The 20 Best Free Games for Mac in 2021
Are you looking for the best free games available on Mac? Games that are great but also truly free?
As microtransactions are increasingly destroying games that would otherwise be great, we decided to focus on games that are either 100% free or are at least free-to-play games that can actually be enjoyed for free.
With that in mind, we played through a slew of games, and we’ve put together this updated list with the best free games for Mac.
These are our absolute favorites:
| Game | ★ Best Overall | Best for MacBook | Runner Up | |||||
| Genre | Shooter | Strategy | RPG | |||||
| Last updated | 2020 | 2017 | 2020 | |||||
| Metascore | ||||||||
| Our rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | |||||
| Requirements | ⚠️ Fairly Demanding | ✅ Not Demanding | ⚠️ Fairly Demanding | |||||
| Check Price |
| Genre: | Shooter | 64-Bit Support: | |
| API: | Metal | M1 Support: | Rosetta 2 |
Counter-Strike practically gave birth to the competitive FPS scene and is responsible for most of the LAN parties that took place in the 90s. That was a long time ago, but Counter-Strike has managed to evolve and remain relevant.
In 2012, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was released and it expanded upon the team-based gameplay it pioneered 19 years earlier. With new maps, characters, weapons, and its extremely solid gameplay, CS: GO easily became (and still is) one of the most played games on the planet.
And now that the game is free-to-play and includes Danger Zone, a brand-new battle royale mode, CS: GO is a must for anyone remotely interested in shooters.
Verdict: This is a generous free-to-play game.
System Requirements: OS 10.11, 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 2400, NVIDIA 8600M or better, 15 GB hard drive space.
| Genre: | Strategy | 64-Bit Support: | |
| API: | Metal | M1 Support: | Rosetta 2 |
Developed by Blizzard, Starcraft 2 is a real-time strategy game that shouldn’t need an introduction.
Sequel to the critically-acclaimed Starcraft, Starcraft 2 features the most intense, fast-paced, and well-oiled gameplay you’ll ever see in a real-time strategy game. A good gaming keyboard and mouse are both mandatory!
Starcraft 2 was already a must-buy when it was $59.99, but now that the game offers an extremely generous free-to-play version, you owe it yourself to try it.
The free-to-play version of Starcraft 2 gives you the complete Wings of Liberty campaign, ranked and unranked Multiplayer, and every co-op commander available. And if you ever want more, you can pay to unlock more single-player campaigns, special skins, etc.
Verdict: This is a generous free-to-play game.
System Requirements: OS 10.12, Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, ATI Radeon HD 4670 or better, 30 GB hard drive space.
| Genre: | RPG | 64-Bit Support: | |
| API: | Metal | M1 Support: | Unsupported |
Many claim Path of Exile is better than Diablo 3. And while the jury is still out on that, Path of Exile is arguable just as good and completely free to play.
Path of Exile is an action RPG set in a dark fantasy world. Its gameplay and aesthetics are very similar to Diablo 3’s but Path of Exile aims for an even bigger focus on visceral combat, powerful items, and deep character customization.
In many ways, Path of Exile feels more like a Diablo 2 sequel than Diablo 3. Whereas Diablo 3 is more geared towards casual players, Path of Exile is more demanding, punishing and complex. A little too complex for some, in fact. Also, Path of Exile is a more gritty and somber game, similar to Diablo 2.
Verdict: This is a generous free-to-play game.
System Requirements: OS 10.13, 2.6 GHz Intel Core i7 Processor, 8 GB RAM, ATI Radeon Pro 450,40 GB hard drive space.
More great Mac Free games
| Genre: | CCD | 64-Bit Support: | |
| API: | Metal | M1 Support: | Rosetta 2 |
Few companies can deliver as high-quality free games as Valve, but one that certainly can is Blizzard. Hearthstone is their digital collectible card game based on the popular Warcraft universe. If you’re not usually into card games, don’t skip ahead just yet…this one is widely praised by everyone.
Hearthstone is much simpler than you would imagine. In every match, you pull three or four cards (depending on who goes first) out of your customized deck of 30 cards. There are different card types (weapons, spells and minions), but the objective is clear: empty your opponent’s health before he does the same to you.
Hearthstone is a great game. It’s easy for new players to get into but offers enough depth to keep you hooked. It also benefits from frequent, free expansions to refresh the available cards.
Verdict: This is a generous free-to-play game.
System Requirements: OS 10.12, Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT, ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro, 3 GB hard drive space.
| Genre: | Strategy | 64-Bit Support: | |
| API: | Metal | M1 Support: | Rosetta 2 |
Here’s another game that’s completely free from start to finish. This open-source real-time strategy game comes from Wildfire Games, a group of volunteer game developers from around the globe who are obviously big fans of Age of Empires 2.
As you’d expect from an RTS game, you’ll spend time gathering resources, developing and advancing technologies, and defending yourself from attacks while launching campaigns on others. The randomly generated battle maps are based upon the real geography of the ancient world, as are the detailed units, buildings, and technologies.
If you’re a developer, you’re invited to contribute to the game’s growth. If you’re not, you can still get creative with the game’s map editor. It’s all free no matter how you get involved with 0 A.D., so dig in and get history started off right. And if you really like it, consider contributing to the game’s development.
Verdict: This is a truly (100%) free game.
System Requirements: OS 10.9, 2006 or later Intel-based Mac.
League of Legends
| Genre: | MOBA | 64-Bit Support: | |
| API: | Metal | M1 Support: | Rosetta 2 |
In League of Legends, you have to destroy the opposing team’s nexus which lies at the heart of a guarded base. Battles last around 20 to 60 minutes, with your Champions starting out at a very low level. They gain experience throughout the match and—equally important—they earn gold that can be used to buy in-game items to increase their powers and abilities.
League of Legends remains one of the most popular and successful MOBA games available, but be warned, this is a complex and highly competitive game, and the community is known for being particularly harsh towards newbies.
You have over 100 champions at your disposal, and you can spend money to purchase them (as well as multi-game boosts) straight away. Beyond that, microtransactions are relegated largely to cosmetic items.
Verdict: This is a generous free-to-play game.
System Requirements: OS 10.10, 3 GHz Processor (with SSE2 support), 2 GB RAM (4 GB is strongly recommended), NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT, ATI Radeon HD 2600 or better, 5 GB hard drive space.
| Genre: | Auto Chess | 64-Bit Support: | |
| API: | TBC | M1 Support: | Rosetta 2 |
Dota Underlords is Valve’s latest game and their take on Auto Chess, a brand-new genre that came to life as a mod for, guess what, Dota 2! That mod still exists but Dota Underlords is Valve’s free-to-play take on the genre, meaning you can safely test it risk-free.
In case you’re unfamiliar with Auto Chess games, the game will pit you against seven opponents in a battle where tactics are everything. You’ll have to carefully choose your units, properly combine them and place them on aboard. Then you sit back and watch the game unfold. In other words, you do half the work, the strategizing, while the game handles the rest automatically.
Dota Underlords is still in Early Access, meaning some features are still unavailable. That said, this is still a fun free-to-play game that can be enjoyed without spending a dime.
Verdict: This is a generous free-to-play game.
System Requirements: OS 10.13.6, 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor, Intel HD 4000 or better card that supports Metal, 5 GB hard drive space.
| Genre: | MOBA | 64-Bit Support: | |
| API: | Metal | M1 Support: | Rosetta 2 |
Considered a League of Legends challenger with a greater focus on team play, Heroes of the Storm is another game from Blizzard.
Fans of Warcraft, Diablo, Starcraft, and other Blizzard titles will be particularly excited to soo their favorite heroes take part in 5 vs 5 battles, either against the AI or against human players in ranked and unranked matches. And on top of creating a solid MOBA geared towards more casual players, Blizzard keeps rolling new game modes, events, and new Heroes to keep you coming back for more.
There are around 80 heroes to rotate through, and if you find one you really like you can purchase permanent access to him/her/it through in-game currency or microtransactions. Speaking of that, microtransactions are otherwise relegated to hero customizations and mount purchases. In other words, you won’t need to pay anything to fully enjoy the game.
Verdict: A generous free-to-play game.
System Requirements: OS 10.9, Intel Dual-Core Processor, 4 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 320M, Radeon HD 2400, Intel HD 3000 or better, 15 GB hard drive space.
| Genre: | Adventure | 64-Bit Support: | |
| API: | OpenGL | M1 Support: | Rosetta 2 |
You’ve certainly heard of Cave Story—and you’ve maybe even played one of its console or Steam iterations—but did you know this Metroidvania style 2D platformer started as a “free time” project for developer Daisuke “Pixel” Amaya? It took him five years to develop the game, and it became one of the first Indie gaming successes.
Cave Story quickly gained traction because of its great story and solid gameplay. You start as an amnesiac who wakes up in (you got it) a cave, and as per usual when you find yourself alone and without memories in a cave, you quickly learn you’ll have to fight a crazy doctor who plans to conquer the world.
The enhanced version called Cave Story+ is available pretty much everywhere, but the original Cave Story is still available for free.
Verdict: This is a truly (100%) free game.
| Genre: | Strategy | 64-Bit Support: | |
| API: | OpenGL | M1 Support: | Rosetta 2 |
Dwarf Fortress is part construction, part management, part roguelike, and part text-based. Yes, text-based.
A typical Dwarf Fortress game involves a randomly generated world in which you indirectly control a group of dwarves in an attempt to build an underground fortress. Without much direction (the game has no objectives) and text-based graphics, this game is hard. But that’s also Dwarf Fortress’s charm. Once you figure out how everything works, building that fortress becomes an addiction.
Also, part of Dwarf Fortress’s fame comes from the fact it’s a two-member project that survives solely on donations.
Dwarf Fortress is a good option for folks who appreciate a good challenge (it’s famous for its difficulty and complexity) and who don’t need high-end graphics to enjoy a good gaming session. You can also feel good about yourself for supporting the indie movement.
Verdict: This is a truly (100%) free game.
System Requirements: OS 10.9, 2.0 GHz Intel Dual Core Processor, 2 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce 320M, Intel HD 3000, 20 GB hard drive space.
Doki Doki Literature Club!
| Genre: | Horror | 64-Bit Support: | |
| API: | OpenGL | M1 Support: | Rosetta 2 |
Terrified by the concept of joining a book club? Then this game’s for you. A visual novel by Team Salvato, Doki Doki Literature Club is actually a psychological horror game in disguise.
It starts out innocently enough, with your character joining a high school literary club. There’s a poem writing mechanic you can use to flirt with the various girls in the club, and there’s a lot of dialogue to click through. But things turn dark very quickly and you’ll soon find that Doki Doki Literature Club is not really about finding your one true love through books.
The game breaks the fourth wall quite a bit, creating a wholly meta experience that’s effective even if you’ve never played a dating sim before. Be prepared for the disturbing content…and plenty of restarts. You’ll need to play through the game a few times to get the ending that won’t put you off high school clubs forever.
Verdict: This is a generous free-to-play game.
System Requirements: OS 10.9, 1.8 GHz Dual Core Processor, 4 GB RAM, , 350 MB hard drive space.
| Genre: | Simulation | 64-Bit Support: | |
| API: | OpenGL | M1 Support: | Rosetta 2 |
Remember Transport Tycoon Deluxe? It was a business simulation game released back in 1995, so if you were too young or just missed it, its spirit lives on with this open-source remake.
Like its inspiration, the point of Open TTD is to make money by transporting people and cargo via planes, trains, automobiles, and boats. Each time you successfully move an object from point A to point B you’ll get income that can be used to build better methods of transportation. All this takes place between 1950 and 2050, giving you plenty of different technologies to develop and utilize.
Of course, technology has changed quite a bit since 1995, and Open TTD has taken advantage of that by expanding the game with larger maps, an enhanced UI, multi-language support, custom AI, and plenty more. Even better, Open TTD features online and local multiplayer with up to 255 players! And although updated, the game does retain its original visual charm.
Verdict: This is a truly (100%) free game.
Battle for Wesnoth
| Genre: | Strategy | 64-Bit Support: | |
| API: | OpenGL | M1 Support: | Rosetta 2 |
The Battle for Wesnoth is an open-source, turn-based strategy game featuring turn-based battles on a hex grid that will take you back to the ‘90s visually.
The Battle for Wesnoth features 16 single-player campaigns and 46 multiplayer maps (online and hot seat) over which more than 200 units will battle. The game has developed a large, dedicated fanbase due to the quality and quantity of content, the engaging gameplay, and the fact that it’s free (not to mention its Tolkienesque setting).
That community has, in turn, contributed a ton of user-made content ranging from new campaigns and factions to artwork.
Verdict: This is a generous free-to-play game.
System Requirements: OS 10.8, 2.0 GHz Dual Core Processor, 2 GB RAM, 800 MB hard drive space.
| Genre: | Shooter | 64-Bit Support: | |
| API: | OpenGL | M1 Support: | Rosetta 2 |
The only reason why Fortnite isn’t part of our Top 3 anymore is because of the big spat between Epic Games and Apple, and the fact Epic Games no longer updates Fortnite and removed cross-platform multiplayer…
But having said that, Fortnite remains playable and technically just as good as before. In Fortnite, you and 99 other players will have to scramble to find weapons, shields, and resources for a chance to be the last man (or squad) standing. But Fortnite is more than just another Battle Royale game, it also allows you to use its unique building mechanics to better hunt (or escape from) your opponents.
Those willing to pay will be able to unlock more cool skins and other cosmetic items. But other than that, everyone gets access to the full game! FPS games like Fortnite, Warframe, and Destiny 2 are all great examples of what a free-to-play shooter should be.
Verdict: This is a generous free-to-play game.
System Requirements: OS 10.14.6, 3.3 GHz Intel Core i3 Processor, 4 GB RAM, Intel Iris Pro 5200 or better, 20 GB hard drive space.
The Competition: Even more Free Mac games to download
This is a very big list we’ve put together for you, but not big enough to cover everything. As more games are made available for free in an effort to draw gamers into their community, there’s more we have to look at.
As such, here’s a list of games that didn’t quite crack our top 20 but are good enough to get a recommendation from us:
Shooter
And as you’d expect when hearing the names Quake and Unreal Tournament, Xonotic, is a rare first-person shooter action amongst the other games on our list.
Metascore
The Elder Scrolls: Legends
Collectible Cards
The game is free-to-play, with expansion sets available for purchase (including one that features elements from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim). The latest—Houses of Morrowind—was just released in April of this year.
Metascore
Super Crate Box
Action
Pick up your weapon, kill as many as you can, then hit up the crate box for a new, different weapon. If you don’t stop the enemies before they reach the firepit they’ll return even faster. May the odds be ever in your favor, or something like that.
Metascore
Racing
There are 21 to unlock within the game’s story (it involves a kidnapping and a race-to-save-your-friend element if you must know), but with the open source model, there are plenty more to download via add-ons. SuperTuxKart has some pretty impressive, colorful racing environments that are fun to drive through.
Metascore
Shooter
Marathon broke new ground in the first-person shooter genre across all platforms, which is quite an achievement as it was only available for Mac OS. Developed before microtransactions were even a thing, it’s totally free to play from start to finish. Still a blast to play despite its age.
Metascore
Experimental
But we do, and that makes this “experiment” from the developers of Among the Sleep a beautiful bit of relaxing freeware. It doesn’t last much more than five minutes, but isn’t that kind of perfect? Gorgeous visuals and simple gameplay to share with others.
Metascore
Adventure
You’ll be up against nature and other players—not just zombies—as you attempt to fortify your stronghold in the Yukon, Hawaii, Russia and other official and community created maps. Also, you have access to jet skis and helicopters. As you should.
Metascore
Action
The Expandabros may be nothing more than a short but free way to try out Broforce, but we see nothing wrong with that when you get to control guys like Broney Ross, Bronar Jenson and Toll Borad. Take down a ruthless arms dealer and his army of soldiers, artillery and circular saws exactly as ‘80s action heroes would want you to.
Metascore
Role-Playing
Your concern should be solely with clicking to get rich. Whether you get there by dealing with elves, demons or any of the other dozen factions is up to. How much you spend it also up to you; Realm Grinder is free-to-play, but microtransactions are available if you tire of clicking.
Metascore
Action
The fast-paced action is enhanced by simple controls that helps you get started quickly, but you’re going to need some practice to unlock all of the game’s achievements.
Metascore
Strategy
So, although it retains the visual style of the 1995 original, it plays just fine on your iMac or MacBook. OpenRA offers many “modern features” as well, including dual-button mouse input, fog or war, and streaming support.
Metascore
Shadow Warrior Classic
Shooter
The lead character’s name is Lo Wang, and that should tell you everything you need to know. The bad jokes, gore and stereotypes are almost as prevalent as the repeated environment textures, but that’s just what we played in the ‘90s. It was either this or Mario Teaches Typing. At least now it’s free.
Metascore
Our Criteria
We know that game fandom is subjective. We all have our own filters that lead us to a specific genre or title, but there’s a lot of commonality in those filters. Here’s what we used to determine which games should be included here and where they should rank.
Native
You’d be surprised how many Top Games for macOS lists feature Windows-only games. Not here. Each and every one of the games mentioned here is officially supported on macOS and does not require Bootcamp or Wine.
Critical acclaim
We know that our opinions are not the only ones that matter. To keep this guide as relevant as possible, we only considered proven games with positive reviews from both professional reviewers and average gamers.
Pricing: How much are these Mac games REALLY?
As we mentioned before, there’s a distinction between free and free-to-play (F2P). Both are included here, but check our designations to see which are really free and which require microtransactions of various sorts.
A Focus on Mac Performance
Sometimes a great game on Windows can suffer from extremely poor MacOS performance, or even worse, a broken Mac version.
That’s why testing these games on Mac hardware is critical for us.
In this list, you’ll only find games that are both great and have proper MacOS support. You can read all about how we test MacOS performance below.
Last updated: January 28, 2021
Last updated more than 4 months ago, this guide was in need of love. This time around we:
- Removed Team Fortress 2 due to lack of 64-bit support.
- Removed Crusader Kings 2 due to lack of 64-bit support.
- Removed Brawlhalla due to lack of 64-bit support.
- Removed Fistful of Frags due to lack of 64-bit support.
- Removed Canabalt as it requires Flash, which has been discontinued.
- Added Path of Exile
- Replaced Heroes of the Storm with Dota 2
Bottom line: This guide has been updated to fully reflect the current state of our favorites free Mac games!
Your Turn
Great games are available at any cost. And although there are features and options in $60 titles that you’ll rarely find for free, we continue to be amazed by how much entertainment you can get out of a game that won’t cost you a dime to play. We had a lot of fun learning about and playing these games, and we hope you will, too.
As you check them out, we only have two requests for you. First, be sure to tell us about any great Mac free games we missed. And second, if you can, send some financial love to the developers.
Game development is a hard road to travel, and these people deserve to be rewarded.
Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission (this is how we pay the bills). This commission comes at no additional cost to you.
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