Lightweight Distro for 2007 Macbook help - eviltoast

Still very new to the whole Linux world and I am looking for some help.

I just acquired an old 2007 MacBook, it’s in great shape & runs osx lion perfectly - but I want to put Linux on it so I can turn it to an extremely light casual gaming / pico-8 practice / media machine

I know that it is 64 bit

I have tried to boot both Elementary OS and Zorin OS Lite - but both just don’t progress after selecting install from the boot screen.

I did manage to get PuppyLinux to run… however - I am not quite experienced enough yet to know my way around that yet… and I am a vain man who comes from a Ux design background and it’s difficult for me to get past how PuppyLinux looks.

I have not tried Xubuntu yet, I think that will be next on my list of stuff to try tonight, but I was curious if anyone else has had any success reviving old 2007 MacBooks and just wondering what you used.

Thanks in advance 🙏

Edit: Model is MacBook A1181