For a while now, the Mac’s game library has become quite extensive. With the addition of Steam and the Mac App Store to the Mac’s arsenal, many great games have been added to the library including plenty of iOS ports. From the slew of games added, it is hard to find the true hardcore experience that a lot of heavy-hitting gamers are craving for on theirs Macs. Thankfully, for those trying to find serious hardcore experiences, we have compiled this extensive list of hardcore games.
The following list contains a broad range of video game genres from RGP, Stealth, and RTS, to Action, Racing, and Puzzle. All serious gamers with Macs should definitely give these titles a try in order to fulfill their Mac gaming hunger.
Diablo III
Perhaps the newest most awaited PC/Mac game of the list, Diablo III is the behemoth of the action RPG, dungeon crawler, hack and slash genres. With a deep level of gameplay and rich replay value, Diablo III is a must have for the RPG fanatic.
Price: $60.00
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft, the oldest of the bunch and yet the most well-known MMORPG, stands the test of time as millions of players keep coming for more. This MMO gives the player many, many hours of play time.
Price: Free (Starter Pack)
FIFA Soccer 12
Representing for all the soccer fans out there, FIFA 12 is the latest installment of EA’s most popular soccer game franchise. If you are a soccer fan, FIFA 12 has received great reviews across various gaming media outlets.
Price: $30.00
Knights of the Old Republic
Known to some as “the best Star Wars game out there,” Knights of the Old Republic, whether or not you are a Star Wars fan or not, is a great addition to you gaming library.
Price: $10.00
The Darkness II
The successor to the first Darkness game offers you a great deal of improvement over the previous game. This game has a rather dark theme that evolves as your character develops. Check it out if you like seeing the most gruesome take downs.
Price: $50.00
Serious Sam 3: BFE
Serious Sam is, for the lack of a better word, crazy. The old-style FPS takes you on a wild ride bombarding you with countless waves of enemies that will provide a rush like no other. If you are into that kind of thing, give this game a go.
Price: $40.00
Driver San Francisco
Driver San Francisco is the latest Driver game in the series and it completely makes up for what the previous game suffered from. Although a bit of the fun has been stripped from recent Driver games, this one is a good game for anyone who likes to speed pass the cops.
Price: $30.00
Portal 2
Hands down one of the most iconic puzzle games ever. Portal returns with a vengeance as Portal 2. The cake is not only real, but it is a fun and meticulous ride that’ll keep you gaming and gaming for many hours. With co-op and the new creation tools, there are plenty of things to do here.
Price: $20.00
Dragon Age 2
BioWare’s Dragon Age is a role-playing video game that transform you into a human mage, warrior or a rouge who later becomes a master of his powers becoming the legendary “Champion of Kirkwall”.
Price: $30.00
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
WAR as it is known to many, is an MMO that is based on Games Workshop’s Warhammer Fantasy setting. It features a Realm versus Realm (RVR) combat system that makes this game a very interesting one.
Price: $15.00
Command & Conquer Red Alert 3
Command & Conquer is a well known RTS set in a parallel universe in which World War II happened quite differently. This alone makes this title a very compelling video game. The Allied Nations, the Soviet Union and the Empire of the Rising Sun are all playable in this game. If you fancy some parallel universes, this one is for you.
Price: $25.00
Battlefield 2142
Battlefield. The title saids it all. While this is not the beautiful Battlefield 3, this FPS by DICE is an amazing experience set in the 22nd century. A lot of what is expected in a Battlefield game takes place in this one, the only twist of course is the implementation of futuristic arsenal.
Price: $20.00
Bioshock 2
Following the success of BioShock, BioShock 2 was a tremendous hit as it scored mighty high on many gaming sites. The story mixed with the environment and visuals is a thing to behold. You should definitely get this one.
Price: $30.00
Star Wars The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition
The Force Unleashed is the Star Wars action game that got it right. Packed with good gameplay and a story that is completely new and gripping, this game is a good choice for anyone wanting to discover the powers of the dark side.
Price: $30.00
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
This survival horror game is a first person exploration-based nightmare. Throughout the game you will be put against creepy puzzles and you will even need to keep in check Daniel’s (the playable character’s) sanity level. It is a scary ride, and if you are willing to walk these dark passages, then by all means, pick this one up.
Price: $15.00
Borderlands: Game of the Year Edition
Borderlands is a FPS/Action RPG that is well known for having the most immense amount of guns of any FPS out there. Some compare it to Diablo because of the loot your opponents reward you after you kill them. So if you like a fun FPS version Diablo, this one is for you.
Price: $30.00
Left 4 Dead 2
If you have a group of friends or if you like communication and team based gameplay, look no further than L4D2. The game throws waves of zombies at you and it is up to you and your small group of survivors to defeat all of them. You will need good communication throughout the game, so keep that in mind.
Price: $20.00
Counter-Strike: Source
The legendary FPS known as Counter Strike is still played by many CS fans. The difference between your run-of-the-mill FPS and CS is the level of realism. Think of it as Hardcore Search & Destroy from Modern Warfare. With two well placed bullets you can die, and after you’re dead there is no re-spawn until the next round. Team cooperation is a must.
Price: $20.00
Sid Meier’s Civilization® V: Game of the Year
Civ 5 is a turned-based strategy game that enables you to lead a civilization from the prehistoric times all the way into the future. If you like to have control over an entire civilization like you would on Age of Empires or Empire Earth, this game will give you that fix.
Price: $50.00
Portal Bundle
Why only get Portal 2 when you can get both one and two? The Portal bundle comes with the two games in one savory price. If you are going to go through what GLaDOS will put you through, you might as well start from the very beginning.
Price: $25.00
Killing Floor
Killing Floor is a cooperative FPS video game that although not well known to the masses, became a top-selling game on Steam shortly after its release. Like in Left 4 Dead, you will have to cooperate with your team in order to take down waves of incoming zombie-like creatures.
Price: $20.00
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction
Breaking necks, knocking out enemies, infiltrating top secret facilities, and doing it all while leaving no trace you were even there, that is what the Splinter Cell series is all about. In Conviction the pace of the game has been revved up, and personally as a stealth lover, the change is great. Sadly there is no Spy vs. Merc. in this installment, but the game is pure tactical stealth fun nonetheless.
Price: $25.00
Assassins Creed II
The Assassins Creed series has become a very popular hit in recent years. It is hard to remember a game that takes you back in time and has you explore open cities like Assassins Creed does. The story is compelling and the gameplay is brutally satisfying, so you can’t go wrong with this one.
Price: $25.00
Mafia II Director’s Cut
Mafia II is a third-person action-adventure game that is set in the 1940s-1950s in the city of Empire Bay, a fictional city based on New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston and Detroit.
Price: $40.00
Batman Arkham Asylum
The best Batman game series out there. Actually, the best super hero game adaptation out there. Batman Arkham Asylum was only beaten by the recently released Batman Arkham City. If you are a Batman fan, or if you love stealth and getting your hands dirty with some ground-and-pound, this one is for you.
Price: $40.00
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
This is the first and only Modern Warfare game for the Mac. If you love FPS games and you have never tried this game, perhaps you should. If you think this one is too old, you’re right. However, many people still adore this game. Holding a .50 Cal is like you’re five again and you’re at Disneyland. Priceless.
Price: $40.00
Bastion
Bastion is a fascinating game that tries new things throughout the course of its campaign. At its core however, Bastion is a game for those who love finding new weapons and tweaking them in order to become as powerful as they can be. Don’t miss out on this one.
Price: $15.00
Rage
From the makers of Doom and Quake, Rage is a similar product that presents the player with outstanding graphics and intense gameplay. Enemies you encounter here are persistent. Due to that fact, you’ll go through the game needing more and more ammo. Definitely a game you want on your list of games to get.
Price: $30.00
Quake 4
I remember back in the day, one of the first games I owned was Quake II. Back then, the game was pure fun. Going around killing your friend while in split-screen was a joy like no other. In more recent years, Quake came to the next generation with Quake 4, and it is still just as fun. This game is for those craving mindless and vicious fun.
Price: $20.00
Doom 3
The name says it all here. Doom is the famous FPS that basically started it all. In this game, the graphics have been updated and the gameplay has shifted to accommodate for this generation, but at the core, it is still a Doom game.
Price: $10.00
Tomb Raider Underworld (Coming Soon)
Although this game has yet to be released for the Mac, Tomb Raider is another one of those good iconic franchises that goes way back. Take control of Lara Croft as you fight, jump, and dominate your adversaries.
Price: $25.00
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Popular for its incredibly huge open environments and countless types of missions, GTA: SA is a game anyone can enjoy. One could just run around destroying things or shoving people for no reason. If you are looking for something silly and fun to do, pick this one up.
Price: $7.00
Deus Ex: Human Revolution: Ultimate Edition
Deus Ex: Human Revolution is one of those games that doesn’t have the popularity of games like Halo and Call of Duty; nonetheless, Human Revolution is a great game. With a great narrative, sweet and rewarding gameplay, and sexy graphics, you can’t go wrong with this FPS stealth action RPG.
Price: $50.00
Minecraft
Okay, so this is probably not a hardcore game. Let’s face it, it doesn’t look like a hardcore game, it doesn’t play like a hardcore game, and it certainly doesn’t have anything a “hardcore” game has. However, and this is a big however, Minecraft is addicting, fun, and endless. Your options here are immense, and that is why Minecraft is a hardcore game for the creative minds out there.
Price: $27.00
Dirt 2
Dirt 2 is a driving gaming that provides the player with some exciting off-road and rally experiences. The game isn’t as punishing as something like Grand Turismo, so for those who want something easy to get into, Dirt 2 is a good choice.
Price: $40.00
What Did We Miss?
There are many great games for the Mac, and hopefully one day we will see them come to OS X more frequently. For the moment, this list should satisfy your gaming needs. If you know of any hardcore games for Mac that we have neglected to add to this list, feel free to share them with us in the comments below. Also, if you would like some of these games reviewed here at Mac.AppStorm, let us know!
And remember, feel free to join our brand new Steam Group in order to play with or against Mac.AppStorm writers.