta | NA |
| Stranded Deep | Adventure | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Subnautica | Adventure | Metal | Rosetta | Average |
| Subnautica: Below Zero | Adventure | OpenGL | Rosetta | Poor |
| SUPERHOT | Shooter | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| SUPERHOT: Mind Control Delete | Shooter | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Surviving Mars | Strategy | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| TACOMA | Adventure | OpenGL | Rosetta | Poor |
| Terraria | Adventure | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut | RPG | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth | Action | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| The Long Dark | Adventure | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| The Pathless | Adventure | Metal | Rosetta | Average |
| The Sims 2 | Simulation | Metal | Rosetta | Crashes |
| The Sims 4 | Simulation | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe | Adventure | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| The Witness | Adventure | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Thief | Action | OpenGL | Rosetta | Average |
| Thimbleweed Park | Adventure | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Tomb Raider | Action | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Tooth and Tail | Strategy | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Total War: ROME REMASTERED | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Total War: Three Kingdoms | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Total War: Warhammer | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Total War: Warhammer 2 | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Total War: Warhammer 3 | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Totally Accurate Battle Simulator | Simulation | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| TowerFall Ascension | Action | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Transistor | Adventure | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Transport Fever 2 | Strategy | Vulkan | Rosetta | Good |
| Tropico 6 | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Average |
| Two Point Campus | Simulation | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Two Point Hospital | Simulation | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| Undertale | RPG | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Unpacking | Simulation | TBC | Rosetta | Excellent |
| Untitled Goose Game | Puzzle | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| UNTURNED | Survival | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Vampire Survivors | Action | TBC | Rosetta | Excellent |
| Victor Vran | RPG | OpenGL | Rosetta | NA |
| Victoria 3 | Strategy | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| War Thunder | MMO | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Warcraft 3 Reforged | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut | RPG | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Wasteland 3 | RPG | Metal | Rosetta | Average |
| World of Tanks Blitz | MMO | Metal | Rosetta | Good |
| X-Plane 11 | Simulation | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
| XCOM 2 | Strategy | Metal | Rosetta | Average |
| Yooka-Laylee | Adventure | OpenGL | Rosetta | Good |
| Arma 3 | Shooter | Metal | Unsupported | Crashes |
| Dungeons & Dragons Online | MMO | OpenGL | Unsupported | Crashes |
| Gravel | Racing | Metal | Unsupported | Crashes |
| Guild Wars 2 | MMO | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Mafia 3 | Action | Metal | Unsupported | Crashes |
| MXGP3 | Racing | Metal | Unsupported | Crashes |
| Observer | Horror | Metal | Unsupported | Crashes |
| Trove | MMO | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Age of Wonders 3 | Strategy | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Brawlhalla | Action | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | Shooter | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Crusader Kings 2 | Strategy | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Fistful of Frags | Shooter | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Grid 2 | Racing | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Half Life 2 | Shooter | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Homeworld Remastered | Strategy | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Left 4 Dead 2 | Shooter | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Monaco: What’s Yours Is Mine | Action | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition | Strategy | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Portal 2 | Puzzle | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Psychonauts | Action | TBC | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Punch Club | RPG | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Spelunky: Classic | Adventure | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Star Conflict | MMO | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Team Fortress 2 | Shooter | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| The Lord of the Rings Online | MMO | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| The Stanley Parable | Adventure | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| The Walking Dead | Horror | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| The Witcher | RPG | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| The Witcher 2 | RPG | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
| Xenonauts | Strategy | OpenGL | Unsupported | Unsupported |
Compatibility of Apple Silicon Games for Mac M1 and M2
One of the significant advantages of Apple Silicon games for Mac is that they are optimized for the M1 chip, which means they will run smoothly and efficiently on Macs with the M1 chip. However, older Macs that are not equipped with the M1 chip may have trouble running these games. If you’re not sure if your Mac is compatible with Apple Silicon games, check the system requirements for each game before downloading it.
