The Macintosh transformed video games, pushing the medium beyond simple reflex challenges into a realm of creativity, accessibility, and innovation. It pioneered friendly, intuitive human-computer interaction and helped launch legendary franchises like Myst, Halo, and SimCity. The platform welcomed experimental ideas, provided indie developers with a home, and inspired communities that embraced the Mac mantra: “think different.” These passionate players and creators challenged each other to elevate their craft and showed the world that games could be clever, quirky, and deeply human.
Written by award-winning journalist and game historian Richard Moss, The Secret History of Mac Gaming tells this overlooked story through archival research and nearly 80 interviews with the developers and communities who thrived in an ecosystem often ignored by the wider industry. This newly expanded edition adds around 70 pages of fresh content, including a foreword by The 7th Guest co-creator Graeme Devine, more than 60 new images, an annotated timeline, and extended chapters covering cult favorites like Snood, Chaos Overlords, and The Dungeon of Doom.
Featuring guest chapters by Craig Fryar—Apple’s first Mac games evangelist and co-creator of Spectre—and stunning 1-bit style illustrations from designer JJ Signal, the 480-page hardback edition is beautifully crafted with pantone-printed covers, colored page edges, and a sewn binding for durability. Printed lithographically on premium paper, it’s as much a collector’s piece as it is a deep dive into an untold chapter of gaming history.
Flashback Zach 