Can You Game On The MacBook Pro ? 🤔 High, Mid, and Low Games Graphics TEST!

So, can you game on a MacBook Pro in 2024? Well, I’ve done an extensive test on the popular games available based on different tiers, so let’s find out.

I’ll be breaking down the gaming test into three tiers: High graphics or AAA games, Mid graphics, and Low graphic games. 

Just for context, this is the 14″ MacBook Pro with the M3 chip, 8 GB of RAM with an 8-core CPU, a 10-core GPU, and 1 TB of storage. So, does this live up to the hype of being able to game properly on the MacBook Pro? Well, here are the tests.

 

HIGH TIER

Resident Evil Village

First on the list is Resident Evil Village, an AAA title from Capcom that hit Mac OS in 2022. We tested the game out with high graphics, and this is how it went. 

The game runs like a charm on the MacBook Pro, optimized for perfection with stunning visuals and immersive sound, even with just gaming on the speakers on this 14″ MacBook Pro.

Battery life also steals the show because it powered through an intense game for a solid hour and a half, quite a feat compared to other laptops. Now, unplugged power gaming is a dream for some people, and the good news is that you can do that over here. So, you can sneak in a session of gaming during a long commute or on the train. 

Now let’s touch on the temperatures. It runs warm but surprisingly not uncomfortably hot, even when I accidentally left the game on for quite a while without using a charger. And I have to say that the MacBook Pro handled the heat like a champ. So kudos to Apple’s smart thermal design.

 

Baldur’s Gate 3

Next on the list is Baldur’s Gate 3, an RPG developed by Larian Studios based on the popular Dungeons and Dragons tabletop game. This game came out last year and received massive praise from both critics and fans alike. 

Now, Baldur’s Gate 3 is much more of a demanding title when compared to Resident Evil Village. So it’s going to be interesting to see whether or not the MacBook Pro runs well when it comes to this particular game. 

We tested the game out with Medium settings, and it was playable but honestly not the best experience compared to Resident Evil Village since it’s not specifically optimized for a Mac experience, especially as we got deeper into the game. But overall, a great playing experience.

 

MID TIER

Then on to the next batch, which is the mid-tier games. 

So, the next two games may not be as intense as others, but they’re still good enough to give the M3 MacBook Pro a good workout. 

 

Dota 2

So I’ve tried Dota and set it to Medium graphics at 120Hz, and it was smooth sailing even with the fancy effects. The MacBook Pro handles it like a champ. Now, when I pushed it further with the weather effects, the performance took a tiny hit but still totally playable. 

And here’s a pro tip: if you want to have a few extra frames, just turn off the Animated Hero Portrait in the game settings.

One thing I’ve noticed is that the battery drains a little faster compared to playing Resident Evil Village, but despite that, it is still good enough to squeeze in a round or two of Turbo. 

 

Fortnite

Next, we look at the ever-popular Fortnite, and I was a bit skeptical at first, wondering whether or not it could handle the fast-paced gameplay, especially the graphics. And turns out, it was hitting pretty consistent at 60 to 90 fps with Medium settings. 

I thought of cranking up the graphics a bit more, but the MacBook Pro started to heat up a bit more, and the battery usage also went up. So, I decided to keep it as it is. And I have to say that the level of detail and sound is fantastic. 

And once again, I can even play without a headset, still giving me a very great experience, proving that the 14” MacBook Pro has very great speakers.

 

LOW TIER

Now, diving into the last tier of the gaming test, the lighter, less demanding ones. Now our focus is Hades and Bastion. So it is time to see whether or not the MacBook Pro 14″ can handle these games because if it cannot, habislah (finished).

 

Hades

Hades is like a roguelike action RPG that came out in 2021. It has an isometric view with a hack-and-slash battle system, and this game received universal acclaim and won a few high-profile gaming awards. 

I’ve tested Hades on Medium settings and played for a solid 40 minutes straight without a hitch.

And, by the way, if you’re playing for hours, it’s probably because you have a “skill issue” if you keep dying every time… But seriously, no stutter, and the frame rate stays stable throughout.

 

Bastion

Next, we tried out Bastion, a classic beloved indie game that came out way back in 2011. Even though this is the oldest game in the list, it still has a strong player base to this day, hence why we have included it over here. 

The game visuals hold up well despite its age, and I must say that it runs quite smoothly. The sound experience once again was truly impressive. So yeah, given its indie status in the low tier, I’m not surprised that this runs very well. And I even played it on battery, and guess what? There was barely any battery drain issues. So all in all, it’s a pretty solid gaming experience.

 

Conclusion

So in conclusion, after conducting thorough tests, I can confidently affirm that gaming on the MacBook Pro 14 is indeed possible. 

With the impressive capabilities of the M3 chip in the MacBook Pro 14″, I can say that it is ready for some serious gaming, but not fully yet. 

The gaming industry hasn’t completely embraced Mac compatibility yet; as seen in this test, Resident Evil Village played very well specifically because it was made and optimized for the Mac. And it’s nice that there are some optimized games that are coming for the Mac as well. 

And even with Apple’s recent emphasis on gaming, the truth is that the number of Mac gamers is still low as of now. But with Macs proving that they can handle gaming, the potential is there, and Apple needs to rally more developers for macOS compatibility.