Mac App Store gives gamers plenty of options

07.01.2011
Thursday’s launch of the Mac App Store not only opens a . It also marks a big step forward for Mac gaming.

With the Mac App Store now open for business, gamers can download ports of iOS games, games previously only appearing on the , and ports to the Mac platform that had received little fanfare up until now. And that’s one of the Mac App Store’s greatest advantages—in one place, you can find and download almost 200 games.

The Mac App Store is still in its early stages, but we’ve gathered a guide to what you’ll see in this initial selection of games.

In recent years, the best resource for current games was through ports by gaming developers TransGaming, Aspyr, and Feral Interactive. Though no longer the only show in town, these long-time friends of the Mac gaming community still have made their presence known by releasing ports of some high-end games from the Windows PC and console worlds to the Mac App Store.

TransGaming’s releases include Garage, Inc, a prohibition-era time management game; The Path, a dark adventure game retelling the story of Red Riding Hood; and Puzzle Quest, a unique hybrid of puzzle mechanics and role-playing game elements. Ranging from $10 to $15, TransGaming’s offerings represent the higher range of pricing on the current store—with one exception.