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Despite delivering unmatched performance on most fronts, Macs have never been considered a good choice for gaming.
And although Mac users’ options are limited, they’re not non-existent.
But, can you get Steam on Mac, and does Steam work on Mac?
Luckily for Steam fans, the app has been available on Mac computers for more than a decade.
Read on to find out how to install and play games on Mac, what macOS is compatible with Steam, and what games you can play on your Apple computer.
Although it was initially developed for Windows only, Valve released Steam on macOS two years after the official app launch. The app also has a Linux version and you can even play games on Steam on your phone.
That said, Steam’s library of MacOS-compatible games is limited. The reasons are multifold, with the biggest one being that developing a game for Mac takes time and money and there simply aren’t that many Mac gamers to justify the cost.
The good news is there is a way to play non-compatible MacOS titles on your Mac via Stream Link, which lets you stream games from other devices to your computer.
You can also try other cloud gaming service providers, including for games that are not available on Steam.
Worth noting: If you’re unsure whether a game on Steam is compatible with your Mac, check whether there’s an Apple logo under the title.
Although Steam is available on Mac, the app only works on macOS running El Capitan (10.11) macOS version or above.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the majority of games use a two-button mouse configuration. Since Apple mice usually come with one button, you’ll need to update the settings on your mouse to use a two-button style or find a game that can be played with keyboard controls only.
Alternatively, you can check out some of the gaming mice we picked for our best gaming accessories.
If your Mac can run Steam, here’s how you can download the app:
(Image credit: Geeksforgeeks)
To install and launch the Steam app on your Mac:
(Image credit: Geeksforgeeks)
(Image credit: Geeksforgeeks)
6. Once you’re in the Steam app, select Store from the main menu at the top. Here, you can browse for games by category and popularity, as well as get a sneak peek at upcoming games.
To download a free-to-play game on Steam, you’ll simply need to select the title and click the Play Game button. The game will automatically download and Steam will send you a notification when it’s ready to play.
If you’re downloading a paid game, there are a couple of extra steps:
Looking for your next Steam game? Here are the Steam sale dates for 2022 to make the most out of the platform’s promotional events. |
To uninstall Steam from your Mac:
Worth noting: If you don’t want to lose any data, you should keep the /SteamApps folder, which contains your local saves files and your game downloads.
The Steam Library is a place in the Steam app where you can find all of your games. Steam lists the games you’ve downloaded under Home in the Library tab in the sidebar on the left.
To launch any game from here, you’ll need to select the title and click on the play button.
If you have a sizable library on Steam, you can add Favourites, create Collections to organize your games, or let Steam do that for you (via the Dynamic Collection feature).
You can sort your games by recent activity or filter out games that aren’t “Ready to play” (games that aren’t installed on the computer or cannot be streamed).
The Library on Steam also has an advanced Search feature, where you can search for games by genre, play state, number of players, features, and hardware support.
Did you know? You can also play Steam games on your iPhone and Android. |
Although Mac-compatible games on Steam are noticeably scarcer in numbers, there is still a good selection of titles you can play.
image credit: store.steampowered.com
Dota 2 is a MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) by Valve and the largest eSports game on the planet. The game was the first ever to introduce a huge prize pool in the competitive scene and is one of the most challenging live service games on the market.
Dota 2 has a steep learning curve — though Valve has made some efforts to make it more welcoming to new players— and has been used in machine-learning experiments.
image credit: store.steampowered.com
Telltale Games’ The Walking dead is a popular adventure game among gamers who are less into puzzle solving and more into storylines and character development.
The game is based on Robert Kirkman’s comic book series, takes place in the same functional world that has been devastated by zombies, and follows Lee and Clementine’s story as they fight to survive.
The story is affected by the player’s actions during quick time events as well as dialogue choices.
image credit: store.steampowered.com
Ubisoft's Brawhalla is one of the fastest Steam games available for Mac users.
Brawlhalla is free to play and offers 9 selectable characters that players can use free of charge from a weekly rotation.
Players can buy more characters with in-game currency earned through missions, matches, and level-ups, and there’s also a paid version where you can gain access to all 56 characters.
image credit: store.steampowered.com
Cities: Skylines is a modern take on the city-building genre developed by Colossal Order.
The game is a single-player simulation where players work to build their own city from scratch.
This involves all aspects of urban planning, such as road placement, public services, zoning, and public transportation. Players are also in charge of managing the city’s employment, budget, traffic, and even pollution levels.
image credit: store.steampowered.com
Dirt 4 is one of the best racing games available for Mac users.
This game, developed by Codemasters, focuses on rallying. Players compete in stage events on tarmac and off-road in different weather conditions and locations.
This installment also boasts “Your Stage,” a track creation tool that generates rally stages based on player-defined parameters and settings.
image credit: store.steampowered.com
Rockfish Games’ Everspace is a fast-paced space shooter game that features roguelike elements for an immersive gameplay.
In the game, players go through a number of sectors where they’re expected to complete tasks to move on to the next run. Players are expected to find and utilize add-ons and weapons during their run and can upgrade different parts of the ship for better shielding and manoeuvrability.
As they progress through the levels, the game reveals more pieces of the storyline.
image credit: store.steampowered.com
Developed by Crystal Dynamics, Rise of Tomb Raider is the second installment in the Survivor trilogy and one of the most graphically demanding games of all time.
The action-packed game follows Lara Croft’s journey to Siberia where she searches for the city of Kitezh, while battling Trinity, a paramilitary organization that seeks to uncover the secrets to immortality.
Players need to guide Lara as she explores the semi-open hubs and combats enemies, complete side missions, and scavenge for resources.
Steam is one of the most popular game storefronts for a good reason. It has an ever-expanding library of titles in any genre that has hit the market and is available on most devices, including Mac.
The app works on Mac as well as on any other device and considering that not many Mac users play games on their computers, Steam’s library of MacOS-supported game library is solid.
If the Mac-supported selection of titles is too limited for you, you can always stream your games on your Mac from a different device or use an emulator to access games that are not yet available for Mac users.
Steam was initially developed for the Windows OS, but it also works on Mac and Linux.
You can play games via Steam on a Mac but the number of titles that are macOS-compatible is limited.
The main reason that most Steam games are geared toward Windows users rather than Mac is that the macOS is not as game-friendly as the Windows OS.
Although you can find and play great games on a Mac, these computers are not designed for serious gaming.
Steam is compatible with M1 and M2 Apple Silicon Macs and Macbooks, but only via Rosetta 2, which is a translation layer that runs in the background and allows Intel-based apps to work.
Steam works on Mac computers running El Capitan (10.11) macOS version or above.
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