The 11 Best Strategy games for Mac
We pick our favorite strategy games, including worthy free alternatives.By Ric Molina | Updated Apr 20, 2020
Usually, Mac gamers have to accept that some of the top games only support Windows, but luckily for you, strategy games are the exception. MacOS can count with every single one of the top choices.
And if you’d prefer something entirely different, this massive post with the 100 Best Mac games covers the most popular games across all genres.
Game | ★ Best Overall | Best for MacBook | Best Value |
Genre | Turn-based | Turn-based | Real-time |
Release date | 2016 | 2018 | 2015 |
Metascore | |||
Our rating | ★★★★☆ Full Review | ★★★★★ Full Review | ★★★★★ Full Review |
Requirements | High | Low | Low |
Check Price |
The rest of the best:
Total War: Warhammer 2 | Northgard | XCOM 2 | Company of Heroes 2 | Hearthstone | Crusader Kings 2 | Stellaris | Total War: Three Kingdoms
Last updated: April 20, 2020
Last updated in December 2018, this guide was in dire need of a refresh. After all, 2019 was full of excellent strategy games. And perhaps more importantly, the move to 64-bit with macOS Catalina rendered some of our picks unplayable.
These are the biggest changes to this list:
- Removed Europa Universalis IV as it doesn’t support macOS Catalina
- Removed Homeworld Remastered as it doesn’t support macOS Catalina
- Added Stellaris to replace Homeworld Remastered
- Added Crusader King 2 to replace Europa Universalis IV
- Added Total War: Three Kingdoms as it’s probably the best strategy game of 2019!
We also took the opportunity to improve this guide with better formatting, and more test results and information about the games.
Real-world MacOS tests
Our process is straightforward. First, we evaluate the games we suspect are the best (based on reviews and personal experience), then we buy them if we don’t already own them and finally we test them on these three machines.
We do receive several review copies of games but unless they’re part of our selection, they are ignored.
In this list, you’ll only find games that are both great and have proper MacOS support. You can read all about how we test MacOS performance below.
Civilization 6
MacOS developer: Aspyr Media
Metascore: 88
Civilization 6 is the latest entry in a series I thought was already perfect. I was certain Civ 5 couldn’t be improved any further, but developer Firaxis did it.
In Civ 6, you take control of a civilization and lead it through the course of history. You get to research technologies, create a religion, build trade routes, an army, and more. Opportunities and strategies are endless, making this game extremely addictive. We’ve all been there. You just need to build one last archer before going to bed and it’s suddenly 3 AM and you need to finish that last tank.
Civilization 6 also introduced city-planning for the first time, with districts and special buildings that can be built within cities. And if that wasn’t enough, the Gathering Storm expansion introduces more units, civilizations, and brand-new mechanics.
For a turn-based game, Civ 6 has surprisingly good graphics and Aspyr did a good job delivering a bug-free MacOS port. That said, this is still a demanding game that requires a powerful machine My 2016 MBP can barely handle it…
A Good Match For: Gamers looking for the best turn-based strategy games. This is, after all, the best Civilization game available. Read our in-depth Mac Performance review for more benchmarks.
Benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.8.5, 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4 GB RAM, 256 MB ATI Radeon HD 2600 / NVidia Geforce 8800/ Intel HD 3000 or better, 13 GB hard drive space.
Metascore | Civilization 6 is, without a doubt, one of the finest strategy games available, especially for turn-based games fans. Civ 6 looks great, plays great and is easily the best Civ game to date. $59.99 |
Into the Breach
Mac Release date: 2018
MacOS developer: Subset Games
Metascore: 90
This may sound a lot like Pacific Rim, but the game comes with a twist: saving cities and civilians is more important than killing the monsters. So prepare to make some tough choices as this game can feel like playing chess, and you’ll often have to cut your losses and accept smaller defeats.
Featuring retro graphics, Into the Breach is an extremely easy game to run. And if you happen to have a particularly old machine that can’t run it smoothly, don’t worry, the turn-based gameplay won’t suffer.
A Good Match for: MacBook owners who prefer slower turn-based strategy games that require focus, patience and lots of thinking. Read our in-depth Mac Performance review for more benchmarks.
Benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Notice frames are capped at 60 FPS. That explains why the 2016 MacBook didn’t do better.
Can your Mac run it? Definitely! Even an older MBA will do fine.
Any bugs you should be aware of? Expect a bug-free experience on Mac.
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.7, 1.7 GHz Intel Processor, 1 GB RAM, OpenGL 2.1 support, 400 MB hard drive space.
Metascore | From the creators of FTL: Faster than Light comes another critically-acclaimed strategy game (that also runs great on older MacBooks!). $14.99 |
Starcraft 2
MacOS developer: Blizzard
Metascore: 88
This space RTS depicts a fascinating war between the Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss. But what sets this game apart is the gameplay. StarCraft 2 is fast, precise and features perfectly balanced factions. The game is definitely easy to grasp and get into, but insanely hard to master. I stopped trying to become “good” at it a long time ago, but I still enjoy playing the campaign, a co-op mission or the occasional skirmish against the AI.
StarCraft 2 could have been our top pick. The only reason it wasn’t was because no other game could be a better budget pick. StarCraft 2 is as budget-friendly as it gets: most of the game can be played for free, including online matches, co-op missions, and the Terran campaign.
StarCraft 2 also features nice graphics that stand the test of time and reasonable system requirements. Our 2013 MBP runs it 33 frames per second without breaking a sweat.
A Good Match For: Gamers interested in only the best RTS games for Mac. The original StarCraft defined the genre and StarCraft 2 continues to push the envelope. Also, gamers looking for free alternatives… Read our in-depth Mac Performance review for more benchmarks.
Benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.11, Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4 GB RAM, NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M or ATI Radeon HD 4670 or better, 30 GB hard drive space.
Metascore | What happens when you take one of the most critically-acclaimed strategy games available and make it free? You get Starcraft 2. Free-to-Play |
More great Mac strategy games
Total War: Warhammer 2
MacOS developer: Hi-Rez Studios
Metascore: 83
Instead of taking place in a historical period, Total War: Warhammer 2 is set in the fantasy world of Warhammer and features all the monsters and flying creatures you can expect. This turned out to be a bigger change than expected, because the units not only look different, they behave differently and allow tactics that weren’t possible before. That said, this is still a Total War game, with both turn-based strategy and real-time battle modes.
TW: Warhammer 2 is also an impressive game to behold, featuring massive real-time battles with hundreds of units on huge battlefields. Powered by Apple’s Metal 2 graphics API, Warhammer 2 was the best looking Total War, until the release of Total War: Three Kingdoms that is…
A Good Match For: Gamers interested in fantasy strategy games, but also those who enjoy the high-level strategy Total War games have always demanded.
Benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Northgard
MacOS developer: Shiro Games
Metascore: 80
This RTS reminds me a lot of the glory days of Age of Empires. You have to gather resources, create buildings and train soldiers, fishermen and scouts. But similarities with old-school classics stop there. Northgard introduces modern mechanics that give the game a fresh and interesting feel. For instance, you can’t create people. You have to keep your clan happy and that will attract settlers that can then be trained to become soldiers.
This game is the newest entry and the only strategy game from 2018 in this Top 10 and it shows.
Northgard also features landscapes and weather effects that are simply top-notch. Other entries on this list may be less demanding, but the fact a MacBook from 2013 can run such a pretty game makes it our MacBook Pick.
A good match for: Fans of games like Age of Empires on Mac. Also, gamers looking for the best strategy games 2018 has to offer.
Benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, Nvidia 450 GTS / Radeon HD 5750 or better, 400 MB Hard Drive space.
XCOM 2
MacOS developer: Feral Interactive
Metascore: 88
XCOM 2 features excellent turn-based combat missions where the use of cover and special abilities is crucial. Plus, if one of your soldiers dies he or she is gone forever, making every mission feel tense and important. In between missions, you get to manage your resources, research technologies, train your soldiers and decide where to go next.
Vanilla XCOM 2 is an excellent game as is, but the War of the Chosen expansion makes it infinitely better. In fact, War of the Chosen is so big, developer Firaxis thought it would become XCOM 3. Many call it the ultimate XCOM experience and once you try it, you’ll understand.
Feral Interactive did an outstanding job with the game’s port. In spite of requiring a recent machine to run, you would expect such a great-looking game to be even more demanding. My 2016 MBP shouldn’t be able to run it but it does!
A Good Match For: Gamers looking for action-oriented turn-based strategy games. Most turn-based games favor complexity instead of intensity. XCOM 2 is the exception.
XCOM 2 benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Verdict: Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.12.5, 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 1GB AMD 5750, Nvidia 650M, 1.5GB Intel Iris Pro 5200, 78 GB hard drive space.
Company of Heroes 2
MacOS developer: Feral Interactive
Metascore: 80
Just like the original, CoH2 is all about securing resources, building an army and crushing the enemy. But unlike StarCraft 2, this game isn’t about building the biggest army as fast as possible. In CoH2, every unit matters and you’ll have to use the right combination of units, terrain and cover to win. This may sound complicated and slow, but don’t worry. CoH2 is an action-driven RTS with lots of destruction and mayhem.
Feral Interactive did an excellent job with this port, but the game’s advanced physics and great-looking graphics make it particularly demanding. If you have a machine with integrated graphics, our tests concluded you will probably be out of luck with this one…
A Good Match For: Fans of WW2 strategy games. There are others that take place in that period, but CoH2 is the top choice. Also, gamers looking for military strategy games. Read our in-depth Mac Performance review for more benchmarks.
Company of Heroes 2 benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Verdict: Very Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.10.3, 1.8 GHz Intel Processor, 4 GB RAM, 512MB Nvidia 640M, 2GB AMD Radeon M290, Intel Iris Pro or better, 35 GB hard drive space.
Hearthstone
MacOS developer: Blizzard
Metascore: 88
Hearthstone is a digital collectible card game based on the popular Warcraft universe. But before you ignore it because you don’t “like” card games, know this game is amazing, no matter your past experiences with the genre.
Hearthstone is much simpler than you would imagine. In every match, you pull three or four cards (depending on who goes first) out of your customized deck of 30 cards. There are different card types (weapons, spells and minions), but the goal is clear: empty your opponent’s health.
As far as free games go, you won’t be disappointed here. You can genuinely spend hours playing Hearthstone without having to spend a dime. Plus, the cute yet simplistic graphics are perfect for low-powered machines.
A Good Match For: Fans of strategy card games. Other choices exist, but Hearthstone is the clear winner in this category.
Benchmark results (in FPS):
2013 MacBook Pro
2016 MacBook Pro
2014 27-inch iMac
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.9, 2.4 GHz Intel Core Dual Processor, 2 GB RAM, GeForce 9600/130/Quadro FX 5600, Radeon HD 5870, or Intel HD 4000 with 512 MB of dedicated memory, 15 GB hard drive space.
Crusader Kings 2
Mac Release date: 2012
MacOS developer: Paradox Development Studios
Metascore: 82
Crusader Kings 2 is a 4X turn-based strategy game that features immensely challenging, yet rewarding gameplay.
This is a deep and complex strategy game that requires patience and discipline, but you can expect to witness a fascinating medieval story worthy of a Game of Thrones remake (including its share of betrayals, murders, rapes, and so on). CK2 may sound intimidating but users and reviewers have loved since it came out in 2012.
On top of that, CK2 became free-to-play just a few months ago. And we don’t mean free-to-play for a weekend or a “free” game plagued with micro-transactions. The game is permanently free to keep, entirely, and includes every feature available. If you ever wanted to give Crusader Kings 2 (CK2) a try, today is the day.
A Good Match For: Gamers looking for one of the best Mac grand strategy games. Developer Paradox is clearly an expert when it comes to grand strategy games and it shows.
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Verdict: Not Demanding
System Requirements: OS 10.11, 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo Processor, 4 GB RAM, 1 GB Video RAM graphics required, 2 GB hard drive space.
Stellaris
Mac Release date: 2016
MacOS developer: Paradox Development Studio
Metascore: 78
Ever wanted to conquer the universe? Stellaris may be your way out.
Another grand strategy 4X game from Paradox, Stellaris aims to take the Europa Universalis IV formula and bring it to space. When it was first released, it was clear this could be the next big grand strategy classic, but it was quite not there yet.
Fast forward to 2018 and the release of the free Stellaris 2.0 update. Stellaris 2.0 was a massive success, refining and improving virtually every single one of the game’s key features.
The end result is a fantastic space strategy game and the Paradox grand strategy game you need to play.
A Good Match For: Fans of space exploration and sci-fi settings, as Stellaris features every “specie” and technology imaginable.
Expand to see if your Mac run it
System Requirements: OS 10.11, Intel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, Nvidia GeForce GT 750M or equivalent AMD card with 1 GB VRAM, 10 GB hard drive space.
Total War: Three Kingdoms
Mac Release date: 2019
MacOS developer: Feral Interactive
Metascore: 85
Set in 190 AD, Three Kingdoms explores a beautiful but fractured China. The time for a new emperor has finally come, and as one of 11 legendary warlords, you’ll fight to unite the country under your rule and create the next great dynasty.
And as can be expected from a Total War game, Three Kingdoms combines a gripping turn-based campaign of empire-building with stunning real-time battles.
Some call Three Kingdoms the best Total War game to date and that’s because of its perfect combination of realism and romance.
Total War fans rightfully expect a realistic strategy game that demands smart tactics to win and Three Kingdoms doesn’t disappoint. But on top of that, Three Kingdoms also features larger-than-life heroes capable of taking on dozens of “normal” soldiers.
A Good Match For: Total War aficionados looking for the latest and greatest in the series.
Expand to see if your Mac run it
Demand Level: High
System Requirements: 10.14.4 64-bit processor, 2 GHz Intel Core i5 Processor, 8 GB RAM, 2 GB Nvidia 680MX, 2 GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5 GB Intel Iris Graphics 540 or better, 52 GB hard drive space.
I strongly believe great games can’t be ignored, especially because only 10 can be chosen. These are the games that deserved a spot but couldn’t make it, including the top free strategy games Mac gamers can enjoy:
Games | Games | Our take | Demand Level | Free games only? |
---|---|---|---|---|
Factorio ✅ Not demanding | Factorio | If you think Factorio sounds like a factory-building simulation you’d be right. And if all you’re doing is building factories you can bet they’re going to be big, require lots of resources, and attract lots of enemies. Add in cross-platform cooperative multiplayer, modding support, and a map editor, and Factorio takes factory building to the next level. If you’re a fan of building big, complex systems that do cool things, Factorio is for you. Metascore | Not demanding | No |
This War of Mine ✅ Not demanding | This War of Mine | Perhaps the most unique game on this list, This War of Mine is a single-player survival game simulating war from the perspective of a group of civilians in a bombed out city. By day you craft, take care of yourself and your group, and plan for the night, when you venture out to gather resources including food, fuel and weapons. With Overwhelmingly Positive reviews on Steam and low hardware requirements, This War of Mine suits many Mac gaming needs. Metascore | Not demanding | No |
Kingdoms and Castles Construction and Management | Kingdoms and Castles | Kingdoms and Castles, from Lion Shield, LLC, is as you might expect a city building sim set in Medieval times where you start by building your hamlet and graduate to building your castle. Considered more of a “lite” city sim builder, with low-poly graphics and smallish maps, Kingdoms and Castles offers an alternative to the modern-era city builders. Metascore | Not demanding | No |
Surviving Mars ⚠️ Fairly Demanding | Surviving Mars | Along with Northgard above, Surviving Mars is one of the newest games on this list. It offers a unique, Mars-based twist on the city building sim. Building a city on Mars offers unique challenges, like making sure your colonists have air to breath, and developer Haemimont Games has thrown in some mysteries inspired by classic science fiction depictions of Mars to keep things interesting and different every time you play. Metascore | Fairly Demanding | No |
0 A.D. ✅ Not demanding | 0 A.D. | This open-source, historical, real-time strategy game comes from Wildfire Games, a group of volunteer game developers from around the globe who are obviously big fans of Age of Empires 2. In 0 A.D, you will begin development of your city, raise a mighty army, build an empire, and contend with rivals to take over the world. Those rivals can be on Windows, Linux, and Mac. And did we mention it’s free? Metascore | Not demanding | Yes |
Endless Legend ✅ Not demanding | Endless Legend | A fantasy entry in the 4x turned-based genre dominated by the Civilization series, Endless Legend comes from AMPLITUDE Studios, who brought us Endless Space and Dungeon of the Endless. Working to survive and unravel the mystery of why your planet seems on a cycle of doom, you will build and lead a civilization using resources, skills, and magic. Cross-platform multiplayer rounds things out for those seeking a fantasy-based Civilization-like game. Metascore | Not demanding | No |
Dawn of War 3 ⚠️ Fairly Demanding | Dawn of War 3 | Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 3 is an RTS set in the Warhammer universe. Featuring big armies, huge heroes, and an increased focus on multiplayer (only cross-platform between MacOS and Linux), developer Relic has announced the end of DoW III support meaning no new content will be coming. However if you can find it on sale, it should be supported on your machine for years. Metascore | Fairly Demanding | No |
Hearts of Iron 4 ✅ Not demanding | Hearts of Iron 4 | The latest in the series of turned-based, WW2 grand strategy games, Hearts of Iron is considered the deepest, most authentic simulation of WW2 on a world scale. Choose your nation and run it exactly as you wish, from making economic, diplomatic and political decisions to how, when and where you fight. Metascore | Not demanding | No |
StarCraft ✅ Not demanding | StarCraft | That’s right, the original also makes this list, because it’s just that good. And free. Possibly the best RTS of all time, StarCraft has you gathering and building as one of three races in a story that connects them all. The Brood War expansion is also free, and there’s no reason you shouldn’t grab them and play them (again) now. Metascore | Not demanding | Yes |
Tooth and Tail ✅ Not demanding | Tooth and Tail | Another lighter RTS, in Tooth and Tail you play as one of four different weaponized animal factions battling over control of the food supply. Tooth and Tail features short battles, pixel graphics, multiplayer, and system requirements that should appeal to owners of less powerful machines. While the single-player is hampered by some balance issues, the game is an affordable and different take on the genre. Metascore | Not demanding | No |
Offworld Trading Company ✅ Not demanding | Offworld Trading Company | Offworld Trading Company is a rare RTS that features no combat. That’s right, you’ll be collecting resources, but not to build armies. Instead, you’ll be on Mars trying to build the next big company, play the stock market, and defeat your enemies in commerce, not on the battlefield. It also features a difficult AI and cross-platform multiplayer. Metascore | Not demanding | No |
Rome: Total War ✅ Not demanding | Rome: Total War | The highest rated Total War game ever, Rome: Total War has to be on anyone’s best Mac strategy games list. With the classic Total War combination of empire building strategy and battle tactics, Rome: Total War allows you to lead one of Rome’s famous families all the way to the top. And as an older title, it’s perfect for all of you with less powerful Macbooks. Metascore | Not demanding | No |
Native: Every game listed here natively supports MacOS. This means they won’t need Wine, Parallels, Bootcamp or any other third-party app to run. Just install any of these games on your machine and enjoy.
Performance: Obviously, we think every game on this list is solid in terms of graphics, gameplay, and stability. But performance is also a key factor to consider: we Mac users keep our computers for a long time. Mac Gamer HQ is the only place that tests and benchmarks games on several machines and shows you actual performance, not just listed system requirements.
iMac (5K, 27-inch, Late 2014)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2013)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016):
And for reference, this is how we interpret the results:
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. |
We usually aim for 30 FPS, because 30 FPS is enough to guarantee a smooth and fluid experience.
Critical acclaim: To counter the fact that games are extremely subjective, we focus only on the games that have received good reviews by critics and average gamers. We’re not looking to please everyone, but we want to make sure these games have been generally enjoyed.
Pricing: Price tags are not the most important factor, but they still count. Sometimes a game that is only $10 will be superior to a game that costs $60. We know you’re looking for the best value for money. We are too.
With options from fast real-time games to collectible card games, there’s a MacOS strategy game for every gamer and Mac. Which strategy game caught your eye? What are you currently playing? What did we miss?
Let me know in the comments section, perhaps you’ll even find fellow Mac users to play with online!
Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission (this is how we pay the bills). This commission comes at no additional cost to you.
Ric-
Great site, longtime lurker. Have you reviewed the recent re-entry of classic strategy game EMPIRE DELUXE, now developed by Killer Bee Software, whose chief developer Mark Kinkead has almost singlehandedly kept this product alive for almost two decades. since the last shrink-wrapped edition for Mac came out in the late 80’s. This classic is approaching 40 years of satisfying gameplay.
It’s one of the original God’s-eye games but God (i.e. you, the player) is moving against one or more AI opponents or networked humans, and they strike fast. What I love about ED is plowing through dark territory, uncovering cities ripe for conquest and production of soldiers and materiel- and one more fast-acting enemies.
Empire by Mark Baldwin and Walter Bright goes back into the early days of the PC. KB’s release is available for Mac, PC and linux. I was blown away by its re-emergence, because I thought it would be just a memory. There have been a few lame tries at emulation over the years, but they suck compared to the real McCoy. Now I’m running it on a 2009 Mac Pro tower, under MacOS 10.11 (El Capitan). KB has done a fine job of restoration and enhancements, which began in 2002, and are all available in the newest Combined Edition, which I currently play it via Steam.
Background here:
https://killerbeesoftware.com/about.shtml
Keep up the great work for us.
I got to say, this is way too old school, even for me 🙂 It’s actually the first time I hear about it! Thanks for the info Loren, I’m sure someone around here will be happy to see it’s still supported and will be tempted to give it a go.
Since we’re mentioning oldies like Starcraft here, I would also notice that Jagged Alliance 2 (+add-on, don’t know about the first part) runs on Mac. The ‘one-more-battle-and-then-going-to-sleep’ factor is surpassed only by the Civ series.
I won’t lie to you, I have never played Jagged Alliance games. Would you recommend it to give it a shot today? If you do, I might be able to test it 😉
Great list, Ric! Strategy is my favorite genre of game. I love coming here and seeing all Mac games in one place.
Thanks a lot Sten. Strategy is my favorite genre too, I hope you saw the extra love creating this guide 😉
What kind of Mac do you have?
Hey Ric, which game most approximates the simple war worlds of Strategic Conquest?
Hey, just a heads up, your graph for Civ 6 shows the performance of Borderlands 2, which makes it a bit confusing.
Great article.
Thanks!