Best Free Arcade Games For Mac

Apr 10, 2020 If you haven’t signed up yet, Apple Arcade is available free for the first month, then $5/month for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, and Apple TV. PS4 and Xbox wireless controllers are also now. Best free Mac games Basketmania. Beneath a Steel Sky. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Dwarf Fortress. The Elder Scrolls: Legends. Eternal Card Game. Fistful of Frags. Full Deck Solitaire. League of Legends. Lord of the Rings Online.

You can still find them in some places, but they're pretty anachronistic these days. You'll find the occasional coin-op game at the movie theater and elsewhere, but mostly it's a thing of the past, now that everyone has a device in their pocket or on their desk that's a great gaming system. Fortunately some developers have kept the spirit of the arcade game alive.

Air Attack

If you're fond of classics like 1942, you'll love Air Attack. Fly airborne missions deep in enemy territory and take out targets in the air, on land and in the water. The game was developed using the popular Unity game engine, so it sports stellar 3D modeling and texturing effects.

$0.99 - Download now

Dragon's Lair (Daring Edition)

Back in the 80s we had to use our imagination a lot when we were playing video games. Computer processors were still slow and small, and while game developers did the best they could to provide us with bright graphics and sound, it still wasn't very realistic. All that changed with a unique game called Dragon's Lair. Using video laserdisc technology and cel-drawn animation from ex-Disney animator Don Bluth, Dragon's Lair presented us with the adventures of Dirk the Daring, an errant knight on a quest to save the princess from an evil dragon. It isn't your normal run-and-gun shooter: You need to make decisions at key moments to keep the action going, or face certain doom. Since there's often only way way to go, people who played Dragon's Lair over and over again would learn the patterns to joystick and action button movement, but it's still fun.

$9.99 - Download now

Jets 'n' Guns Gold

This side-scroller has dozens of levels, hundreds of enemies, boss monsters, tons of upgrades to collect and all the trappings of the side-scrolling action genre. If you're a fan of classics like R-Type or Gradius, you'll love it. Great soundtrack, too. I first encountered Jets 'n' Guns almost a decade ago, and still haven't gotten tired of it. It's just a lot of fun to play.

$6.99 - Download

NBA Jam

Originally developed in 1993, NBA Jam was an enormous hit back in the day — while the basketball gameplay was straight up ridiculous and over the top, it featured real teams and players and an outrageous Marv Albert-like announcer with catch phrases like 'He's on fire!' and 'Boomshakalaka!' NBA Jam was a hugely successful home arcade game too, so it's no wonder that EA has continued it with a Mac version.

$9.99 - Download now

Pac-Man

Bandai Namco has resurrected one of the definitive coin-op characters of all time: Pac-Man. This is a faithful recreation of the original Pac-Man game in all of its glory: One maze, four ghosts, and one yellow mouth with an insatiable appetite for dots and power pellets.

$4.99 - Download now

Pangea Arcade

Free Arcade Games For Mac

Pangea's been a Mac game developer since the 'bad old' days of the Mac; some of their games were included with the Mac back when Apple was still turning out beige Performa-era boxes. So it's no wonder they have a flair for the old school, and Pangea Arcade is a three-in-one collection that includes games reminiscent of classics like Missile Command, Asteroids and Centipede. But every game has been updated with modern graphics, sound and gameplay, so it's not a pure walk down memory lane — these are modern games with old school appeal. If you have red/blue anaglyph glasses handy, you can even get 3D support.

$9.99 - Download now

Pinball Arcade

No coin-op arcade is worth a damn without plenty of arcade games to play, and FarSight Studios delivers here. The developer has licensed classic real-world pinball tables from Williams, Bally, Stern Pinball and Gottlieb for this game. This free download only includes a single table: Tales of the Arabian Nights. But others are available as downloadable content, for a fee.

Free - Download now

Raiden Legacy

Raiden was a collection of very popular arcade shooters back in the day, and they've been resurrected in this collection from DotEmu. Raiden Legacy combines Raiden, Raiden Fighter, Raiden Fighters 2 and Raiden Fighters Jet. Features include two-player support, different game and difficulty modes, Game Center support and more.

$3.99 - Download now

Space Ace

The same team that developed Dragon's Lair followed up their successful effort with Space Ace, a wacky animated adventure in outer space in which you must keep Commander Borf and his legions from taking over the Earth (and save the beloved Kimberly in the process). It features the same style of gameplay as Dragon's Lair, and remains a fan favorite decades later.

$9.99 - Download now

Syder Arcade

A nod to the classic side-scrolling genre, Syder Arcade reminds me of an updated version of the games I used to play on my Commodore Amiga, back in the day. It combines that old-school sensibility with updated 3D graphics. Three different ships to choose from, four difficulty levels, six different areas to play and a bonus survival mode.

$9.99 - Download now

What did I miss?

These are my favorites, but I imagine there are some of yours that didn't make the list. Tell me about your favorite Mac arcade games in the comments!

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Your Mac isn't just good for doing schoolwork or connecting with friends. Thanks to the Mac App Store, it's also the home to impressive games for kids. Many of our favorites are part of Apple Arcade. However, there are others we recommend that you can purchase separately.

Alto's Adventure

First released on iOS in 2015, Alto's Adventure remains one of the most popular games in the Apple universe, regardless of platform. Packed with 180 handcrafted goals, Alto's Adventure for Mac is a snowboarding odyssey like no other. The physics-based gameplay is easy to learn but challenging to master, which is precisely how these types of games should be no?

Once you master Alto's Adventure, move onto Alto's Odyssey, which is also available on the Mac App Store. You'll be happy you did as Alto's adventure moves to a warmer climate.

Down the hill you go

Alto's Adventure

With six unique snowboarders

Experience fully dynamic lighting and weather effects, including thunderstorms, blizzards, fog, rainbows, shooting stars, and more

Bring You Home

The Love You to Bits team is out with its latest game, Bring You Home. Featuring Polo, a humble alien hero, your job is to reunite the star with his kidnapped alien pet. Family-friendly, this puzzle adventure comes with a few exciting twists through a unique game mechanic. Silly, inventive, and unexpected, Bring You Home comes highly recommended.

Meet adorable Polo

Bring You Home

A smart, refreshing adventure

How far will you go in this game full of twists, turns, and family-friendly fun?

Crossy Road Castle

For solo or multiple users, Cross Road Castle builds on the original game in fun new ways. With various levels and variations, the game is easy to enjoy even offline. Better still, every run up the castle is different. And like all Apple Arcade games, there are no in-app purchases required.

Go upward, my friend

Crossy Road Castle

Climb the tower

Top Free Mac Games

What will you find today? With Crossy Road Castle, every day is a new adventure.

Dandara

In the 2D world of Salt, life has changed considerably, and not for the better. Fear has arrived where there was once happiness; oppression has replaced freedom. But all is not lost thanks to Dandara, a heroine for our time. In this platformer game, you'll discover mysteries and secrets hidden throughout the world of Salt alongside its interesting cast of characters. Where does it end? That's up to you to figure out.

Beautiful and immersive

Dandara

Explore this directionless world

In the world of Salt, the world has broken down. Make it better by solving the world's many puzzles.

Element

In Element, you're escaping a decaying solar system where you must visit each different planets to grab essential elements. By doing so, you'll generate energy and build attack and defense units to defeat your enemy. The realtime strategy space game is beautifully crafted and designed for those who don't have hours to invest in gameplay.

A non-gamer strategy game

Element

Incredible journey around a dying solar system

Do you have what it takes to save the universe? You're about to find out.

LEGO Builder's Journey

LEGO Builder's Journey is a poetic puzzle that takes place in a breathtaking world filled with brick-by-brick effects, accompanied by a beautiful soundtrack. Throughout the narrative, discover movements that go up and down, challenges that inspire, and celebrations that will keep building.

Art meets LEGOs

LEGO Builder's Journey

A story about play, connections, and adventure

Smile! Here's a LEGO game like no other. Perfect for all ages (including older builders), this game is a special treat you didn't know you needed.

My Brother Rabbit

A little girl and her brother use the power imagination to escape a hostile outside world. What they discover is a fantastic universe that provides the play and comfort they need. In this land of make-believe, you'll help an adorable rabbit play mini-games, find hidden objects, and more. Along the way, you'll discover five amazing areas full of unique characters, including robs-moose, giant mushrooms, and more.

Land of make-believe

My Brother Rabbit

Five worlds to discover

With the real world in danger and uncertainty, escape to the fictional world of My Brother Rabbit.

Quiplash

For three to eight players, Quiplash comes from the team that brought us You Don't Know Jack and Fibbage. The question-and-answer game has no rules and no correct answers. What it does is offer hours of fun for family and friends.

Multi-player game

Quiplast

Hilarous fun

Another great party game from one of the best developers in the business.

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