Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Gaming with M1 Mac mini?
- Thread starter JEuro2285
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Apple Arcade strikes me as utter garbage, certainly not utilising the power of Apple silicon in any meaningful way
yeah its a shame Apple really is behind in this category. i think it will get better in the future but never amazing or anything
Instead of Crossy Crossy road it should be concentrated on call of duty etc
God knows who’s in charge … probably Eddie cue , that would explain a lot …
God knows who’s in charge … probably Eddie cue , that would explain a lot …
i agree! i play CODM on my iPad and its pretty good for a mobile game. not as much as the console/pc game of course lol... really hoping Apple Arcade improves over the years. i'm always browsing around and most don't look like they're even worth DL'ing lol. especially the free ones
I'm not specifically using my Mac mini for Arcade - mostly because I no longer really like sitting at my desk for gaming and instead prefer lying on the couch 
But personally, I think there are a some really neat games on Arcade - if you like "indie" games, that is. Gris, The Pathless, The Last Campfire for example I really enjoy.
So while I really don't share the sentiment that it's garbage, I also don't see Arcade as a serious competitor to Game Pass for example.
It has improved a bit but the main focus seems to still be on mobile games. I could imagine it getting better with the compatibility kit or whatever it's called.
What I have played a great deal on my mini, though, is Diablo 3. That's obviously not Arcade, though.
But personally, I think there are a some really neat games on Arcade - if you like "indie" games, that is. Gris, The Pathless, The Last Campfire for example I really enjoy.
So while I really don't share the sentiment that it's garbage, I also don't see Arcade as a serious competitor to Game Pass for example.
It has improved a bit but the main focus seems to still be on mobile games. I could imagine it getting better with the compatibility kit or whatever it's called.
What I have played a great deal on my mini, though, is Diablo 3. That's obviously not Arcade, though.
i haven't heard of those games but just looked them up. i my try some. i have 3 months free of AA since i recently got an iPad. is your mac mini the M1? how do the games run? fps?I'm not specifically using my Mac mini for Arcade - mostly because I no longer really like sitting at my desk for gaming and instead prefer lying on the couch
But personally, I think there are a some really neat games on Arcade - if you like "indie" games, that is. Gris, The Pathless, The Last Campfire for example I really enjoy.
So while I really don't share the sentiment that it's garbage, I also don't see Arcade as a serious competitor to Game Pass for example.
It has improved a bit but the main focus seems to still be on mobile games. I could imagine it getting better with the compatibility kit or whatever it's called.
What I have played a great deal on my mini, though, is Diablo 3. That's obviously not Arcade, though.
The Asphalt games are neat - but work better on iPad imo.
Little Orpheus is a nice-looking, humorous side-scrolling game.
Limbo is great (if you don't have arachnophobia)
You've got the NBA 2kx games as well if you like basketball games.
They all ran great on my mini. I usually only check what frame rate things run at when I notice it stuttering because as long as it's running smoothly, I really don't care about frame rate
As for CoD - it'd be great if those were on Mac for sure. That would probably be a huge step toward making Mac a viable gaming platform.
Personally, I'm not a fan of them and only play them for reference. But they're undeniably popular.
Same with Fortnite - I don't like it much but I'd love to see it officially supported and Apple and Epic burying the hatchet.
It's sort of a chicken and egg situation: There aren't enough gamers on Mac, so developers don't make the big titles for Mac - but since there aren't enough big titles for Mac, gamers don't take Mac as a platform seriously...
Little Orpheus is a nice-looking, humorous side-scrolling game.
Limbo is great (if you don't have arachnophobia)
You've got the NBA 2kx games as well if you like basketball games.
They all ran great on my mini. I usually only check what frame rate things run at when I notice it stuttering because as long as it's running smoothly, I really don't care about frame rate
As for CoD - it'd be great if those were on Mac for sure. That would probably be a huge step toward making Mac a viable gaming platform.
Personally, I'm not a fan of them and only play them for reference. But they're undeniably popular.
Same with Fortnite - I don't like it much but I'd love to see it officially supported and Apple and Epic burying the hatchet.
It's sort of a chicken and egg situation: There aren't enough gamers on Mac, so developers don't make the big titles for Mac - but since there aren't enough big titles for Mac, gamers don't take Mac as a platform seriously...
seems like Resident Evil is a winner on Mac. Death Stranding looks pretty decent. Elex II also
I think you're right about mobile gaming on iPad. seems like that will always be dominant over Mac
I think you're right about mobile gaming on iPad. seems like that will always be dominant over Mac
Going by Activision (I find they're a good example since they've got products on just about all platforms thanks to all the studios they own) - yes, mobile is more lucrative.
According to this, mobile makes them more money than console and PC together.
According to their own numbers from 2022, mobile is also the single biggest part of their revenue.
