ANIMAL WELL is a metroidvania game developed by Billy Basso and published by Bigmode. The game doesn’t tell you much when it starts. Instead, you’ll have to figure out your objectives – and certain gameplay mechanics – on your own. So, as you can imagine, exploration is a very big part of this game. Combat, on the other hand, isn’t. Your character cannot fight at all; most of the time, you’ll have to avoid dangers instead of confronting them. But there are situations which will allow you to fight back using the environment. Since there’s no central narrative, ANIMAL WELL can afford to be very non-linear. There are many rooms to explore, items to find, puzzles to solve, and secrets to find; almost all of this content can be completed in any order. The developer proudly states that “all items in the game have multiple uses”. That is because many puzzles revolve around finding specific items and using them in the right place. Much like in a point-and-click adventures, yes, but don’t worry. ANIMAL WELL’s challenges may be tricky, but they are all logical. Sadly, this intriguing game is not available on macOS, but it’s easy to get around this issue. Read our guide to learn how to play ANIMAL WELL on Mac.
View More How to play ANIMAL WELL on MacBlog
Can Mac M4 run games?
A while ago, we published an article titled “Can Mac M3 run games?“. Apple has been busy at work since then; just recently, they’ve introduced a new M4 chip. Naturally, we decided to cover it as well. Although the chip is available only for iPad at the moment, it will perform, generally, in the same way when installed in a Mac or a MacBook. So we already have a rough understanding of its gaming performance. Let’s dive into it!
View More Can Mac M4 run games?How to play FINAL FANTASY XIV Online on Mac
FINAL FANTASY XIV Online is a MMORPG developed by Square Enix. It is a version of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn which includes Heavensward and Stormblood expansions. The base game, A Realm Reborn, will take you on a journey in the land of Etheirys. In this world, there are four city-states and numerous smaller factions, which the player can join. Like many other fantasy worlds, it is populated by many inhuman races, including elf-like Elezen and cat-like Miqo’te. In Heavensward, you will be able to experience the Dragonsong War. Like the name suggests, this war is fought against dragons; because of this, the ability to fly is used very prominently in this DLC. Stormblood, meanwhile, focuses on a rebellion that has been brewing in the Garlean provinces of Doma and Ala Mhigo. When it comes to playing FFXIV on Mac, the situation is complicated. Some versions of the game are available on the platform, while others aren’t. Furthermore, the support for Intel Macs was dropped in 2024, so the game now only works on Apple Silicon computers. When it comes to the “Online” version specifically, it is available on Windows only. But you can read our guide to learn how to play FINAL FANTASY XIV Online on Mac.
View More How to play FINAL FANTASY XIV Online on MacHow to play Hades II on Mac
Hades II is a roguelite game developed by a famous indie studio Supergiant Games. As a sequel to the original Hades, the game seeks to expand on the systems found in the original in every possible way. It’s not quite there yet – when this article was written, Hades II just released in Early Access – but it is already amazing. The story takes place long after the first game, and the Greek Gods you’ve all come to know and love have been defeated by an evil titan named Cronus, and were forced into hiding. You play as a princess of the underworld, Melinoe; thanks to her immortality, she is the only one who has a chance of defeating the titan. Unlike Zagreus (the protagonist of the first game), Melinoe is far more reliant on sorcery, which is reflected both in gameplay and the style of the game. Not only there are many more spells in Hades II, it also has new magic-based mechanics such as Tarot cards and magic circles. Sadly, it’s not all sunshine and roses. Although the first Hades game was available on Mac, the second one isn’t. That said, you can get around that by using a third-party program to play Hades II on Mac. The article below explains how to do it.
View More How to play Hades II on MacAsahi Linux: is it good for gaming?
Linux, as you might already know, is a free operating system that can serve as an alternative to Windows and macOS. Asahi Linux is a version of Linux developed specifically for Apple Silicon architecture. As of May 2024, it works well on M1 and M2 Macs, while M3 support is under active development. But while it’s always nice to have options, most people buy Macs and MacBooks precisely because they want to use macOS. So let’s delve further in and consider why this operating system even exists.
View More Asahi Linux: is it good for gaming?How to play iOS games on Mac with PlayCover
You may have heard that Apple Silicon Macs have the ability to run apps designed for iOS. However, this feature is very restricted. If you tried it yourself, you know that very few apps and games can actually be installed this way. Furthermore, this restriction is artificial. There is no technical limitation, Apple just disables this functionality for all apps by default. For the feature to work, the developer must actively enable it, and most don’t bother. This is where PlayCover comes in. Unlike the official feature, it works for all iOS apps and games, not just those on the whitelist. It also lets you map touchscreen controls to mouse and keyboard in a fashion similar to Android emulators. But PlayCover is not an emulator; it works by disguising your computer as an iPad. This means that it generally runs faster, although the difference is negligible on modern computers. Of course, this sounds really useful, so you might want to install PlayCover yourself. It’s not hard to use, but if you have trouble figuring something out, you can read our PlayCover tutorial for Mac.
View More How to play iOS games on Mac with PlayCoverEasy ways to play Gray Zone Warfare on Mac (Intel/M1/M2/M3)
Gray Zone Warfare is an extraction shooter developed by MADFINGER Games. Although it was inspired by Escape from Tarkov, the game is actually quite different… but let’s start from the beginning. The game is set on an island called Lamang, which is located somewhere in Southeast Asia. Though we don’t know why, all civilians in the area were evacuated by the United Nations, and three factions were recruited to explore the area. You play as a member of one of these factions, which is also the game’s main innovation. Each faction controls a portion of the map, where they are most prominent. As members of your own faction are friendly towards you, it’s possible to completely avoid PvP encounters if you stay within the controlled area. The game also has a realistic injury system, which tracks damage to each part of your body. It also doesn’t inform you about this damage directly, so you have to identify your health issues yourself. Healing is even harder, so you’d be wise to stay cautious. Right now, the game is available only on PC. There are, however, several third-party programs which bypass this issue. Learn how to play Gray Zone Warfare on Mac with our helpful guide.
View More Easy ways to play Gray Zone Warfare on Mac (Intel/M1/M2/M3)How to play F1 24 on Mac
F1 24 is a racing game developed by Codemasters and published by Electronic Arts. As the latest installment of the F1 racing game series, it comes with a variety of new features to entertain and excite all the returning players. The most complex addition is the new Challenge Career mode, which is a seasonal PvP challenge for competitive players. The solo campaign – called Driver Career mode – has also been overhauled. The last of the big additions is “EA Dynamic Handling”, which is a feature that improves the physics of car handling. Graphics have been overhauled as well, most notably by including ray tracing functionality in the game. F1 24 also supports VR. However, it does not support Apple computers. It released on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and Microsoft Windows. No macOS release, as usual. Despite the unfortunate tendency of gaming companies to overlook Mac users, you can play F1 24 on Mac anyway. To do this, you will need to install a third-party app; you can learn which ones of them are the best by reading the guide below.
View More How to play F1 24 on MacHow to play Another Crab’s Treasure on Mac
Another Crab’s Treasure is a unique Souls-like game in which you play as a crab. Developed and published by AGGRO CRAB, the game is set in an underwater kingdom. Our brave protagonist does not agree with its fiscal policy; more specifically, he is convinced that he doesn’t have to pay any taxes. Unfortunately for him, the government did not ask for his permission, and has seized his house as a result. Now homeless, the hero proceeds to explore the polluted oceanic floor, using discarded human trash as armor and weapons. The combat itself is exactly what you’d expect – slow-paced and deliberate – but the atmosphere is not. Another Crab’s Treasure proves that Souls-like games can be humorous and colorful too, and for that alone, it’s worth a try. But, of course, you already knew that you want to play this game. That is why you are here! Although this game doesn’t have a native macOS version, we know several ways to bypass this problem. Follow this guide to play Another Crab’s Treasure on Mac.
View More How to play Another Crab’s Treasure on Mac3 methods to play Manor Lords on Mac (Intel/M1/M2/M3)
Manor Lords is a medieval strategy game that intricately combines realistic city-building with large-scale tactical battles. The game is set in a fictionalized version of historical Franconia and offers a deep, organic city-building experience where players can grow their starting village into a bustling city. This involves managing resources, constructing buildings, and expanding land through strategic planning and warfare. The gameplay of Manor Lords is divided into several core mechanics: regional development, trade, and military recruitment. Players can upgrade residential buildings to gain development points, which are then used to unlock new branches on a development tree, allowing for specialization in various production chains like farming, mining, or goods manufacturing. The economic model is dynamic, with the attractiveness of a town’s market affecting the frequency of merchant visits, which are crucial for accumulating wealth. In terms of combat, Manor Lords employs real-time tactical battles reminiscent of the Total War series, where players manage large battalions rather than individual units. The game features different types of military units, including peasant militias, archer militias, and more heavily armored units like the lord’s retinue. Players must also navigate a political landscape, interacting with other lords and the king to gain influence and rewards. Unfortunately, Manor Lords is not available for Mac users. It requires Windows 10 or higher, and there are currently no plans to port the game to Mac or any other non-PC platforms. However, there are few workarounds, that will help you enjoy this game on Mac.
View More 3 methods to play Manor Lords on Mac (Intel/M1/M2/M3)