Comments on: Games for MacBook?

Question: Games for MacBook?

Sticherbeast — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:58:43 -0800

Gaming on a MacBook: what games would run well in OS X on a 2.2GHz MacBook (with GMA X3100)?

I've been out of the video game loop for a very long time, but as my life gets busier, I'd like to have at least one new time waster. I used to be huge into Quake, Marathon, Lux, Myst, and platformers like Mario and Sonic, and I'd be interested in something similarly hypnotic. I don't have any urge to get the newest games - just something new, interesting, pretty, and playable for my new toy. I'd be interested in an arcade-type game with a quirky sense of strategy, and no MMORPGs, please.

I'd love games in the vein of Crayon Physics. I'd also love to find a replacement for Quake.

By: Fiasco da Gama

Fiasco da Gama — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:17:34 -0800

Defcon might suit if you're into quirky strategy and hypnotic effect.

By: aristan

aristan — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:32:20 -0800

Quake 1.1 for OS X (Universal Binary)
Magic Pen, flash version of Crayon Physics
Quinn, tetris clone for OS X
and just to be weird: The Graveyard, which isn't so much a game as an art piece.

Don't forget to check Apple's Game Download section for Shareware & freeware games.

By: wanderingmind

wanderingmind — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:46:17 -0800

Cave Story.

By: bartleby

bartleby — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:54:30 -0800

Older games might work well, and will be cheap if they don't.

Did you play ALL 5 of the Myst games?

Lego Star Wars ran fine on a G4, should run great on a newer model, and is interesting, pretty, quirky, and very playable.

I had a lot of fun playing No One Lives Forever and NOLF 2 on that same G4. A mission-based sneak-and-shoot, set in a very campy Avengers/Man from Uncle 60's spy world. Not very pretty now, (children of the present age find bleeding edge 2002 graphics laughable) but there's a lot of gameplay in there.

By: theiconoclast31

theiconoclast31 — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 00:13:05 -0800

You might find some neat games at indygamer. The Ur-Quan Masters wasted plenty of my time.

By: ArkhanJG

ArkhanJG — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:11:39 -0800

The GMA X3100 is alas a really really rubbish 3D card, like all intel's onboard efforts, despite their marketing. Anything 3d gamish from the last 5 years will struggle, unless it's on 800x600 at minimum settings and literally 4/5 years old.

Assuming you're prepared to dual-boot windows with bootcamp, or use crossover, there's a range of windows games available. Far cry is playable at minimum, quake 2 and 3, unreal tournament 2004, that sort of era. Doom 3, quake 4, anything from the last 3 years will be out of reach I'm afraid, even at minimum settings.

Half-life 2 is also possible, and I'm told tf2 is possible at fairly low settings - you could join the metafilter tf2 gaming group!

If you're after quirky, I can definitely recommend portal, another orange box game.

Assuming you're only after OSX native games, then http://insidemacgames.com/reviews/
is probably a good kick off point.

By: ArkhanJG

ArkhanJG — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 02:17:52 -0800

Oh yes, nearly forgot. Peggle and Puzzle quest are both highly addictive. Popcap games (who make peggle) make way too addictive games, with osx native versions like zuma, bejewelled 2 and bookworm.

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 04:49:48 -0800

Well, if you used to play Marathon (and woe be to any Mac fan who didn't), get yourself Aleph One and relive those golden years.

By: eafarris

eafarris — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:32:41 -0800

We like Nexuiz as a (free) Quake replacement at our house.

By: nougat

nougat — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:55:48 -0800

I play Warcraft on my macbook...

By: LunaticFringe

LunaticFringe — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 08:40:46 -0800

I play WoW as well and may play Spore if it manages to make it to Mac.

By: krautland

krautland — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 09:11:56 -0800

seconding quinn, to which I've become completely addicted (236.538 points though prolly means I still suck). also onsider desktop tower defense as a nice little timewaster.

and marathon... long ago but so much fun on networks.