'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQH/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAf/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAwGID/8QAIBAAAgEDBAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIRAwQFABITITJhwf/aAAgBAQABPwCrnDXuhw21G3B8VVZVAJ6A+nVRsMrsrpkN4MHayRPrrX//xAAWEQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATH/2gAIAQIBAT8AdP/EABQRAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD/2gAIAQMBAT8Af//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The M1 Macbook Air is considered the weakest in the Apple silicon lineup. This device was released in November 2020 and is not the first option that will come to your mind for gaming. While this product can handle titles better than the models previously released, it is still not the strongest for high-end gaming. However, it can still run a decent number of AAA and indie offerings without presenting major issues during gaming sessions.
This article will discuss the best games you can play on your M1 Macbook Air (base model).
Note: This list is subjective, reflects the writer's opinions, and is not in any particular order.
These are the best games to play on M1 Macbook Air (base model)
1) Hades
Hades was released on September 17, 2020, for Mac devices. It is based on Greek mythology and was even deemed by the gaming community as one of the best indie experiences of 2020. This title is a hack-and-slash at heart with roguelike mechanics, making its gameplay loop fun and difficult at the same time.
Trending
You will be roaming the underworld, trying to find an escape while slicing enemies with your trusty weapons. This game features a hand-drawn art style that helps in immersing the player in beautiful environments. It also has a sequel called Hades 2, which was released in May 2024. You can run both games easily on the M1 Macbook Air, as they do not require an extremely powerful system to run.
2) Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight was released on April 11, 2017, for the Mac. This 2D indie platformer is considered extremely difficult by the gaming community because of its fast-paced action, which requires quick thinking and fast responses. In Hollow Knight, you will explore the ruins of kingdoms while fighting enemies.
The title features a hand-drawn art style that gives all its environments and atmosphere a unique look. This single-player adventure also supports controllers, meaning you can connect one to your Mac device and play through the game.
Since Hollow Knight is an experience that doesn't require a high-end PC to run, you can play it easily on your M1 Macbook Air.
3) Resident Evil 7
Resident Evil 7 is the seventh mainline entry in the Resident Evil franchise and was aimed at bringing back the horror the series had lost with time. This game came out in 2017 but was recently ported to Apple devices, including the Mac.
This title is a single-player survival-horror game where you play as Ethan, a husband desperate to find his missing wife at the Baker residence. The majority of this experience takes place inside this place, where you will be fighting molded enemies in claustrophobic corridors.
You will also constantly be juggling items in the inventory system to manage your resources, adding to the tension during the first-person camera combat. Since the game is almost seven years old, you will have no problem running this AAA title on the M1 Macbook Air.
4) Lies of P
Lies of P is a soulslike and offers a dark twist on the children's story, Pinocchio. The world here has an eerie atmosphere and is set in the Belle Epoque era, with enemies waiting to kill you on every corner of the street. This game was released for Mac devices on September 18, 2023, and was deemed by many in the gaming community as an extremely difficult title to master.
Lies of P features a dense and detailed open world, where exploration can lead you to important items for your inventory or a boss battle you are not ready for yet.
The game also offers plenty of multiple endings, which increase its replayability, allowing players to come back to the title again. The M1 Macbook Air can run Lies of P with little to no problems.
5) Dead cells
Dead Cells was released on August 7, 2018, for Mac devices. The reviews for this game are overwhelmingly positive on Steam, and even the gaming community considers this Metroidvania title a masterpiece. This indie offering is a single-player action platformer that features rogue-lite mechanics, making the playthrough a challenge and test of skills.
You will be exploring various castles as you take on enemies who are out to kill you. The game lacks checkpoints, meaning once you die, you go back to the beginning, which is why every move you make needs to be planned before execution.
