Best games to play on iMac with M3 chip: Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil Village, Arma 3, and more

YouTuber MrMacRight recently tested a variety of games on the 24-inch iMac with an M3 chip to determine which ones run best. Among those that stood out for both exceptional performance and quality were Lies of P, Resident Evil Village, Baldur’s Gate 3, No Man’s Sky, Arma 3, Disco Elysium, League of Legends, and Divinity: Original Sin 2.

M3 iMac

Apple unveiled the 24-inch iMac with the M3 chip in October 2023. It boasts some significant improvements over its predecessor, the M1 iMac. The new 24-inch iMac offers a larger 4.5K Retina display, an 8-core CPU, 8GB of unified memory, a 256GB SSD, and more.

The M3 processor offers up to a 2x faster CPU and a 65% more powerful GPU than the M1. This translates to smooth performance for everyday tasks, light gaming, and even some demanding creative work like photo and video editing.

Here are the key features of the M3 chip:

Next-generation CPU architecture: improved efficiency and performance through a hybrid design with high-performance and high-efficiency cores.
Dynamic Caching: intelligently allocates memory resources based on workload, optimizing performance and battery life.
Advanced Neural Engine: Up to 65% faster than M1, accelerating machine learning tasks like photo editing, video encoding, and speech recognition.

With these upgrades, the M3 chip promises significant performance improvements across various tasks, making it a compelling choice for creative professionals, power users, and anyone who demands the best from their Apple devices.

Here are eight games you can enjoy on your M3 iMac

Lies of P

Prepare for a dark and twisted take on Pinocchio in this Souls-like action RPG. Master brutal weapon combos, dodge monstrous foes, and navigate a grotesque, plague-ridden city built on lies. Every choice you make and every deception you weave could shape your path and challenge your morality.

At 1080p with quality settings set to high and MetalFX set to balance it offers 50-70 FPS with no glitches. However, there are some minor fps dips, especially during intense moments. It’s also playable at 2160p with quality settings set to medium and MetalFX set to performance offering an average of 30 FPS.

Resident Evil Village

Welcome to a chilling village shrouded in mist, crawling with horrifying creatures and gothic dread. Explore a haunting castle, unravel cryptic puzzles, and face off against grotesque monsters like Lady Dimitrescu and her towering daughters. Tense boss battles, desperate resource management, and the ever-present fear of the unknown await.

Resident Evil Village is well-optimized on the macOS. At 1080p with graphic settings set to prioritize quality and MetalFX set to quality, it offers a smooth 60-90 fps gameplay. Note that during challenging scenes you might see some fps drop.

For zero frame drops you can set MetalFX to performance leaving other settings the same. Overall, the game is pretty much playable even when MetalFX is set to quality, giving smooth gameplay with just minor frame drops.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Gather your party and venture into the Forgotten Realms in this story-rich RPG based on Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition. Create your unique character or choose pre-generated companions, form strategic alliances, and face tactical combat based on dice rolls. Unravel ancient mysteries, make impactful choices, and experience the power and danger of your tadpole abilities.

At 1080p with quality settings set to ultra, AMD FSR set to quality, it delivers around 30-60 fps. You can set quality settings to medium for better frames. Overall, the game is pretty much playable with some here-and-there frame drops.

No Man’s Sky

Blast off into an infinite universe teeming with uncharted planets, diverse flora and fauna, and endless possibilities. Craft your spaceship, build bases on alien worlds, and uncover the secrets of a vanished galactic empire. Face laser-wielding pirates, explore scorching volcanic landscapes, and encounter breathtaking celestial wonders in this ever-evolving space odyssey.

Since this is not a challenging game to run at 1080p with quality settings set to high and MetalFX set to quality it offers 60+ frames all the time and sometimes reaches 150+ FPS. 4K is also playable with MetalFX set to quality averaging 40 to 90 FPS.

Arma 3

Arma 3 throws you into realistic military scenarios demanding strategic planning, precise execution, and seamless teamwork. Master weapon handling, navigate dynamic environments, and engage in intense multiplayer clashes. This is a hardcore simulation where cover fire, vehicle coordination, and strategic maneuvers reign supreme.

At 1080p with quality settings set to medium, it sees about 70 to 80+ FPS, giving smooth gameplay. Quality settings to high is also playable but the 45 to 55+ FPS isn’t as fun, plus it doesn’t make much of a quality difference either way.

Disco Elysium

This mind-bending RPG turns your thoughts and emotions into weapons. Every dialogue choice, every inner monologue, shapes your character and the bizarre world around you. Solve a murder mystery through witty banter, unorthodox investigations, and even internal struggles that would make Freud blush. Be prepared for an RPG unlike any other.

At 1440p with quality settings set to high and V-sync – on, the game gets a locked 60fps with no drops at all. It’s worth noting that this was the first game to be natively available on macOS so no surprise it performs so well.

League of Legends

This fast-paced MOBA demands teamwork and individual skill. Choose your champion, master their unique abilities, and coordinate with your team to dominate the enemy nexus. Will you unleash arcane power as a mage, control the jungle like a predator, or support your allies as a selfless healer? The climb to the top of the ranked ladder is a never-ending quest for strategic mastery.

At 1080p with quality settings set to medium, it offers over 300 fps, even when quality settings are set to high, it still gives 250+ frames, absolutely crazy. You can even run the game at 2160p (4k) with quality settings set to very high, it sees well over 100 FPS.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

This sprawling RPG throws you into a world ripe with exploration, tactical combat, and deep narrative choices. Craft your own story through branching storylines, recruit diverse companions, and unleash devastating spells in turn-based battles. Master intricate skill trees, explore hidden dungeons, and unravel the mysteries of a world brimming with secrets.

At 1080p with quality settings set to ultra, it offers 40 to 60 fps. Unfortunately, even with quality settings set to medium it still doesn’t offer 60+ gameplay. However, it is still pretty much playable with good visuals.

You can check out the full list in the video by MrMacRight below.

Best games to play on iMac with M3 chip: Resident Evil Village, Resident Evil Village, Arma 3, and more

M3 iMac