Video games on the Mac, a utopia? In 2020, the Mac is not yet the El Dorado of video games, but computers running M1 processors are great surprises for gamers. But what are the comfortably playable games?

Movies and video podcasts on my 2012 Mini is no problem. I don't do much coding, but I do run many virtual machines on my Minis. I have one 2009 Mini (2.0GHz Core2Duo, 8GB) and two 2012 Minis (2.3 Corei7 Quad, 16GB.).

When we tested the MacBook Pro M1, equipped with the first Apple Silicon chips, we went from surprise to surprise. Apple machines weren’t expected to be able to beat the more expensive Intel machines, nor that the compatibility of Intel applications, converted by Rosetta 2, was expected to be so immediate and transparent. In terms of video games, our hopes were slim and yet, the M1 chip of our MacBook Pro also shone. It was impressive to watch the latest expansion for World of Warcraft run, in native definition, in high detail without the slightest slack – and without turning the laptop into a turbine.

These observations have been made by many gamers around the world, perhaps heralding the start of a more interesting era for video games on macOS. We then consulted a shared Google Sheets document that ran on forums and other subreddits and where everyone could add their game tests on a MacBook M1, with comments and details. As the subject is better than a spreadsheet, a page was created to summarize the results ” crowdsourcés »Of gamers and gamers on macOS.

You will be able to find this large database MacBook M1 compatible games at this address.

The games are playable

On the page, you will find a field in which you can enter the title of a video game to find out if it is compatible. A first summary display will show you the answer by Yes or by non. It will be easy, then, to find more information: click on the game to access a performance report and details on the test machine. The less expensive machines, with only 8 GB of RAM, have rather exceptional performance on compatible games.

It should also be noted that not all games are M1 games, that is, games designed for Apple’s processor. They may have been converted by Rosetta, using services like CrossOver, or even, playing from Stadia or GeForce Now (which is a bit of a cheat, let’s face it, as they require a good internet connection in addition to the MacBook. The important thing for the user is to know if they work and how they work.

The complete list of games entered in the database is available at this address.

What are the cheapest M1 Macs to play with?

• The Mac mini M1 8 GB / 256 GB storage is sold for € 799. It is the cheapest machine with a Mac M1, ideal for advanced office configuration, editing… and video games. It has an 8-core GPU.
• The MacBook Air M1 8GB / 256GB storage is sold for € 1,129. It’s Apple’s cheapest laptop, just as powerful as the rest. We will simply note a 7-core GPU, but which does not seem to have a colossal impact on performance.
• The MacBook Pro M1 8GB / 256GB storage is sold 1 449 €. It is the cheapest laptop with active cooling in the range. It embeds 8 GPUs and can be better ventilated over long sessions. Our test.

Which controllers are compatible with the Mac M1?

Apple has certified several good quality consumer controllers. If you read us, you will know that we greatly appreciate the controllers of the two video game giants – Sony and Microsoft. Between the two, it’s a matter of taste.

• The Xbox One Controller is the easiest to use on Mac, but it’s a bit pricey compared to the new one – we can’t recommend it for purchase.
• The new Xbox controller incorporates features from the Elite range, for our greatest pleasure. It costs around sixty euros. It is not yet officially compatible, but Microsoft is working on it. It is a good investment.
• La manette Xbox Adaptive thought for people with disabilities is also compatible.
• The Sony DualShock 4 is compatible, for about thirty euros.

Mac Mini M1 Games

The PS5 DualSense is not yet on the program.

Can You Game On A Mac Mini Version

Set Up M1 Mac Mini

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