Top 10 iPad Games That Work Better on Mac

Gaming on smaller devices like smartphones and tablets can be incredibly fun. And not only that, but it’s also very convenient too. Whether you’re on a chair, a bed, or in the middle of a bus ride – you can take out your device and enjoy hours of gaming without any extra steps. 

The iPad in particular has the perfect balance between a smartphone and something that has a reasonably large screen, which is very fun for gaming. But sometimes, the convenience comes at the sacrifice of hardware performance, which may result in many of the games not being utilized to their full potential. This may compel gamers to try their favorite games out on much stronger devices, like the Mac, which can play iPad games at much better benchmarks. 

So, if you’re looking for games that are playable on the iPad but run much better on Mac, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s a list of top 10 iPad games that have an improved performance on Mac. 

1. Samurai Jack: Battle Through Time

It doesn’t matter whether you watched the Samurai Jack animated series or not – you can never go wrong with a fun hack and slash game. It’s already a surprise that this game runs on iPads because of how beautiful its visuals are and the fact that it’s a full-fledged action game. 

The game has a beautiful story and serves as an epilogue to the series – which means that you’ll get to witness the end of an era. The gameplay is solid and there are tons of cool enemies and boss fights to get into.

All of this is much better when you don’t have to rely on touch controls. And you won’t experience performance and frame rate dips on a Mac either, which sadly happens often on the iPad. 

2. Beyond Blue

Beyond Blue is a perfect game for those that like exploration and while it’s great on iPad, it’s even better on a Mac. You have a very high resolution when compared to the iPad, and the brightness along with visual style lends itself together to deliver an excellent result. 

Many see Beyond Blue as a technical showcase as what the Mac platform can do, and it certainly offers you a very intense and unique game experience. On top of that, if you like the idea of exploring underwater locations, this is maybe the best way to do it and it can bring some exciting features.

3. Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI, just like any other game of the franchise, is quite CPU-intensive, and despite its iPad version being well-optimized, it’s bound to run much better with the Mac’s stronger processing power and RAM. 

The game also tends to be much more immersive on a bigger screen since there’s a lot of detail to pay attention to, and it’s just much more suitable to control with a keyboard and mouse. Not to take away anything from the game’s iPad/iPhone port, but the experience is simply much better on Mac.

4. Thimbleweed Park

Another investigative point-and-click adventure. Thimbleweed Park, created by the designers of the acclaimed 1987 classic Maniac Mansion, is one of the eeriest and most intriguing games to play on either device. 

Like Disco Elysium or any point-and-click game, the game is meant to be much more enjoyable with a device to actually click with, so the presence of a mouse alone is meant to elevate your experience. The game is also very artistically detailed, so a bigger screen may complement it much better. Not forgetting, the text is simply easier to read on a bigger screen, too. 

5. Day of the Tentacle Remastered

The sequel of Maniac Mansion, which we already mentioned as an influence for Thimbleweed Park. This remaster brought back an absolute classic to modern devices, including both the iPad and the Mac. 

While playing a game as timelessly creative as this on any device is quite an experience, the point-and-click aspect, the remaster’s updated visuals, and sound design require Mac’s much stronger processing, display, and audio to be properly enjoyed. And since it’s a 90s game, playing it on a bigger screen will provide a more nostalgic experience. 

6. Oceanhorn 2

If you ever played Zelda or any other open world RPG, Oceanhorn 2 will feel right at home. The game is very immersive, it has over 20 hours of gameplay and a great story. While it can be played on mobile, it’s on Mac where it truly shines. You have a much higher resolution, and the quality is very impressive. 

Character models are a lot more detailed, and people like the unique style brought by the game. Plus, it’s a great way to learn more about the world in the first game. If you are passionate about exciting puzzle games, open world combat and a cute world, then Oceanhorn 2 is definitely one of those titles that you will have a lot of fun with.

7. Minecraft

The beloved sandbox game is a treat on both iPad and Mac but playing it on the Mac is easily the superior experience. The visuals, the performance, and the precision of controls apart, the Mac hardware also allows support for a lot more mods, custom textures, and shaders. 

Due to how creativity-driven the game is, the game may also often end up being highly CPU-intensive, in which case a stronger machine would come in handy.

8. Among Us

This choice may be a bit suspicious since the game barely even needs any strong hardware and is already fun enough in the palm of one’s hands, but wouldn’t it be a lot easier to beware of all the sus behavior that surrounds one with a bigger display? 

The Mac’s stronger sound may also allow tracking steps with a lot more ease. And some people prefer the game with keyboard and mouse controls too – as it makes it easier not to accidentally mis-click things which happens often on smaller displays. 

9. The Room

An iPad classic, which won the 2012 iPad Game of the Year award. Another game to be emulated on the Mac. Its intricate puzzles require a lot of attention to detail, which is why playing it on a larger system may allow things to catch your attention sooner. 

The Mac doesn’t improve the experience a lot, but it might make your playthrough more effective. And the game is nothing short of eye-candy, so that certainly adds more incentive.

This game is not natively released on the Mac, but you can run it using the Mac’s compatibility with iOS apps.

10. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

A Game that will never get old. Amazingly, we’re now able to play this once component-intensive game in the palm of our hands, but for those who love the game, a better experience is bound to come on a stronger machine, with the additional freedom brought by the keyboard and mouse controls. 

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is still one of the most exciting crime-based video games that you’ll get your hands on. And its story is enhanced vastly with great performances from well-known actors like Samuel L. Jackson.

Conclusion

That’s a wrap on our list of the top 10 best iPad games that work better on Mac. We hope that you found some games to play on this list which suit your preferences. And while you’re still here, make sure to check out some of our other guides too!