This is part of a series. Showcasing popular and intriguing games from the past 12 years or so. Based on my own idiosyncratic curation. A few remasters included. Most early access games excluded. Games only appear in one category (I tried my best). Mishmash is primarily about suggesting games with good potential for Mac users. Everything here works on macOS silicon.
Categories:
2D Action – 2D Platformer – 3D Action part 1 – 3D Action part 2 – Adventure part 1 – Adventure part 2 – Adventure part 3 – Arcade – Building and Management – Cards – Dating Sim – Driving and Racing – Metroidvania – Multiplayer – Physics – Puzzle part 1 – Puzzle part 2 – Rhythm – RPG part 1 – RPG part 2 – Roguelike and Roguelite – Sandbox – Simulation – Sports – Strategy part 1 – Strategy part 2 – Survival – Visual Novel
Mini Motorways (2019)
“Mini Motorways is a strategy simulation game about designing the road map for a growing city. Build a traffic network, one road at a time, to create a bustling metropolis. Redesign your roads and place your motorways to get everyone where they need to go. How long can you keep the city moving?”
macOS • Windows • Switch • iOS • tvOS
Available from Steam, Apple Arcade, and console stores.
Opus Magnum (2017)
“Opus Magnum is the latest open-ended puzzle game from Zachtronics, the creators of SpaceChem, Infinifactory, and SHENZHEN I/O. Design and build machines that assemble potions, poisons, and more using the alchemical engineer’s most advanced tool: the transmutation engine!”
macOS • Windows • Linux • SteamOS
Available from GOG, Steam, and Itch.
Patrick’s Parabox (2022)
“A mind-bending recursive puzzle game about boxes within boxes within boxes within boxes. Learn to use infinity to your advantage as you explore a deep and elegant system.”
macOS • Windows • Linux • SteamOS
Available from Steam, and Itch.
Pictopix (2017)
“Pictopix is a puzzle game where you use logic to color squares on grids in order to reveal pictures.”
macOS • Windows • Linux • SteamOS
Available from Steam.
Quern – Undying Thoughts (2016)
“Discover the truth about Quern’s past, unfold the mysteries of its present, and be the explorer who shapes its future. Quern introduces reusable puzzle mechanics to the classic genre, making the player think about the game as a whole, and not just as a series of individual challenges.”
macOS • Windows • Linux • SteamOS • Xbox
Available from GOG, Steam, and console stores.
Railbound (2022)
“A relaxing puzzle game about fixing train connections and travelling the world!”
macOS • Windows • Switch • Android • iOS
Available from GOG, Steam, Itch, console and mobile stores.
SHENZHEN I/O (2016)
“BUILD CIRCUITS. WRITE CODE. RTFM.”
macOS • Windows • Linux • SteamOS
Available from GOG, Steam, and Itch.
Simon’s Cat: Story Time (2021)
“Based on the highly popular animated series, Simon and his cat face their biggest challenge yet. When the tranquility of suburban life is threatened by a huge building site, they mobilize the neighbors to help restore the mysterious wasteland before the diggers destroy it all. As the clock ticks down, players will solve challenging match-3 puzzles.”
macOS • iOS • tvOS
Available from Apple Arcade.
SpaceChem (2011)
“Zachtronics is back with an ambitious new design-based puzzle game. Take on the role of a Reactor Engineer working for SpaceChem, the leading chemical synthesizer for frontier colonies. Construct elaborate factories to transform raw materials into valuable chemical products!”
macOS • Windows • Linux • SteamOS • Android
Available from GOG, Steam, Itch, and mobile stores.
The Spiral Scouts (2018)
“Join Remae, the newest member of the Spiral Scouts, on her slap-tastic puzzle solving adventure through a world of crazy characters and redonkulous realms. Experience a fartwarming tale of personal growth, self discovery, poop, wieners and butts.”
macOS • Windows
Available from Steam.
Strange Horticulture (2022)
“Strange Horticulture is an occult puzzle game in which you play as the proprietor of a local plant store. Find and identify new plants, pet your cat, speak to a coven, or join a cult. Use your collection of powerful plants to influence the story and unravel Undermere’s dark mysteries.”
macOS • Windows • Switch
Available from GOG, Steam, Epic, and console stores.
Superliminal (2020)
“Perception is reality. In this mind-bending first-person puzzler, you escape a surreal dream world through solving impossible puzzles using the ambiguity of depth and perspective.”
macOS • Windows • Linux • SteamOS • Switch • PlayStation • Xbox
Available from GOG, Steam, Epic, and console stores.
The Talos Principle (2014)
“The Talos Principle is a first-person puzzle game in the tradition of philosophical science fiction. Made by Croteam and written by Tom Jubert (FTL, The Swapper) and Jonas Kyratzes (The Sea Will Claim Everything).”
macOS • Windows • Linux • SteamOS • Switch • PlayStation • Xbox • Android • iOS
Available from GOG, Steam, Epic, console and mobile stores.
Understand (2020)
“Understand is an experimental puzzle game about guessing rules. In each level, you have to figure out the rules through trial and error, then draw a line satisfying all rules.”
macOS • Windows
Available from Steam.
Unpacking (2021)
“Unpacking is a zen puzzle game about the familiar experience of pulling possessions out of boxes and fitting them into a new home. Part block-fitting puzzle, part home decoration, you are invited to create a satisfying living space while learning clues about the life you’re unpacking.”
macOS • Windows • Linux • SteamOS • Switch • PlayStation • Xbox
Available from GOG, Steam, and console stores.
while True: learn() (2019)
“You’re a machine learning specialist who makes neural networks but your cat seems to be better at it. Now you must solve puzzles to build a cat-to-human translation system (who knows what else this cat is capable of!). Earn a fortune, buy kickass cat outfits and learn how machine learning really works!”
macOS • Windows • Linux • SteamOS • Switch • PlayStation • Android • iOS
Available from GOG, Steam, Epic, App Store, console and mobile stores.
The Witness (2016)
“You wake up, alone, on a strange island full of puzzles that will challenge and surprise you.”
macOS • Windows • PlayStation • Xbox • Android • iOS
Available from GOG, Steam, Epic, App Store, console and mobile stores.
mishmash 