Civilization 6 on Mac can’t be considered new anymore, yet this turn-based strategy game is still one of the best strategy games for Mac available today.
Civilization games are famous for their deep strategy. Looks have never been their forte, and you might wonder why even bother asking if you can run it. After all, turn-based games have simple graphics and are easy to run, right? Not so fast, Civilization 6 is a surprisingly demanding game… What does it take to run this turn-based masterpiece on macOS? How well can YOUR Mac run Civ 6? Can it run on M1 Macs?
⛔ A recent update completely broke the macOS version of the game. Unless you follow the steps detailed below, the game simply won’t launch!
Can you play Civilization 6 on Mac?
You can absolutely play Civilization 6 on your Mac, including Intel and Apple Silicon Models. Even if the official system requirements don’t mention M1 or M2 Macs, our benchmarks confirm the game runs fine on Apple Silicon Macs.
Civilization 6 running on an M1 Mac
It is worth noting that the game still uses the aging OpenGL graphics API. For a game that was brought to macOS by a renowned Mac porting studio (Aspyr Media), Metal support was expected. Given the lack of Metal support after all these years, don’t count on an Apple Silicon version coming anytime soon.
Having said that, the game won’t launch after the latest update. To solve this issue, this is what you need to do:
- Reinstall the Civilization VI.
- Select “Play” from the Steam library.
- After the “Verifying” prompt appears and completes, close the damaged error prompt.
- Then, open the Mac System Settings > Select “Privacy and Security.”
- Select “Security Settings”
- In the Security Settings, you should see a prompt saying, “Civilization VI was block…” Click the “Open Anyway” button under this text.
- Enter your system password if prompted.
- Then select “Open” on the security prompt.
- Your game should now launch.
| Art | Game | Genre | 64-bit? | 64-bit | API | M1 Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Civilization 6 | Strategy | Yes |  | OpenGL | Rosetta |
Civ 6 on Mac: Everything you need to know
Released in late 2016, Civilization 6 has more than proven itself to be a safe purchase. Reviewers all agreed: Civilization 6 is a beast. PC Gamer, for example, didn’t spare any compliments and gave it 93/100 score, concluding:
Sight, sound, and systems harmonize to make Civilization 6 the liveliest, most engrossing, most rewarding, most challenging 4X in any corner of the earth.
With an 88 Metascore, Civ 6 gets dangerously close to the Masterpiece status, usually reserved for games with a 90 Metascore or more.
Its latest Expansion: Gathering Storm
Rise and Fall, the game’s first major expansion, dared to make significant changes and enhancements. Most notably, it introduced the Loyalty system, Golden and Dark ages, improved Alliances, and more. It essentially made Civ 6 more rich and complex.
Now Gathering Storm, the game’s second Expansion, took Civ 6 to the next level. With the introduction of a new World Congress and a World Climate system, the game delivers a more dynamic and rich experience, especially when you reach the end game and start seeing the real consequences of your earlier choices.
Bottom line: While expensive for an Expansion ($40), Gathering Storm makes a great game even better.
Civ 6 Mac requirements
These are the game’s official Mac requirements:
| Requirements | |
| OS: | 10.12.6 |
| Processor: | 2.7 GHz Intel Core i5 |
| Memory: | 6 GB RAM |
| Graphics: | 1 GB GPU: GeForce 775M, Radeon HD 6970 or Intel Iris Pro |
| Hard Drive: | 15 GB |
| A 64-Bit OS and processor are required | |
How to play Civilization 6 on Mac
As mentioned before, Civilization 6 runs natively on macOS, and that includes Intel-based Macs and M1/M2 Macs.
The game does require Rosetta 2 to run on Apple Silicon Macs. But Rosetta 2 works so seamlessly (it installs automatically the first time it detects an Intel-based app), and it integrates so well with macOS that the experience is virtually the same as running a native Apple Silicon Mac.
This means Civilization 6 can run on macOS without requiring any third-party software. Therefore, we won’t waste your time talking about Parallels, Crossover (both excellent tools, but only useful for Windows-exclusive games…), or Streaming services.
Can you play Civ 6 on Mac? Benchmarks
These are the Civilization 6 M1 benchmarks we have gathered so far (you can find more details about the game’s Apple Silicon version here):
| Game | Machine | Resolution | Settings | Other | FPS | Tester | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Civilization 6 | 💻 M1 Max MacBook Pro 16", 32 GB | 2560x1440 | Ultra | 90 | MrMacRight | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRPPLrlUeSA | |
| Civilization 6 | 💻 M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14", 16 GB | 1800x1169 | Medium | 120+ | Mac Gamer HQ | ||
| Civilization 6 | 💻 M1 MacBook Air 13", 7-core GPU, 8 GB | 1440x900 | Ultra | 34.4 | Mac Gamer HQ | ||
| Civilization 6 | 💻 M1 MacBook Air 13", 7-core GPU, 8 GB | 1440x900 | Medium | 53 | Mac Gamer HQ |
As a reminder, this is how we describe the different levels of performance:
- Below 20 FPS: Unplayable: Laggy gameplay, full of stutters and slowdowns.
- 20-30 FPS: Borderline: Can be OK in slow-paced games. Still, not optimal.
- 30-45 FPS: Playable: Acceptable for most (most gaming consoles do this).
- 45-60 FPS: Smooth: Fluid gameplay, with no perceivable stutters.
- 60+ FPS: Very Smooth: For hardcore and professional players, a luxury for most.
Into Strategy games? These are our favorites:
| Game | ★ Our Pick | Also Great | Best Value |
| Civilization 6 |  Crusader Kings 3 |  StarCraft 2 |
|
| Genre | Turn-based | Turn-based | Real-time |
| Release date | 2016 | 2020 | 2015 |
| Metascore | |||
| Our rating | ★★★★☆ Full Review | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ Full Review |
| Requirements | High | Medium | Low |
| Check Price |
Intel Mac benchmarks
We previously tested the game on these Intel Macs:
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2017): 3.1 GHz Intel Core i7, 16 GB RAM, Intel Radeon Pro 560 (4GB)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016): 2.0 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, Intel Iris Graphics 540 (1.5GB)
- iMac (5K, 27-inch, Late 2014): 3.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, AMD Radeon R9 M290X (2GB)
- Mac Mini (Late 2014): 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 8 GB RAM, Intel Iris 5100 (1.5GB)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012): 5.5 GHz Intel Core i5, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4000 (1.5GB)
For the record, we benchmarked the game using a 1280×800 (or equivalent 1344×756) resolution, Medium Preset, MSAA 2X Anti Aliasing, and our in-house FPS counter Count It.
If you have a recent Mac with either an Apple Silicon processor or a dedicated graphics card, Civilization 6 will run just fine: smoothly and with no perceivable stutters. In fact, even older models can handle it, provided they have a powerful graphics card.
That said, getting barely 30 FPS on our high-end Intel Macs was disappointing. After all, those machines can easily run Rise of the Tomb Raider on it. How can they struggle with Civ 6?
The issue is most certainly coming from the fact Civilization 6 does not support Metal and has to run on the aging OpenGL graphics engine. This explains why we see similar frames per second compared to Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, a much more graphically intensive game that does benefit from the Metal API.
Can you play Civilization 6 on a MacBook Pro?
If you have an M1 or M2 MacBook or an Intel MacBook with dedicated graphics, you should be fine. Our test machines can run the game at 30 FPS.
But what if you have an Intel MacBook with integrated graphics? If we look simply at the results from our 2016 13-inch MacBook Pro, it seems that Civ 6 is unplayable on a 13-inch MBP (13 FPS on average). Granted, Civ 6 does benefit from a very particular type of gameplay: turn-based strategy. This means you don’t need super-fast frames to enjoy it, but anything below 20 FPS will be too painful to be enjoyable.
Download Civilization 6 for Mac
You can download Civilization 6 on Steam.
How is it that the 2014 iMac fares better than the 2016 MacBook Pro — when the MacBook has more VRAM??
A top-of-the-line iMac will almost always be faster than an equivalent MacBook Pro: the GPUs the iMacs can use + desktop processors + better heat management systems make all the difference.
What Mac model do you have?
I have a Mac book pro 13 inch, 2017, processor 2,3 G,h intel core i5 memory 8 gb, graphic intel iris plus graphic ics 640 1536 MB. CAN I PLAY? reaaaaalllllly want to 🙂
I have the same laptop, and the exact question– anyone have an answer?
Did you ever find out the answer?
No answer 🙁 still just as keen to get going, but really don’t want to waste the cash. I already done that once on an old Mac on an earlier civ – the frustration was horrific.
This almost a year old by now but I’ve a 2017 non Touch Bar i5 MBP and Civ VI runs fine on the lowest settings (the default settings chosen by the game at initial launch).
Good to know, thanks for the info!
Isn’t the bigger question can I play on a high level, on a huge map and with lots of AI players and not die of old age waiting for my turn?
the aspyr civ 6 mac faq states that none of those graphic cards are supported.
https://support.aspyr.com/hc/en-us/articles/213487546-Civilization-VI-Mac-FAQ
I have a Intel HD Graphics 4000 and since the Gathering Storm latest update it has made the game unplayable as it is too slow. Aspyr are good at responding through their support. Steam not so…
Hey Tom, did you find a solution? I have the same problem!
To be fair, my old fossil of a machine (specs below) will run Civ6 passably (loading or starting a game takes forever and a day, but once I’m in it’s mostly fine). Of course, most effects are either toned down or turned off. Oddly enough, the thing that locked my computer up the most is the leader animations – as long as they’re disabled, I can run the game. Turning them on and I’ll be lucky to make it past the loading screen. (Yes, I know I have practically no RAM).
MacBook Pro 15″ (Early 2011)
2.2 GHz Intel Core i7
4 GB RAM
AMD Radeon HD 6750 (1GB)
Resolution: 1680×1050
Any thoughts on a 2015 mac book air with i7 dual-core 8gig RAM, 2.2 GHz with intel 6000 integrated chip?
Hi guys, I have the MBP you tested, but under game options I can only see the Intel HD Graphics 630 and can’t change the advanced options to improve the graphic quality. How did you guys use the Intel Radeon Pro 560?
Can I run Civ 6 on a 2019 MacBook Pro 13 inch
civ6 supports metal now so this info is not correct.
civ6 runs okay on my 2015 macbook pro 13 inch with iris 6100 . not great, but perfectly playable.
earlier, without metal support, it was unplayable and i had to use windows in bootcamp to play
Hi. Here are m specs,
27 in. Imac late 2011
Intel I5 @ 2,7Ghz
12 G DDR3 @1333 Mhz
AMD Radeon 6770M 512 Mb
I’ve been running CIV 6 at medium settings with no issues with this GPU ( getting slow animation and turn processing at the later stages of large games.)
I’ve been running Rise & Fall as well.
Since the minimal specs does not seem to have hanged since Civ6 Classic : Could I expect the same level of performance for the Gathering Storm upgrade 6 Or should I get a new machine ?
This article almost stopped me buying Civilisation IV because of this stark warning:
https://www.macgamerhq.com/strategy/civilization-6-mac-review/
Civilization 6 Mac requirements …
Civ 6 officially supports the following graphics cards:
* NVIDIA GeForce 650M, 675MX, 680MX, 750M, 755M
* ATI Radeon HD 5750, HD 5770, HD 5870, HD 6750, HD 6770
* Intel HD Graphics 4000, 5000, 5300, 6000, Iris, 515
If you don’t have one of these cards, I’m afraid **this game isn’t for you…**
However the Aspyr Civilisation VI Mac FAQ says the opposite:
https://support.aspyr.com/hc/en-us/articles/213487546-Civilization-VI-Mac-FAQ
Requirements
NOTICE: The following video cards are **NOT** supported to run Civilization VI:
* NVIDIA®: GeForce® 650M, 675MX, 680MX, 750M, 755M
* ATI™ Radeon™: HD 5750, HD 5770, HD 5870, HD 6750, HD 6770
* Intel® :HD Graphics 4000, 5000, 5300, 6000, IRIS, 515
Please be more careful when cutting and pasting advice and correct this page.
My machine is the Mac Pro 5,1 (Mid 2010) dual 5690 Intel Xeon CPUs 3.46 GHz, with 96 GB 1333 MHz DDR3, and 1 TB NVMe SSD Boot on PCIe, Sapphire Nitro+ Radeon RX Vega 64 8 GB with auxiliary fan for additional cooling, running Open Core 0.8.0 & MacOS Monterey 12.6.1.
Can you give me an idea of how Civilization VI should perform on my machine.
After a few months I installed CIv 6 once again. Because I both some new DLC’s and there were a couple of new minor releases of the game. But it looks like rosetta didn’t recompile the new version of the game. And it stil runs an old ones, with older version and without DLC’s… I do not figure out how to make rosetta rebuild the game.. I cannot play with my friends now because of the version mismatch..