How to Play Windows Games on Your Mac? Although things have changed a lot, the sector of computer games has always opted for Windows vs. Mac or Linux. Windows games have been in the majority over other platforms, although there is currently the largest game offer on Mac thanks to the ease of porting games using Rapid or Unit.
However, major industry titles are usually released exclusively for Windows. And it’s about waiting several years for its launch on Mac.
How to Play Windows Games on Your Mac?
There are many solutions to this problem. To start, have a gaming computer to play Windows games and use a Mac for all other tasks. Or rather, a video game console. But both options require a small budget. You can also wait for game stores to include a Mac port for Windows games. And third, go to virtual machines and emulators to try to play certain titles. But everything has its bad side.
Next, we have compiled all the possibilities for playing Windows games if you are a Mac user. You won’t like any of them 100%, but sometimes they can be an alternative to stop playing certain games or save a few bucks and not need a gaming PC if you just want to play modest titles that can run on your Mac under emulation.
Native Games and Game Stores
But, let’s start at the beginning. Where will we find games for Mac? Today we have several options to install macOS-compatible games directly. The supply is plentiful and varied, thanks to developers becoming more aware of the need to port their games to different platforms instead of just releasing games for Windows.
- app store: The first place to look for games is the official Apple Store. The App Store displays apps and games that you can install instantly. There are free and paid ones. If, in addition, you have a Mac with M1 processor or higher, to games for Mac, you can add games for iPhone and/or iPad.
- apple-arcade: to the usual official offer you must add the games under the Apple Arcade brand, available through an additional monthly subscription, although you can try it for free temporarily.
- Steam: beyond the official offer, this valve shop is the main game store. Most are for Windows, but the offer for macOS increases and, sometimes, we find important titles.
- MacGameStore: although this store mainly links to Steamwe highlight it because it focuses on Mac games. In addition, it always offers discounts and offers.
- GOG: This is perhaps the second most popular online store in the sale of games for Windows and for Mac Among its peculiarities, it allows buying DRM-free games so as not to depend on additional installers or managers.
These are the main options for finding native Mac games. In addition, you will surely find other online stores with offers or bundles. For the rest, in the field of games available on disc, it is still possible to find some on stores like Amazon etc But it is a titanic search with which you will end up being frustrated with the lack of results.
Windows Emulators
The first alternative to native games for Mac, say what you want to play title for windows and it is not ported to macOS. If you don’t want to complicate your life too much, you can try solutions that emulate Windows components and they allow you to install Windows games on your Mac. The result is not 100% effective and not all games are compatible, but if you want to recover titles that are several years old, this is the best solution. less problematic.
- crossing: This is the most popular solution of this style. It is paid but offers support for important Windows games. Please check the list before purchasing this software. It’s based on Wine, like the rest, but it simplifies the installation process. Its latest version is compatible with Mac with M1.
- PlayOnMac: free and open source solution based on Wine. Here you can consult the list of compatible games. It also supports some apps. With its wizard, the process of installing Windows games on Mac is relatively easy.
- Wine: the original Linux software for the launching Windows apps and games on Linux and macOS. Its installation and handling are somewhat complicated. Therefore, it makes more sense to use derivatives such as those mentioned above. To the list must be added outraged Yes bottler.
Virtual machines to install Windows
Another way to play Windows games on Mac is through virtual machines. This is a bit more complex option than previous emulators because this time you have to install windows. This implies that your Mac will be running two operating systems at the same time. On the other hand, it has its advantages, because the necessary hardware conditions can be emulated.
To start, I discard three solutions to create virtual machines VirtualBox, UTM Is QEMU. I often recommend them because they are free, open source, and make it easy to create Windows and Linux virtual machines.
However, while all three are very valid, on the playground they are not that effective. That is to say that the graphics part is well emulated but not enough to run the games. For this, the two main options are paid.
- Parallel office: Supports Mac with Intel processor and M1. You can create Linux, Mac, and Windows virtual machines. You have specific options for enhancing the graphic aspect for video, graphic design or games. This is the most recommended option for a Mac with M1 where you want to use Windows.
- VMware merges: Available in Player (free) and Pro (paid) versions. Both support graphics with OpenGL and DirectX 11. It lets you virtualize Linux and Windows and run Windows games. Classics but also relatively recent ones.
Install Windows or SteamOS on your Mac
We have seen almost everything Alternatives to a gaming PC if you want to run Windows games on your Mac, beyond ported titles, Wine-based emulation, and virtual machines, the umpteenth alternative is to install Windows on your Mac, less disk space, since you have to host macOS and Windows on the same disc.
Install Windows on a Mac It’s easy thanks to Boot Camp, the wizard that guides us step by step to carry out the installation. Also, it will add the drivers for all components to work on Windows. The bad? It is only available on Intel Macs. If you have a Mac M1is not an option at this time.
The same thing happens with the Steam operating system. It is a version of Linux that allows you to launch Windows games thanks to Proton, software that serves as an intermediary between these games and Linux. Thus, with this operating system, it is possible to play most of the catalog of Steam even if Windows is not installed. Disadvantages? There is no official wizard to install SteamOS on Mac, you will need to use Boot Camp first. Second drawback. There is no version of SteamOS for Mac with M1.
Ultimately, playing windows games without pc with Windows it is possible. Of course, it’s not that simple. But you have different alternatives depending on whether you want to play classic games, recent titles or a game that has just come out on the market. In each case, one option or another will be better. It will also depend on how you use it. But it won’t be for the available options.
