How to Play PC Games on Mac: 10 Best Methods

Written by

Ojash

Reviewed by

Hashir Ibrahim

Last updated: December 14, 2024

Expert verified

Felt left out as a Mac gamer? Things have changed—your Mac can run PC games too! Dive into my guide for tips and tricks to play Windows games on your Mac, perfect for casual and hardcore gamers alike.

Do Windows Games Run on a Mac?

Yes, you can run Windows games on a Mac. For Intel-based Macs, Boot Camp is your go-to, allowing you to install Windows alongside macOS. For M1 Macs, Parallels Desktop is a seamless solution, letting you run Windows games directly on macOS without rebooting.

Now, let’s dive into how you can play PC games on Mac.

10 Best Ways to Play PC Games on Mac

Can’t find a Mac version of your game? Here are 10 methods to play PC games on Mac, ranging from beginner-friendly to advanced options—choose what suits you best.

1. GeForce NOW

Here’s how to use GeForce NOW to play PC games on Mac:

1. Visit NVIDIA’s Website and create a free account or log in with Google or Facebook.
2. Click Download in the top toolbar and find the macOS version of GeForce NOW.

3. Click the Download button and install GeForce Now for Mac OS.

4. Log in to your account.
5. Browse and select from the games library.

6. Start playing.

2. WineBottler

Here’s how you can use WineBottler to play PC games on Mac:

1. Go to WineBottler and download the app. Choose a stable version, not necessarily the latest.

2. To install it, drag Wine and WineBottler to the Applications folder.
3. Open WineBottler, find the Games tab, locate Steam, and hit Install.
4. Log in to Steam.
5. Find games in the Store. Browse, download what you want to play, and enjoy

3. CrossOver

Follow these steps to use CrossOver and play PC games on Mac:

1. Go to the CrossOver website and start with the free trial by clicking the Free Trial button.

2. Choose your OS, and enter your name and email. Then, click the Download Trial Now button.

3. Double-click the CrossOver app in your Downloads folder.

4. Click Move to Applications Folder on the pop-up to move it to your Applications folder.

5. When the app starts, select Try Now.

6. Once in CrossOver, you can install some games directly, but it’s best to install a game launcher like Steam.
7. Select Steam and click Install. Follow the prompts to install any additional components needed.
8. Once Steam is installed, install your games as you would on a Windows PC.
9. CrossOver creates a bottle for apps like Steam, where your games are stored. In this bottle, you can manage your games and configure settings, like controllers.

4. Boot Camp (Intel Macs Only)

Follow these steps to set up Boot Camp:

1. Go to the Microsoft website and download the Windows 10 disk image (ISO) by clicking the 64-bit Download button.

2. Open Boot Camp Assistant using Spotlight.
3. Boot Camp will find the Windows 10 ISO and guide you through installing it.
4. Choose your Windows partition size wisely – some games need a lot of space, and you can’t change the size later. When ready, hit Install.
5. To set up Windows 10, pick your language, hit Next, select I don’t have a product key, and choose the Windows 10 Home edition.
6. Your Mac will restart in Windows once it’s all set up.
7. You should see Boot Camp on your desktop – open it to install important drivers. If it doesn’t pop up, find it under This PC > OSXRESERVED.
8. You’re all set to play most 32 and 64-bit Windows games.

5. Streaming

Game streaming offers access to many games for a monthly fee, like Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at $14.99/month. With fast internet, you can stream games without needing a powerful computer, though minor delays may occur.

Game Pass includes exclusives like Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5. For PC owners, Valve’s Steam Link app lets you play PC games on your Mac over a home network for smoother performance.

6. Cloud Computer Services

Cloud Computer Services let you use a powerful remote PC from your Mac, enabling heavy PC gaming. Popular options include Shadow and Parsec.

a. Shadow

Here’s how to use Shadow:

1. Visit the Shadow website and create an account.
2. Pick a subscription plan that suits your needs.
3. Download and install the Shadow app on your Mac.
4. Open the app, log in, and start playing your favorite PC games.

b. Parsec

Here’s how to use Parsec:

1. Go to the Parsec website and sign up.
2. Choose a cloud computer based on your gaming needs.
3. Install the Parsec app on your Mac, log in, and connect to your cloud computer.
4. Once connected, you can download games and start playing.

7. Using a Virtual Machine

Virtual machines like Parallels and VMWare Fusion let you run Windows games on Mac without rebooting. Parallels is user-friendly, fast, and compatible with the newest M1 Macs, and I’ve tested it before. Here’s how to get Parallels set up:

1. Visit Parallels and create a new account.

2. Download the software and go to the Parallels Desktop for Mac Technical Preview page from your Dashboard.
3. Scroll down to the Install and Activate section to get the latest version of Parallels. You’ll also find an activation key there that you’ll need later on.
4. Next, it’s time to download Windows. If you have a Mac with an M1 processor, pick the ARM version. This is a must for creating virtual machines.
5. Don’t forget to register as a Windows Insider—it’s necessary and free!
6. Once you have everything downloaded, head back to the Installation Assistant and click Continue to set up your virtual machine.
7. Parallels should find Windows 10 on its own. Just click Create when it does.
8. Copy the activation key from the webpage and paste it in to get Parallels configuring Windows 10.
9. Click Activate, and in a little bit, it’ll be ready to use.
10. Lastly, open Microsoft Edge to find and install Steam. If you aren’t signed up yet, go ahead and create an account.

8. Using Emulators

Emulators mimic Windows, letting you play PC games on Mac as if on a Windows system. Here’s how to use one:

1. Choose an emulator. There are various emulators available, such as OpenEmu, Wine, and PlayOnMac. Pick the one that best suits your needs and is compatible with your Mac.
2. Once you’ve chosen your emulator, visit its official website to download and install the software. Follow the instructions provided on the website to complete the installation process.
3. After installing, open the emulator and configure the settings according to your preferences and system requirements. This might include adjusting the resolution, controls, and other settings to optimize game performance.
4. Now, you can start installing Windows games on your Mac.
5. With the emulator running, download the game installation files or insert the game disc, and follow the on-screen instructions to install the game.
6. Once the game is installed, you can start playing. Open the game through the emulator, and enjoy playing Windows games on your Mac.

9. Game Porting Toolkit

To play games that use DirectX 12, you can use Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit. Here’s how to set up the Game Porting Toolkit:

1. Go to the Apple Developer website and download the Command Line Tools for Xcode 15 and the Game Porting Toolkit.
2. Install the Command Line Tools and open the Game Porting Toolkit file.
3. You don’t need anything from the Toolkit now. Keep it open and start the Terminal.
4. Type in the following commands, pressing Enter after each.

For M1 or M2 Macs:

softwareupdate --install-rosetta

5. Next, type:

arch -x86_64 zsh to start an x86 shell

6. Now, you need to install Homebrew. To do that, type the following command and press Enter:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh"

If Homebrew is already there, you’re set.

7. To check Homebrew path, type which brew and check if it points to usr/local/bin/brew.
8. Type the following and press Enter:

brew tap apple/apple http://github.com/apple/homebrew-apple

9. To install the Toolkit, type the following and press Enter:

brew -v install apple/apple/game-porting-toolkit

Wait for it to complete.

10. Next, set up a virtual drive with Wine. To do that, type the following and press Enter:

WINEPREFIX=~/my-game-prefix brew -prefix game-porting-toolkit/bin/wine64 winecfg

11. This will open a Wine configuration menu where you can select Windows 10.
12. Copy the Toolkit to the drive by typing the following and pressing Enter:

ditto /Volumes/Game\ Porting\ Toolkit-1.0.2/lib/ brew --prefix game-porting-toolkit/lib/

13. Next, you’re all set to launch your game. I’ll use Steam as an example, but remember, this method works for any Windows application.
14. If you’re installing Steam, download the Windows installation files and save them in your Downloads folder.
15. In Terminal, type the following and press Enter:

gameportingtoolkit ~/my-game-prefix ~/Downloads/SteamSetup.exe

16. A Windows installation will pop up. Follow the steps and to launch Steam, type the following and press Enter:

gameportingtoolkit ~/my-game-prefix 'C\Program Files (x86)/Steam/steam.exe

Replace the path for other apps.

10. Unofficial Ports

Unofficial ports let you play PC games on Mac by using fan-made versions adapted for macOS, like Diablo with DevilutionX or games on Mac Source Ports. You’ll need to own the original game to convert it. However, these ports may have bugs or performance issues, so ensure they are safe and legal.

Play PC Games on Your Mac Without Any Hiccups

Boot Camp, virtual machines, streaming, and emulators offer various ways to play PC games on Mac. Here are tips to enhance your gaming experience:

• Is MacBook good for gaming? The short answer is yes, but the more recent model you have, the better.
• Although modern Macs offer great performance, you should optimize your Mac for gaming to improve its performance further.
• If you’re looking for recommendations, check out my list of best RPG games for Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions