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MacworldUnfortunately in recent years, the number of great games for Mac has declined because many are no longer supported. Every new version of macOS tends to break a few games, but macOS Catalina in 2019 meant that lot of games that used 32-bit code were no longer Mac compatible. At the same time that Apple went 64-bit only it also introduced Metal for 3D graphics, which left a lot of games developers with a decision: make new Mac versions of their games or stop making them. Unfortunately many chose the latter.This has started to change with the arrival of macOS Sonoma is here. With Sonoma, Apple provides two things: a new Game Porting Toolkit to make it easier for game developers to bring their games to the Mac, and a new Game Mode to ensure a game gets the highest priority on GPU and CPU, for better playability. Read: How to use Game Mode to boost performance.Following these changes weve seen more games coming to the Mac. IncludingResident Evil 7: Biohazard and World of Warcraft: The War Within. Many more A-list games are coming to the Mac, including Assassins Creed: Shadows (November 2024), Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (December 2024), and Resident Evil 2 (date TBC). Just check out our roundup of thebest Mac gamesfor some of the highlights, we also have a round-up of thebest free Mac games.Even before the changes that Sonoma brought, and contrary to popular belief, Mac gamers already have plenty of top games titles to choose from indeed, the most difficult part is narrowing down the options, and then finding the money to buy and time to play them. We cant help with the latter, but the first problem is right up our alley. In this article, weve collected the best Mac games for your delectation including some of the best new games.Below you will find what we believe are the greatest Mac games out there, together with links to the Mac App Store, Steam and other reputable vendors, so you can buy them right away. These are the very best games for Mac. They are in alphabetical order, not in order of preference (because everyone likes different things).November 2024: Including an update to the Diablo III review now that Blizzard has brought Diablo III up-to-date for Mac users.You may also like to take a look at our Best Mac for gaming guide. Plus we have an in-depth look at using an M1 MacBook Pro as a gaming laptop. And if you want some free games to try out on your Mac take a look at our round-up of the Best free Mac games. Best Mac Games 2024Before we run through our list of the best games weve played on the Mac, here are games that we strongly recommend you play on the Mac in 2024. 1. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (Mac)Apple Silicon, with Resident Evil: Village at the end of last year, quickly followed by Resident Evil 4 earlier this year. The latest addition to the range is Resident Evil 7 Biohazard. Biohazard requires a Mac with an M1 or later, running macOS 13.0 or later. Biohazard also runs on the iPad, as long as it has an M1 processor and iPadOS 17, and even the iPhone, with iOS 17 and an A17 processor.It is cheaper than other games in the series, costing just $19.99/15.99 on the Mac App Store. The game can be downloaded for free and run in demo mode, called The Beginning Hour, as an introduction to the main game. If you like the demo, you can buy the full game as an in-app purchase, and theres an expansion pack available for another $19.99/15.99. The game introduces Ethan Winters (who also appeared in Village), who searches for his wife, Mia, who vanished mysteriously three years ago. He receives an email from Mia asking for his help and gives him an address in a swampy backwater town in Louisiana. The game switches to an isolated first-person view, making every shadowy corridor seem even more oppressive and creepy. The game also makes clever use of the found-footage genre of horror movies, with Ethan finding old VHS tapes around the house that help fill in some of the background. Theres also a time-travel effect, where you can take actions during video segments in the past that impact on the present.Capcom recommends a game controller, but its possible to play with a keyboard and mouse if you prefer. Read our full Resident Evil 7: Biohazard (Mac) review 2. Death Stranding: Directors Cut (Mac)Apple is currently attempting to make up for around 40 years of neglecting the Mac games scene probably because it thinks that a few good games might help to boost sales of the new Vision Pro headset (cynical, moi? You betcha!). It hasnt exactly catapulted the Mac games scene into the stratosphere, but there are a few high-profile games now starting to arrive on the Mac, and 2024 gets off to a good start with the arrival of Death Stranding, the idiosyncratic and sometimes downright bizarre game from Hideo Kojima, the renowned developer behind the long-running Metal Gear series.The game is set in a near-future version of the United States, in the aftermath of a mysterious apocalyptic event known as the Death Stranding, which has caused the collapse of society. All thats left are a few scattered communities, which rely on porters to deliver supplies and help set up a communications system called the Chiral network. Thats where you come in, playing Sam Porter Bridges who is voiced by, and modeled on the actor Norman Reedus of Walking Dead fame as he trudges across the country delivering his supplies. Along the way, youll encounter terrorists and creepy invisible monsters called BTs (beached things), but your real foe for much of the game is simply the environment around you.There is some combat in Death Stranding, but your main task as a porter is to struggle across the rocky, ruinous countryside as you embark on a series of missions to deliver your cargo of medicines and other supplies. The game is sometimes described as a walking simulator as you spend much of your time clambering over rocks, up hills, or wading across rushing rivers and streams. That may not sound terribly exciting, but theres a lot of satisfaction as you struggle to slowly inch your way towards the peak of a craggy hill with your cargo intact.The game also has a dramatic cinematic flair possibly a little too cinematic, as the first 45 minutes or so is really just a series of very long cut-scenes, interspersed only by a few brief sequences where you learn how to control Sam as he walks, jumps and wades across the rocky terrain. The long cut-scenes can try your patience in the early stages of the game, but they do look terrific the landscapes have a cinematic scope, and the 3D graphics are tremendously detailed and realistic. And the feeling that this is the gaming equivalent of a blockbuster Hollywood production is further emphasized by cameos from a number of other Hollywood big names, including Mads Mikkelsen, Guillermo Del Toro, and Lindsay Wagner.The graphics do require a bit of horsepower though. The game will only run on Macs and iPads that have an Apple Silicon processor (M1 or later), and running macOS 13.3 or iPadOS 17.0. We were pleased to find that the game ran well even on an iMac with an M1 processor, although we did have to lower the resolution to 19201080. You might need an M2 or M3 to really enjoy the games sweeping vistas and eerie special effects, but seeing a game like Death Stranding running on an M1 iMac gives us some hope for the future of games on the Mac.3. Resident Evil 4 (Mac)It can be a little tricky following the sequence of the Resident Evil games especially as most of them have never been released on the Mac. Last years Resident Evil: Village was the eighth game in the long-running series, although it was the first ever to arrive on the Mac, and also one of the first games written specifically to run on Macs with Apple Silicon. However, Resident Evil 4 is actually a newer game (sort of) as its a remake of the original Resident Evil 4, which was first released back in 2005.Being a newer game means that its considerably more expensive, though, weighing in at a rather hefty $59.99/57.99. However, it works hard to earn its keep with juiced-up visuals and a reimagined story as well as improved controls for combat and other character actions. And, thankfully, you can actually download the game for free and play through the opening section, before deciding if you want to go ahead and buy the full version of the game as an in-app purchase (along with some rather pricey DLC packs too).This installment follows the adventures of special agent Leon S. Kennedy a floppy-haired special agent from an earlier game in the series who has now been recruited to rescue the kidnapped daughter of the US President. Tracking her down to a village in Spain, Leon encounters a spooky cult called Los Iluminados, who have turned the villagers into crazed killers. You have to fight your way past the villagers and confront various bosses as you track down the Presidents daughter and attempt to uncover the cults true plans. Resident Evil 4 has some good jump scares along the way, but its more action-oriented than Village and doesnt have quite the same creepy and tense atmospherics. It certainly keeps you busy, though, as you shoot and slice your way through the villagers, and encounter the mysterious figures who control the cult. And, of course, its pretty gorey too, with a 17+ age rating.Like Resident Evil: Village, this game runs on Macs with Apple Silicon, and it ran pretty well even on a 24-inch iMac with a basic M1 processor. It felt a little sluggish initially, but seemed to run quite smoothly once we turned the resolution down to 1,920 x 1,080, and experimented with some of the graphics settings (the game will also run on iPads with Apple Silicon, and even on the iPhone 15 Pro as well).4. Total War: Pharaoh New for Mac usersAfter a fairly epic detour into the fantasy worlds of Warhammer, the Total War series is back on its home turf once more, returning to the more traditional historical settings that the games have explored in the past. This time its ancient Egypt for Total War: Pharaoh, set in the Eastern Mediterranean during the Bronze Age, and covering the lands of Egypt itself, as well as neighboring Canaan and the Hittite Empire.There are eight factions spread across these three lands, all competing to take the throne of Egypt and become the next Pharoah (with additional factions available to purchase as DLC on Steam). Each faction has its own leader, with their own individual strengths and abilities, such as the reckless young warrior Ramesses (who has a tendency to put the chariot before the horses), and the cunning Tausret, who uses diplomacy and finance to pull the levers of power. If youre new to the game then there are several tutorials available that introduce the basics of battle, as well as more advanced tactics, such as siege warfare, and learning how to use the land and weather to your advantage.Pharoah might not have the otherworldly spectacle of the Warhammer games, but it still looks great, with spectacular vistas as the rival armies charge across the desert dunes. Unfortunately, the game doesnt run on older Macs that have Intel processors, but it ran quite smoothly on an iMac with a basic M1 processor when set to 19201080 resolution (and using the new gaming mode in macOS Sonoma). The main single-player campaign should keep you busy for quite a while, and as well as creating custom battles to hone your skills you can also customize the main campaign, adjusting the troops, resources and money that are available to make the game more challenging. Its a shame, though, that the games multiplayer mode only allows you to play with other Mac users, as this means that without being able to play against PC users youll have a fairly limited choice of online opponents.5. Baldurs Gate 3 Best single-player RPGThe original Baldurs Gate games were classics of the RPG genre when the series was launched almost 25 years ago, but their 2D graphics havent aged well, despite an HD update in 2012. However, the forthcoming Baldurs Gate 3 brings the series well and truly up to date with slick 3D graphics and a vast adventure that looks set to match the epic scale of its predecessors.Its actually been available in early access on Steam since 2020, but the game finally has a firm release date for August 2023 so you can now dive in and test drive the early chapters of the game to prepare yourself for the arrival of the full game in just a few months time. Its not a true sequel as the story and the main characters are all new set more than 100 years after BG2 although it is still set in the famous Baldurs Gate region from the popular Dungeons & Dragons table-top games (and spoiler alert some familiar faces do make a welcome reappearance).Rather than the powerful, god-like being that you became in Baldurs Gate II, the new game lets you start from scratch with an entirely new character, chosen from the traditional D&D selection of races and classes humans, elves, dwarves, wizards, warriors and rogues and you then awake to find yourself prisoner on a flying ship controlled by Mindflayers (a familiar villain from D&D lore). The ship is attacked by dragons, but youre able to escape only to find that a Mindflayer larva has been implanted inside your brain. So, along with other survivors from the crashed ship, you set out to try to find a cure and then quickly find yourself embroiled in a mysterious war between the Mindflayers and an assortment of enemy races who wont be fully revealed until the games launch in the summer. The 3D graphics really bring the game to life as you and your companions wade into combat, but the spectacular visuals do need a fairly fast Mac in order to run properly. The developers says that the game will run on an Intel Mac with a quad-core CPU and an AMD graphics card, or on most Macs with M1 or M2 processors. However, we had to drop the resolution to just 1600900 on our M1 iMac in order to get a playable 25fps, so an M1 Pro or higher might be better. Fortunately, the games turn-based combat doesnt require lightning reflexes and high-speed action, so you can still get by with an M1 Mac if you need to.The decision to opt for turn-based combat might worry old-timers like yours truly who remember the terrific real-time-with-pause system of the original games. But turn-based is the trend these days, and if my time in the early access game is anything to go by then youll find that the old Baldurs Gate magic will soon tempt you in as you gather your party before venturing forth just like the good old days!6. Valheim Best survival gameThere arent many survival games that have made it onto the Mac, so we were pleasantly surprised when developer Iron Gate recently announced a Mac version of its hugely successful Valheim. The PC game has been available in early access since 2021 which means that youre essentially paying to play a beta version of the game but its received a series of updates over the last couple of years that add more and more features, and the game has now sold more than 10 million copies.Valheim follows the standard format for the survival. genre. Rather than providing a central story or quest, it simply drops you into the world of Valheim, which is based on Norse mythology, and then just leaves you to get on with things and decide how you want to play. The world includes several different biomesregions with different terrain and climateincluding leafy forests, snowy mountains or the barren Ashlands that were added in a recent update. Youll start in a fairly welcoming leafy glade, where you can gather food and materials for crafting and building yourself a home. Many people seem quite happy to spend a lot of their time working on their homestead, hunting and crafting to make themselves comfortable in their new home (a bit like the Sims, except with Vikings and monsters). But, as you develop your crafting and building skills, youll need to wander a bit further afield and explore other biomes in order to find new materials and resources.As you visit each biome youll encounter a variety of beasts and monsters, which will force you to craft more powerful weapons and hone your Viking fighting skills. Each biome also has its own boss monster that you have to defeat as well, with the ultimate goalwhen the game eventually emerges from early accessof reaching Viking heaven in Valhalla. Its quite a challenging game, and the intentionally retro 3D graphics may not appeal to everyone, but many people are happy to spend months at a time just exploring, hunting and building their home in Valheim. If things get a bit tough then theres a co-op mode available so that you can recruit up to nine friends to help you out, and the old-school graphics mean that the game runs well even on older Intel-based Macs (although Macs with Apple Silicon will need to be running macOS 14.0 or later). Its available on both Steam and the Mac App Store but just remember that this is an early access game, so you may experience a few bugs along the way.7. Elder Scrolls Online (Gold Road Update) Best non-subscription MMO Best Prices Today: $59.99 at Epic GamesElder Scrolls Online is one of the few MMO games that is available on the Mac, and it celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024 with the launch of a major update called Gold Road. The game has seen a lot of changes along the way both to the game itself, and also to the Mac platform, following the transition to Apple Silicon.The bad news is that developer Zenimax now states that Apple Silicon is not officially supported. In fact, the game does run on Macs with Apple Silicon thanks to Rosetta although some users have reported poor performance even on high-end Mac models. However, I was able to get a perfectly playable 40fps when running the game at 2,560 x 1,440 resolution with high graphics settings on my MacBook Pro with M2 Pro, and 55fps on medium graphics. Theres no free trial available for Elder Scrolls Online, but the game does run free play events every few months that allow you to play free of charge for a couple of weeks, so keep an eye out for these events if youd like to check the game out before buying.One of the good things about Elder Scrolls Online is that unlike MMO rivals such as World Of Warcraft it doesnt require a subscription to play. You do need to pay $19.99/15.99 for the base game (until end of June 2024 this is $5.99 at Epic), or $49.99/42.99 for the complete Gold Road Collection which includes a whole decades worth of expansion packs but after that you can play for as long as you want without having to pay a monthly subscription (although a subscription is available as an optional extra). Even the base game is huge, with a vast continent full of snowy mountains, windswept deserts and murky marshes for you to explore. There are epic quests, a wide range of skills and abilities to master and, of course, there are the inevitable dungeons and quite a few dragons that you can face on your adventures as well. As always, the Gold Road expansion adds a new region for you to explore, and a major new storyline called The Return Of Ithelia. It also introduces a major new magic system to the game, called Scribing, which provides new skills and spells that can be customized so that you can create a unique set of skills that really allow you to play just the way that you want.8. Diablo III: 2024 Update: Best Action RPGIts a little over 12 years since we originally reviewed the Mac version of Diablo III, and its safe to say that a lot has changed since then. The game still runs on Macs, but the transition to Apple Silicon has meant that it relies on Rosetta to run on modern Macs, and umpteen new versions of the macOS have introduced a few bugs that are annoying even if they dont completely break the game.Now, completely out of the blue, the developers at Blizzard have announced an update to version 2.7.8 that brings Diablo III right up to date for Mac users. As well as being compatible with the most recent versions of the macOS and ironing out those old bugs, Diablo III now runs natively on Macs with either Intel processors or Apple Silicon and thats quite surprising for a game thats this old.Season 30 was the end of the road for new game content, but Blizzard did introduce a number of new features that should help to keep diehard players interested. The new Solo Self Found mode (SSF) is a completely single-player mode that forces you to rely purely on weapons and items that you find on your own. A new feature called Visions Of Enmity opens portals to a series of mini-levels that are crammed full of monsters, but which provide a chest full of loot once you reach the final level. Theres also the Altar Of Rites, where you can sacrifice some of your hard-earned loot to gain a series of bonuses and buffs that will help you tackle the games many challenges in solo mode.The 2.7.8 update also arrived at the same time as Season 33 of Diablo III, that revisits the Shades Of The Nephilim theme and allows you to summon clone versions of your character to help you in battle.Unfortunately, Diablo IV, which was launched in 2023, still isnt available for the Mac at all, but at least this revamp of Diablo III provides plenty of dungeon-crawling fun for Mac users. And, of course, there are options that may allow you to run Diablo IV as well, if you read our guide to the best virtual machine software for Macs.Read our full Diablo III review 9. The Elder Scrolls Online (High Isle Collection) Best non-subscription MMOBest Prices Today: $19.99 at Bethesda Along with World Of Warcraft, The Elder Scrolls Online or ESO to its thousands of fans is one of the few A-List MMO titles that still supports the Mac (sadly, we lost Guild Wars 2 a couple of years ago). But, unlike WoW, you dont need to pay a monthly subscription to play the game, which makes it great value for players who want to immerse themselves in hundreds of hours of quests and adventures in the games online world of Tamriel. Some people i.e. me also prefer its grittier graphical style to the Disney-esque cartoon graphics of WoW.ESO keeps its fans coming back year after year by releasing regular expansions which it refers to as Chapters, as each new chapter brings a new story and a new series of quests to the game, as well as opening up new zones for you to explore. The latest chapter is High Isle, which takes you to the homeland of the games Breton race, and throws you into a story of political intrigue involving High Isles rival factions and a mysterious organization known as the Ascendent Order. Other new features include a new deck-building card game that you can play to while away a few hours, and two new computer-controlled companions for players who prefer to go questing on their own. And, of course, there are plenty of new quests to complete and dungeons waiting to be plundered.You can buy the base version of the game for $19.99/15.99 (until end of June 2024 this is $5.99 at Epic), or buy the High Isle Collection, which includes High Isle and all the previous chapters for $49.99/42.99. Or, if you already own the game, you can just upgrade with High Isle on its own for $29.99/24.99. Once youve bought the game you can play for as long as you want without paying a monthly subscription, and there are enough dungeons and quests already available to keep you busy for years. However, you can pay for an optional subscription if you want ($14.99/8.99), which provides bonuses such as a larger inventory for storing all your gear and some extra gold coins to spend in the games online store.The Mac version of ESO did have a wobbly patch, around the time of Catalina, but it now runs well on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, and we were able to get a playable 30fps from the game at 19201080 resolution even on a basic M1 processor on our 24-inch iMac.10. Resident Evil: Village Best horror gameThe Resident Evil games are the sort of A-List titles that rarely come to the Mac, so the announcement at 2022s WWDC that Resident Evil: Village would be released on the Mac at the end of the year was big news for Mac gamers. The game doesnt disappoint either, providing a series of creepy locations for you to explore, and a variety of supernatural menaces to fight against.Mac users, of course, will be new to the games, but Village starts off with a brief recap of the previous game to bring us up to date. Three years ago in Resident Evil 7 Ethan Winters and his wife, Mia, were trapped by the Baker family in Louisiana, who had been infected and mutated by a mysterious black mold. They managed to escape, assisted by para-military operative Chris Redfield, and then three years pass by before things start to get weird all over again. Ethan and Mia are now living peacefully, along with their young daughter, Rose, until Redfield suddenly reappears, gunning Mia down in cold blood and kidnapping Rose. So, playing as Ethan, you now have to pick up the trail and try to figure out what is going on.Its a frustrating game to get into at first, as the early stages of the game simply involve stumbling around a dark forest, liberally scattered with dead animals. Eventually, though, you discover the Village of the title, which is under siege by wolf-like Lycans, and find clues that suggest your daughter is being held in the conveniently creepy nearby castle. The pace barely lets up after that, with the game combining atmospheric horror and manic combat in equal measure (not to mention enough gore and bad language to merit a 17 age rating).Apple used the game at WWDC to demonstrate the graphical performance of its new M2 chips but the good news is that we found the game runs pretty well even on a 24-inch iMac with the older M1 chip. The bad news is that (a) it doesnt run on Intel Macs at all, and (b) youre paying extra for the Mac version, which costs $39.99/34.99 on the Mac App Store, while the Windows version released in 2021 is half that price on Steam. Its still a great game, though, and hopefully its just the first of many A-List titles that we can look forward to on the Mac in the new couple of years.11. World Of Warcraft: Dragonflight Best subscription MMOWorld Of Warcraft has dominated the MMO genre for almost two decades now, and is one of the few A-list games to have staunchly supported the Mac throughout its history in fact, it even provided an update that allowed the game to run on Apple Silicon Macs as early as November 2020. Its had a few ups and downs in recent years both in the real-world and in the games virtual world of Azeroth but the release of the Dragonflight expansion at the end of 2022 was a welcome return to form, providing some important new features and also updating some of the more dated aspects of the game.Dragonflight costs $49.99/39.99, and is required in order to enjoy new features such as raising your characters to the new maximum of Level 70. It also gives you access to the Dragon Isles, which contain four major new zones for you to explore and go adventuring. The Dragon Isles are also home to a new playable race of draconic humanoids called Dracthyrs, who can play as the new Evoker class, which has the ability to choose between either healing or combat abilities.And, on entering the Dragon Isles, you can also obtain your own drake a flying dragon that allows you to learn a new set of dragonriding skills that let you fly further, faster and higher as you explore the new zones. Throw in a more streamlined skill tree and a number of improvements to WoWs aging interface, and the entire game feels more sprightly than it has done for several years. You dont have to buy Dragonflight straight away though, as WoW still provides a free trial that takes you up to Level 20 for free, while owners of previous versions of the game can still continue to play without the new Dragonflight features by paying for a monthly subscription ($12.99/9.99 per month, with discounts for three-month or six-month subscriptions).12. Classic Marathon Best Retro Action GameBest Prices Today: Free at SteamApple is trying very hard to encourage games developers to come back to the Mac, but around 30 years ago there was a time when big-names such as Bungie actually developed their games on the Mac first (until Bungie was taken over by Microsoft).Before Bungie hit the big time with Halo, it made a name for itself with the Marathon series. The original Marathon games stopped running on the Mac long ago, but the entire Marathon series was recently revived with the help of an open-source programming team called Aleph One. The first Marathon game is now available on Steam as a free download now called Classic Marathon and it runs on both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs.The game is a real blast of retro fun, set aboard a space ship called The Marathon, which has been boarded by alien invaders. Your task is pretty straightforward and mostly involves running along lots of corridors blasting the living daylights out of the aliens. Along the way, you can log in to computer terminals that provide access to the ships onboard AI, which points you toward your next target or sends you looking for useful information. Theres a plot twist, though, as there seem to be rival AIs at work, each with their own agenda, and this keeps you thinking about what comes next, as well as just exercising your trigger finger in combat.The games old-school graphics obviously look a bit dated these days, but they have a lot of charm, and theres a sense of satisfaction as you carefully attempt to pick off your enemies without wasting too much ammo and a real sense of relief when you come across some spare ammo packs lying on the ground too.The somewhat clumsy control system isnt quite so charming it took me some time reading around on the Internet to discover that theres no Save Game command, so you just have to hope you can survive all the way to the next checkpoint, where your game is saved automatically. But thats part of the fun, as it puts extra pressure on you to stay alive, and to keep searching for hidden areas that may reward you with extra ammo or weapons. The two sequels Marathon 2 and Marathon Infinity are also available, although youll need to download the open-source files from Aleph Ones own website, or wait for them to arrive on Steam for a more straightforward download and installation process.13. Total War: Warhammer III Best strategy gameBest Prices Today: $59.99 at FeralPerhaps the biggest game release of 2022 on the Mac, Total War: Warhammer III provided a truly epic conclusion to this popular series of strategy games. Theres no need to worry if you havent played any of the earlier games, though, as this three-quel includes an optional prologue, called The Lost God, that can act as an introduction for people who are new to the world of Warhammer.This prologue explains that the great Beard God, Ursun, who is worshipped by the human kingdom of Kislev has been imprisoned in the demonic Realms Of Chaos. In Ursuns absence, a terrible winter has fallen over Kislev, so you start by playing Prince Barkov of Kislev, who leads a small band of warriors to discover the fate of Ursun. This section also acts as a tutorial for people who might be new to strategy games, and when youre up to speed you can progress to the main campaign in which rival factions compete to reach Ursun and use his godly powers for their own ends. As well the people of Kislev, you can command another human kingdom called Grand Cathay, or turn to the dark side by playing one of the many demonic princes who all have their own monstrous armies. Theres Nurgle, the Plague Lord, whose somewhat squishy troops spread disease and decay, along with Khorne, the Blood God, the hedonistic Slaanesh, and Tzeentch, the master of Chaos Magic. And, finally, theres the uber Daemon Price, whose powers and even body parts can be customized so that you can create a playing style thats all your own. You can also buy additional DLC packs that add new factions and races to the game. Theres also a free add-on called Immortal Empires, which brings together campaign maps, factions and battles from all three Warhammer games into one vast and endlessly replayable series of battles.The good news is that the game will run on any Mac with an M1 or M2 processor and we found that it ran at a smooth 30-40fps at 19201080 resolution even on a 24-inch iMac with a standard M1 processor. But while Intel Macs with AMD graphics may be able to run the game, there are a few technical glitches that can affect these Macs, so the game isnt officially supported on Intel Macs.14. Football Manager 2024 Best Football Game (aka Soccer for those in the U.S.) There arent a lot of sports games available on the Mac, but the Football Manager series is a longtime supporter, and we get the 2024 edition at the same time as the PC and console versions too. The game is currently available via the Steam and Epic stores, but should also be coming to Apple Arcade soon as well. Theres also a new version of Football Manager 2024 Touch available for the iPhone, iPad and Apple TV. And, somewhat confusingly, the App Store also has a separate version, called Football Manager Mobile, which is only available to Netflix subscribers.One of the biggest changes this year is the arrival of the J-League, with 60 Japanese teams now added to the game, along with Japanese language support as well. There are also new playing modes, such as Real World where players in your games move to new teams on the same dates as they do in real life.Each new version of the game tends to bring graphical improvements, and FM24 provides smoother animations for players as they charge around the pitch, more realistic physics for ball movement, and enhanced lighting effects to create a greater sense of atmosphere. And, of course, there are the inevitable AI features, such as the introduction of Intermediaries that you can hire to go out and hustle for the best prices when youre thinking of selling some players. There are also new Set Piece Coaches, who can help you to choose the best players for events such as free-kicks and corners. However, youre up against tougher AI managers on opposition teams too, as they can now make smarter decisions when purchasing players that suit their tactical style.The game also follows recent trends in tactical play, such as the greater use of positional play, which allows players to switch positions when your team has possession. The sheer depth of all these tactical options means that Football Manager can be a bit daunting for more casual fans of the game, but theres a demo version available on both Steam and Epic, so you can have a quick kick-about to see how you get on before buying the full game.15. Grid Legends: Deluxe Edition Best Racing GameIts been quite a while since any of the Grid games were released on the Mac and, in fact, the Windows version of Grid Legends was first launched back at the start of 2022. However, the Deluxe Edition thats just been launched on the Mac App Store does include all the games recent DLC add-ons listed at more than $60/60 on Steam for the Windows version so its great value for racing fans on the Mac.You dont have to be an ace F1 driver to play Grid Legends, though, as the game includes a variety of different modes that can appeal to casual players as well as experienced drivers who want a more demanding and realistic driving simulation. The game starts by throwing you into its Story mode, called Driven To Glory, which follows the Seneca Racing team as it tries to make its name in the new season. As well as following the action through a series of races, the Story mode is also presented as a kind of behind-the-scenes documentary, with video cut-scenes and interviews with some of the main drivers (including an appearance by the pre-Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa).Story mode is a good way for beginners to get started, but more experienced drivers can jump straight ahead into the Career mode. This provides five difficulty levels, and allows you to work your way up from rookie to a seasoned pro driver. There are 10 different racing discplines available, including Drift, Elimination and the arcade-action of Classic Car-nage, and the game lets you play on 24 different tracks in locations such as Brands Hatch, Barcelona Dubai and Miami.As you progress through the season, you can unlock 120 different vehicles, with different handling properties to suit your driving style. Theres also a Garage mode where you can upgrade and fine-tune your car to suit different terrain and weather conditions. The game also includes a Race Creator mode, where you can design your own custom race events, using different tracks, vehicles and weather conditions. Its a shame, though, that the Mac version of the game is single-player only, and doesnt have the multiplayer mode thats available on the PC version. The game also requires an Apple Silicon processor, and doesnt run on older Intel Macs. However, it ran more than fast enough for my somewhat chaotic driving skills on an M1 iMac with medium graphics and 1600900 resolution, so you dont need a super-fast Mac to put your pedal to the metal.16. Lies of P Apples Mac Game Of The YearThere arent many soulsborne games available on the Mac so called because they follow the format of the popular Lost Souls and Bloodborne games available on PC and consoles but Lies Of P arrived on the Mac App Store recently and immediately walked off with Apples award for Mac Game Of The Year.The game is dedicated to Carlo Collodi, the author who created Pinocchio, and your main character is referred to as the puppet of Gepetto, so its clear who youre supposed to be. This isnt the cute Disney version of Pinocchio, though for starters the little wooden boy has grown a bionic metal arm to give him some extra muscle, and one of your first tasks is to pick up a sword and choose a path that determines your fighting style. The Path Of The Sweeper tends to focus on heavy, two-handed weapons, while the Path Of The Bastard lets you fight with lighter, faster weapons. Or, as a safe bet, you can choose the Path Of The Cricket, which combines elements of the other two fighting styles.Your puppet boy wakes in the city of Krat, a kind of steam-punk dystopia that has been over-run by rampaging puppets who have turned against their human masters. Guided by a cricket called Gemini (because Disney owns the name Jiminy Cricket) you fight your way across the city to locate Gepetto and end the puppet revolt. Like all soulsborne games, Lies Of P is very challenging, with a wide range of combat moves and skills that you have to master as you fight your way across the city. And, as the name suggests, the game also allows you to choose between telling lies or the truth as you encounter other characters in the game. The developers recommend using a game controller, rather than mouse and keyboard, and the game only runs on Apple Silicon, with no support for older Intel Macs. An M2 is recommended, but we still found the game playable on an iMac with a basic M1 processor, when running on medium graphics settings at 19201080, so most recent Mac models should be able to handle the game without too much trouble.The best games you can play on a Mac The best of the rest, in alphabetical order Alien: Isolation The Collection: Best Action GameCompany: Feral Interactive Where to buy: Steam ($49.99/34.99), Mac App Store ($39.99/38.99)System requirements: Mac OS X 10.5, 2.0GHz dual-core Intel processor, 4GB RAM, 1GB graphics cardMost of the games based on the Alien films have been pretty awful in fact, Alien: Colonial Marines even prompted a lawsuit back in 2013 from disgruntled customers who felt theyd been misled by the advertising for the game. Fortunately, as our friends over at GameAgent recently remarked, Alien: Isolation is one of the good Alien games.Originally released for the PC in 2015, Alien: Isolation has arrived on the Mac and does a great job of capturing the tension and atmosphere of that very first Alien film. The game is set 15 years after Alien, following the discovery of the black-box flight-recorder from Ellen Ripleys ship, The Nostromo. Ripley, of course, is still missing, so her daughter Amanda heads off to recover the black-box from the space station that found it.No prizes for guessing what Amanda and her team discover when they arrive at the space station: a toothy xenomorph on the loose, and gradually working its way through the terrified crew. Your task as Amanda is not to go in with all guns blazing, but simply to avoid the alien and stay alive hiding inside a locker, or creating a distraction that will draw the alien away for a few crucial seconds.The game creates a real sense of tension, and the computer-controlled alien is smart enough to provide a really formidable foe. This collection also includes a number of bonus missions, including Crew Expendable, which re-enacts events from the original Alien film. However, the games system requirements are pretty high, so you should check that your Mac is up to it before buying the game.Baldurs Gate II: Enhanced Edition: Best RPGCompany: Beamdog Where to buy: Steam ($4.99/3.74), Mac App Store ($19.99/19.99)System requirements: Mac OS X 10.7, dual-core Intel processor, 4GB RAM, 2.5GB hard diskThe original Baldurs Gate II was released way back in 1988 by the roleplaying gods at Bioware, and its 2D graphics will look pretty dated to anyone that has played modern roleplaying games such as Biowares Dragon Age series. Even so, its an essential purchase for anyone that has even the slightest interest in roleplaying games, and the sheer size of the game means that its excellent value for money.Its a shame that this updated Enhanced Edition couldnt be brought right up to date with more modern 3D graphics, but it does get a cosmetic makeover with high-def versions of the original artwork, so it doesnt look too bad on modern computer screens. Besides, whether in 2D or 3D, Biowares great strength has always been its story-telling skill, and Baldurs Gate II is as captivating now as it was nearly 30 years ago. Its very much traditional fantasy fare with you taking on the role of a warrior, wizard, rogue or cleric but its done on a truly grand scale. Your character is just one of many mortal offspring spawned by the evil god Bhaal, and the game pits you against several of your own brothers and sisters as they vie to succeed Bhaal and claim his power as their own.There are hundreds and hundreds of quests along the way around 300 hours worth if you try to complete them all including power struggles within the guild of Shadow Thieves, and an epic battle with the wizard Irenicus, played in full scenery-chewing mode by Brit character actor David Warner. Throw in the return of bonkers barbarian Minsc and his giant space-hamster Boo, and BGII is a real retro treat for RPG fans.Braid: Best Platform GameCompany: Hothead Games Where to buy: Mac App Store ($10.99/10.99), Steam ($14.99/10.99)System requirements: OS X 10.6.6 or laterThe first time you play Braid, you might be forgiven for thinking youve just bought a late 90s puzzle platformer. You jump and run like Mario, kill monsters by jumping on their heads and collect puzzle pieces. And then youre introduced to Braids killer feature: you can turn back time.As you progress, you realise that this is a crucial part of the games mechanics. There are sections you cant complete without winding back the action. Add in some fiendishly designed levels, a lot of old-school gaming and a genuinely great soundtrack, and you realise why Braid won all those awards.Civilization V: Brave New World Best Strategy GameCompany: AspyrWhere to buy: Steam ($29.99/19.99), Green Man Gaming ($29.99/19.99), Mac App Store ($29.99/28.99)System requirements: OS X 10.6.8 or laterThe Civilization strategy games basic formula remains the same: you start with a bunch of cavemen and progress through history to create a civilisation that will rule the world. But the Civ series has long since passed the point where all you had to do was build up a big army. Civilization V beefed up the diplomacy elements and the Gods and Kings expansion pack added religion to the mix. Brave New World adds even more depth.There are nine new civilisations, including Portugal, Morocco, Brazil and the Zulus, but the real substance in Brave New World lies in the new cultural and ideological systems. The Culture Victory, for instance, is a new way of conquering the world, whereby nations can place musicians, writers and artists in key buildings, such as the Globe Theatre in London.Theres combat aplenty if thats how you like your strategy games, but the political, religious and cultural elements that it adds to the mix create a game in which you really can develop an entire civilisation, rather than just building up a big army.Read our full Civilization V: Brave New World review.Disco Elysium: Best Detective RPGCompany: ZAUMWhere to buy: Steam ($39.99/34.99), GOG ($43.59/34.99), Mac App Store ($39.99/38.99)System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.13.4 or later, Metal-Compatible graphics cardIts tough being a Mac gamer sometimes, watching great new games always arriving first on PC and often never being released on the Mac at all. Last years launch of Disco Elysium was particularly galling for RPG fans, as we watched the PC version of the game mop up awards all over the place. However, the Mac version of Disco Elysium has suddenly appeared, with no advance publicity, and is widely available on all the main online game stores.As mentioned, Disco Elysium is a roleplaying game, but instead of medieval fantasy or futuristic sci-fi, the game casts you in the role of a drunken detective in a sort-of-contemporary setting, in the town of Revachol.You wake one morning in a sleazy hotel, with a mega-hangover, barely knowing who you are. After locating your trousers, you explore the hotel and encounter your partner, who reminds you that you are a detective investigating a murder case. You then set off to explore the local neighbourhood, interrogating suspects and looking for clues as you try to crack the case.Despite the contemporary setting many traditional roleplaying features are still in evidence you can choose an archetype for your character, such as the Thinker who relies on deductive skills, or take the Physical approach and try to intimidate suspects for information. Theres also an extensive set of additional skills, such as empathy or logic, that you can use to help you in your investigation. You dont need to get too bogged down in stats and details, though, and youll soon be able to head off and explore the neighbourhood, which is wonderfully depicted, with grimy graphics and atmospheric music.Disco Elysium is the sort of absorbing, immersive game that can absorb you for hours on end. However, the system requirements for the 3D graphics are quite steep, so check to make sure your Mac can handle it first. Some of the language is a bit ripe too, so this definitely isnt a game for younger children.Divinity: Original Sin 2: Best Multiplayer RPGCompany: Larian StudiosWhere to buy: Steam ($26.99/17.99), Mac App Store ($44.99/43.99)System requirements: macOS 10.13.6 or later, MacBook Pro 2016 or later, MacBook Air 2017 or later, iMac with AMD graphics 2013 or later, Mac Mini 2018At the end of 2018, the developers at Larian Studios announced that they were working with Apple in itself a bit of a shock as Apple generally shows bugger-all interest in games on the Mac to develop a Mac version of Original Sin 2 (one of the greatest RPGs of all time) using Apples Metal graphics system. Theres nothing half-hearted about the Mac version, either as well as using Metal for the impressive 3D graphics, the game supports HDR (high dynamic range) on the latest Macs, as well as Mac-specific features such as Apple trackpads and the TouchBar on new MacBook Pro models. And the games multiplayer mode even works across both Macs and PCs, so you can play online with your friends (as long as youve all got the latest patches and updates). The only drawback here is that the Metal graphics require a fairly powerful Mac, so make sure to check the games system requirements before buying.Dont worry if youve havent played the original game, as this sequel remains in the fantasy world of Rivellon, but steps forward in time and allows you to embark on an entirely new adventure. You start the game in a bit of trouble, as youve been captured and sentenced to jail for using a dangerous magical force called Source. Using Source gives you and other Sourcerors great power, but it also creates a gateway to another dimension called The Void, allowing evil creatures to invade Rivellon. And, yep you guessed it your job is to save the world from the invading demons.The game begins with a helpful tutorial to get new players started, and newcomers can also opt for a ready-made origin character that has already been set up for you. More experienced players can delve into character creation, with a wide variety of races on offer with standard options such as humans, dwarves and elves complemented by more exotic lizards and undead and the game also offers several difficulty levels and modes to cater for different playing styles and levels of experience.It might all sound like fairly routine fantasy fare, but Original Sin 2 is tremendously well-made and involving. There are few simple good-versus-evil choices, and sometimes youll find yourself wracked with guilt because you simply cant find a nice, clean solution to a particular problem or a tricky side-quest. The solo game by itself will keep even hardened roleplaying fans absorbed through the dark winter months, and the various online and multiplayer modes will ensure that Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a game that youll come back to time and time again.Elder Scrolls Online (plus Blackwood expansion): Best MMORPGCompany: ZenimaxWhere to buy: Green Man Gaming ($59.99/42.49), Steam ($59.99/49.99). This is for the base game plus the expansion set; both sites also sell the base game, or just the upgrade, for a lower priceSystem requirements: macOS 10.13, Mac with quad-core CPU, discrete GPU with 1GB VRAMThe Elder Scrolls Online is one of the few A-list MMORPG titles that supports the Mac, and ever since its launch back in 2014 the developers at Zenimax have kept their loyal players coming back by updating the game with a regular series of new chapters. These are essentially expansion packs that add more content, and occasionally new features too. But every year or so, Zenimax releases an update that makes major changes to the game in order to keep it feeling fresh and exciting and 2021s Blackwood expansion is one of the biggest updates for quite some time.The changes begin as soon as you enter the game. Even if you havent bought the Blackwood expansion theres a new introductory tutorial that sends you to the island of Balfiera, where you can learn the ropes by helping the local townsfolk to fend off an invading army of monsters. Once youve completed the tutorial youre given the option of entering a portal that can send you anywhere in the vast world of ESO.If you decide to head off to Blackwood, youll discover a vast new zone, full of quests and challenging dungeons. Blackwood also introduces a new companion system, which allows solo players to recruit a computer-controlled companion who can fight alongside you. This will be great for players like me who tend to play solo most of the time, with the new companion helping you to complete quests and tasks that might previously have been a bit too tough for one player on their own.Blackwood also introduces a new Gates of Oblivion storyline that will continue developing throughout this year, with a major quest that pits you against the demonic Prince Of Destruction, as he schemes to invade the mortal realm. The good news is that you dont have to pay the full price for Blackwood right away, as the original base game now costs just 14.99/$19.99 and no longer requires a monthly subscription to play. That contains enough action and adventure to keep you happy for months, before you decide if you want to visit Blackwood as well.Final Fantasy XIV Online: Best MMORPGCompany: Square Enix Where to buy: Square Enix US store (from $19.99, plus $14.99 per month) or Square Enix EU store (from 9.99 + 7.69 monthly subscription); free trial also availableSystem requirements: Mac with OS X v10.14 or later, 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 processorAs weve mentioned in the past, Final Fantasy XIV has had a bit of a chequered history with the original Mac version in 2015 being so bad that the developers actually offered refunds. However, a series of updates over the past few years have seen FFXIV emerge as one of the top games in the MMORPG genre despite the fact that, until recently, it was one of the few MMORPGs that still required a subscription to play.The latest update, which is now called Final Fantasy XIV Online, gives the game another major revamp, reworking the central quest system in order to give players a smoother introduction to the games vast online world. It also incorporates the Heavensward expansion pack that was previously sold separately, giving you even more quests and adventures to explore. Most important, though, is the new free trial system, which allows new players to sign up for a free account that provides access to vast areas of the game without paying for a subscription (although, to be honest, the registration process is a bit of a chore).Players with a trial account can take their characters all the way to level 60 the maximum level with a subscription is 80 and explore the main game and all the extra zones and quests in Heavensward for free. If you want to advance beyond L60 and explore new character classes and other new features then you will still need to buy a copy of the game and pay for a continuing subscription. However, you can start for as little as 9.99/$19.99 for the Online Starter Edition, and then decide if you want to continue your subscription, and buy the latest Shadowbringer expansion pack as well.Hearthstone: Best card gameCompany: BlizzardWhere to buy: playhearthstone.com (free to play, with in-game purchases)System requirements: macOS 10.10, Intel Core Duo, Nvidia GeForce 8600M or AMD Radeon HD 2600 ProHearthstone has been around for a few years now, and Blizzards typically slick presentation quickly established it as one of the leading computer card games. Like most card games, the basic version of Hearthstone is free to play, but offers a wide range of card packs that you can either buy with real money starting from 2.99/2.99 for two packs of five cards or earn by collecting gold and treasure within the game itself.Picking up a trick from the long-running success of World Of Warcraft, Blizzard also releases special expansion packs for Hearthstone every now and then, which bring new features to the game, as well as new cards and other goodies.But Hearthstone is still a fun game to play, even if you dont want to spend a lot of money buying all the latest expansions. Its a good option for newcomers to card games, with a simple tutorial that guides you through the main features of the game, and the basic/free version of Hearthstone still includes several different game modes that you can play in order to win new cards without spending any money at all. The game runs on most types of computer and mobile devices too, so you can switch between Mac, iOS and other devices using the same game account.Lego Star Wars Saga: Best Lego GameCompany: Feral InteractiveWhere to buy: Steam ($19.99/15.49), Mac App Store ($19.99/19.99)System requirements: Mac OS X 10.5.8; 1.5GHz Intel processor; graphics card with 128MB VRAMNo home should be without at least one Lego game, and if you pick up the Saga version you get the six games based on the Star Wars films for an affordable price.The sheer fun of playing with the Lego versions of Luke, Han, Yoda and Darth Vader will appeal to both adults and children. The six games in this pack offer a variety of different scenarios, including space battles, lightsaber duels, and the famous battle on the ice planet of Hoth. If youre a Star Wars fan, Feral has also released a new Lego game based on the Clone Wars cartoon series, and there are other Lego games based on the Batman, Harry Potter and Indiana Jones films as well.Life Is Strange: Best Adventure GameCompany: Feral InteractiveWhere to buy: Green Man Gaming ($3.20/2.56), Steam ($19.99/15.99, first episode free), Mac App Store ($17.99/17.99)System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.11 or later, 2.0GHz dual-core Intel processor, 8GB RAM, 512MB VRAMAt first glance, Life Is Strange looks like a fairly conventional adventure game. You play a teenage girl called Max Caulfield who is having a bit of a bad day at school. Max ducks out of class and heads to the bathroom for a time-out, and as you wander the school corridors you can click on objects or people around you to gather information that guides you through the game. Thats routine adventure stuff, but life starts to get strange when Max witnesses the murder of her friend Chloe and discovers that she has the ability to turn back time.Saving Chloe reveals a deeper mystery concerning a missing student called Rachel, so Max and Chloe set off to find Rachel and uncover the dark secrets of the sleepy town of Arcadia. Thats straightforward enough, but Chloes time-travelling abilities add a whole new dimension to the standard point-and-click adventure format. Sometimes a conversation with another character will reveal some useful information, allowing Chloe to go back and replay recent events so they have a different outcome. However, changing past events can have unexpected consequences, leading to some difficult and dangerous decisions.The story unfolds in five separate episodes, but you can check it out for free by downloading the first episode through Steam and then deciding if you want to explore the mystery further. We enjoyed its haunting, Buffy-esque depiction of the dark side of teenage life, and our only complaint is that the keyboard-and-mouse controls felt a bit clumsy so youll progress more smoothly if you have a proper game controller to help you out.Papers, Please: Best Puzzle GameCompany: 3909 LLCWhere to buy: Steam ($9.99/6.99), GOG ($9.99/7.89)System requirements: 1.5GHz Core2Duo; OS X Mountain Lion (10.8) or later; 2 GB RAM; 100MB hard disk spaceAlmost unclassifiable in normal gaming terms weve put it with the puzzlers, although its really a bizarre take on the classic worker simulation Papers, Please sees you taking up the post of border control in an authoritarian regime. Which is certainly a novel idea for a game.People enter your booth and present their papers; its your job to figure out if they can be allowed in. If you spot an irregularity in their paperwork, deny them entry. If their sob story touches your heartstrings, let them in. But if you let through too many dodgy types, or work too slowly, the money you earn will take a dip, and your family need to eat.Papers, Please is a quirky, interesting game set in a truly novel (and utterly bleak) environment. And while the level of profundity is debatable, theres definitely more going on here than in your average worker sim.Read the full Papers, Please for Mac reviewThe Sims 4: Best Sims GameCompany: Maxis Where to buy: Origin ($4.79/12.94), Best Buy ($39.99)System requirements: Mac OS X Lion; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz; nVidia GeForce 320M; 4GB RAM; 10GB available HD spaceTheres a lot to take in with the latest addition to The Sims line-up: deeper customisation, more variety with actions, new careers and new places to explore. The Sims 4 had a lot to live up to after the success of The Sims 3, but it fills its predecessors shoes beautifully.You get a deeper level of character customisation than in previous generations. While you can still browse and select preset eyes, mouth, hair, etc, The Sims 4 allows you to fine-tune your characters looks and build by clicking and dragging the area you want to tweak. Does your Sims belly protrude a little too much for your liking? Clicking on the troubled area and dragging it in will make your Sim thinner its as easy as that.The build & design mode in The Sims was the basis for the game as a whole it started off as a simulator that architects could use. And its fantastic here. Its a great experience being able to design a home exactly how you want it to be and really gets your creative juices flowing. With more design options (like the ability to build in the air with no support below), houses in The Sims 4 looks more breathtaking than ever. You can pick up and move whole rooms whenever you fancy a change, and buy whole rooms of same-style furniture. For those of us without an eye for interior design, it allows us to really appreciate the game and the design process.Day-to-day life in The Sims 4 is more enjoyable, too. If your Sim is hungry, simply click on the hunger bar and the Sim will automatically feed themselves the same applies to all their other needs too. It takes the effort out of the more mundane tasks and allows you more time to do the fun things with your Sim.The Sims 4 is a great game with so many options that youll lose yourself for hours at a time. Lewis PainterStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: Best RPGCompany: AspyrWhere to buy: Green Man Gaming ($2.80/2.01), Steam ($3.49/2.51), Mac App Store ($9.99/9.99)System requirements: Mac OS X 10.9.5, 2.2GHz dual-core Intel processor, 4GB RAM, 256MB graphics cardIts more than a decade since the original Knights Of The Old Republic was first released, but that game is still selling well on the App Store even after all these years. So it came as a bit of a surprise when we realised that this sequel originally released for PC back in 2005 has only just arrived on the Mac for the first time.Like its predecessor, KOTOR II is set thousands of years in the past, long before the events of the Star Wars film series. You play one of the last surviving Jedi, who have been almost completely wiped out after a long war with the evil Sith Lords. At the start of the game you wake up injured and with no memory of recent events. Even your trusty light-sabre has gone missing, so your initial challenge is to recover your memory and your Jedi powers, and then set off to try and find any other Jedi that may have survived.Theres a wide range of skills and abilities that you can develop as you progress through the game, and you can focus on either light-sabre combat or spooky Force Powers depending on how you want to develop your character. Theres also a strong story and roleplaying element, full of political twists and turns, and moral decisions that will affect the final outcome of the game. The 3D graphics look a little dated now, but the intriguing storyline and light-sabre action will soon have you hooked, and at just 9.99 the games a real bargain for Star Wars fans.Total War: Warhammer II: Best Strategy GameCompany: Creative Assembly/ Feral InteractiveWhere to buy: Steam ($59.99/39.99)System requirements: macOS 10.14, 2GHz Intel Core i5, Radeon R9 M290 or Intel Iris 540 with 2GB video memoryTotal War: Warhammer was a match made in Orc-heaven, as it combined the fantasy warfare of the Warhammer series with the large-scale battles of the Total War strategy games. So its no surprise that this follow-up offers more of the same, albeit with enough variety to make it worth coughing up the rather hefty 39.99/$59.99 on Steam. But you should check the games system requirements first, as the battling armies of elves, lizardmen and rodent-like Skaven need a pretty powerful Mac to handle their demanding 3D graphics.The story for the main single-player campaign is, to be honest, fairly trite fantasy fodder, with the games four rival factions competing to control a great, swirling vortex of magical energy floating up in the sky. Thats little more than an excuse to get the rival armies and heroes charging across the games vast landscapes, but the main campaign is well constructed and gives you plenty of different options for getting stuck into endless hours of fantasy fisticuffs.You can control any of the four rival races, and each race lets you choose between two Legendary Lords, who all have different storylines and starting locations, as well as their own special abilities that can be used to assist their troops in battle (and, if youre new to the Total War games, one Lord for each race also gives you a handy tutorial to get started). That gives you eight different options for playing and re-playing the game, and if you also own the original Total War: Warhammer then you get a free bonus campaign thrown in as well.The game also includes a number of Battle modes that you can dip into for a quick fix every now and then, as well as a multiplayer mode.Wildermyth: Best RPGCompany: Worldwalker GamesWhere to buy: Steam ($24.99/19.49)System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.13, 64-bit processorWildermyth is an unusual and impressive roleplaying game with flexible character development that encourages you to go back and play through it again.Its an immediately eye-catching game with papercraft graphics that look like a childs popup book, as your 2D characters use a turn-based combat system to move through hand-painted 3D environments. You start by creating a party with three characters: a warrior, a hunter (rogue) and mystic. These characters are created by the game, with their own personalities and backgrounds, although you can fine-tune each character by modifying their appearance, skills and other abilities.And, like all good roleplaying games, it allows you to make choices that affect the story and the relationships between the various characters. At various points youll be presented with options drawn like panels from a comic book rather than dull lumps of text that establish whether your characters are friends, rivals, or even in a romance, and this affects the way that the story develops and how the lives of your characters unfold.The tutorial could be a little clearer I had to look up some videos on YouTube to help me get started but the turn-based combat isnt too difficult to master, and you can develop your partys abilities to combine stealth, magic and weapon skills in any way that you like. And, at the end of each game, you can save favourite legacy characters in order to bring them back the next time you play.This is where Wildermyth really stands out, as its story is procedurally generated its not entirely random, but is flexible within a framework that is controlled by the game itself. Theres enough variety within that framework to enjoy playing through again, and gives you the luxury of being reunited with your favourite characters to see how their stories and relationships continue to develop throughout their lives.World Of Warcraft: Best MMORPGCompany: BlizzardWhere to buy: WoW (free for Starter Edition, plus $12.99/8.99 monthly subscription)System requirements: Mac OS X 10.5.8; Intel Core 2 Duo; graphics card with 256MB VRAMIts cutesy graphics arent to everyones taste, but World of Warcraft is still the game that rules the massively multiplayer online scene, with around seven million subscribers playing as wizards, priests, warriors and rogues. Part of that success is down to the release of regular expansion packs, such as 2010s Cataclysm, which quite literally shook up the landscape, destroying some old areas and introducing new zones for you to explore.The fairly regular release of new material keeps experienced players happy, but to attract new players, Blizzard announced a Starter Edition of the game that allows you to play for free until your character reaches level 20.XCOM 2: Best Strategy GameCompany: Feral Interactive Where to buy: Steam ($14.99/8.74), Mac App Store ($49.99/48.99)System requirements: Mac with OS X 10.11.2, 2.4GHz dual-core processor, discrete graphics card with 1GB VRAMThe good news is that XCOM 2 arrived on the Mac at the same time as the PC version. The bad news is that the aliens won at the end of XCOM: Enemy Unknown back in 2013. So now we jump forward 20 years and the Earth is ruled by Advent a coalition of alien overlords and their human collaborators (boo, hiss) so its up to you to lead the human resistance movement and recruit a new XCOM team to wage a guerrilla war against the alien oppressors.Like its predecessor, XCOM 2 is a turn-based strategy game that provides an overhead isometric view of the battlefield so that you can plan your teams moves as they approach their target. But the moment you pull the trigger the action switches to a close-up view similar to a first person shooter that gives it a more visceral feel than most conventional strategy games.There are five soldier classes available to help you out, including Sharpshooters with their long-range sniper skills, and Grenadiers who just charge in and blow up everything in sight. Theres also the Psi Operative, who adds a fantasy/sci-fi element with telepathic abilities such as Soulfire and mind-control. Each class also gets its own selection of different skills, giving you plenty of freedom to develop your team in a way that suits your combat style.There are other resources available too. Your base is a captured alien ship called the Avenger, and between missions you need to give careful thought to developing the engineering, research and armoury facilities on the ship in order to provide new weapons and technology for your team. Its gripping stuff, and guaranteed to keep strategy fans glued to the screen for hours on end.Further readingThats it! Were done. But if you want to read even more about your software options, why dont you check out our guide to the Best free Mac games? Its amazing what you can get without paying a penny.On the hardware side, take a look at our Best Mac for gaming guide. Plus we have an in-depth look at using a M1 MacBook Pro as a gaming laptop.We also have eleven separate articles covering our favorites in each game genre. So if you want more of the same, select your favorite genre from the list below and jump to that article. Best Adventure Games for MacBest Racing Games for MacBest Sport Games for MacBest Puzzle Games for MacBest Strategy Games for MacBest MOBA games for MacBest RPGs for MacBest Mac card gamesBest Simulation Games for MacBest Mac Action GamesBest Platform Games for Mac

MacworldA good MacBook bag shares many qualities with Apples laptops. We want it to be tough, so it needs to be made from good materials. We want to use it for multiple tasks, so it needs to have plenty of pockets and compartments. Lets admit it, with the diminishing number of ports on the MacBook, the bags often have the edge. And since we all admire good design here, we certainly dont mind if the bag looks fantastic.Plus, whatever MacBook youve got, Air or Pro, youve probably spent enough on it that you dont want to risk it breakingand dont mind spending just a little more to keep it safe.Theres no shortage of companies out there that make protective accessories for MacBooks, from laptop bags and rucksacks to sleeves, covers, and cases that clip on directly, and plenty of them do their best to be just as stylish as the Mac theyre protecting.Weve rounded up a selection of our favorite cases, sleeves, backpacks, roll-tops, shells and totes for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, whether you have a 13-, 14-, 15- or 16-inch model, to keep your Mac safe.All of the bags below fit those criteria, but weve been careful to choose bags that meet specific needs. Keep in mind that every bag here wont fit every MacBook, but if a bag cant handle the 16-inch MacBook Pro, weve been sure to make a note of it.Bellroy Laptop Sleeve Best MacBook sleeveProsPremium feelMagnetic closureColorsPrice When Reviewed:59Fits: 13-14-inch and 15-16-inch versionsBellroy is a Australian accessory brand that makes premium bags, cases and wallets, and its laptop sleeves offer high-quality protection.Outside, the woven, water-resistant material is eco-friendlymade from 100% recycled PET bottles. Inside, the quilted microfiber lining features a soft ridge that holds your laptop in place.The sleeve snaps shut with a neat magnetic bumper.Available in Black, Slate, Navy, Bronze and a leather-free Saltbush.BellroyApple sells only one MacBook sleeve in its online store: the leather-free Bellroy Caddy for Mac Laptops, which is available in two sizes for 13-14-inch MacBooks and the 15- and 16-inch MacBooks.Theres fold-down, front-pocket access and a foam-padded laptop sleeve, as well as two stretch mesh pockets and mesh pen slips.Case Logic Laptop Sleeve Best budget MacBook sleeveProsTight fitPaddedColor rangeFits: 13-inchCase Logic makes many laptop sleeves that are suitable for various sizes of MacBook and come in all number of colors. The Case Logic Laptop Sleeve fits a 13.3in MacBook, such as the M1 MacBook Air or M2 MacBook Pro. Its form-fitting, so the MacBook shouldnt slip about inside, and it features padding for extra protection. There is woven webbing along the sides to further protect the laptop and strengthen the case. Its a slim case that should fit nicely inside your bag.Available in a range of strong colors, including Pink, Dark Blue, Lime Green and Teal.Journey NEXA 4-in-1 Laptop Sleeve Best wireless charging sleeveProsLuxury sleeveIncludes MagSafe wireless chargerDoubles as desk padPrice When Reviewed: 139,99Best Prices Today: 139,99 at JourneyFits: 13-14-inch, and 15-16-inch versionsThe Journey NEXA laptop sleeve bills itself as a 4-in-1, and it certainly is multi-functional. As well as protecting your laptop during travel, it includes two wireless chargers (one MagSafe compatible) and can work as both a deskpad and mousepad to free your workspace of clutter.Slide your MacBook into the soft but padded-for-protection vegan leather sleeve, and youll be impressed by the luxury feel of this premium laptop sleeve.When you arrive at the office, hotel or just back home, it doubles up as a deskpad with chargers for your iPhone (7.5W MagSafe) and AirPods (5W). While it comes with a USB-C cable, youll need to add your own charger (check our roundup of the best iPhone chargers) to connect with the USB-C port in the sleeve. Alternatively you can charge the MacBook itself while it sits protected in the sleevefor this youll need a more powerful MacBook charger.The Journey NEXA 4-in1 Laptop Sleeve is available in Black or a fetching stone-like Dove Gray.Read our full Journey NEXA 4-in-1 Laptop-Hlle review STM Myth Laptop Brief Best MacBook shoulder bagProsSlim 7L storage bag with pocketsHandle and detachable shoulder strapBest Prices Today: $79.95 at STMNot Available at LenovoNot Available at AdoramaFits: up to 14-inchSTMs Myth laptop bag will fit up to 14-inch MacBooks, although it officially stated up to 13-inch laptops. It comes in Black, Granite Black, and Slate Blue depending.The slim shoulder bag protects your laptop by suspending it, so that it doesnt touch the bottom of the bag. Its also encased in foam. The shoulder strap is easy to adjust and has a non-slip pad to make it more comfortable. With a subtle luggage trolley sleeve, it can slip onto the telescopic handle of a suitcase for easy of use when not on your backhandy for busy travel interchanges and crowded trains and buses.Its well-made, with thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) coated webbing handles with rivets, reverse coil zippers, and water-repellent C6DWR coating applied to the fabric.Inside there are plenty of sections and pockets (we counted 10 but there could be even more hidden away) to help with organization. Cable-routing means you can charge your laptop or other devices while still in the bag.if you fancy something more business-like check out the Troubadour Apex Briefcase, reviewed further down, which is smarter but costs a fair amount more than the STM Myth.Incase Edge Hardshell for MacBook Best MacBook hard shellProsProtects in usePrice When Reviewed:59,95 EuroBest Prices Today: 59,95 at IncaseFits: 13-inch, 14-inch, 15-inch, 16-inchChoose a hard shell if you want to wrap your precious MacBook in robust scratch and bump protection but still be able to use it in action. The minimalist and lightweight Incase Edge Hardshell MacBook Case comes in clear and see-through black versions for all of the current MacBooks in Apples laptop range.It protects with raised edge bumpers in its high-impact resistant polycarbonate shell. All ports and buttons remain fully accessible. Rubberized feet keep the MacBook securely in place and less likely to slip off its surface.Available from Apple, Amazon and direct from Incase.Troubadour Apex 3.0 Backpack Best premium MacBook backpack ProsSuper stylishPlenty of storageSmart organizer sectionsHidden iPhone pocketAirTag pocketConsPremium pricePrice When Reviewed:316Best Prices Today: 316,00 at TroubadourFits: up to 17-inchApple builds its MacBooks to a high spec and premium design, so if you are carrying yours around in a backpack maybe that should also be top-notch, too. And, like Apples products, the Troubadour Apex 3.0 comes with a premium price tag attached.You do get your moneys worth, with chic styling and a generous selection of storage pockets, including one for your iPhone hidden in one of the straps, which means you can access itor other valuable item such as your walletwithout having to remove the bag from your shoulders. And theres even a special pocket for an Apple AirTag.The laptop section is at the back and easy to access, with easily enough space for a 16-inch MacBook Pro. Altogether there are 14 sections or pockets, pen holders and zipped enclosures. It features a trolley sleeve on the back to attach to a suitcase handle, and a robust handle at the top for when you want to give your shoulders a rest or not bump into people in crowded spaces.The Apex 3.0 is lightweight and comfortable but still generous, with a 25L capacity. There is also a Compact version, with a 16L capacity.It is available in Black, Navy, Air Force Blue and Obsidian Green.Troubadour also sells a sling version, the Apex Sling. While not large enough to fit even a 13-inch MacBook, it does have a padded pocket for an iPad mini. It features many of the larger backpack benefits, such as the quality build, good looks, sustainable materials, hidden iPhone pocket and AirTag pocket. Further down we review the Apex Tote and Apex Briefcase for flexibility in the. smart range.Full Troubadour Apex 3.0 Backpack review.Pakt Travel Backpack 2.0 Best MacBook travel backpackProsPremium buildPlenty of storageSmart organizer sectionsMultiple carry optionsAirTag pocketSustainable materialsPrice When Reviewed:From 306,95Best Prices Today: 306,95 at PaktFits: up to 16-inchWe havent found a laptop backpack that beats the Pakt Travel Backpack for storage smarts, comfort and versatility. There are many imitators but this remains our favorite, and theres a recent version 2.0 that makes it even better and more environmentally friendly.The 35L backpack model meets the carry-on criteria for most airlines. It weighs 4.1lbs, and measures 21.5 x 12.5 x 8 inches (55 x 32 x 21 cm). The 45L backpack, however, exceeds those limits so youll have to pray that youre not pulled aside as you check-in or board the plane. It weighs 4.4lbs, and is sized 23 x 13 x 9 inches (60 x 33 x 24 cm). You can use it as a backpack, but also hide away the straps and carry by the side handles as a duffle or via a top handle. This might make the 45L bag appears smaller than it looks strapped to your back, and you can get it through check-in with all that extra storage.An expansion pocket adds additional packing space without adding to these dimensions. Check your favorite airline for carry-on limits. It features a handy clamshell interior with two compartments, so you can pack the backpack like a suitcase. Spread out open, it should fit under a bed or couch, saving you from unpacking to a wardrobe for short stays. Between the compartments, a padded sleeve gives robust but luxury protection to your MacBook (up to 16 inches). You can access the laptop from the top, making a security check much less hassle. Theres a multi-section front admin pocket that will handle a bunch of tech gear you might need close to hand, such as AirPods, chargers, power banks and cables, or even an iPad. Theres also a key leash in this part.Pakt sells a 15L Everyday Bag that can fit inside the Travel Backpack. On the plane, you could remove this and store by your feet for easy access, and then slide it back in the pack when you take that out of the overhead when you disembark.There are so many great extra features: the water-bottle holder is generous in size yet a tight elasticated hold; a zipped, hidden pocket at the back and bottom of the pack is handy for placing your phone, wallet and pocket fodder when you are passing through airport security; one of the pocket sections includes a deep AirTag holder; you can pull out hidden accessory straps on one side; and theres roller-luggage passthrough to give your back a rest.With this version 2.0 of its Travel Backpack, Pakt uses rNylon (recycled nylon), which it claims can be recycled indefinitelymaking it a more sustainable material than even rPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate). It is covered in a water-repelling, tear-resistant PFC-free DWR coating, and is available in either Black, Forest or Ocean colors.Stubble & Co The Roll Top 20L Best MacBook roll-top backpackProsPremium look and feelPlenty of accessible pocketsStriking range of colorsPrice When Reviewed:150Best Prices Today: 150,00 at Stubble & CoFits: 13-inch (15L bag) and 13-16-inch (20L) versionsA roll top bag is simple to use as they have fewer straps and zips than a traditional backpack. They feature a wide top opening so you can quickly see whats inside and make it easier to reach in and pull out your belongings. It is adjustable in volume as unused space can saved and bulking reduced by rolling up the top flap as you close it. Tighten the strap to condense the loa or loosen when more space is required.Previously we have championed the Ogio Alpha Convoy 525r Rolltop Backpack, which I have used happily for several years. However, our heads and minds have been turned by Stubble & Cos The Roll Top, available in either 15L or 20L capacities. We tested the spacier 20L model.Its more waterproof than the Ogio and has smarter colour accents as well as eight overall color options: Black, Yellow, Urban Green, Arctic White, Tasmin Blue, Concrete, Sand and Ember Orange.The padded laptop compartment is easily accessed at the side of the bag. The 20L version fits up to a 16-inch MacBook; the 15L allows for a 13-inch laptop. Inside the laptop compartment and also lining inside the main bag are contrasting colours: inside the black, white, concrete and green bags, its a striking orange.The main compartment has a reinforced, magnetised roll top closure. Im used to a more click-tight buckle fastening but am getting the hang of the G-hook fastener. There are five internal organiser pockets, including two with mesh.On each side are generous elasticated side pockets for your water bottle, umbrella or bike lock. And, an essential if carrying the bag off your back, theres a top grab handle. Roll-tops are often used by cycle couriers for their fast, easy access, and the Stubble & Co Roll Top features a bike light anchor and reflective trim for enhanced visibility and road safety.Troubadour Apex Briefcase Best MacBook briefcaseProsCan hold MacBook and iPadPockets for tech organizationPremium buildHandle and detachable shoulder strapConsPremium pricePrice When Reviewed:250 EurosBest Prices Today: 250,00 at TroubadourFits: up to 16-inchIf you desire the convenience of a shoulder or messenger bag with the smartness of a modern briefcase, another part of the stylish if pricey Apex line of laptop bags is the Apex Briefcasein black only.Made from a fabric thats spun from recycled plastic bottles, the 15L Apex Briefcase features fluorocarbon-free waterproofing plus a eaterproof, tear-resistant lining. The leather trim is vegan.To protect your MacBook and tablet there are padded, suspended pockets with a neoprene hood and magnetic closure to secures the laptop. Also inside there are seven individual pockets, including a mesh pocket for faster visual accessibility.On the outside there are three pockets, including at the front a hidden slip-pocket for your phone and a large zipped pocket with a key leash, elasticated pockets and an AirTag pocket. On the rear, a magnetically closing pocket can be unzipped at the bottom to create a luggage sleeve.Transform the briefcase into a hands-free shoulder bag with a robust strap. Troubadour Apex Everyday Tote Best MacBook luxury tote bagProsSuper stylishPlenty of storageSmart organizer sectionsAirTag pocketConsPremium pricePrice When Reviewed:197Best Prices Today: 197,00 at TroubadourFits: 13-inch, 14-inch, 15-inch, 16-inchBags come in all shapes, sizes and styles, and our favorite laptop tote bag is the from the same range as the Troubadour Apex Backpack reviewed above.There isnt much everyday about the Apex Everyday Tote. It is most definitely a special tote, with zipped inside storage and nine interior mesh, zipped or open pockets and compartment, plus two on the exterior. You can pack a lot of gear in the 16.5L bag, including organized spaces for cables and chargers, power banks and passport.You can keep a water bottle tightly upright inside, and still feel confident that your laptop is safe from spills with the padded laptop pocket boasting a neoprene hood.Theres a zipped front exterior pocket that offers plenty of storage space, including a pocket for your AirPods case and a special AirTag pocket. The back exterior pocket can be unzipped at the bottom to create a luggage sleeve, allowing you to slip it over the handles of your suitcase. The waterproof FortiWeave fabric is made from recycled plastic bottles, and the zip pulls are also recycled. A vegan leather trim keep the tote looking smart.When you tire of carrying the bag by its handles, you can turn it into a shoulder bag with the non-slip detachable strap.Harber London Rugged Laptop Briefcase Luxury MacBook briefcaseProsCan hold MacBook and iPadPockets for tech organizationPremium buildMade from 100% Recycled Plastic BottlesHandle and detachable shoulder strapConsExpensivePrice When Reviewed:499,95Best Prices Today: 499,95 at Harber LondonFits: up to 16-inchIf carrying a briefcase just reminds you of your schooldays or executives on Mad Men, think again as todays stylish briefcases are less boxy and make a far better impression than dropping a boring backpack on the boardroom floor.While this smart and stylish, without being too formal, laptop briefcase is called Rugged, its looks and build quality are at the luxury end of the laptop bag scaleand its priced accordingly, although its not over the top for a premium business briefcase thats handmade by expert craftsmen in Spain.And, yes, it is rugged with a water-resistant outer fabric shell made of recycled plastic bottles, so environmentally friendly too. That said, we wouldnt take this laptop briefcase out hiking in the woodsits just too lovely to dump in some mud outside your tent.Available in two sizes5.6L capacity for 13/14-inch and 7.5L for 15/16-inch laptops, it can hold a MacBook and a large iPad in its padded laptop and tablet compartments. Its got special pockets for notebooks and your passport, as well as two clever detachable magnetic pouches for your chargers or other tech essentials.There are nine interior sections, holders for pens, and a row of card slots, as well as a dedicated integrated AirTag pocket.It can be carried by its full-grain cowhide leather handle or the detachable leather carry strap, and is available in Mocha, Black or Olive.Grams (28) Leather Folio Best luxury sleeve with storageProsPremium look and feelNeat accessory pocketsConsExpensiveFits: 13-inch, 14-inch, 15-inch, 16-inchThis super-stylish MacBook sleeve doesnt just keep your laptop safely protected in transit, it also includes exterior and interior pockets to allow you to ditch the backpack and just look the business carrying a sleek fine Italian leather sleeve.The spacious interior has plenty of room for your MacBook Pro and is padded for extra care. Inside there are two pockets for your phone, a charger, cables, or other accessories such as a paper notebook, plus two pen holders and a card pocket. As a bonus theres even a little pocket for an Apple AirTag.An front exterior pocket gives quick access to paperwork or just the latest issue of a newspaper or style magazine.You can personalize the Leather Folio with up to four letters, in white or colorless lettering. It measures 14.3-x-0.2-x-1 inches (36.3-x-25.9-x-2.5-cm, and weighs 15.2oz (430g). Its available in Black, Dark Blue, Olive or Fossil Gray.For the 13-inch MacBook youll want the 114 Leather Folio, for 14-inch MacBook the 120, and 118 for a 15-inch or 16-inch MacBook.Mujjo Envoy Laptop Sleeve Smart sleeve with storageProsPremium look and feelAccessory pocketsIn-sleeve chargingConsNo sealed pocketsFits: 14-inch, 16-inchMade from top-quality waterproof vegan leather, the Envoy Laptop Sleeve from Dutch design brand Mujjo offers portable storage not just for the MacBook but your favored accessories, too. There are tight outside pockets to store your charger and cables plus phone and other essentials.The laptop is secured by the classy sleeves magnetic opening that combines fast access with a firm close. Handily, theres a generous side opening that allows for easy in-sleeve charging.At the back theres an easy-access slip pocket for a notebook or passport. You can carry just about anything slim in this sleeve so dont leave it unattended at the caf!The Mujjo Envoy is available in Black or Blue and for both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, although 13-inch and 15-inch MacBooks are comfortably (if slightly loosely) held, too.Harber London Nomad Organiser Best Premium Organizer for MacBookProsPockets for tech organizationPremium luxury leather looksCan hold MacBook and iPadHandle and detachable shoulder strapConsBulks up quickly if over-stuffedExpensiveFits: 13-inch, 14-inchWhile a laptop seems like a self-contained unit, with keboard, screen, trackpad, hard drive and everything all in one tidy package, its not quite as easy as that.You need a charger and charging cable for starters, and when youre on the move you have to carry around your AirPods, and maybe you prefer a proper mouse to the MacBooks trackpad. And what if you have an iPad to work on, too? A simple sleeve cant cope with all that lot, but the Nomad Organiser, from luxury bag maker Harber London, certainly can.The Nomad has ten pockets: a padded one for your MacBook Pro, and another padded pocket that fits an iPad from 9.7 to 12.9 inches, and capacious enough to handle the tablet with a Smart Cover. Be warned, though, that holding both laptop and tablet, the sleeve can be tricky to close if you are stuffing in chargers and other tech too.One lower pocket is big enough for your MacBook charger, but youll notice a bump in the fine lines when closed. I prefer to keep my bulky stuff in a wider-opening bagcheck out our favorite tech organizer bagsand use this sleeve for the thinner essentials.Two pockets are zipped for safe-keeping (for example, cash or memory cards) and theres a handy key fob strap. Theres a couple of holders for pens or an Apple Pencil.Theres a phone pocket, too, but Im not sure Id want all my devices in one place, and most of us prefer our phone at hand in a pocket or more-easy-to-dip-in bag. If you do, its large enough for a Pro Max iPhone.Below that pocket are a couple of slots for credit or travel cards, and above it are five straps that will hold an AirPods case, cables and even an AirTagafter, all, at this price, even the sleeve on its own is definitely worth keeping tabs on at all times. Id have preferred elasticated straps for a firmer hold but I can appreciate the all-leather design looks super lush.You can carry the Nomad Organiser under your arm, via a subtle built-in handle, or you can attach a matching strap to sling it over your shoulder like a messenger bag.It is a premium MacBook sleeve, handcrafted with full-grain Spanish leather, and really does shout cool luxury. Available in Tan, Dark Brown, Black and Navy.Harber London Classic Leather MacBook SleeveProsPremium look and feelAccessory pocketsWool felt interiorConsNo sealed pocketsPrice When Reviewed:89,95Best Prices Today: 89,95 at Harber LondonFits: 11-inch, 13-inch, 14-inch, 15-inch, 16-inchSimilar to the Mujjo Envoy Laptop Sleeve, reviewed above, the Harber London Classic Leather MacBook Sleeve is made from premium full grain leather and features outside pockets to store your charger and cables.It looks classy and is available in tan or black. There are versions for all recent models of MacBook. It boasts a soft but protective dense 100% wool felt interior that will keep your MacBook cosy. However, theres no magnetic closure or charging port like youll find on the Mujjo sleeve reviewed above.Woolnut Leather Sleeve for MacBook Luxury leather sleeveProsPremium look and feelIn-sleeve chargingConsLack of pocketsExpensivePrice When Reviewed:119Fits: 12-inch, 13-inch, 14-inch, 15-inch, 16-inchAvailable in four deeply stylish colors (Black, Cognac, Green and Gray), the Woolnut Leather Sleeve snugly fits every recent MacBook from the 12-inch original, the Air and all the Pro models. Each size is tailor-made for every model.This minimalist sleeve might lack pockets but it is as luxe as youll find and will draw admiring looks and awed strokes from fellow MacBook owners. The exterior is made from full-grain Scandinavian leather, with the interior soft 100% natural wool felt from Germany.Speck SmartShell Simple, colorful shellProsProtects in useFits: 13-inchIf you want to protect your laptop while you are using it you can pop a clear or tinted case on it. The Speck SmartShell case comes in various sizes to suit different MacBooks. Theres clear cases as well as a few different colored options, including Cosy Pink, Obsidian and Clear variant for the M2 MacBook Air, so you can pick one to suit your personality.Timbuk2 Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe Padded laptop bagProsPremium backpackPlenty of pocketsDecent 28L capacityConsPremium priceFits: 15-inchIf you have an Apple laptop and intend to take it outside the house or office from time to time, it goes without saying that you will need a good sturdy bag to carry it in. We recommend getting a well padded backpack that is designed for carrying a laptop. A well designed backpack will include lots of areas insider the bag to store things in: such as a front pocket, a large main compartment and a large side pocket. Quilted shoulder straps and a padded back should ensure the backpack is comfortable to wear. Its pricy, but the Timbuk2 Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe is a good option.UAG Plyo Case Extra robust laptop shellProsSuper robust shellConsParticular about exact MacBook modelFits: 13-inchSome shell cases are built to do more than give your MacBook a bit of color. A number of manufacturers build hard shell cases that will add an extra layer of protection to your MacBook Pro or Air.UAG (Urban Armor Gear) makes impact resistant armour for your MacBook. The Plyo series has extra strength built into the cushioning corners and cooling vents to ensure that there is adequate airflow (to stop your laptop from overheating).Make sure you buy the exact shell for your model MacBook. Thule Gauntlet Attach Laptop briefcase ProsIn-use hard-shell caseDetachable shoulder strapConsBlack onlyFits: 13-inchIf you are looking for a smart, tough-looking briefcase style bag with a solid construction, a good option is the Thule Gauntlet attach. Its a slim and rugged case with enhanced corner and edge protection. There is a single, removable shoulder strap as well as handles. You dont even need to remove the Mac from the case to work. Twelve South SuitCase for MacBook Hard shell, carry-on fabric hybridProsSlim but in-use hard shellHandleConsLack of pocketsFits: 13-inch, 14-inch, 16-inchLaptop backpack and bags can be bulky, expecting you constantly to be travelling to airports or on trains, when sometimes you just need the convenience of a slim briefcase with the protection of a hard shell. SuitCase from Twelve South is an odd name for what is effectively a briefcase with a recessed handle, but its a great hybrid of sleeve, shell and carry on.There are three layers of protection: a water-resistant, quilted gray fabric exterior; underneath the twill textile is a layer of hard plastic to protect your MacBook from impacts; and inside is a soft layer of microfiber to protect the surface of your Mac. You dont even have to remove your MacBook from the case to get working, and, when closed, dual zippers keep it securely closed, even when charging.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is laying off 4% of its global workforce, around 1,000 employees, as it pivots resources to developing AI-focused chips. This marks a strategic shift by AMD to challenge Nvidias lead in the sector.As a part of aligning our resources with our largest growth opportunities, we are taking a number of targeted steps that will unfortunately result in reducing our global workforce by approximately 4%,CRN reportedquoting an AMD spokesperson.

In response to the many ethical concerns surrounding the rise of generative artificial intelligence (genAI), including privacy, bias, and misinformation, many technology companies have started to work with AI ethicists, either on staff or as consultants. These professionals are brought on to steward how the organization adopts AI into their products, services, and workflows.Bart Willemsen, a vice president and analyst at Gartner, says organizations would be better served with a dedicated ethicist or team rather than tacking on the function to an existing role.Having such a dedicated function with a consistent approach that continues to mature over time when it comes to breadth of topics discussed, when it comes to lessons learned of previous conversations and projects, means that the success rate of justifiable and responsible use of AI technology increases, he said.While companies that add the role may be well-intentioned, theres a danger that AI ethicists will be token hires, ones who have no meaningful impact on the organizations direction and decisions. How, then, should organizations integrate ethicists so they can live up to their mandate of improving ethical decision-making and responsible AI?We spoke with tech and AI ethicists from around the world for their thoughts on how organizations can achieve this goal. With these best practices, organizations may transform ethics from a matter of compliance to an enduring source of competitive advantage.The AI ethicist as tech educatorFor some, ethicist may connote the image of a person lost in their own thoughts, far removed from the day-to-day reality of an organization. In practice, an AI ethicist is a highly collaborative position, one that should have influence horizontally across the organization.Joe Fennel, AI ethicist at the University of Cambridge in the UK, frequently consults with organizations, training them on ethics along with performance and productivity.Ethics is like jiu-jitsu, he says: As you get to the more advanced belts, it really becomes less about the moves and much more about the principles that inform the moves. And its principles like balance and leverage and dynamicness.He approaches AI in the same way. For example, when teaching prompt engineering with the aim of reducing genAI hallucination rates, he does not require students to memorize specific phrases. Instead, he coaches them on broader principles, such as when to use instructions versus examples to teach the model.Fennel has coalesced these techniques into an overall methodology with safety and ethical considerations that gets people interested in ethics, he says.Darren Menachemson, chief ethicist at Australian design consultancy ThinkPlace, also believes that one of the key responsibilities of ethicists is communication, particularly around governance.[Governance] means that organizations need to have enough understanding of the technology that they really can control the risks, mitigate, [and] deal with [them] It means that artificial intelligence as a concept needs to be well communicated through the organization so people understand what its limits are so it can be used responsibly, he said.There are of course cultural challenges to this instruction, namely the move fast and break things ethos that has defined the tech ecosystem, especially in the face of AIs rise.What were seeing is a real imperative among many organizations to move quickly, to keep pace with whats happening more broadly and also to take advantage of really amazing opportunities that are too significant and carry too many benefits to ignore, Menachemson said.Menachemson argues that ethicists, particularly those at the senior level, can succeed in spite of these challenges by possessing three qualities. The first is a deep understanding of the nuances of AI technology and what risk level this poses vis-a-vis the organizations own risk appetite.The second is a willingness to engage stakeholders to understand the business context that artificial intelligence is being introduced into and get beyond the general to the specific in terms of the guidance that youre offering.The third attribute is central to executing on the second. Bewildering the senior cohorts with technical language or highly academic language loses them and loses the opportunity to have actual influence. Senior ethicists need to be expert communicators and need to understand how they can connect ethics risk to the strategic priorities of the C-suite, he said.Delivering actionable guidance at two levelsAlthough ethics may be subjective, the work of an AI or tech ethicist is far from inexact. When addressing a particular issue, such as user consent, the ethicist generally starts from a broad set of best practices and then gives recommendations tailored to the organization.Well say, Here is what is currently the industry standard (or the cutting edge) in terms of responsible AI, and its really up to you to decide in the landscape of possibilities what you want to prioritize, said Matthew Sample, who was an AI ethicist for the Institute for Experiential AI and Northeastern University when Computerworld interviewed him. For example, if [organizations are] not auditing their AI models for safety, for bias, if theyre not monitoring them over time, maybe they want to focus on that.Sample does give advice beyond these best practices, which may be as granular as how to operationalize ethics at the company. If they literally dont have even one person at the company who thinks about AI ethics, maybe they need to focus on hiring, he said as an example.But Sample avoids hardline recommendations. In the spirit of ethics, we certainly dont say, This is the one and only right thing to do at this point, he said.Menachemson has a similar two-pronged approach to his workflows. At the top level, Menachemson says that ethicists give general guidance on what the risks are for a particular issue and what the possible mitigations and controls are.But theres also an imperative to go deeper, he said. This step should be focused on the organizations unique context and can be done only after the basic advice is understood.Once that diligence is done, thats when recommendations that are meaningful can be put to the chief executive or to the board. Until that diligence is done, you dont have any assurance that you really are controlling the risk in a meaningful way, he said.In terms of what to discuss, cover, and communicate, Cambridges Fennel believes that AI ethicists should be broad rather than narrow in scope.The more comprehensive you are with your AI ethics agenda and assessment, the more diverse your AI safety implementation will be and, equivalently, the more robust your risk prevention and mitigation strategy should also be, he said.Everyone should be an ethicistWhen it comes to implementation, Jesslyn Diamond, the director of data ethics at Canada-based Telus Digital, says her group works to anticipate unintended consequences from genAI, such as any potential misuse, through the use of a red team, which identifies gaps and even tries to intentionally break systems.We also use the concept of blue teaming, which is trying to build the innovative solutions to protect and enhance the outcomes that are possible together through a purple team, Diamond said.The purple team is multidisciplinary in nature, spanning professionals from QA, customer service, finance, policy, and more. Theres something about the nondeterministic nature of generative AI that really makes these diverse perspectives, inputs, and expertise so necessary, she said.Diamond says that purple teaming creates the opportunity for different types of professionals to use the technology, which is helpful in not only exploring the risks and unintended consequences that are important considerations for ethics, but also to reveal additional benefits.Telus also provides specialized training to employees on concepts like data governance, privacy, security, data ethics, and responsible AI. These employees then become data stewards to their spheres of influence. To date, Telus has a network of over 500 such data stewards.Becoming more familiar with how [AI] works really equips both those who are very technical and those who are less technical to be able to fully participate in this important exercise of having that diversity of expertise and background [represented], Diamond said.It may seem obvious that ethics should be multidisciplinary, but far too many companies pigeonhole the function in a remote corner of the organization. It is so important that people understand the technology in order to meaningfully govern it, and that tension between literacy and participation has to happen at the same time, Diamond said.Creating a culture of ethical innovationThe goal of advising on ethics is not to create a service desk model, where colleagues or clients always have to come back to the ethicist for additional guidance. Ethicists generally aim for their stakeholders to achieve some level of independence.We really want to make our partners self-sufficient. We want to teach them to do this work on their own, Sample said.Ethicists can promote ethics as a core company value, no different from teamwork, agility, or innovation. Key to this transformation is an understanding of the organizations goal in implementing AI.If we believe that artificial intelligence is going to transform business modelsthen it becomes incumbent on an organization to make sure that the senior executives and the board never become disconnected from what AI is doing for or to their organization, workforce, or customers, Menachemson said.This alignment may be especially necessary in an environment where companies are diving head-first into AI without any clear strategic direction, simply because the technology is in vogue.A dedicated ethicist or team could address one of the most foundational issues surrounding AI, notes Gartners Willemsen. One of the most frequently asked questions at a board level, regardless of the project at hand, is whether the company can use AI for it, he said. And though slightly understandable, the second question is almost always omitted: Should we use AI? he added.Rather than operate with this glaring gap, Willemsen says that organizations should invert the order of questions. Number one: What am I trying to achieve? Forget AI for a second. Let that be the first focus, he said, noting that the majority of organizations that take this approach have more demonstrable success.This simple question should be part of a larger program of organizational reflection and self-assessment. Willemsen believes that companies can improve their AI ethics by broadening the scope of their inquiry, asking difficult questions, remaining interested in the answers, and ultimately doing something with those answers.Although AI may be transformational, Willemsen emphasized the need to closely scrutinize how it would benefit or not benefit people.This ought to take into account not only the function of AI technology, the extent to which undesired outcomes are to be prevented and that technology must be under control, but can also go into things like inhumane conditions in mining environments for the hardware to run it, the connection to modern day slavery with tagger farms, as well as the incalculable damage from unprecedented electricity consumption and water usage for data center cooling, he said.Organizations that are fully aware of these issues and aligned with their AI initiatives will see benefits, according to Willemsen. The value of AI ethics may not be immediately tangible, he said. But knowing what is right from wrong means the value and greater benefit of AI ethics has a longer-term view: a consistent application of technology only where it is really useful and makes sense.

A VPN can be an extremely useful tool for gamers. Here's why you should consider gaming while using one.Nvidea's GeForce Now on a MacBook ProA Virtual Private Network (VPN) service offers many benefits for regular web-surfing purposes. Everything from protecting your browsing habits to accessing international marketplaces and services, while maintaining security.However, not many people will consider the use of a VPN when they're gaming online. Thinking it is a frivolous use of the internet, they may believe there's little point in even using a VPN in that way. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

A display analyst shared that Apple has shifted from traditional red KSF phosphor film to quantum dot film in the latest MacBook Pro models with M4.M4 MacBook Pro. Image source: AppleQuantum dot technology isn't new, in fact, Apple has been investigating its use in displays since at least 2014. By replacing the layer of phosphor film with nanocrystals made from semiconductor material called quantum dots, displays can display brighter and more vibrant colors.According to DSCC analyst Ross Young in a post on X, Apple didn't previously use quantum dot film because of its use of the toxic material cadmium. However, that has changed with the release of the MacBook Pro with M4. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

Designed by Arshia Architects in Los Angeles, USA, the RO54 House has a sculptural form which splits the residence into two levelshttps://www.e-architect.com/losangeles/ro54-house-bel-air-los-angeles#architects #losangeles #usa #house #architectureDesigned by Arshia Architects in LA, the RO54 House has a sculptural form which splits the residence into two levels

The latest edition of ourcurated job picksfrom theArchinect Job boardhighlights four firms looking for BIM and Design Technology specialists in New YorkCity.To explore specific job titles from the architectural profession, consult Archinect's Guide to Job Titles series. Also, follow our Archinect Tips series to improve your portfolio, resume, and interviewing skills, to increase your overall chances of getting that next job.Herzog & de Meuron seeks a Design Technologies BIM Manager"A vital part of your role is to facilitate continuous learning and development within the team. You will lead training on BIM tools, computational design, and emerging technologies, helping to bridge skill gaps and keep the team stay current with the cutting edge of digital design. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to influence and drive digital transformation across the organization by exploring and implementing new tools and methodologies."1111 Lincoln Road by Herzog & de Meuron. Photo...