Game Testing on the 15" MacBook Air M2

Table of Contents:

1. Introduction
2. Game 1: Elix 2
3. Game 2: No Man's Sky
4. Game 3: Resident Evil Village
5. Game 4: Layers of Fear 2023
6. Game 5: Disney Dreamlight Valley
7. Game 6: Armor 3
8. Game 7: Baldur's Gate 3
9. Game 8: Metro Exodus
10. Game 9: Warhammer 3
11. Game 10: Shadow of the Tomb Raider
12. Conclusion

Introduction

In this article, we will be discussing the gaming performance of the new 15-inch MacBook Air powered by the Apple M2 chipset. We will be testing 35 Mac OS games to see how well they perform on this new machine. We will provide details about the specifications and settings used for each game, as well as the average frame rates achieved. Whether You are a casual gamer or a hardcore enthusiast, this article will give you a good idea of what to expect from gaming on the new MacBook Air.

Game 1: Elix 2

Elix 2 by Piranha Bites and THQ is a science fantasy RPG that is coming to Mac very soon. We had the opportunity to test a pre-release build of the game on the new MacBook Air. Elix 2 offers players a vibrant open world to explore, featuring five major factions, each with their own captivating story arc. This game fully embraces the GPU-driven pipeline with indirect command buffer approach on Mac and has shaders optimized for the Metal shading language. The best performance was achieved at 1080p medium settings with Metal effects on quality mode, averaging around 30 FPS. Elix 2 is one of the most demanding native Mac games yet, showcasing the power of Apple silicon.

Game 2: No Man's Sky

No Man's Sky by Hello Games is a game about exploration and survival in an infinite procedurally generated Universe. The Mac version of the game has been built from the ground up with a new rendering pipeline to take full AdVantage of Metal 3 and Metal effects. When played at 1080p high settings with Metal effects on temporal and balanced mode, the game maintains a FPS above 60 and occasionally dips below 60 during challenging scenes. For those looking for better graphics, playing at 1440p ultra settings with Metal effects on temporal and quality mode is possible but will result in a lower FPS of around 30.

Game 3: Resident Evil Village

Experience true survival horror like Never before on Mac with Resident Evil Village by Capcom. The Mac version of the game supports Metal 3 and Metal FX upscaling, as well as HDR. Playing at 1080p balanced settings with Metal effects on quality provides a stable FPS of around 60, with minor dips during challenging scenes. Playing at 1440p or 2K ultra settings with Metal effects on temporal and quality mode is also possible, but the FPS drops to around 30. Overall, Resident Evil Village is perfectly playable at 30 FPS, allowing players to enjoy the game's impressive graphics.

Game 4: Layers of Fear 2023

Layers of Fear 2023 is a first-person psychedelic horror game developed by Bloober Team and Entre nurse Studios. This game features the original Layers of Fear and Layers of Fear 2, as well as all downloadable content and a never-before-seen story. It is the first game to run on Unreal Engine 5.1.1 and supports Metal 3 and Metal FX upscaling. Gameplay is recommended at 1080p high settings with Metal effects on quality. However, FPS may vary between 30 and 50 due to frame pacing issues in some scenes. For a higher FPS, players can opt for medium settings, which provide anywhere from 45 to 70 FPS.

Game 5: Disney Dreamlight Valley

Disney Dreamlight Valley is a hybrid game between a life sim and an adventure game, featuring quests, exploration, and engaging activities with Disney and Pixar friends. The Mac version of the game has Metal 3 support, although Metal effects are not available. The game runs smoothly at 1440p very high settings, averaging about 60 FPS. While the performance may vary depending on the areas unlocked in the game, the overall performance is impressive and provides an enjoyable gaming experience.

Game 6: Armor 3

Experience true combat gameplay in a massive military sandbox with Armor 3 by Bohemian Interactive. The Mac version of the game supports Metal 2.4 and AMD FSR 1.0. It is currently available as an experimental build with cross-play compatibility and full DLC availability. When played at 1080p high settings, the game achieves an average FPS of about 50 to 60. For a smoother gameplay experience, players can opt for medium settings, which provide a more consistent FPS above 60.

Game 7: Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 is a story-rich, party-Based RPG set in the universe of Dungeons and Dragons. The Mac version of the game supports Metal 2.1, AMD FSR 1.0, and HCR. It is set to release out of early access in August for PC, console, and Mac simultaneously. For optimal performance on the new MacBook Air, the game is recommended to be played at 1080p high settings with AMD FSR switched to quality mode. This setting upscales the resolution from 1280 by 720 to 1080p and maintains an average FPS of about 30.

Game 8: Metro Exodus

Metro Exodus is known for its epic storyline and demanding visuals. The Mac version of the game supports Metal 2.2 and Molten VK. When played at 1080p high settings, the game achieves an average FPS of about 30, but can go higher in certain circumstances. While the absence of HDR is a disappointment, the overall performance on the new MacBook Air is impressive for such an intensive title.

Game 9: Warhammer 3

Warhammer 3 by Feral Interactive is one of the most demanding games to try on Apple silicon. The Mac version of the game supports Metal 2.4 and AMD FSR 1.0, and has been specifically optimized for Apple silicon architecture. When played at 1080p medium settings with AMD FSR enabled and a screen scaling of 79 percent, the game achieves an average FPS of about 39.7 in battles and 29.5 FPS in a campaign on the new MacBook Air. Though demanding, the performance is still commendable on an entry-level machine.

Game 10: Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Shadow of the Tomb Raider remains one of the best AAA action-adventure games on Mac. The Mac version of the game supports Metal 2.2, contrast adaptive sharpening, and HDR. When played at 1080p high settings, the game achieves an average FPS of about 33. Though playing at 1080p medium settings provides a slight increase in FPS, the difference in visuals is not significant. Overall, the game is best experienced with higher visuals rather than focusing on frame rates.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the gaming performance of the new 15-inch MacBook Air with the Apple M2 chipset is commendable for an entry-level Mac. Apple silicon provides impressive power and efficiency for running demanding games. While some games may require adjustments to settings for optimal performance, the overall gaming experience on the new MacBook Air is enjoyable. Whether you are a casual gamer or a hardcore enthusiast, the new MacBook Air offers a solid gaming experience on a portable and sleek device.