So you woke up on Christmas morning to a new Mac. Perhaps it’s the miraculous M4 Mac mini, or maybe it’s the stunning M4 Pro MacBook Pro complete with the nano texture display. No matter which Mac you unwrapped, you’re probably itching to try out some new apps and games to see what that new computer can do.
Here are six of our current favorites, which you might want to try.
Pixelmator Pro
Ever since its inaugural release seven years ago, Pixelmator Pro has felt like the Adobe Photoshop competitor we all wish Apple itself would create. It is hands down one of the best image editors ever on any platform and is one of the few professional graphics and photo editors that don’t require a subscription.
The app easily goes head-to-head with Photoshop, and generally beats it in terms of ease-of-use and design. If you plan to do any kind of graphics editing on your new Mac, Pixelmator Pro is a must-have. The app is so good that Apple has announced its intention to acquire it, subject to regulatory approval.
Pixelmator Pro is currently $49.99 on the Mac App Store.
TimeStory
Few Mac apps show as much attention to detail as TimeStory, which helps you create visual and detailed timelines. It is one of the best Mac apps I’ve discovered in years and one that is useful in so many environments, including education, business, and the home.
With TimeStory, teachers and students can create richly detailed timelines to help convey, for example, the succession of notable events throughout history for use in the classroom or school reports. The app is also helpful for roadmapping business projects for the future. It’s also incredibly useful for those who want to chart personal details, like family histories. But perhaps its best quality is its easy-to-use interface with simple click and drag-and-drop functionality.
TimeStory is currently $49.99 on the Mac App Store.
CleanMyMac
CleanMyMac is often referred to as “the utility that Apple forgot.” The app is packed with tools that helps optimize your Mac’s performance, manage your files, and even protect against increasing malware threats. CleanMyMac is made by MacPaw, one of the best developers of third-party utility apps for macOS.
CleanMyMac has been around for over a decade, but this year, it got a radical design overhaul that makes managing your Mac’s care easier than ever. Some of my favorite tools in the app are the one that helps find gigabytes of unneeded junk files (so that you can reclaim storage space), the built-in malware protection provided by Moonlock, and the one that helps manage app updates and uninstallations.
CleanMyMac is a free download on the Mac App Store. A yearly subscription currently costs $39.99, or the app offers a one-time purchase option for $119.99.
‘Prince of Persia: Lost Crown’
Thanks to the power of Apple Silicon chips, the Mac is increasingly drawing big-name game developers to the platform. The most recent major game developer to bring a headline title to the Mac is Ubisoft, which just released its new Prince of Persia: Lost Crown action-adventure game for macOS.
Prince of Persia: Lost Crown is a beautiful side scroller that lets users play in the shoes of Sargon, who can master mystical powers, leading to some really fun and clever game mechanics. If you love platformers, puzzles, and great art direction, Prince of Persia: Lost Crown is the perfect game for your new Mac.
Prince of Persia: Lost Crown is currently $19.99 on the Mac App Store.
PRIM
Some people like action-packed games like Prince of Persia. Others enjoy games driven by a strong narrative. If you’re in the latter group, you need to check out PRIM. In the point-and-click game, Death finds out he has a daughter, Prim. She goes to live with him, and upon turning 16, Prim finds out she has powers of her own.
PRIM’s black-and-white visuals are stunning. It’s a look that couldn’t be more apropos for a game about Death and his offspring. In addition to hand-painted graphics and an emotional story, PRIM also features a terrific orchestral score.
PRIM is currently $17.99 on the Mac App Store.
The WereCleaner
If you’re looking for a relaxing, cute, and . . . bloody game, you should check out The WereCleaner. Yes, it’s just as the name suggests: You play a night-shift janitor who turns into a werewolf but still needs to do his job so he can pay the rent. That job is to clean up the mess people make in the office—but sometimes your werewolf urges can’t stop you from devouring those same people—leaving you a bigger mess to take care of.
The WereCleaner is a game that is part stealth, part strategy, part comedy—and tons of fun. And it’s one of those games you can play in short bursts, returning to it whenever you need a little downtime with your new Mac.
The WereCleaner is currently free on the Mac App Store.
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