The year 2015 saw releases of numerous video games as well as a follow-up to Nintendo's portable 3DS console, the New Nintendo 3DS.Top-rated games originally released in 2015 included Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Bloodborne, Undertale, and Fallout 4.

Nevermind is a first-person horror video game developed by American^[3] studio Flying Mollusk for the Microsoft Windows, Mac and Xbox One. The story revolves around the minds of people who have suppressed memories of horrible events.

Plot[edit]

The players will take over the role of an expert, that was recently hired by the Neurostalgia Institute to treat their patients in a mind jacking process known as neuroprobing.^[4] Every patient there suffers from a form of repressed mental trauma. In order to help them resolve their issues, neuroprobing will show the recollections of the repressed memories so that the trauma can be cured.^[5] By advancing through and being nearer to the goal, things around will change in hostile ways as their minds are fighting back.^[6]

Gameplay[edit]

Nevermind was designed to be played with devices that support biometric feedback (their usage is optional^[7]), because the more the player is under stress, the harder the game becomes.^[8] If the player gets scared, certain events will occur (for example, the game screen will become foggy and unsteady, making navigation more difficult).^[9] The difficulty decreases by calming down.^[10] It uses Intel RealSense for the sensors that can track player's pulse in real-time, and Affectiva's Affdex to recognize emotions and translate that into the game's events.^[11][12] While being inside of a patient's mind, the objective is to find ten photos per client, each representing the parts of their memories.^[13] Resembling Myst, Nevermind has some puzzle adventure elements, which consist of navigating environments and solving the puzzles before any progress can be made.^[14]

Best Video Games For Mac

Development[edit]

Erin Reynolds started with the game's development at the media program for graduate studies at the University of Southern California. For a thesis, Reynolds had a year to develop any kind of game of her choice, which became Nevermind.^[15] A team that worked on it created one level, and disbanded after graduation. The following year, Reynolds started a company to build a full version of Nevermind.^[16] The aim of the project was to recognize and to help solve the player's anxieties.^[17] In early 2014, the developers launched a Kickstarter campaign, asking for $250,000.^[18] It ended being unsuccessful, earning $129,615.^[19] In October 2014, Nevermind was back for another campaign on Kickstarter, being set at a lower goal of $75,000.^[20] The funding was successful with $76,525 being pledged by the backers.^[21]

References[edit]

1. ^'Flying Mollusk Launches Biofeedback Horror Game Nevermind for Windows and Mac'. Gamasutra. September 29, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
2. ^'Nevermind'. Microsoft. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
3. ^https://twitter.com/flying_mollusk
4. ^Mills, Michele (October 20, 2015). 'New video game Nevermind knows whether it's stressing you out'. San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
5. ^Blakemore, Erin (April 27, 2016). 'This innovative video game can sense your emotions and respond accordingly'. The Week. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
6. ^Tekaia, Pascal (October 21, 2015). 'Nevermind review'. Adventure Gamers. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
7. ^Martens, Todd (October 24, 2015). 'A game made almost entirely of LED lights? It's addictive, and it's at IndieCade'. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
8. ^Kuchera, Ben (March 3, 2015). 'Nevermind is a panic attack disguised as a video game'. Polygon (website). Retrieved August 12, 2019.
9. ^Miller, Jennifer (December 3, 2013). 'This Horrifying Video Game Knows When You're Afraid'. Fast Company. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
10. ^Futter, Mike (February 3, 2014). 'In Nevermind, Difficulty Rises With Your Heart Rate'. Game Informer. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
11. ^Murnane, Kevin (March 3, 2016). 'Gaming: 'Nevermind' Reads Your Mind And Adapts To Your Emotions'. Forbes. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
12. ^Thirlwell, Edwin (February 3, 2015). 'A Horror Game That Heals'. Vice (magazine). Retrieved August 12, 2019.
13. ^Starr, Michele (October 27, 2015). 'Nevermind review: When your own heartbeat is used against you'. CNET. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
14. ^Hinkle, David (June 2, 2014). 'Nevermind: a biofeedback horror game for your mental health'. Engadget. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
15. ^Hansman, Heather (September 28, 2015). 'Can a Video Game Teach You to Manage Stress?'. Smithsonian (magazine). Retrieved August 12, 2019.
16. ^Takahashi, Dean (August 25, 2015). 'Flying Mollusk's Nevermind horror game measures how scared you get'. VentureBeat. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
17. ^Vincent, Brandy (August 26, 2018). 'This video game knows when you're scared — and it wants to use that against you'. NBC News. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
18. ^Elise, Abigail (February 20, 2014). ''Nevermind' Game Responds To Players' Fear, Currently Being Funded On Kickstarter'. International Business Times. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
19. ^Reynolds, Erin. 'Nevermind: A Biofeedback Horror Adventure Game'. Kickstarter. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
20. ^Hilier, Brena (October 9, 2014). 'Biofeedback-based horror Nevermind back on Kickstarter'. VG247. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
21. ^Reynolds, Erin. 'Nevermind: Biofeedback Horror Adventure Game'. Kickstarter. Retrieved August 12, 2019.

External links[edit]

It is widely perceived that gaming isn’t the Mac’s strongest point, but given its powerful hardware and powerful high definition displays, it would be nonsensical if you won’t put video games into its arsenal. And yes, the best games for Mac are highly comparable to that of other consoles.

With that said, even if it was largely overshadowed by gaming consoles and Windows platforms, the Mac has had a decent lineup of games this year, catering to the casual gamers who play to kill time and hardcore ones who dedicate most of their free time doing the hobby they love.

Regardless, of the denomination you belong, you have a ton of titles to choose from and most will definitely satiate your gaming appetite. Thing is, if you’re a gamer, you’ll find it hard to pick out must-play ones among the dozens of options. Fortunately, we’ve done the brainstorming for you – all you have to do is download and try them out!

Here’s Ultimate Mac’s list of the best and must-try Macintosh games released in 2015:

Grim Fandango: Remastered

Developer: Double Fine
Genre: Puzzle & Adventure
Price: $14.99
Minimum System Requirements: OS X Mavericks 10.9x, 4 GB RAM, 6 GB available space

If the title sounds familiar, you’ve likely heard of it before: the Grim Fandango game available on the Mac App Store is the remastered version of the 1998 game released for Windows. This isn’t just any game: it was critically acclaimed and won several game of the year awards from notable publishers and institutions like GameSpot and PC Gamer.

You will be following the story of Manny Calavera, a travel agent to the dead. Given that it’s a remastered version, it features better graphics compared to its 1998 counterpart, along with new effects and improved textures. It’s definitely one of the best games for Mac you can download today.

Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

Developer: Dennaton Games/Devolver Digital
Genre: Action, Arcade, Fighting
Price: $14.99
Minimum System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7, 1 GB RAM, 600 MB available space

WARNING: this game contains extreme violence and gore. You have been warned.

With that aside, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number is a sequel to the first installment. Don’t let the 8-bit graphics fool you: it is highly rated by publishers and gamers alike, due to its intense story, fascinating dialogue, amazing soundtrack, and awesome gameplay.

You will take the role of an antihero who is on a bloodthirsty rampage against the criminal underworld.

Total War: Attila

Publisher: Sega
Genre: Strategy
Price: $45
Minimum System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9.4, 4 GB RAM, 35 GB available space

Attila is the leader of the Huns, a group of people in the Dark Ages that contributed largely to the fall of the great Roman Empire. Coming from the East, they swept through Europe with steel and trampling hooves, spreading famine and despair everywhere they went…and you can follow their story by playing this video game.

Arguably, the Total War series are among the best real-time strategy games out there, with in-depth gameplay and realistic simulated battles guaranteed to mess up your reflexes and make you think twice before stationing your troops or commanding them to attack. You can play as the Roman Empire, hell-bent on surviving the political infighting and its external enemies or the Huns, a civilization raring to carve out an empire for themselves through conquest.

This is one of the heaviest games in the list, but it’s totally worth it.

Titan Souls

Publisher/Developer: Acid Nerve/Devolver Digital
Genre: Action, Fantasy
Price: $14.99
Minimum System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9, 4 GB RAM, 400 MB available space

The basic premise of this game is you being a small adventurer, armed with a bow and a single arrow. You take the cloak of the adventurer who is in a quest to assemble the Titan Soul, a mystical shard granting truth and power. You will fight off colossal titans, who are capable of earth-shattering attacks but are vulnerable due to certain weaknesses.

It does not have the best graphics but the gameplay makes it worth the price tag. It’s also available in other consoles.

The Sims 4

Publisher/Developer: Maxis
Genre: Simulation
Price: $59.99
Minimum System Requirements: OS X 10.7.5, 4 GB RAM, 11 GB free space

Arguably one of the best games for Mac – and definitely the most familiar one in the list – this game lets you live the life you never had through a computer screen. Develop a personality, build a house, pursue your dream job, and interact with other sims.

Torchlight II

Publisher/Developer: Runic Games Inc
Genre: RPG
Price: $19.99
Minimum System Requirements: OS X 10.8, 2 GB RAM, 1.7 GB free space

If you’re looking for a game that is somewhat similar to Diablo III, then Torchlight II should definitely be part of your backlog and priority list. Basically, it’s like an open world game (like Diablo) wherein you will get to do battle against bloodthirsty creatures and get to look for hidden treasures throughout the game world.

Satellite Reign

Publisher/Developer: MP Digital LLC
Genre: Strategy
Price: $17.99
Minimum System Requirements: OS X 10.6, 3 GB RAM, 2 GB free space

If you’re a fan of real-time strategy games involving characters of different classes, then Satellite Reign is definitely a must-have. Released last November, this game is set in a dystopian cyberpunk city wherein you control four agents to battle greedy corporations and climb the corporate ladder.

Breach & Clear

Publisher/Developer: MP Digital LLC
Genre: Strategy, Action, RPG, Simulation
Price: $14.99
Minimum System Requirements: OS X 10.6.6, 2 GB RAM, 3 GB free space

If you’re a fan of military-themed games and tactical strategy, Breach & Clear is a must-play. Though it’s not a first-person shooter, it’s more in-depth strategic-wise, considering that you can create a special forces squad of your own, from the US Army Rangers to the UK’s SAS. Plan missions and take on global terrorism and crime, bullet by bullet. It’s a must-have game for strategy junkies and arguably one of the best games for Mac released this year.

Farming Simulator 15

Publisher/Developer: Focus Home Interactive, GIANTS Software
Genre: Simulation
Price: $29.99
Minimum System Requirements: OS X 10.7, 2 GB RAM, 3 GB free space

Let’s say you’re from the countryside and you’ve had fond memories of strolling around Uncle Bill’s farm, chasing chickens and picking carrots straight from the ground.

Relive the nostalgia by downloading and playing Farming Simulator 15, the best (and probably the only) farming simulation game on the Mac. The game allows you to explore a graphically-advanced open world, with details and gameplay that is pretty close to managing your own farm.

Strategy Games For Mac

And no, it’s not like Farmville – manage your own farm by doing all the woodcutting, animal husbandry, planting, plowing, and harvesting tasks yourself. You can also access 140 vehicles and farming tools, created by the best real-life brands and manufacturers.

Sid Meier’s Starships

Publisher/Developer: 2k Games, Take-Two Interactive Software
Genre: Strategy
Price: $9.99
Minimum System Requirements: OS X 10.9.5, 4 GB RAM, 10 GB free space

Sid Meier is known for designing awesome strategy games and this time, he fulfilled expectations with Starships, an adventure driven strategy game wherein you take control of intergalactic fleets and do battle with hostile factions like Space Pirates.

This game offers a sci-fi strategy experience like no other. And considering that it’s a Sid Meier game, you won’t have any regrets purchasing this game.

Games For Mac

Overall, the above mentioned games make it clear that the Mac can be a formidable player in the gaming console wars. We can only look forward to what games will be released in the platform in the next few years.

Do you have any games you want to recommend? Please tell us in the comments!