It used to be that if you wanted to buy a game for your Mac, you had to dig into the crates at your local CompUSA and find a version of Tetris that might work on OS 7. But now, Mac gamers are starting to be taken seriously, and there’s a whole world of to programs to buy.
If that wasn’t cool enough, we also have the Steam platform, making it simple to purchase games on the fly. But enough about that, let’s get into the good stuff. After the jump, check out some great, blockbuster games that are available to download and play on your Mac right now!
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Alright, so this game was released for consoles over 6 years ago, but it still stands up to the test of time. Play in the mammoth San Andreas sandbox, and have some fun being a gangster.
Price: $14.99
Requires: OSX 10.5.8 or 10.6.2, Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (no PowerPC processors)
Developer: Rockstar Games
Create
Create
Take Little Big Planet for the PS3 and bump it up a notch, and you’ve got Create. You’re given a goal and a basic location. From there, you just have to make it happen using different parts and components.
Price: $29.95
Requires: OSX 10.5
Developer: Electronic Arts
Assassin's Creed II
Assassin’s Creed II
Assassin’s Creed II picks up the storyline from Assassin’s Creed, removes all of the playability issues, and brings you to the Italian Renaissance. Stealth gameplay and a historic storyline make this game a must have.
Price: $34.99
Requires: OSX 10.5 or 10.6, Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06 GHz (no PowerPC processors)
Developer: Ubisoft
Half Life 2
Half Life 2
Half-Life 2 is one of the best first person shooters ever released, and now it’s out on the Steam platform. Better yet, get it as part of the Orange Box package for $29.99 and get Half-Life 2: Episode One and Two, Portal, and Team Fortress 2 as well.
Price: $9.99
Requires: OSX 10.5.8 or 10.6.3
Developer: Valve
Civilization V
Civilization V
Looking for a fun turn-based strategy game? Take on famous battles from the beginning of time forward and see if you can change history.
Price: $49.99
Requires: OSX 10.6.4, Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz
Developer: 2K Games
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
It would be hard to have a list of the top Mac games without mentioning World of Warcraft. Their latest expansion pack, Cataclysm, brings all sorts of new features to the fold, making an older game new again.
Price: $39.99
Requires: OSX 10.5, 10.6
Developer: Blizzard
The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom
The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom
You’re a settler in the middle ages. Build a kingdom from nothing, and choose which path suits you best: use your might, or just a good economic strategy. Strategy games don’t get much more fun than this.
Price: $59.99
Requires: OSX 10.6.3
Developer: Ubisoft
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Ultimate Sith Edition
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Ultimate Sith Edition
Ever wanted to wield a lightsaber and take on Darth Vader? Dream no more, because Star Wars: Force Unleashed is available for the Mac. Better yet, the Ultimate Sith Edition brings you to Tattooine and Hoth, and lets you take on Boba Fett and Luke Skywalker.
Price: $39.99
Requires: OSX 10.4
Developer: Lucasarts
Lego Universe
Lego Universe
It seems counterintuitive, but building Legos in a video game is an absolute blast. Now there’s Lego Universe, which is a MMORPG that brings the building to the whole world.
Price: $39.99
Requires: OSX 10.5.3, Intel Core 2 Duo processor
Developer: Lego
The Sims 3: Ambitions Expansion Pack
The Sims 3: Ambitions Expansion Pack
Everybody loves The Sims series of games, and one of the latest expansion packs is out. In Ambitions, play as a firefighter, tattoo artist, or choose another cool new career path. What does the future hold for your Sim?
Price: $29.95
Requires: OSX 10.5, The Sims 3
Developer: Electronic Arts
What’s Your Favourite Mac Game?
Although our humble platform isn’t quite ready to go toe-to-toe with an XBOX 360 or Playstation 3 just yet (at least not in terms of the range of games available), support for OS X gaming is forging ahead in the right direction.
We’ve picked out a range of great games above, but I’d love to hear your favourites. Which blockbuster Mac games have you enjoyed over the last year?