You’ll almost certainly have a better time if you use a wired gamepad. You’ll sometimes need to download separate drivers, and you might need to reboot the system to see those drivers take effect.

There’s a catch, of course (and there always is): It’s easier to pull this off with some controllers over others. Even so, you’re not entirely nuts if you assume you can pick up your PlayStation or Xbox controller and use it with your MacBook without dropping any extra cash. Yes, some of the “support” exists only through the generosity and dedication of a few modders. Considering the awkwardness of almost every other aspect of Mac gaming, I was a little shocked to discover how easy it is to pair popular console controllers with my MacBook.