mental image byAndrew Hayward / IDG
The Mac gaming program library expand with each passing calendar week , bring an array of unexampled experiences to settle your teeth into — and if you require to gage on the cheap , that ’s truly no problem at all . Let this aggregation suffice as a prime deterrent example : Each secret plan on this listing sell for $ 9.99 or less , and all are surely deserving more than that .
This is n’t a definitive “ best of ” or even a comprehensive list — we had dozens of game in thinker for this , and the selection is far too immense to try and rank them against each other . or else , consider this a curated starting point : See what catch your optic here , and then go exploring on Steam , the Mac App Store , and other gambling store . You ’ll find a wad of awing titles that deport unbelievable bang for your buck .
Attempting to get around the world in a steampunk version of 1872 sound like a hard task — one that could power a lively , fantastic action plot , naturally.80 Days($9.99;Steam ) is lively and wild , but it ’s no activity game : It ’s primarily a text adventure in which your various decision help shape both the outcome and the journeying itself .
Getting around the world postulate a mix of transportation types and heedful selection of routes from city to city , with time and money both crucial considerations . But there ’s more to it than just completing the trip on time , as the conversation along the way entertain and assist build out your character all the while .
For fans of games that are a second edgy or redoubtable , The Binding of Isaac($4.99;Steam ) is essential . Hailing from one of the same minds behind the gruesome but brilliantSuper Meat Boy , The Binding of Isaac is an arcade - style gunman … but you play as a au naturel child who is fighting monsters in his cellar as he evades his violent , throw out of kilter mother .
Like we say , it ’s unnerving to say the least . Between that unique premiss and the half - gross , half - gory aesthetic , The Binding of Isaac has a distinctive hook — but it ’s also a really fun dungeon - crawling shooter . You ’ll shoot your own rent at the creepy-crawly creature within and seek out climb as you sample to go the undercover labyrinth , and the challenge continually prods you to ameliorate .
Indie darlingBraid($9.99;Mac App Store ) look properly old - school , but has its own unparalleled twisting on the classical platform - action mechanism formula . While the biz uses familiar Mario - esque building blocks for its stages , Braid allows you to rewind time at will — at first to discipline mistake , but eventually there ’s much more to it .
It ’s cagey and downright hellish at clock time , but like some other games on this list , Braid is memorable for far more than its unique gameplay design . It has a profoundly philosophical boundary , and unravels a heartrending tale snatch by moment — plus the dreamy , hand - painted aesthetic really sell the surreal tone of the experience .
CreatingFez($9.99;Steam ) might have been an arduous , overlong endeavour ( as documented by the greatIndie Game : The Movie ) , but actually take on through this imaginative chopine biz is largely a total pleasure . That ’s not to say that it ’s a entire walkover : Some of the puzzles and obscure secrets are cleverly designed to stamp and frustrate .
While Fez look like a retro throwback , it has a very modern , fresh turn : The seemingly 2D pixel options can be spread out 90 degrees to shift around elements in the macrocosm , which is indispensable to figure your way through each new area . It ’s a of the essence mechanic that gives the plot a lot of extra depth — in more ways than one .
In space , nobody can pick up you scream — but your agonized yelps might wake menage , roommates , or neighbour once you start grasp into the fell challenge ofFTL : quicker Than Light($9.99;Steam ) . give a spaceship to overtop and a hazard - filled coltsfoot to search , you ’ll set off into the tense , randomly - generated areas .
FTL is inspired by dungeon - crawl “ roguelike ” game , which means there ’s passel of uncertainty found in each unexampled location — and when your crew phallus drop dead , they ’re gone for good . Whether it ’s encountering enemies , making decisions to keep your ship afloat , or endeavor to outrun some pursuing menace , this deep , retro - flavour pursuance can be absolutely enthrall .
Although follow up by a trio of larger , more ambitious game , Grand Theft Auto : Vice City($9.99;Steam , Mac App Store ) remains one of the most iconic entries in the opened - world action serial publication , setting a crime tale limit against the now - hilarious excess of the eighties . As Tommy Vercetti , a Mafia hitman just out of jail , you ’ll reemerge into a Miami - cheer city to stimulate a little havoc .
infinitely roaming the city — whether it ’s to take on mission , conduct police on wild chases , or see what other playfulness can be found — is a fire . And Vice City sure as shooting looks and go the part : The pastel colors , awe-inspiring era - appropriate soundtrack , and unvarying skewering of ‘ 80s culture makes for a screaming , absorbing experience .
First - person shooters become bigger and brasher with each passing twelvemonth , yet 2004’sHalf - lifespan 2($9.99;Steam ) stay a serious bench mark for the integral genre . Valve ’s masterwork presents a tense single - player campaign through an alien - overtaken Earth , with the Gravity Gun opening up fresh gameplay possibilities beyond just running and gun .
It ’s storytelling that establish just as much of an impact as the action , however , with believable characters that really sell the weight of the conflict . If you dig Half - life sentence 2 , do n’t leave out theEpisode OneandEpisode Twostandalone expansions for $ 8 each — and heck , the iconic 1998 originalis $ 10 , too .
One of the most acclaimed indie game of recent years , Her Story($5.99;SteamorGOG ) is a totally unique unrecorded - natural action escapade game that task you with remodel a history base on recording of police interview . However , the interviews are all cleave into diminutive clipping , and you ’re give no direction as you sort through this massive archive of footage .
That lack of social organization stretch into finding meaning in the plot line , as the secret plan does n’t prod you with objectives or goals , and plainly lets you draw in your own conclusions base on what you see and believe . It ’s notrealpolice footage , of course , but “ Her ” public presentation is compelling and the eventual narrative twist justify all of the digging that in the end gets you there .
If you have n’t already played the excellentLara Croft Go($9.99;Steam ) on iPhone , iPad , or Apple TV , then you should definitely check it out on Mac . Croft is the legendary heroine of the Tomb Raider franchise , of course , but this is n’t a vast military action - adventure tale countersink in massive environments — it ’s in reality a turn - based mystifier secret plan spread across lode of compendious stages .
Each level challenges you with have the best enemies and environmental hazard by figuring out the best path beforehand , all while flipping switches and stealthily dispatching foeman . Being able to play at your own gait made itperfect for mobile , but the game holds up well on Mac : Lara Croft Go does a great task of transform Tomb Raider ’s essence into something new and clean .
While not a repugnance biz by design , Limbo($9.99;Steam , Mac App Store ) fork over a pretty hefty sense of dread . The wordless side - scrolling game is set primarily in the shadows , with the primary character — a young son — tasked with solving an array of environmental puzzle as he play threats along the way .
Amidst the darkness are real surprises and scares , but also a huge amount of charm : Limbo is so expertly design that it does n’t need an overt chronicle or tutorial . You ’ll quickly learn the principle of the macrocosm and then piece together your own interpretation of what ’s happening in the compact pursuance , right up through the affecting conclusion .
We’veraved about the iOS versionofMini Metro($9.99;Steam , Mac App Store , orGOG ) , but this impressively streamlined underpass model in reality begin life on computers — and you ’ll discover the same great experience no matter where you play . Mini Metro look like a underground mathematical function , but actually running the trains on metre require quite a fleck of tactical planning .
Each little shape on the screenland represents a station , and you ’ll associate them by make lines . As your passage scheme boom , it ’ll draw in more and more rider — which in the end pass to overcrowding if you are not deliberate , or do n’t wisely spend your extra resources . How long can you stay in business across these various real - world maps ?
We can safely say that you ’ve never played anything quite likeOh … Sir ! The Insult Simulator($1.99;SteamorGOG ) . As the name suggests , this sappy slight game is all about hand over unbalanced George Burns and annihilative slams to an opponent , but it ’s not just an exculpation to overstretch your best taunts from the back of your mind — it ’s actually a private-enterprise secret plan .
You ’ll face off against another participant and take turn choosing terms out of a communal pile , attempting to build the best and most grammatically correct attack . It has a powerfully British tone to the wittiness , and while you could play solo against the figurer , the most surefooted and cunning insult artist can hop online for rich competition . And it ’s only two bucks !
It ’s laughable : A secret plan that might sound psyche - numbingly dull in its essence description actually cede unbelievable , catgut - churning drama and sight of opportunity to analyse your own morals under pressure . Papers , Please($9.99;Steam ) is , at its gist , a secret plan about looking over documents and stamp tabloid of newspaper . But it ’s really a game about power , forfeit , and sore choices .
As a new border agent for a fabricated Eastern Bloc body politic in 1982 , you ’re tasked with closely scan immigration documents for errors or red flags , and adjudicate who gets in . Your choices — and/or precision — may not only determine the circumstances of those you encounter , but also your own home . It ’s shockingly acute stuff .
longsighted beforePeggle($4.99;Steam ) became an idealistic iOS obsession , it was a top Mac time cesspool — and it remain essential after all these year . Despite its light and fluffy exterior , PopCap ’s game test to be a herculean addiction , maintain you in its grip with each barely - leave out nog and point - clearing , “ Ode to Joy ” blare firework show .
Peggle essentially blends pinball and pachinko , tasking you with shooting a glob into a grid of colorful nog . The goal is just to clear all the orangish ones before running out of balls — a task that turns hard before long , and requires a average bit of strategy to go along with all the favorable bounces you ’ll notch along the way . SequelPeggle Nightsis also $ 5 and just as terrific .
It might make you chew your fingernail and bewilder your mouse , butPixelJunk Monsters Ultimate($9.99;Steam ) satisfies as much as it stymies . This colorful tower defense entry delivers tense action as you work up up turrets to protect your little village from the invaders that slowly pour into each stage .
The Ultimate version gather up all of the content from the various PlayStation editions , delivering a few dozen stages along with online and local cooperative activity . ( Side bank note : The Mac App Store version lacks online play , which is why we did n’t lean it here . ) It suck up you in with its accessible automobile mechanic , not bad cartoonish graphics , and impossibly catchy soundtrack , but then pummel you with its steep erudition curve . Still , it ’s the kind of punishment you ’ll gladly take time and again as you learn to master its engaging challenge .
You might already knowPlants vs. Zombies($4.99;Steam ) from its excellent iOS incarnations , but PopCap ’s streamlined tweak on the tower denial genre come out life on Mac . And if you did n’t already play it elsewhere , this dirt - cheap gem remains one of the safe Mac games you’re able to grab for just a few bucks .
As the claim hint , Plants vs. Zombies mark the undead against your US Army of aggressive flora creatures , as you seek to protect your suburban home from encroacher . It ’s much easy to grasp than a lot of towboat defense game , and is dewy-eyed to start , but before long you ’ll take some serious smarting to outwit the ever - strong ( and increasingly screaming ) enemies tramp down on your backyard and roof .
Widely considered one of the expert game of all clip , Portal($9.99;Steam ) puts a glorious whirl on the first - person shooter genre — it wrick it into a teaser secret plan . Rather than shoot bullets , your accelerator pedal launches portals that can channel you and the items around you to another location . And the game build some fantastic environmental challenges from that premise .
While that ’s all first-class , satisfying stuff , the larger impact of Portal come from how richly acquire the cosmos feel for such a compact adventure . It ’s hilarious , tricky , and completely unlike anything you ’ve ever recreate . And if you love it , the $ 20 sequelis much bombastic while still quite fantastic .
Ruling a nation must be tough , right ? Well , Reigns($2.99;SteamorGOG ) makes it startlingly soft , although not always with very positive results for your monarchy . You ’ll take the pot as the new - crowned mogul and confront critical decisions that impact your people in different slipway — but making a choice is as wide-eyed as as swiping ( or rather , click and dragging ) left or right-hand , Tinder - style .
Depending on your judgment , each decisiveness can either empower your reign or lead to your apace - nearing downfall , so choose wisely . And when your king finally dies , a descendant will take his situation and you ’ll begin anew , with fresh cards , characters , and scenarios appear over clip to rock up the storyline .
Sometimes it ’s fun to rent loose with a self-aggrandizing , dumb activeness game , andShank($9.99;Steam , Mac App Store ) is emphatically that — in smell , at least . Inspired byRamboand grindhouse photographic film , this ultra - violent , side - scrolling biz finds you gash foes with all manner of blades , firearms , and even a chainsaw . It maintains its over - the - top nature throughout the compendious cause , which provides pile of challenge throughout .
But while aggressively silly in note , Shank is also imposingly well - ramp up , packing satisfying gameplay and silken hired man - draw graphics — and it can be wreak in local co - op with a second participant plugging in . If you dig the original , its intimately - as - strong sequelShank 2is also available for the same price .
Brick - breaking biz like Arkanoid and Breakout have been done to last , but theoccasional innovator still comes alongto shake up the old design . AndShatter($4.99;Mac App Store ) is one of the rank good on Mac , supply alone automobile mechanic while disrupting distinctive stage layouts and pump in a whole lot of energy .
Shatter delivers belittled stacks of leg at once — complete with big chief conflict at the terminal — with your testicle - batten paddle able to wet-nurse in or crusade away blocks , plus it ’s often found in varying locating on the cover . And the game makes a memorable encroachment not only with its mechanics , but also its glossy graphics and pulsing , perfect background beats .
No , Sonic & Sega All - champion Racing($9.99;Steam , Mac App Store ) is not the most original secret plan on this list — like the vast majority of go - kart racers starring familiar character , it crib a lot of its playbook from theMario Kartseries . And until Nintendo starts making Mac games , it ’s the best choice we ’ve scram for the particular brand of colonnade racer .
Luckily , what it lacks in originality , All - Stars Racingmakes up for in fun and comic nostalgic tributes . Pulling from all over the Sega universe , including gadget driver and/or tracks based on ecological niche gems likeSpace Channel 5andSamba de Amigo , this colourful option delivers a delicious blast of fan service with every projectile fired .
Star Warsgames have been notoriously hit - or - miss over the days , butStar Wars : horse of the Old Republic($9.99;Steam , Mac App Store ) has an undeniable legacy : It ’s arguably the first plot that tried to match the weighing machine and ambition of the sci - fi universe . And it did so with an epic use - playing quest that made player choice a crucial part of the experience .
Your decisions along the way help decide whether you end up embracing the light or dark side of the Force , and the protracted risky venture is plenty entertaining as you shape your character and betroth in scrap . It ’s a little see now , but even after all this time , fewStar Warsgames get even close in terms of quality and impact .
Truth be told , we ’d plausibly have Minecraft on this list if the price were proper — but as luck would have it , Terraria($9.99;Steam ) is more than just a hapless man ’s knockoff . While the games partake the same focusing on creation institution and exploration , as well as crafting your own tools to help in all of that , this side - scroll rendition has its own unequaled flavor .
The loose structure is familiar , but once you start digging into the earth , you ’ll see plenty of interesting things below : classifiable cavern , surprising enemy , and even chief battles to take on . And for a sandpit game , Terraria has a surprising amount of personality pack in . you could easily spend 12 of hours in this one .
If you ’ve got a soft spot for old - school office - playing games , you have to giveUndertale($9.99;Steam ) a shot . Seemingly inspire by the oddball sensitiveness of 16 - fleck authoritative Earthbound , this indie campaign has a colorful retro esthetical and batch of humor , not to mention some interesting gameplay turn of events .
Rather than grind out one C of fights and slay countless enemies , you could really talk your elbow room out of combat using the biz ’s one - of - a - kind struggle system . And like a destiny of more modern RPGs , your choices along the direction help shape the adventure ahead . It looks simplistic , but genre fan have come head - over - heels in love with this atavistic tribute .
World of Goo($9.99;Steam , Mac App Store ) is a wondrous footling indie gem that supply a serial publication of increasingly intricate puzzles to fill out . Your task ? Build structures out of various balls of goo to form a bridge circuit to the suck pipework exit in each stagecoach . As new glob with added abilities come along , the stages themselves become more complex and challenging .
It really scale well over the course of the campaign , with some guileful ( but nothorriblypunishing ) levels on the back end — but it ’s not just some juiceless puzzler . earth of Goo succeeds in part because of its peachy personality , whether it ’s the cartoonish aesthetic , odd tinge of a back report , or the haunting original soundtrack .
