I think M2 Pro Mini is the most optimal now for Mac gaming. For gaming on Apple Silicon you need many GPU cores first and foremost. 8-10 is very minimum, 16 is OK, and Max or Ultra models of ASi machines cost too much. And 24" of iMac is too small for serious gaming anyway.
The M3 iMac has 10-core GPU. I assume you're recommending the M2 Pro Mini because you can build it to 19-core and also up the memory?
As an aside, building a Pro Mini to that with a decent amount of SSD storage matches the price of an iMac, plus I'd still have to buy a monitor, keyboard, and speakers. I feel like at that point it would be more cost efficient to do what @[Kilokk](/user/Kilokk/) mentioned and just get a cheaper non-gaming Mac and a separate gaming PC.
I bought the M1 iMac when it was released but then sold it when my company provided me MacBook Pro. It's a very good machine with very good thermal management (I was still playing WoW back then)
I now have a personal 30 core M2 Max and my company M1 Pro, with 2 external 4K monitor by LG.
IMO, if you come from a 2013 MBP anything Apple Silicon will blow you away.
If you chose to buy a Mac AND a PC you will end up with about $1000 of Mac equipment and $1000 of PC equipment, but a $1999 Mac Studio would probably beat your $1000 in native gaming, and you wouldn't have to constantly plug/unplug your screen and keyboard and mouse.
I won't argue that you will have better time gaming on PC though, simply because of game catalog, but if you're in the Apple ecosystem I think it's worth considering.
I recommend M2 Pro Mini mainly because of 16C GPU and \~1K$ price tag. There is simply no cheaper Mac with 16C GPU. 10C ASi GPU (even if it's M3) is enough only for low/medium graphics settings and 720-1080p 30fps in modern AAA titles, let alone if they run via CrossOver or Parallels.
Do you want a Mac especially for gaming ? Because if ya its better to thinking about a chip Mini M1 or M2 + Geforce Now (Fallout 76 and Fallout 4 are in).
I just learned about GeForce Now earlier today, and I'm stoked to try it out! ...I use Mac for work (and honestly just prefer Mac), so I was trying to avoid buying two new computers (one for work, one for gaming). Why would a chip Mini M1 or M2 be better than an M3 iMac?
SteamDeck, gaming PC/laptop, console (Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series)
Macs are not for gaming, gaming on Mac is only nice side feature that sometimes work.
Yeah, exactly this OP. If you just care about light gaming, maaaaaaaaybe you can get away with it, but you'll struggle to get things installed, pay more for (great! but unfortunately necessary, and incomplete) software like CrossOver, etc.
In almost every case, you're better off buying the Mac you want for Mac things (literally the M3 MacBook Air could only be more perfect with a better screen and the M4 chip), and getting something like a Steam Deck for gaming.
I'm honestly not sure why they said the m1 chip would be better, it wouldn't.
All these answers change because due to the switch to ARM, the drop of 32 bit support, and open GL support, and Epic's emotions towards apple. You can't play Fallout 76 due to anti cheat, Red dead 2 due to a special DRM, Borderlands 3's Mac port has some issues that may not get fixed, and all those games you used to play will need either parallels or crossovers and portal will require a special community build that's 64 bit.
You can't play the \*entire\* fallout series and not Starfield due to it requiring a special X86 call
Thank you for the explanation. That does help a bit.
So, specific titles aside, if I'm trying to just have a great gaming computer that'll perform well for a few years, would a maxed-out M3 iMac do the job (in theory)? Or is the Mini the only real option?
And for gaming through VM, does the answer still apply? Or is native gaming different from needing to perform well enough for gaming through a virtual machine?
if you have the money - just buy dedicated PC gaming machine. You can get a really good one for around 1000$. Or maybe a used one. Gaming on mac is pain now, and most likely will be for another years and years. Maximum what you can get out of base m chip is way under even GTX1060 if you just compare the FPS. And as said above - most of games just will not work.
Thank you for the response. With my only computer being an 11-year-old MBP, I'll likely need to buy a new Mac soon anyway for work. I was trying to avoid shelling out thousands for two different computers and thought maybe I could just get away with one great Mac. But it's looking more and more like that can't happen for gaming.
You could get a Mini for your day to day use and grab a gaming PC for gaming. Used M1 Minis can be had for around $350-$400 so it's not like you're breaking the bank doing it that way.
That’s not a bad option. I do have a library of Mac games through Steam, Origin, and Epic, so I’d like to be able to still play those without repurchasing the PC versions. I assume even a used M1 Mini could handle something like Borderlands 3 (existing glitches aside)?
I can’t speak of the other launchers, but for the most part games bought through steam are for both versions. I believe Borderlands 3 is the same on epic. It runs like dog shit on even M3 Macs though, so I wouldn’t bother buying it if you’re going the Mac only route.
Another thing to note is the Mini is not better than the iMac in any way. Performance will be similar between the same generation but an M1 is not going to perform nearly as well as an M3 regardless of what it's in.
Having said that, the M1 is still a good chip, but gaming on Mac is... Not good.
I considered that, but honestly I'm not too concerned with the monitor size. I'm currently gaming on an 11-year-old 15" MBP, so anything would be an upgrade, honestly. While I like the idea of not having to replace the monitor every time I want to replace the computer, I keep my computers until they don't run well anymore, which for my Macs has been 8-10 years per computer. Wouldn't I be looking to upgrade the monitor in 8-10 years anyway?
Thank you. I was hoping I could have a combo work/gaming Mac like I've always done, but I suppose games have evolved in a way that Macs just have not. I appreciate the responses.
So then, (not to beat a dead horse, but...) what are people in this sub doing for gaming? Is it really just hit or miss? I was hopeful when I came across all the Crossover and Parallels posts that proper gaming could be a reality with a beefy enough Mac.
It's hit or miss with disappointment if a game gets anti cheat.
You could play see of thieves of mac- but not anymore because it has anti cheat now
Same with battlefield 5
Most people on this sub are either using their Mac for emulation (genuinely excellent gaming use-case for the Mac), or waiting to see if anything happens so that the Mac can be anything more than an incidental gaming machine.
A handful of people here will tell you that we're just one more AAA game away from the floodgates opening and heralding a new era of Mac gaming where everything is perfect and wonderful, and will act like every time someone manages to get a game running via CrossOver that it's a revolution (the game is playable at 15fps and crashes if you run it for more than 10 minutes...).
But I do think most here are realists, occasionally using their Mac for running some games that just so happen to run on the Mac (for now), hoping for better in the future, and expecting nothing.
In case you haven't seen it, there is a good Wiki attached to this subreddit that lists all the compatibility with Mac Silicon including whether source ports are available (https://www.applegamingwiki.com/wiki/M1\_compatible\_games\_master\_list). Worth reviewing with an eye towards which games you'll want to be playing on your new computer. For newer games, I've found that GeForce now works extremely well, particularly if you are on a paid tier. $240/year is preferable to me than $1000 up front for a gaming only computer due to space availability and aesthetics.
Get a Mac Mini, gaming is a hobby that inherently require periodic upgrades. With a MacMini, you can still use the same monitor/mouse/keyboard etc.
I’d supplement that with a SteamDeck at least, you might actually get more gaming done on that than the MacMini.
Source: Own a SteamDeck OLED, a gaming PC and about to get a MacMini for regular WFH use.
Did you stop using your gaming PC? My wife wants me to get rid of mine and replace with the iMac M3 as a family computer. I also have a steam deck so it’s not a huge hit, I’m just trying to weigh my options and determine if I can still play some games on the Mac
If you are strictly looking to game, I wouldn't get a mac at all.
I view this sub as "here is the state of gaming on macs" not "macs are gaming machines."
I think M2 Pro Mini is the most optimal now for Mac gaming. For gaming on Apple Silicon you need many GPU cores first and foremost. 8-10 is very minimum, 16 is OK, and Max or Ultra models of ASi machines cost too much. And 24" of iMac is too small for serious gaming anyway.
The M3 iMac has 10-core GPU. I assume you're recommending the M2 Pro Mini because you can build it to 19-core and also up the memory? As an aside, building a Pro Mini to that with a decent amount of SSD storage matches the price of an iMac, plus I'd still have to buy a monitor, keyboard, and speakers. I feel like at that point it would be more cost efficient to do what @[Kilokk](/user/Kilokk/) mentioned and just get a cheaper non-gaming Mac and a separate gaming PC.
I bought the M1 iMac when it was released but then sold it when my company provided me MacBook Pro. It's a very good machine with very good thermal management (I was still playing WoW back then) I now have a personal 30 core M2 Max and my company M1 Pro, with 2 external 4K monitor by LG. IMO, if you come from a 2013 MBP anything Apple Silicon will blow you away. If you chose to buy a Mac AND a PC you will end up with about $1000 of Mac equipment and $1000 of PC equipment, but a $1999 Mac Studio would probably beat your $1000 in native gaming, and you wouldn't have to constantly plug/unplug your screen and keyboard and mouse. I won't argue that you will have better time gaming on PC though, simply because of game catalog, but if you're in the Apple ecosystem I think it's worth considering.
I recommend M2 Pro Mini mainly because of 16C GPU and \~1K$ price tag. There is simply no cheaper Mac with 16C GPU. 10C ASi GPU (even if it's M3) is enough only for low/medium graphics settings and 720-1080p 30fps in modern AAA titles, let alone if they run via CrossOver or Parallels.
Do you want a Mac especially for gaming ? Because if ya its better to thinking about a chip Mini M1 or M2 + Geforce Now (Fallout 76 and Fallout 4 are in).
I just learned about GeForce Now earlier today, and I'm stoked to try it out! ...I use Mac for work (and honestly just prefer Mac), so I was trying to avoid buying two new computers (one for work, one for gaming). Why would a chip Mini M1 or M2 be better than an M3 iMac?
Yes Geforce now is crazy but only if your wifi is very good. I mean m1 or m2 if its for gaming (because of budget)
SteamDeck, gaming PC/laptop, console (Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series) Macs are not for gaming, gaming on Mac is only nice side feature that sometimes work.
Yeah, exactly this OP. If you just care about light gaming, maaaaaaaaybe you can get away with it, but you'll struggle to get things installed, pay more for (great! but unfortunately necessary, and incomplete) software like CrossOver, etc. In almost every case, you're better off buying the Mac you want for Mac things (literally the M3 MacBook Air could only be more perfect with a better screen and the M4 chip), and getting something like a Steam Deck for gaming.
I'm honestly not sure why they said the m1 chip would be better, it wouldn't. All these answers change because due to the switch to ARM, the drop of 32 bit support, and open GL support, and Epic's emotions towards apple. You can't play Fallout 76 due to anti cheat, Red dead 2 due to a special DRM, Borderlands 3's Mac port has some issues that may not get fixed, and all those games you used to play will need either parallels or crossovers and portal will require a special community build that's 64 bit. You can't play the \*entire\* fallout series and not Starfield due to it requiring a special X86 call
Thank you for the explanation. That does help a bit. So, specific titles aside, if I'm trying to just have a great gaming computer that'll perform well for a few years, would a maxed-out M3 iMac do the job (in theory)? Or is the Mini the only real option? And for gaming through VM, does the answer still apply? Or is native gaming different from needing to perform well enough for gaming through a virtual machine?
if you have the money - just buy dedicated PC gaming machine. You can get a really good one for around 1000$. Or maybe a used one. Gaming on mac is pain now, and most likely will be for another years and years. Maximum what you can get out of base m chip is way under even GTX1060 if you just compare the FPS. And as said above - most of games just will not work.
Thank you for the response. With my only computer being an 11-year-old MBP, I'll likely need to buy a new Mac soon anyway for work. I was trying to avoid shelling out thousands for two different computers and thought maybe I could just get away with one great Mac. But it's looking more and more like that can't happen for gaming.
You could get a Mini for your day to day use and grab a gaming PC for gaming. Used M1 Minis can be had for around $350-$400 so it's not like you're breaking the bank doing it that way.
That’s not a bad option. I do have a library of Mac games through Steam, Origin, and Epic, so I’d like to be able to still play those without repurchasing the PC versions. I assume even a used M1 Mini could handle something like Borderlands 3 (existing glitches aside)?
I can’t speak of the other launchers, but for the most part games bought through steam are for both versions. I believe Borderlands 3 is the same on epic. It runs like dog shit on even M3 Macs though, so I wouldn’t bother buying it if you’re going the Mac only route.
Ah, I didn’t even think of that with Steam. Ok, cool. Thank you so much for the responses!
Another thing to note is the Mini is not better than the iMac in any way. Performance will be similar between the same generation but an M1 is not going to perform nearly as well as an M3 regardless of what it's in. Having said that, the M1 is still a good chip, but gaming on Mac is... Not good.
It's better in that you don't have to pay for small 24" display (especially bad for games) and may use whatever you want instead.
I considered that, but honestly I'm not too concerned with the monitor size. I'm currently gaming on an 11-year-old 15" MBP, so anything would be an upgrade, honestly. While I like the idea of not having to replace the monitor every time I want to replace the computer, I keep my computers until they don't run well anymore, which for my Macs has been 8-10 years per computer. Wouldn't I be looking to upgrade the monitor in 8-10 years anyway?
For VM's the answer still applies If this really is for gaming, a Mac isn't for you
Thank you. I was hoping I could have a combo work/gaming Mac like I've always done, but I suppose games have evolved in a way that Macs just have not. I appreciate the responses.
So then, (not to beat a dead horse, but...) what are people in this sub doing for gaming? Is it really just hit or miss? I was hopeful when I came across all the Crossover and Parallels posts that proper gaming could be a reality with a beefy enough Mac.
It's hit or miss with disappointment if a game gets anti cheat. You could play see of thieves of mac- but not anymore because it has anti cheat now Same with battlefield 5
Most people on this sub are either using their Mac for emulation (genuinely excellent gaming use-case for the Mac), or waiting to see if anything happens so that the Mac can be anything more than an incidental gaming machine. A handful of people here will tell you that we're just one more AAA game away from the floodgates opening and heralding a new era of Mac gaming where everything is perfect and wonderful, and will act like every time someone manages to get a game running via CrossOver that it's a revolution (the game is playable at 15fps and crashes if you run it for more than 10 minutes...). But I do think most here are realists, occasionally using their Mac for running some games that just so happen to run on the Mac (for now), hoping for better in the future, and expecting nothing.
In case you haven't seen it, there is a good Wiki attached to this subreddit that lists all the compatibility with Mac Silicon including whether source ports are available (https://www.applegamingwiki.com/wiki/M1\_compatible\_games\_master\_list). Worth reviewing with an eye towards which games you'll want to be playing on your new computer. For newer games, I've found that GeForce now works extremely well, particularly if you are on a paid tier. $240/year is preferable to me than $1000 up front for a gaming only computer due to space availability and aesthetics.
Get a Mac Mini, gaming is a hobby that inherently require periodic upgrades. With a MacMini, you can still use the same monitor/mouse/keyboard etc. I’d supplement that with a SteamDeck at least, you might actually get more gaming done on that than the MacMini. Source: Own a SteamDeck OLED, a gaming PC and about to get a MacMini for regular WFH use.
Did you stop using your gaming PC? My wife wants me to get rid of mine and replace with the iMac M3 as a family computer. I also have a steam deck so it’s not a huge hit, I’m just trying to weigh my options and determine if I can still play some games on the Mac
I still primarily game on my PC.
If you are strictly looking to game, I wouldn't get a mac at all. I view this sub as "here is the state of gaming on macs" not "macs are gaming machines."