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Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on gaming:

Crossy Road Rush brings a fast-paced new adventure to iPhone

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Crossy Road Rush: Now on Apple Arcade
Crossy Road Rush boasts 50+ levels of challenging obstacles.
Photo: Atari/Hipster Whale

The creators of Crossy Road are back! Crossy Road Rush offers high-speed adventure filled with environmental hazards, challenging obstacles and boss encounters as players zoom through more than 50 hand-curated levels.

The game from Atari and Hipster Whale launched Thursday, and brings the familiar Crossy Road Crew to the colorful island setting of Crossy Cove for an all-new platforming runner available exclusively on Apple Arcade.

This tiny game controller has big ambitions [Review] ★★★★☆

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JSAUX VoidJoy SkyLark S1 Pro review★★★★☆
The JSAUX VoidJoy SkyLark S1 Pro is affordable but packed with features.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Jsaux VoidJoy SkyLark S1 Pro game controller packs an impressive assortment of features into a portable and lightweight design.

A highlight is extreme flexibility. It connects to Mac, iPad and iPhone, as well as a Nintendo Switch 2, Android or PC. And connections can use Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless or USB.

I put the very affordable gamepad to the test and came away generally pleased. Here’s what I like and what I don’t.

One of the best Lara Croft games comes to iPhone and iPad [Review] ★★★★★

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Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris review★★★★★
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris made the jump to iPad and iPhone.
Image: Feral Interactive/Cult of Mac

Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris was made for consoles but is perfect for mobile. The action-puzzler delivers a compact arcade-style game easily broken up into playable chunks.

So it makes complete sense that Feral Interactive brought the game to iPhone and iPad. And rather than creating a stripped-down mobile version, Feral has delivered what is essentially the full 2014 game, including its downloadable content.

The result is an unusually complete mobile port that holds up surprisingly well more than a decade after the original’s release. I loved the original and I’m enjoying the heck out of the port.

Pusheen the Cat gets her first iPhone game

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The internet’s favorite cat gets her first game with Pusheen’s Place, only on Apple Arcade
You can now hang out with Pusheen on your iPhone, iPad or Mac.
Image: Apple Arcade

Pusheen the Cat makes the leap from internet icon to video game star. Pusheen’s Place is now available exclusively on Apple Arcade, giving fans a cozy new way to spend time with the famously adorable feline.

Apple launched the game on October 1 alongside four other additions to Apple Arcade: River City Survivors, Terraria+, Touchgrind BMX 2+ and 4 Pics 1 Word+.

Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition delivers console-quality football excitement

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Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition scores big on Apple Arcade
It's kickoff time for Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition.
Image: EA Games

Are you ready for some football?! Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition is now available on Apple’s game subscription service, bringing EA Sports’ blockbuster football franchise to iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro without ads or in-app purchases.

It’s the first time the Madden series has been offered through Apple Arcade, giving subscribers a premium version of one of gaming’s most popular sports franchises.

“Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition is a chance to bring the most authentic NFL experience to a new audience of football fans, letting them play and compete as the league’s most elite players, or take control as GM and shape a franchise,” said Evan Dexter, EA’s vice president of Franchise Strategy and Marketing.

Roblox’s AI game creation tool is coming to iPhone and iPad

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Roblox AI game creation tool Build
Roblox adds AI creation to its promise that “You make the game.”
Image: Roblox

Got a game idea but no idea about how to code it? Roblox just made that far easier. The company is now rolling out Build, a new AI game creation tool for iPhone and iPad. Simply type a prompt in plain English, and Build turns it into a playable — no desktop editor required.

Roblox is betting that generative AI can dramatically lower the barrier to game development.

Best Mac gaming setups: From casual console companions to full-on battle stations

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Multisystem gaming setup
This Mac Studio and Studio Display setup is a gamer's paradise, with six gaming systems.
Photo: [email protected]

Mac gaming has a complicated history — years of sparse game libraries and hardware that PC gamers dismissed out of hand. But something shifted with Apple silicon, and the Cult of Mac Setups archive has tracked it in real time. Here are the best Mac gaming setups from the past several years.

New iPhone game controller brings Hall effect precision

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Serafim S3 Universal Mobile Game Controller
Get your iPhone game on!
Photo: Serafim

The new Serafim S3 Universal Mobile Game Controller is an Apple MFi-certified accessory that aims to bring console-level gaming to iPhone users with Hall effect magnet-based joysticks and more, the company said Monday. Priced at $89.99, S3 is available now on Amazon and the Serafim website.

There’s a new best all-around iPhone game controller [Review] ★★★★★

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Ohsnap Mcon with iPhone 17★★★★★
The Ohsnap Mcon uses an innovative design that makes it portable and flexible.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Ohsnap Mcon doesn’t just rethink the mobile gaming controller — it practically throws the old playbook in the trash, delivering one of the most flexible and genuinely portable ways to play on the market today.

Even better, you can easily use it with your iPhone, but also your iPad and Mac.

I spent many hours playing games with the innovative controller — here’s why I love it.

Build empires with Sid Meier’s Civilization VII on Apple Arcade [Updated]

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Sid Meier's Civilization VII on Apple Arcade
Ready to build empires? Now you can on Apple Arcade.
Photo: Apple

Update: Apple Arcade subscribers can now get access to one of gaming’s most legendary franchises — Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Arcade Edition, arriving on the service Thursday. It’s a first for Apple Arcade, though it joins some other civ- and sim- game options on the App Store.

And other new titles join it at the same time on Apple Arcade: the Retrocade collection of classic arcade games, the whimsical adventure Felicity’s Door and the I Love Hue Too+ puzzle game.

Mcon launches its long-awaited controller for iPhone gamers

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OhSnap Mcon game controller earns accolades, whopping $1.2 million in crowdfunding
OhSnap Mcon iPhone game controller is simply packed with innovation.
Screenshot: OhSnap

The OhSnap Mcon mobile gaming controller magnetically attaches to an iPhone to add joysticks, buttons, triggers and a D-pad. It’s very portable and uses an innovative design that includes flip-out grips for more comfortable play.
OhSnap unveiled the Mcon a year ago, and it finally reached customers on Tuesday.

iPhone 17 Pro benchmarks show big GPU boost, modest CPU upgrade

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iPhone 17 Pro gaming
Gaming on the iPhone 17 Pro should be a treat.
Photo: Apple

Early benchmark scores for the A19 Pro chip in the just-announced iPhone 17 Pro show a whopping 40% increase in graphics performance compared to last year’s model. The boost in overall performance isn’t nearly so dramatic, however.

We also have a preliminary benchmark for the A19 in the base model iPhone 17, and it’s apparently going to be just slightly faster than its most recent predecessor.

Sound like a superhero with new wireless AI gaming microphone

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Maono DM40 Pro Wireless Gaming Microphone
In white or black, Maono's new USB/Wireless microphone offers AI-powered voice effects and more.
Photo: Maono

The new Maono DM40 Pro Wireless Gaming Microphone brings professional-grade audio quality and cool features like AI voice effects, the company said Tuesday. Also sporting Apple-esque design sensibilities, the new mic looks like a great companion for your Mac gaming and streaming setup. And you can get 10% off right now, too.

Price drop: Play Street Fighter II, Zelda and 70,000 other games on this retro console

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Product photo of the Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro retro gaming emulator and streaming console .
Get the Kinhank Super Consple X2 Pro on sale less than $90.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

The Kinhank Super Console X2 Pro is a retro-style gaming console preloaded with more than 70,000 classic games. It also lets you use your favorite streaming apps to watch videos. It’s great for any household — and a perfect gift for any gamer on your list.

This retro games and streaming console is on sale now for just $89.97 with free shipping. However, that deep discount won’t last much longer.

Sennheiser’s new open-back headphones suit gamers and audiophiles

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Sennheiser HD 550 open-back headphones
Sennheiser's latest open-back cans, at $300, are financially within reach for many folks.
Photo: Sennheiser

Sennheiser’s latest offering are the new HD 550 open-back headphones, designed to bridge the gap between audiophile-grade sound quality and gaming performance, the company said Wednesday. For Mac users who demand great audio whether they’re working with Logic Pro, enjoying Apple Music with lossless audio or diving into the latest Apple Arcade titles, these headphones promise to deliver a compelling listening experience.

“Audiophiles looking for featherlight headphones with honest voicing and deep bass extension are in for a treat,” said Sennheiser Audiophile Product Manager Klas Hanselmann. “While the HD 550’s airy detail is obvious, customers will fall in love with its delightfully polite touch — perfect for listening for hours on end.”

Get into mechanical gaming keyboards with this $40 pick [Setups]

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affordable mechanical keyboard
This mechanical keyboard for gaming will run you only about $40.
Photo: Newmen

For people who have only used membrane keyboards in office and at home, whether Magic Keyboard or similar wares from the likes of Logitech, mechanical keyboards can be a tempting world to check out — especially for gamers (because mechanical keystrokes hit at the same time won’t cancel each other out). And mech-keeb customization can be fun. But where to start? Today’s MacBook Pro and gaming PC setup puts forward an excellent candidate for an affordable mechanical keyboard.

NFL Retro Bowl ’25 plus 2 more titles rush Apple Arcade

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New Apple Arcade games in September - NFL Retro Bowl '25
Are you ready for some seriously retro football?
Photo: Apple Arcade

Apple is set to bolster Apple Arcade gaming with three exciting new titles in September. NFL Retro Bowl ’25 headlines the additions. It’s an exclusive collaboration between the National Football League and the creators of the popular App Store game Retro Bowl.

Take gaming on the go with Scuf’s iPhone game controller [Review] ★★★★☆

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Scuf Nomad review: iPhone game controller★★★★☆
Scuf Nomad is one of the best iPhone game controllers I've tested.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The new Scuf Nomad makes playing advanced games on your iPhone much more fun by adding physical buttons, triggers and sticks. It’s designed to go where you go, and works on nearly every iPhone.

The controller emphasizes customization, allowing you to change what the buttons do even if the game itself doesn’t support that. And there are rear paddles in addition to all the usual controls.

I happily played hours of games on the Nomad — here’s what it’s like to use.

Do you need a VPN if you have a Mac?

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A photo of a smartphone running a VPN with a Mac in the background.
Any devices you use online can benefit from a VPN, including Macs and iPhones.
Photo: Dan Nelson/Unsplash License

VPNs are beneficial for gamers and streaming viewers, but they also enhance security and ensure privacy while you’re online, making them useful for all internet users.

Below we look at whether Mac users need to use a VPN device. We also provide information for those questioning VPN safety and wanting to how to choose a service that improves online security and privacy. One big question many users have is whether a free service offers the kind of protection you’re looking for while online. According to software reviews expert Aleksander Stevanovic, free VPNs don’t necessarily enhance security but might actually compromise your system. So, should you use a paid alternative? Let’s find out.

Step up your portable gaming experience with $110 off this 2K monitor

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16-inch portable 2K monitor from UXbox
Take a monitor optimized for gaming anywhere you want to go.
Photo: Cult of Mac Deals

Aiming to maximize your mobile gaming setup? You’ll need the right monitor to do that. And for a limited time, we’re offering special pricing on an impressive upgrade. Featuring a 144Hz refresh rate, this 16-inch UXbox 2K portable monitor is currently available for only $219.99 (regularly $329) with no coupon required.

That’s more than 30% off a product that is primed to provide immersive gameplay on the go via versatile connectivity.

NZXT Relay gaming gear amps up Mac mini rig’s sound [Setups]

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NZXT peripherals and accessories
Most of the gear here is from NZXT. So let's look into that.
Photo: [email protected]

Not being huge PC gamers, we aren’t particularly familiar with NZXT, a company based in Los Angeles that makes high-performance gaming PCs and the gear that goes with them. So when we saw today’s M1 Mac mini setup looking like a giant ad for NZXT, we thought we’d give it a look. The user loves his NZXT Relay lineup of gear, including powerful speakers and a wired headset with a surprisingly functional stand.