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M5 Pro MacBook Pro Gaming Performance Analysis: 12 Game Test ResultsAn in-depth analysis of the gaming performance of the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chip. We tested a total of 12 titles, including native Mac games and Windows games run through Crossover and Parallels, examining each game's resolution, graphics settings, and frame rate in detail. Can the M5 Pro truly meet gamers' expectations?
1. 🎮 M5 Pro MacBook Pro Gaming Performance Overview
· We're testing the gaming performance of the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chip (24GB RAM, 18 CPU cores, 20 GPU cores).
· We'll cover both highly optimized native Mac games and Windows games running via translation layers and virtualization.
· We'll cover both highly optimized native Mac games and Windows games running via translation layers and virtualization.
00:00 - 00:23
1. 🎮 M5 Pro MacBook Pro Gaming Performance Overview
· We're testing the gaming performance of the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M5 Pro chip (24GB RAM, 18 CPU cores, 20 GPU cores).
· We'll cover both highly optimized native Mac games and Windows games running via translation layers and virtualization.
· We'll cover both highly optimized native Mac games and Windows games running via translation layers and virtualization.
01:53 - 02:31
2. ⚔️ Assassin's Creed Shadows
· This Mac port is notoriously difficult to get 60 FPS on.
· Tested at 1440p, Medium graphics preset, Metal FX Balanced mode (upscaling from 720p to 1440p).
· Achieves an average of 45-55 FPS in the open world, around 45 FPS during combat, occasionally hitting 60 FPS.
· Decent performance on the M5 Pro chip.
· Tested at 1440p, Medium graphics preset, Metal FX Balanced mode (upscaling from 720p to 1440p).
· Achieves an average of 45-55 FPS in the open world, around 45 FPS during combat, occasionally hitting 60 FPS.
· Decent performance on the M5 Pro chip.
02:32 - 03:04
3. ⚙️ Lies of P
· A Soulslike game set in a steampunk world.
· Tested at 1440p, High graphics preset, no upscaling.
· Achieves 80+ FPS, which is more than enough for this genre of game.
· One of the most adaptable games on macOS, playable even on base M1 models.
· A great example of the M5 Pro's graphical prowess.
· Tested at 1440p, High graphics preset, no upscaling.
· Achieves 80+ FPS, which is more than enough for this genre of game.
· One of the most adaptable games on macOS, playable even on base M1 models.
· A great example of the M5 Pro's graphical prowess.
03:05 - 03:38
4. 🌃 Cyberpunk 2077
· Tested with the native macOS version.
· Set to 1440p, High graphics preset (default Metal FX scaling quality mode, upscaling from 960p to 1440p).
· Runs very smoothly on Mac, almost always maintaining 60 FPS.
· These settings are suitable for playing on the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
· Set to 1440p, High graphics preset (default Metal FX scaling quality mode, upscaling from 960p to 1440p).
· Runs very smoothly on Mac, almost always maintaining 60 FPS.
· These settings are suitable for playing on the 16-inch MacBook Pro.
03:39 - 04:09
5. 🧟 Dead Island 2
· A zombie game released in 2023, with a Mac port released in 2025.
· Tested at 1440p, Ultra preset, no upscaling (pure native 1440p).
· Maintains 45-60+ FPS, limited to 60Hz frame rate due to capture card mirroring.
· One of the best Mac ports, with consistent frame times and no stuttering or hitching.
· Tested at 1440p, Ultra preset, no upscaling (pure native 1440p).
· Maintains 45-60+ FPS, limited to 60Hz frame rate due to capture card mirroring.
· One of the best Mac ports, with consistent frame times and no stuttering or hitching.
04:10 - 04:42
6. 🏚️ 7 Days To Die
· A multiplayer open-world survival horror game.
· Technically has a Mac port, compatible with anti-cheat servers and allows selecting Metal renderer in the launcher.
· Rendered at 1080p, Medium graphics preset, but the Metal HUD displays 5120x280 resolution.
· The Mac port's performance is poor, demonstrating that not all Mac ports are created equal.
· Technically has a Mac port, compatible with anti-cheat servers and allows selecting Metal renderer in the launcher.
· Rendered at 1080p, Medium graphics preset, but the Metal HUD displays 5120x280 resolution.
· The Mac port's performance is poor, demonstrating that not all Mac ports are created equal.
04:43 - 05:22
7. ✨ Final Fantasy 14
· The official Mac version is a Crossover wrapper of the Windows version, only allowing Mac licenses.
· Running the Windows version via the community project '14 on Mac' provides the best performance.
· Played at 1440p, Very High preset, using DXMT for direct DirectX to Metal translation.
· Shows very good performance in the starting areas.
· Running the Windows version via the community project '14 on Mac' provides the best performance.
· Played at 1440p, Very High preset, using DXMT for direct DirectX to Metal translation.
· Shows very good performance in the starting areas.
05:23 - 05:56
8. 🚀 Pragmata
· Tested with the Windows version via Crossover 26.
· Ran at 1440p, High graphics preset, no upscaling (native 1440p).
· A new Capcom demo using the RE Engine, one of the most beautiful games playable on Mac.
· Boasts fantastic visuals on the 16-inch MacBook Pro screen.
· Ran at 1440p, High graphics preset, no upscaling (native 1440p).
· A new Capcom demo using the RE Engine, one of the most beautiful games playable on Mac.
· Boasts fantastic visuals on the 16-inch MacBook Pro screen.
05:57 - 06:43
9. 🩸 Resident Evil 9 (Resident Evil Requiem)
· Tested with the Windows version via Crossover (no native Mac port).
· Played at 1440p, Medium graphics preset, Metal FX Balanced mode, Hair settings on.
· Leon's part shows decent settings and frame rates, while Grace's horror part achieves 80+ FPS.
· Grace's section greatly benefits from hair simulation.
· Played at 1440p, Medium graphics preset, Metal FX Balanced mode, Hair settings on.
· Leon's part shows decent settings and frame rates, while Grace's horror part achieves 80+ FPS.
· Grace's section greatly benefits from hair simulation.
06:44 - 07:36
10. 🕷️ Spider-Man 2
· Tested with the Windows version via Crossover.
· Ran at 1440p, High graphics preset, Metal FX Quality mode.
· Animation bugs present on M1, M2, M3, M4 chips have been fixed on the M5 chip.
· Thanks to the M5 Pro's 20 GPU cores, Spider-Man 2 can be enjoyed with perfect graphics.
· Achieves 45-55+ FPS, combat is very smooth, but there are slight pauses during cutscene transitions.
· Ran at 1440p, High graphics preset, Metal FX Quality mode.
· Animation bugs present on M1, M2, M3, M4 chips have been fixed on the M5 chip.
· Thanks to the M5 Pro's 20 GPU cores, Spider-Man 2 can be enjoyed with perfect graphics.
· Achieves 45-55+ FPS, combat is very smooth, but there are slight pauses during cutscene transitions.
07:37 - 08:17
11. 👑 Elden Ring
· Tested with the Windows version via Crossover 26 (automatically runs offline due to Easy Anti-Cheat).
· Ran at 1440p, Max graphics preset, no upscaling.
· Elden Ring is usually capped at 60 FPS, so you won't see more, but it stably maintains 50-60 FPS even at max graphics settings.
· Shows impressive performance at high resolutions.
· Ran at 1440p, Max graphics preset, no upscaling.
· Elden Ring is usually capped at 60 FPS, so you won't see more, but it stably maintains 50-60 FPS even at max graphics settings.
· Shows impressive performance at high resolutions.
08:18 - 09:00
12. 🌌 Clare Obscure Expedition 33
· Tested with the Windows version via Crossover 26.
· Achieved 40+ FPS at 1440p, Medium graphics preset, Metal FX Balanced mode.
· On consoles, it often plays at 30 FPS with lower graphics settings.
· Metal FX connects to DLSS, providing a cleaner image and improved performance.
· Performance is very satisfying for playing the game with these graphics presets.
· Achieved 40+ FPS at 1440p, Medium graphics preset, Metal FX Balanced mode.
· On consoles, it often plays at 30 FPS with lower graphics settings.
· Metal FX connects to DLSS, providing a cleaner image and improved performance.
· Performance is very satisfying for playing the game with these graphics presets.
09:01 - 09:42
13. 🏰 Settlers 6 (Settlers Rise of an Empire)
· Played via Parallels (Windows virtual machine software).
· 32-bit DirectX9 games or older games from 2006-2011 often perform poorly in Crossover.
· Ran using a Windows 11 ARM Parallels virtual machine, which is the best method for these older games.
· Performance isn't perfect, but it's currently the best way to run Windows games from this era on Apple Silicon Macs.
· 32-bit DirectX9 games or older games from 2006-2011 often perform poorly in Crossover.
· Ran using a Windows 11 ARM Parallels virtual machine, which is the best method for these older games.
· Performance isn't perfect, but it's currently the best way to run Windows games from this era on Apple Silicon Macs.