You can run a lot of old software on a modern Mac using Apple’s Rosetta 2, but native Apple silicon versions are even better. Thankfully, a surprising amount of old games already have native versions that run on modern Macs.
This includes old games that are still maintained, faithful remasters, and source ports that require you to bring your own copy of a game’s data into a new engine. Whatever the case, I’m just happy to be able to play some of the finest games ever made on my MacBook Pro.
12World of Warcraft
IsWorld of Warcraftretro yet? The game was first released in 2004, which makes it 21 years old at the time of writing. Somehow, the game is still going strong and has been a pillar of the admittedly thin Mac gaming scene since its launch. It was the first major game to support the M1 chip,way back in 2020.
You don’t need to do anything special to playWorld of Warcraftnatively on your Mac—just download and play. The hardest thing you’ll have to do is decidewhich version ofWoWyou actually want to play. The good news is that Apple’s modern hardware crushes even some of the more intense CPU and GPU-intensive parts of the game.
11The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind
With thesuccess of theOblivionremaster, fans ofThe Elder Scrollsseries might want to venture further back in time and check out the previous title,Morrowind. Set on the island of Vvardenfell within the province of Morrowind, the game saw Bethesda prioritize a higher level of detail within a smaller world, rather than repeat the gargantuan map sizes of previous entries.
Morrowindis playable on modern Mac systems via theOpenMWsource port which introduces massive changes and improvements via a complete engine rewrite. You’ll need a copy of the original game, and to follow theinstallation instructionsto get this all working. A copy of the GoG release and a few command line instructions using Homebrew tool innoextract make light work of the setup. you may then further improve and change the game with mods!
10DoomandDoom II
The question of “Can it run Doom?” has beenmemed to deathat this point, but to answer the question: yes, your Apple silicon Mac can runDoom, natively. This is also true for the sequel,Heretic, and the many, many fan-made mods that you’re able to download for free. Do this with the aid of the excellent source portGZDoom(formerly ZDoom).
All you need is the relevant WAD file to be placed in ~/Library/Application Support/gzdoom/ and you’re good to go. You can get these from an original copy of the game or a modern release on Steam or other marketplaces. You could also grab a copy ofFreedoomand play through the project for free.
9Doom 3
A whole decade passed betweenDoom IIandDoom 3, with id Software focusing on projects likeQuakein the meantime. Fortunately,Doom 3proved to be just as ambitious as previous titles, with the id Tech 4 engine pushing the boundaries of what PC graphics were capable of when it arrived in 2004.
Doom 3received a native Mac port a year after release, but playing the game on a modern Mac requires the use of a source port.dhewm3is the best engine replacement for the job, though you’ll need a legitimate copy of the original from Steam or GoG too. Follow theinstallation instructionsto get everything set up.
8MarathonTrilogy
1994’sMarathonwas the game that put developer Bungie on the map, back when the company was primarily a Macintosh developer. This sci-fi first-person shooter received widespread acclaim at a time whenDoomdominated the conversation. The project’s success would eventually lead toHalo: Combat Evolvedand the studio’s acquisition by Microsoft.
It’s only right then that the originalMarathon, its sequelDurandaland later gameInfinityare all playable via theAleph Oneopen-source project. No need to bring your own files this time, just download and play!
7Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition
Neverwinter Nightsis a 2002 roleplaying game set in the Forgotten Realms campaign based on Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition rules. The game includes a lengthy 60-hour campaign and a multiplayer component in which 96 players can connect to a single server (with support for a dungeon master).
TheEnhanced Editionstays true to the original and builds on what made the game so great. Modern resolutions of up to 4K are supported, with improved pixel shading and post-processing effects. Multiplayer is back, modding is supported, and the game even works with save games from the original title (assuming you still have them). All of this runs natively on a modern Mac via the official release.
6Unreal Tournament
At the turn of the millennium, a fierce debate raged among PC gamers:Unreal TournamentorQuake III: Arena? Both games featured multiplayer-first, arena-style gameplay, both had bots, and both were beautiful for the time. Personally,UTtook the crown and I sunk hundreds of hours into the game (most of it offline).
That’s why I grinned from ear to ear when I found theOldUnrealproject. Download the patcher, then read through the README and copy your files from an existingUTinstallation. You’ll then be able to play the game like it’s 1999 all over again.
5Quake III: Arena
Thankfully, you don’t need to choose between id Software and Epic Megagames anymore.Quake III: Arenais also fully playable on a modern Mac, thanks to a modern source port known asioquake3. The project supports vanillaQ3,Team Arena, and third-party mods, plus includes countless improvements like widescreen support and bug fixes that improve the game.
You’ll need a copy of the original game so you’re able to extract the necessary files, which are available from an original CD, or via Steam and GoG. From here just follow theMac installation instructionsand copy the necessary files. You can even use the project to join or host multiplayer games, so better practice your rocket jumps.
4Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Built on the same id Tech 3 engine asQuake III: Arena,Return to Castle Wolfensteinis often held aloft as the best the franchise has to offer, and it’s not just for nostalgia’s sake. This is early 2000s PC gaming at its best, putting you in the shoes of B.J. Blazkowicz as he takes out hordes of Nazis, the undead, and mutants. Fight your way out of the eponymous Castle Wolfenstein and head off in pursuit of those responsible for the regime’s paranormal experiments.
TheMac Source Portsproject hosts an Apple silicon native port of ioRTCW, which is itself a fork of ioquake3. It’s a source port, so you’ll need to provide data from an original copy of RTCW to play, which you can easily get from GoG.
3Diablo
1997 Blizzard Entertainment classicDiablohelped redefine action roleplaying games on the PC, serving up an addictive dungeon-crawling experience that would go on to spawn one of the most recognizable franchises in gaming. The game was notable for its use of procedurally-generated dungeons, accomplished online multiplayer, and satisfying character progression.
you may return toDiablo_’s roots withDevilutionX, a source port that supports both the original game and theHellfire_ expansion. To play, simply follow theinstructionsto extract the DIABDAT.MPQ file from your CD, GoG, or Battle.net version of the game and copy the files to ~Library/Application Support/diasurgical/devilution/ and launch the DevilutionX application.
