Mac Gaming Computer:
How to Game With Your Mac Computer

Try Now

From their sleek aesthetics to their all near flawless interfaces, Mac computers are hands down, one of (if not) the very best feats of modern-day computer technology. But even with their impeccable hardware and polished software, there is still one aspect they, unfortunately, fall short on — gaming.

Don't get it wrong, though; it isn't that Macs lack the capability to run games. Heavens no! In fact, there are several games supported by Mac out there. However, most game developers out there don't tailor their games for MacOS. And this limits your options.

Luckily, there is a way you can run PC games on your Mac. The easiest is by installing Windows on your Mac.

To do so, you can use Mac's Boot Camp, but this would mean rebooting your computer each time you want to play your game. The smarter way would be installing Windows through an external third party app such as Parallels.

What Mac computers are good for gaming?

Before we go any further, we must emphasize that there are still quite a number of Mac-compatible games available, including Call of Duty Black Ops III, Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Civilization VI, among others.

But while most functioning Macs would comfortably handle said games, some are especially good at handling the high processing, high graphics needs of a heavy gamer. When looking at a good computer for gaming, it is crucial to consider the features below.

  • Processor — You'll require a minimum of Intel Core i5 to handle 3D games. Therefore, you'll be best suited with an i7, i9 and the new M1 processor from Apple.
  • Graphics — While the avid gamer might need to upgrade the built-in graphics card, the Radeon Pro should work just fine. You'll get it in the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
  • Memory — Any Mac with more than 16GB RAM should suffice. You can even upgrade to 64 GB, according to your demands.
  • Display — Display quality is one factor you needn't worry about in modern Macs. They all have crisp, clear screens. However, for an immersive experience, a 16-inch model would be more suitable.
  • Storage — To support multiple games, you'll need as much storage as possible. Call of Duty Warzone, for instance, needs 175GB to run smoothly. M1 MacBook Air has 256GB, but you can configure it to 2TB.
  • Thunderbolt ports — Check that your Mac has as many ports as possible (about 4) to connect all your controllers, gamepads and other accessories.

Some of the Macs that meet the above criteria include the 16-inch MacBook, the M1 MacBook Air, and the 13-inch MacBook Pro (2020).

Using Parallels to game on your Mac

Now, as we mentioned, there is a way you can install Windows on your Mac and enjoy all the games that come with it. We also saw that Parallels is the better, more efficient alternative to Mac's Boot Camp.

To break it down, Parallels is a fast, powerful and easy application that allows the running of Windows on your Apple Mac. The best part about it is that you can switch between the two operating systems and enjoy all the Window's compatible games without rebooting.

To get started, you simply need to install Parallels in your Mac. Then install Windows using Parallels. If you hadn't installed Windows on your Mac, Parallels will automatically detect the absence of Windows. It will then download and install it for you.

Takeaway

In summary, it's safe to say that Macs are not the best computers for gaming. But at least now, you know that you don't need to buy a whole other PC to enjoy all your favorite Windows games. With a little help from Parallels, you can enjoy the best of both worlds. Check out their website for a free trial download.