With many of the best titles now available on Mac, and the M1 & M2 Macs demonstrating just how quickly these games can be run on a Mac system, interest in Mac gaming has never been stronger.

If you are a Mac owner or considering purchasing a Mac for the first time this year, then take a look at our list of some of the best games, both new and old, that you can play in 2023. Just be prepared to be pleasantly surprised. There are some real gems available!

READ MORE: Nostalgic Gaming in Early 2023: Top 10 Classic Games to Replay!

Crusader Kings III

Published in September 2020, and a must-have for all strategy fans, Crusader Kings III is a power trip that will never get old. Set in the medieval period, at a time of great unrest, your task is to do whatever it takes to lead your dynasty to greatness. Or merely to survive.

With complex and engrossing dynamic gameplay, a deep character management system, and an incredibly detailed portrayal of the dramatic turns of medieval politics, this latest Crusader Kings installment transports you to a fantastical world full of warfare, diplomacy, allegiances, and betrayals. To a world of political intrigue straight out of The Game of Thrones. A world in which only the most cunning survive.

Find out how you will go down in history in this sensationally immersive role-playing game of wit and strategy.

Victoria 3

Ever wondered what it would be like to design and create your own society? To get to be in charge of what direction the world takes at key turning points in history? Well here's your chance to find out. A relatively new addition to the list, the much anticipated Victoria 3 was released in October 2022 as the ultimate society simulator. It hands you the reins to build your ideal society. And to lead your people through the tumultuous and transformative years of the 19th century.

But what kind of society will you build? What form of government will you choose? Will you prioritize peace or expansion? How will you balance the competing interests of your citizens? And how will you deal with those internally who oppose your governance? Or with external foreign powers who seek to invade?

Experience what it's like to live the answers of these questions, in this fully immersive game of grand strategy society simulation.

Cities: Skylines 

Described at the time of release as “The finest city builder in over a decade", and "the new gold standard of modern city-builders.”, the base game Cities: Skylines has withstood the test of time to remain one of the best city-building simulation games around. Add to this the frequent DLC updates, including the latest "Financial Districts" bundle, and you will find yourself immersed in hours' worth of city-building entertainment.

Not only do you get to design and build the city, but you also get to run it! Play as the Mayor and have fun making all the major decisions related to the functioning of your city, such as balancing the essential requirements of your citizens with running the economy and generating funding for the infrstrarure and industries that you build.

Total War: WARHAMMER III

The final act of a wildly ambitious Total War trilogy, the creative team really went to town with this fantastically over-the-top, story-driven, boundaries-breaking, fun, and frantic finale. The opposite of restrained, WARHAMMER III somehow manages to embrace a sense of absolute and total mayhem with incredible attention to detail. It masterfully weaves together a storyline that is as coherent as it is out of this world, and it seamlessly combines strategy and narrative with intense and hectic blood-splattering battles.

WARHAMMER III is everything you would want from a fantasy-inspired open-world strategy sandbox. With endless possibilities to cause chaos, either alone or with friends and a captivating storyline to keep you hooked, it's definitely one to play on a wet and windy Winter's day. Or in Spring. Or the middle of Summer... It's basically just one to play!

Football Manager 2023

For football fans, FM is a no-brainer. What is there not to like about sourcing hot new talent, picking the tactics, putting together a dream team, and taking your squad all the way to Wembley to be the first small-town club to win the FA Cup final? OK, so that's one dream scenario. And it's certainly easier said than done. But there are so many scenarios! And besides, what kind of a manager would you be if you didn't aim high?

Indeed, with FM 23, there is so much you can do to break new ground and customize your managerial strategy that you may find that you need to take time off your day job to keep up with it all! Alternatively, you can always hand over much of the day-to-day tasks, such as recruitment, training, contracts, finances, and the health and well-being of your squad, to the backroom team and focus your energy on match days.

However much time you choose to commit, the level of detail and accuracy in this latest FM rendition is absolutely incredible. This won't necessarily make life easier for you. Indeed, with the most 'intelligent' AI managers in the history of the series, your opposition will be better equipped to respond to your in-game tactical changes, making the challenges you face ever more realistic, and your wins that much more rewarding.

With countless more features, if you haven't yet got your hands on this latest installment of the FM franchise, we suggest you do!

Two Point Campus

It's Summer break and time to get things ready for your new September intake of students. Design your campus, including beautifully landscaped outside areas where students can relax between lessons. Hire staff, the more eccentric the better. And build libraries, science labs, lecture theatres, cafeterias, dorms, and places to party, as you prepare for what is set to be the best academic year yet.

Oh, and don't forget the curriculum. Perhaps a course in Knight studies? Or a semester of learning to build humungous pizzas? You know, the core subjects that will really come in handy in life!

This is your chance to build the university of your dreams. Unlock the academic potential of your students with your vast array of courses, and watch as their confidence and happiness bloom as a result of the thriving social scene you create with your abundance of clubs, societies, and gigs. The sky's the limit with this creative, fun, expansive, and quirky university simulation game. Let your love of learning reign free!

The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle

Selling more than 58 million copies worldwide, Elder Scrolls is one of the most critically acclaimed and influential role-playing series of the last 25 years. For newcomers interested in immersing themselves in this epic world of fantasy and adventure, The Elder Scrolls Online Collection: High Isle incorporates the Base Game and all Chapters, including the latest High Isle installment, and is a great way to jump on board and unlock hours worth of all-encompassing entertainment.

Jam-packed with ancient ruins, mysterious communities, powerful artifacts, and dangerous foes, High Isles provides a harsh environment to challenge even the most experienced of adventurers. Indeed, you will be hard-pressed to find a more immersive and detailed open-world RPG out there. And with the game's rich story, you'll be hooked for hours on end. Remember, Elder Scrolls is not just a game, it's a whole world to discover.

Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI

Civilization is a turn-based strategy game that challenges you to build an empire that can defend itself against enemies, overthrow adversaries, expand its borders, and withstand the test of time to become the greatest civilization the world has ever known.

Wage war, conduct diplomacy, and keep your wits about you as you go head-to-head with the great leaders of the past. All of whom have their own interests at heart. Interests that may or may not coincide with your own.

Whether you are new to the series or not, Civilization VI provides a new tutorial system to get first-timers up to speed, whilst introducing enough new features to keep veteran players on their toes. These new features include expanding cities requiring extra strategy; a new religious route to victory and subsequent theological combat; mini-quests associated with new technologies and social policies; and an additional requirement to provide sufficient amenities to your population to prevent internal rebellions.

If you don't yet own Civilisation VI for your Mac, you should!

What could be more exciting than designing, building, and managing the theme park of your dreams?!

Make your visitors scream with fear and delight as they hurl through the skies on one of your custom-built, hair-raising rollercoasters; whizzing upside down and plummeting from crazily high heights, at supersonic speeds, until the world is a blur and their stomachs are in their mouths. Or perhaps focus on providing a more tranquil experience, with tea, cakes, and ice cream, and a scenic tour of your beautifully landscaped surroundings.

Choose to design your rides to conform to the rules of physics, or you decide to leave the real world at the door. You are in charge. Down to the tiniest detail. This is your theme park and this is your chance to let your imagination go wild.

Just be sure to keep track of the reactions of your customers. With realistic and immediate guest reactions, they will be sure to let you know what works and what doesn't!

Whether you are a theme park buff or just looking for a fun and creative way to spend your time, Planet Coaster is an incredibly authentic simulation game that will provide you with hours' worth of entertainment.

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