Let’s face it: we’ve all dreamt of being a cat in another life at some point. Whether it is their innate cuteness or their ability to sleep almost anywhere, it feels like quite an adventure. Well, that’s the essence of what BlueTwelve Studio, the developers behind the critically acclaimed 2022 adventure game Stray, achieved.
With the game amazed massive popularity on other platforms, it finally came to macOS on December 5, 2023, with native support specifically optimized for Apple Silicon, while also taking advantage of MetalFX. We’re going to be taking a deep dive into Stray on the Mac, taking a look at how it runs and whether it actually is worth it in the first place.
Can You Play Stray on Mac?
You can absolutely play Stray on Mac. Stray offers native macOS and M1 support, which means that it runs without any emulation layer directly on the ARM Apple Silicon platform.
This means that an M1, M2, and an M3 will be able to play the game in the most optimal way possible without needing to sacrifice any sort of performance. Besides that, the game also supports MetalFX Upscaling, allowing you to get more frame rates while maintaining decent fidelity.
Stray Mac Support
Stray Mac requirements
These are the game’s official Mac requirements:
| Minimum Mac Requirements | |
| OS: | macOS 12.0 or later |
| CPU: | M1 or later |
| Graphics: | M1 or later |
| Hard Drive: | 8.2 GB |
Can Your Mac Run Stray?
Can Your Mac Run Stray? Benchmarks & Performance
These are the M3 Max Macbook Pro benchmarks we have gathered so far, in collaboration with our friends from MacProTips:
| Game | Machine | Resolution | Settings | FPS | Tester | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stray | 💻 M3 Max MacBook Pro 14", 36 GB | 1920x1080 | High | 100-140 | MacProTips | 20/12/2023 |
| Stray | 💻 M3 Max MacBook Pro 14", 36 GB | 2560x1440 | High | 70-90 | MacProTips | 20/12/2023 |
| Stray | 💻 M2 MacBook Air 13", 10-core GPU, 16 GB | 1920x1080 | Low | 40 | Josh on YT | 20/12/2023 |
Since Stray is a native game, it does mean that most MacBooks will be able to run the game fairly well. From our performance testing on an M3 Max, it was an absolute delight to be treated with a console-grade experience through and through. We were able to get an impressive 100-140 FPS when setting the resolution to 1080p and setting the overall graphics quality to High. This remained consistent even when venturing through more crowded areas and complex scenes. Surprisingly, we were able to get the same fluid results even when hopping over to 1440p. Naturally, there was a significant FPS drop to around 70-90 FPS.
The biggest problem with the game that we’ve noticed so far across all Macs is stuttering and performance glitches when you load up into the game or move from one area to the next. While it isn’t the end of the world, it does take you away from the immersion quite a bit. We’re assuming this may be due to load times, but since all the Silicon Macs tend to have decently quick SSDs, we’re hoping that this is fixed with a future update. We’ll update this space if we see any updates.
MetalFX has been really helpful with Stray. If you don’t know what it is, it’s equivalent to Nvidia DLSS (Dynamic Layer Super Sampling). Here, your effective resolution is reduced (to remove strain from your GPU), and with the help of real-time deep learning, AI is used to sharpen up the image such that it retains its fidelity at higher resolutions. This is a great touch for lower-end Macs that would have struggled with playing the game at a decent frame rate if not for MetalFX Upscaling.
Stray on MacBook: Can it run on a base M1 MacBook Air?
Stray runs very well on a base MacBook Air. Thanks to MetalFX Upscaling, you can play on high resolution with no issues whatsoever. However, you might have to set your settings down to Medium to acclimate to particular environments. But since the M1 MacBook Air does not have a high refresh-rate display, unlike the MacBook Pros, you should feel yourself right at home by being able to comfortably play the game within the 40-50 FPS range.
However, since Stray is more of a cinematic title, we’d recommend you to cap yourself to 30 FPS as that’ll provide you with the smoothest experience on all platforms, as the extra frames aren’t really worth the occasional stutter.
The Verdict: Should You Play Stray On Your Mac?
Stray is a perfect game for the MacBook. It provides a layer of strategy while still retaining that casual element. It doesn’t pace you too quickly and is a great game to introduce individuals to gaming on a Mac or just gaming in general. You do not need a dedicated controller to play the game, as the mappings are fairly intuitive. Plus, it has a gripping story, an absolutely meow-tastic soundtrack, and an emphasis on design that just oozes quality at every point in the game.
It also is a great title for the more hardcore gamer who generally doesn’t play on their Mac. Yes, it isn’t Dark Souls, but that’s the whole point. It is a fun game that rewards you with a great storyline and will definitely have you shed a few tears by the end of it.
Stray Mac Download
You can buy and download Stray on the Mac Apple Store or Steam. While the Mac App Store has its benefits, namely its ease of use and full macOS integration, the Steam version does give you the Windows version of the game too.
Before you go…
Looking for other recent macOS blockbusters? Don’t miss either Resident Evil 4 or No Man’s Sky, both also available on Mac.
The developer’s confirmation that Stray will be available on both the Mac App Store and Steam provides clarity for macOS users. It’s important to note this decision offers users the choice to select their preferred platform. This choice might be particularly valuable for those who favor the Mac App Store’s integration with macOS over Steam, which, despite its dominance in the gaming market, might not appeal to everyone. As Stray gears up for its macOS release, it will be interesting to see how this platform availability plays out among the gaming community.