Gaming on M1 Max and M1 Pro - GTA V, CS GO, and other games tested on MacBook Pro

Here is how games like GTA V, CS GO, Overwatch, and others perform on the new M1 Max and M1 Pro MacBook Pro models. These games have been tested by different YouTubers using native Mac versions, x86 versions via Rosetta 2, Parallels 17, and CrossOver 21.

Game performance on M1 Max and M1 Pro

Here is how various games perform on M1 Max and M1 Pro MacBook models, as per select YouTube videos which you watch at the end of this article.

Baulder’s Gate 3

Baulder’s Gate 3 is available as a native Apple Silicon game and runs at full 120fps at 1440p resolution, Ultra Settings, and with Extreme Dynamic Range (EDR). AMD FSR support will also be added in an upcoming patch, which will help improve performance considerably even on M1 Mac and M1 Pro chips.

Metro Exodus

Metro Exodus runs on M1 Max MacBook Pro using Rosetta 2 at 40-50fps at 2234p with High Settings, while it goes up to 80fps when resolution is lowered. There is also a possibility that Metro Exodus on Mac might get support for Ray Tracing in the future

Shadow of the Tomb Raider

This game runs on macOS using Rosetta 2 and supports Extreme Dynamic Range (EDR). At 1080p resolution and high settings, the game performs at an average of 96fps on an M1 Max MacBook Pro with 32 GPU cores.

On M1 Pro MacBook Pro with 14 GPU cores and 16 GPU cores, you can get an average of 42fps and 45fps respectively.

Overwatch

Overwatch can be played on macOS at 1080p resolution and high settings. The game can be played at 100fps even at 4K resolution but there is stutter during gameplay which is a common occurrence in other games too when played using Parallels.

GTA V

GTA V in Parallels 17 can be played at 1080p with normal settings which gets around 27fps. However, when played using CrossOver 21, the game can be played with the same settings at around 60-70fps, which is double of what Parallels 17 can get. Turning off some graphics settings can help increase performance to 120fps at the loss of visual fidelity.

Resident Evil 3

This game can be played using CrossOver 21 at 4K resolution and graphics priority settings, which gets around 30-40fps. Lowering the resolution and graphics quality does not help improve the fps.

Dark Souls III

Dark Souls III works at 60fps at 1080p resolution with high settings using CrossOver 21 on M1 Max.

Devil May Cry V

This game can work at almost 60fps at 1080p resolution with high settings using CrossOver 21 on M1 Max.

The Witcher 3

The Witcher 3 can be played at a little under 50fps at 1200p resolution with high settings using CrossOver 21 on M1 Max.

Dying Light

Dying Light gives an error that only AMD Radeon GPUs are supported, but it still works on M1 Max. The game works at 1440p resolution with high settings and performs at over 100fps.

Alien Isolation

This OpenGL game works at 1080p resolution and max settings and gets 50-60fps on M1 Max.

World of Warcraft

This game can be played using Rosetta 2, and get over 60fps at 4K resolution and maximum settings on M1 Max. This is not the most demanding game in this list and can easily cross 100fps if the resolution is lowered.

Call of Duty Black Ops 3

Call of Duty Black Ops 3 works well on M1 Max at 1080p resolution and high settings using Rosetta 2. The frame rate ranges between 70-100fps. Note that this game does not have cross-play with Windows gamers.

Dirt 4

This beautiful game runs using Rosetta 2 and at 1440p resolution and high settings, you can get 120fps.

Borderlands 3

Borderlands 3 is not the best macOS port, but at 1080p resolution and high settings, you can get around 48fps. There’s a lot that can be improved with this port but that is not the case so far.

Myst Remake

This game is native to Apple Silicon and at 1080p resolution with high settings, it runs at 120fps. This game also supports AMD FSR on Apple Silicon.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

This game can be played using Rosetta 2 and at 1080p resolution with high settings, it runs at an average 77.5fps.

Total War Sage: Troy

Total War Sage: Troy can be played using Rosetta 2 and at 1080p resolution with high settings, it runs at an average 90fps.

Minecraft

This game can be played using Rosetta 2 and at 1440p and default quality it performs reasonably well. However, there is also a method to make it work natively on Apple Silicon which improves the performance.

CS: GO

Counter Strike: Global Offensive can be played using Rosetta 2 and at 1080p resolution and high settings for 80fps.

Subnautica: Below Zero

This game runs using Rosetta 2 and at 1080p resolution and high settings can get 40-60fps. Lowering the graphics quality to medium and disabling bloom increases the fps on M1 Max.

Civilian VI

Civilian VI can be played using Rosetta 2 and at 1440p resolution and ultra settings for 90fps performance.

Disco Elysium

This game can be played 120fps at 1440p resolution with maximum graphics settings on M1 Max. The game is native for Apple Silicon.

DOTA 2

Played using Rosetta 2, the game can be played at 120fps at 1080p and ‘best looking’ graphics settings.

League of Legends

LOL supports Metal API but runs using Rosetta 2 on macOS. At 2234p resolution and very high graphics, you can get up to 96fps.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

Using Rosetta 2, this game runs at over 100fps at 1440p and ultra settings on M1 Max.

Crysis

Yes. The answer is yet, Crysis works on M1 Max. The game can be run using CrossOver 21, with everything at high graphics quality and 1920×1200 resolution, it performs at more than 80fps. This was tested on an M1 Max with 32 GPU cores.

Total War: Warhammer II

This game can be run using CrossOver 21 at 1080p resolution and ultra settings for 100fps performance. During battles, the fps can dip but it is still playable.

Cities Skylines

This game can become quite heavy on a machine, the more you build a city. At 1080p resolution and maximum settings, a dense map with 25,000+ population results in a frame rate of around 40fps.

Batman: Arkham City

This game performs at an average of 120fps when playing at high graphics settings.