Best Call of Duty games on Mac: How to Play them

The Call of Duty franchise is a billion-dollar megahit that’s known by gamers the world over, but it’d be fair to say it’s not easy to find the best Call of Duty game for Mac.

Many of the most iconic games in the franchise are sadly just not compatible anymore, and new titles are skipping Apple’s platform altogether. That’s a shame because Call of Duty really did set the template for modern shooters, with its snappy shooting mechanics and addictive RPG-style character unlocks as players level up.

Still, that’s not to say you can’t play Call of Duty games on Mac – you’re just limited to, well, one game. Below, we’ll identify which Call of Duty titles to steer clear of, which ones work well on your Mac, and which are worth a look if you’re itching for something similar.

Call of Duty games to avoid on Mac

Sadly, despite many of the greatest Call of Duty titles being available on Mac at some point in time, many simply won’t run anymore.

That’s worth mentioning because Steam still lists many of them as being compatible. But, unfortunately, Steam cannot be trusted when it comes to macOS compatibility… This means the entire Modern Warfare trilogy (Call of Duty 4 and its two direct sequels) are unplayable on Mac.

It’s also not possible to play the first two games in the series, while Black Ops 1 also won’t run, despite Steam’s assurances.

Unplayable Call of Duty games in macOS:

• Call of Duty (❌ 32-bit support only)
• Call of Duty 2 (❌ 32-bit support only)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (❌ 32-bit support only)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (❌ 32-bit support only)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (❌ 32-bit support only)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 (❌ 32-bit support only)

Art	Game	Genre	64-bit?	64-bit	API	M1 Support	Performance
	Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3	Shooter	No		OpenGL	Unsupported	Unsupported

The Best Call of Duty game on Mac today

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

We noted that there’s only one “true” way to play Call of Duty on Mac, and that’s the divisive Black Ops 3. While it lacks a traditional campaign (its story missions can be played in any order), it does offer a fun multiplayer suite of modes and maps that make use of the wall-running and rapid sliding mechanics that its successors never really did.

It also introduced ‘Specialists,’ which are character classes with different abilities like Ruin with the ability to unleash a devastating shockwave attack, or Outrider’s Vision Pulse to see enemies through walls. It’s not the most well-remembered Call of Duty title, but it still hits plenty of high notes throughout its chaotic multiplayer matches.

It’s not as well populated as newer games in the franchise, but Steamcharts suggests there are over 5,000 players online on average.

Art	Game	Genre	64-bit?	64-bit	API	M1 Support	Performance
	Call of Duty: Black Ops 3	Shooter	Yes		Metal	Rosetta	Good

64-bit and Metal support

But the most important fact about Black Ops 3 is that it’s the first COD to be 64-bit compatible (and hence future-proofed). Also, as confirmed by Elizabeth Howard, Aspyr’s VP of Publishing, the game supports Metal:

We’re thrilled to bring all of the amazing Black Ops III content to Mac supporting Metal.

That alone should ensure the best MacOS performance possible.

Black Ops 3 Mac requirements

These are the game’s official Mac requirements:

• OS: 10.13 (High Sierra)
• CPU: 2.3 GHz  Intel Core i5
• RAM: 8 GB
• Disk Space: 150 GB
• Video Card:  2GB ATI M290X or better

⚠️ Do note that the Mac version of the game no longer supports cross-platform multiplayer. You can only play it with other Mac users.

Best Call of Duty on Mac alternatives

If you’re looking for an alternative to the Call of Duty franchise on Mac, there are a few options you can check out – all available through Steam.

Verdun

While it lacks a native Apple Silicon version, Verdun is an excellent WWI shooter that arguably has more in common with Battlefield than Call of Duty.

Swapping modern conflict for WWI, Verdun takes place between 1914 and 1918 on the Western Front. The game prides itself on authenticity, which means it’s not as focused on running and gunning as the Call of Duty franchise, and you’ll always need to be prepared for a bayonet battle within its trenches. It’s also very bloody, meaning it may not be for everyone, but history buffs and fans of realistic shooters will undoubtedly find a lot to love.

Tannenberg

The other side of the WWI shooter ‘coin’, as it were, is Tannenberg. From the same developers as Verdun, Tannenberg moves to the battlefield to the Eastern Front in painstaking detail.

Players work to control key zones, with each unlocking additional resources and tactical options. While the game supports 64 players, it also has bot support so players can play solo, all with close-quarters combat and the threat of gas warfare amid the trenches.

Sadly, the sequel, Isonzo, which completes the ‘WW1 Game Series’ isn’t available on Mac.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or CS:GO, may have made its debut over a decade ago, but the shooter continues to offer one of the most competitive online shooters around.

A word of warning, though – CS:GO is very different from Call of Duty. It’s a game where one rogue bullet can eliminate you, where firing before thinking can lead to you missing all of your shots, and a title with a notoriously competitive community.

And yet, it still sits high on Steam’s most popular games because, outside of Valorant, there’s little like it. It’s also free, so you can give it a try without spending anything.

Will we ever see more Call of Duty games on Mac?

While Apple Silicon has led to more games on Mac, it still doesn’t guarantee big new entries in franchises like Call of Duty.

Still, macOS Ventura brings with it Metal 3 for improved upscaling that’s been demonstrated on the likes of No Man’s Sky and Resident Evil: Village. Whether that’ll be something that interests the likes of Activision Blizzard is another question, though.

What are your favorite Call of Duty alternatives on Mac? Let us know!