Steam is the world’s most popular digital PC games store — an online platform for downloading games straight to your computer instead of shopping at traditional retail outlets. The platform was launched to great success in 2003 thanks to the parent company, Valve, releasing it alongside one of the most highly anticipated PC games of all time: Half-Life 2. The company strategically ensured that Half-Life 2 couldn’t be played without downloading or registering the game on Steam, which was a controversial move but also the world’s first push into digital distribution. Since then, Steam continued to grow rapidly as dated formats like CD and DVD became obsolete.
If you play Steam games using the Mac, you know that some great games aren’t available on this platform. Sometimes, you’ll feel left out when you can’t play some award-winning games like The Witcher. Worse, you’ll end up downloading subpar games to fill up the void. Don’t fret, we’ve got a list for you. In this guide, you’ll learn. Apple fans are used to free gaming for the iPhone and iPad, but tend not to think so much about free games for macOS.This is a shame, because the Mac is a great games platform with plenty of.
Today, lots of Mac users are still wondering: does Steam work on Mac? Truth is, for many years, Mac users had very little access to the most recent games. Although Steam was originally Windows exclusive, it eventually began to support Macs too — with a catch.
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How Does Steam Work On Mac?
The main reason for Steam not initially supporting Macs was them containing proprietary hardware that game developers struggled to cater for. Macs generally didn’t have the same gaming-oriented hardware that Windows PC users enjoyed, such as high-performance CPU chips and video cards. Additionally, Windows made it easier for game developers to interface with their hardware using widely supported API tools such as DirectX.
The lack of games on Mac wasn’t only due to hardware and software, but also the business model as a whole. In the early 2000s, Apple was more concerned with their suite of creative applications and music software rather than games. As gaming became more popular, the company struggled to enter the market through their own App Store, as competing products had already captured market share.
Thankfully, Macs shifted away from their own hardware to common X86 platforms used by Windows PCs, which included Intel chips and leading video card brands like AMD and Nvidia. Suddenly, gaming on Macs became viable — in an effort to reinvent the industry Apple is releasing Arcade this fall, its gaming subscription service for all the Apple devices. But while we are yet to see what is Apple hiding up its sleeve, Steam has already jumped on the opportunity to make it work.
How to install Steam on Mac
Now is a better time than ever for gamers on Mac, thanks to greater Steam support and more powerful hardware parts. So if you’re wondering how to download Steam for Mac, you’re in the right place. Follow the instructions below and you’ll be ready to get your Mac games download going in no time:
Navigate to steampowered.com
Click the Install Steam on the top right of the screen
On the next page, click Install Steam (make sure the Apple logo is next to the button, the browser should have automatically detected you’re on a Mac)
When the Steam download for Mac is finished, click on steam.dmg
From the new window, drag steam into Applications
The install should now be complete. Test it by opening Steam from your Dock or Applications folder.
There are a few considerations to keep in mind if you’re thinking about installing Steam on Mac. First, you’ll want to ensure you meet the minimum requirements. Second, most of the popular games use a traditional two-button mouse configuration, whereas many of Apple’s mice only have one by default. You can usually update the settings of your mouse, including the Apple Magic Mouse, to use a two-button style in your System Preferences. Finally, you’ll want to ensure your Mac is optimized for the best gaming performance.
How to download games on Steam
Despite Macs now having a more viable hardware platform for game developers, you’ll find that not all best Steam games for Mac are the same as Windows. Game developers still have to make accommodations for their games to run properly, most often quality assurance testing and specific Mac updates. In such an environment, here’s how you can find the best Mac games on Steam:
Open Steam from your Dock or Applications folder
Create a new account or log in if you already have one
All featured games (on the first page) should be Mac-compatible (identified by the Apple logo)
Double-click on any title to learn more about it
Click “Add to Card” and then “Purchase for Myself”
Choose Install Game Now
The Steam downloader will automatically start in the background and notify you when complete. Your game will then become available from the Library tab.
A helpful trick for first-time users is to take advantage of the Wishlist function, which adds games to a watchlist and notifies you when they are on sale. You can find the Wishlist button on the game page, near the “Add to Cart” button.
Additionally, you might want to begin your gaming journey with some free games for Mac. In Steam, navigate to the Store tab, then Games, and then Free-to-Play. You can download any of these following the same instructions as purchasing games.
If you find certain games are running slow, especially online, you may want to troubleshoot your internet connection. Mac users have a fantastic option for identifying internet issues in an application called WiFi Explorer.
WiFi Explorer automatically scans your network for coverage conflicts and then suggests tips for resolving them. In just a few seconds, you can see how well your WiFi network is performing, the strength of the signal when you move around your place, and your signal-to-noise ratio — so you can go back to gaming ASAP.
How to uninstall steam on Mac
If you’ve finished a game, or you’re trying to free up space on your drive, you may want to uninstall a Steam game on Mac. But you might be wondering: where does Steam install games? The answer is relatively complex, as Mac structures its application files in such a way that accessing them in the Library can be difficult when compared to the Windows File Explorer. Thankfully, uninstalling games on Steam is easy with its built-in file wizard for Mac. Here’s how to uninstall Steam games on Mac:
Open Steam, then navigate to the Games Library
Right-click on a game and choose Uninstall from the dropdown
Click Uninstall on the confirmation window. The game will be removed automatically from your Mac.
If you’re looking to uninstall the Steam application itself entirely from your Mac, it’s best to uninstall your games first to ensure nothing gets left behind. After that, simply dragging Steam into the Trash wouldn’t be ideal. If you want the most reliable way possible to uninstall Steam on your Mac, you may want to consider using an application designed to do this thoroughly.
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CleanMyMac X is a popular tool for Mac users that lets you uninstall applications and wipe their footprint completely from your drive (simply go to the Uninstaller tab, scan your Mac, and remove). Plus it grants you access to one-click optimization and other handy features such as browser privacy configuration.
Now that you know how Steam works, and how to install and uninstall games for Mac, you’re ready for gaming with confidence.
Best of all, WiFi Explorer and CleanMyMac X, which can help you craft the best gaming experience possible, are available for free via 7-day trial with Setapp, a software suite with more than 150 Mac apps to solve tech issues, increase your productivity, and express your creative side as well. Now let’s play!
Being a Mac gamer isn’t easy. Sure, you get a few of the big hits, but plenty of games that could theoretically run on macOS never come to the platform.
If you ask about good games for your MacBook, you’ll run into at least one person telling you to just buy a PC.
This is even tougher for free-to-play games. While PC gamers are spoiled for choice when it comes to free-to-play games, your pickings are much more slim on the Mac.
The good news is that doesn’t mean there aren’t great free-to-play games available for the Mac, as you’ll see in this article.
One quick note: Not all of these are 64-bit, so they won’t all run on macOS Catalina or later.
1. Fortnite
Things won’t always be this way, but Fortnite is currently one of the biggest games in the world.
For Epic Games to leave out Mac users as a potential customer just doesn’t make sense, so yes, you can play Fortnite on your Mac. The only downside is that the system requirements are high, so you’ll probably struggle to play on your laptop.
Related: The best games on Epic Games Store
See Full List On Macgamerhq.com
2. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Counter-Strike has been around in various forms for decades now, almost as long as online gaming has been a thing for normal people.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (also known as CS:GO) is the latest version of the game. It’s still largely the same round-based game it has always been, but this latest version has some nice quality-of-life features.
3. League of Legends
If you’ve even ever heard the term “eSports,” you probably at least know that League of Legends exists.
What’s hard to believe is that for a short time, League of Legends not only had a price tag, but actually shipped in boxes you could buy at the store. While we’re exiting the heyday of the MOBA, you’ll still find tons of people playing League of Legends.
Best Free To Play Steam Games
4. Dota Underlords
Were you screaming about Dota while reading the previous entry on this list? The answer is that I decided to save it for Dota Underlords. Part strategy and part “set it up and watch it fall” auto-battle, this game is strangely addictive.
Even better, the system requirements aren’t all that high, so no matter what Mac you’re running, you can probably play it.
5. Crusader Kings 2
If dense, puzzling grand strategy is your cup of tea, you won’t find much better than Paradox Interactive’s Crusader Kings series.
The fact that Crusader Kings 2 went free-to-play is just icing on the cake. Yes, you’ll need to pay to unlock expansions, but there is plenty there in the core game.
6. Eternal Card Game
Eternal Card Game might look an awful lot like Hearthstone, but underneath it plays different.
Somewhat of a combination of Blizzard’s insanely popular card game and Magic: The Gathering, the Steam reviews for Eternal Card Game frequently mention how generous the game is about giving you new cards. That’s a rare thing for a free-to-play game.
Related: The best digital card games worth playing
7. Lord of the Rings Online
It’s strange to think that Lord of the Rings Online first launched back in 2007. That’s not quite World of Warcraft old, but it still makes you think.
The game has seen multiple developers and publishers over the years, but for this MMORPG to still be going strong, they’ve got to be doing something right.
Related: The best Mac MMORPGs worth playing
8. Brawlhalla
Do you wish there was a version of Super Smash Bros. you could play on your Mac? Brawlhalla is the next best thing. This platform fighter might lack the recognizable characters, but it’s got all the gameplay depth and complexity to keep you coming back to it.
Best Free Mac Games On Steam 2021
Related: The best fighting games like Super Smash Bros
9. Guild Wars 2
If you prefer your MMOs to play more like Diablo than Everquest, take a look at Guild Wars 2.
While it’s not as hyper-instanced as the original game, it’s still quite a different experience than you’ll find in other MMORPGs. While you need to pay for the expansions, the core game is free.
Get the “Path of Fire” and “Heart of Thorns” expansions, a max-level boost, an extra character slot, 4000 gems, and more goodies with the super-valued Ultimate Guild Wars 2 bundle!
10. Shadowverse CCG
Do you want Hearthstone, except you’re kind of sick of Hearthstone? Do you like anime? Because that’s pretty much what Shadowverse CCG has to offer. One bonus: Steam reviews mention this isn’t nearly as pay-to-win as similar card games.
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