Macs are not traditionally known for gaming, but that is starting to change. Apple is beginning to focus more attention into gaming on its Mac products, particularly since its transition from Intel processors to Apple silicon.
The newer Macs have allowed developers to create more powerful apps and top-quality games. Not only are the latest Macs now equipped with optimised graphics, enabling a more visually enjoyable gaming experience, they have quicker rendering and higher frame rates than previous models.
Most important for gamers though, Apple's transition (you can read more Apple's transition at the website address here - https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2020/06/apple-announces-mac-transition-to-apple-silicon/), has led to a better variety of available games. These include some of the best AAA titles in single-player or multiplayer format. Playing games on your Mac is relatively straightforward, but how exactly do you maximise your gaming experience on your device? Here are our top tips for playing games on a Mac.
1. Use a good, compatible controller
A good quality game controller that supports Apple is crucial for gaming on a Mac. When looking for a controller, consider comfort as well as performance. Think of the placement and grip of triggers, sticks and buttons. For quality and reliability, you usually can't go wrong with Xbox and PlayStation controllers.
The PS5 DualSense and the Xbox Core Wireless Controller are both excellent in terms of functionality and are compatible with Mac devices, so you won't have to footer about with settings menus. Likewise, the SteelSeries Nimbus+ is a compatible controller and is also a long-time favourite for Apple users. This Apple-certified controller boasts an impressive 50 hours of rechargeable battery life, Hall effect magnetic triggers, and a design that ensures maximum comfort.
2. Find a good platform
Whether you choose to subscribe to a game cloud service or download your games from a platform, is a personal preference, but we would recommend the latter for playing games on a Mac. Cloud-based solutions enable you to stream your games from a cloud server directly to your browser. However, it's worth noting that cloud game services are more suited to single-player games and are not ideal for playing fast-paced multiplayer games. Furthermore, you need to rely on good internet connection in order for cloud-based games to run effectively. There is nothing more irritating than being in the middle of a game and your screen keeps freezing or buffering. You can avoid these issues by downloading your games from a reputable website, such as https://plarium.com/en/games/platform/mac-games/, which has a good selection of games that will run beautifully on your Mac.
3. Use VPN
When playing games on a Mac, it is recommended that you download a decent gaming VPN, especially if you're going to be using online gaming. Not even the most successful gamers are immune to malicious attacks, so it's always a good idea to protect yourself online. Look for a VPN that offers robust security, has ready to use shortcuts that you can customise, and seamlessly connects you to content without any issues. A good gaming VPN will enable you to safely play geo-blocked games, minimise the risk of swatting attacks, reduce bandwidth throttling, and protect you against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
4. Clean up
It's well known that decluttering your Mac can help with boosting its speed and performance. Therefore, if you find that your device is lumbering along when you're trying to play your favourite Mac games, then it might be time for a clear out. This applies regardless of whether you're playing games that have been downloaded or are based on a cloud server. Cloud-based games need the space to cache and buffer, whilst downloaded titles require available space to transfer onto your device. Our best advice when it comes to decluttering your Mac is to delete as many large, unused files as you can, clear out any system junk, and uninstall any unessential apps, all of which can eat up your disk space.
Conclusion
By using a decent controller, gaming platform, and VPN, as well as clearing out unused clutter, you can maximise the gaming experience on your Mac.