Found a game you want to play, only to see that it's Windows-only? Your Mac still has options: CrossOver, cloud gaming, streaming from a Windows PC, and Windows virtual machines. Start with the game's supported platforms, then choose the route that fits your Mac and the hardware you already own.
Check for a Mac edition first
Check your game's supported platforms before installing another tool. Steam Play includes access to a purchased game on every operating system that title supports, including macOS when a Mac edition is available.
Use Valve's Install Steam download option to get the Mac client. Install the game's compatible macOS edition from your library. Watch out for older releases: current macOS cannot run 32-bit Mac games.
For a Windows-only title, check compatibility before paying for a tool or service. CrossOver support varies by game, cloud services limit access by catalog and storefront edition, and Windows virtual machines have graphics and anti-cheat restrictions.
Play through the cloud without a Windows PC
No gaming PC? GeForce NOW runs supported games on its service. Check your exact game and storefront edition, along with region and connection requirements, before choosing a membership.
Open the GeForce NOW Mac app, which requires macOS 10.15 or later on a supported Mac.
Sign into your account. For browser access instead, open play.geforcenow.com in an updated supported browser: Safari, Chrome, or Opera GX.
Connect your supported storefront account. For Steam, open Settings > Connections > CONNECT and authenticate with Steam.
Launch a supported game. NVIDIA handles installation and updates for its Ready-to-Play titles.
For a game tagged Install-to-Play, check its storage requirements. This option requires a Performance or Ultimate membership and supports only eligible Steam titles opted into cloud streaming.
Choose session storage or persistent storage. Persistent storage is an optional add-on.
Click Install.
If GeForce NOW doesn't carry your game, check Boosteroid's catalog before subscribing. Choose a listed game under Library or Install, click PLAY, and sign into the relevant store account. If neither service carries it, try streaming from your Windows PC or check the game's CrossOver compatibility.
If you own a Windows PC, stream from it
Steam Remote Play fits when you already have a Windows PC that runs the game. That PC does the rendering and must stay running and connected while you play on your Mac.
Install the game on the Windows computer.
Sign into Steam on that computer.
Sign into the same Steam account in the Mac Steam client.
Launch the remote game from your Mac's Steam library.
For streaming independently of a particular storefront, use Sunshine and Moonlight. The Windows host needs supported graphics encoding.
Install Sunshine on the Windows PC.
Install Moonlight on the Mac.
Open Sunshine's local web interface at https://localhost:47990 on the Windows PC.
Select that PC in Moonlight to obtain its pairing code.
Enter the code under Sunshine's PIN tab.
Select an application in Moonlight to start streaming it.
Install Windows Steam games with CrossOver
For a compatible game on an Intel or Apple-silicon Mac, set up Windows Steam through CrossOver 26:
- 1.Check the macOS compatibility matrix and Windows-software compatibility database on CodeWeavers' official product page, then download CrossOver.
- 2.Open CrossOver and select Steam, or search for your specific game to apply its game-specific dependencies.
- 3.Click Install and approve dependency prompts with Yes.
- 4.Complete Steam setup and sign in, using the Steam Mobile QR scanner if you prefer.
- 5.Install your game from the Windows Steam library, then launch it.
Use other storefronts and standalone installers
Have a compatible Windows installer outside CrossOver's catalog? Choose Install > Install an Unlisted Application for compatible DRM-free games and launchers. Use Edit to select the installer, then click Choose Installer.
Edit the bottle details to choose its name and type, then click Done. Click Install and complete setup. Double-click the resulting application icon to launch it.
For Epic Games, GOG, or Amazon Games libraries, download Heroic's macOS build from its official website. Install a compatible runner through Wine Manager. Wine runners support Intel and Apple silicon; GPTK/D3DMetal requires Apple silicon, and each runner has its own macOS requirements.
Select the installed runner in the game's settings. Install the Windows edition of the game. Launch it using that runner.
Set up a Windows 11 virtual machine
Check your game's requirements against Parallels Desktop's gaming limits. Its gaming support lists DirectX 11.1 and OpenGL 4.3; anti-cheat and architecture incompatibilities prevent some games from running.
Check the requirements for your Mac and chosen Parallels edition.
Download Parallels Desktop from its official product page.
On an Apple-silicon Mac, choose Install Windows when you first launch Parallels to install Windows 11 Arm.
If you already have virtual machines, start the installation through the Parallels menu-bar icon > Control Center > + > Get Windows 11 from Microsoft > Continue > Install Windows.
Complete Windows setup. Activation requires an appropriate Windows license.
Install your compatible Windows game inside the virtual machine.
To apply Parallels' gaming profile, shut down Windows through Actions > Shut down.
Open the virtual machine configuration.
Choose General > Change... > Games only > OK.
Tip: The Games only profile also changes sharing settings, so review those settings if you use the virtual machine for other tasks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Boot Camp on an M-series Mac?
No. Apple's Boot Camp installation route is a legacy option limited to listed Intel Macs and Windows 10. It does not support Apple silicon. Parallels also no longer supports Windows 10 Arm on Apple-silicon Macs; its supported Windows installation route uses Windows 11 Arm.
Does Rosetta let a Mac run Windows games?
No. Rosetta runs Intel-based Mac apps on Apple silicon. It does not provide the Windows compatibility needed to run a Windows game.
What should I do if CrossOver installs a game but doesn't create a launcher?
Select the game's bottle and choose Run Command > Browse. Select the game's executable and click Open. Click Run to launch it. Use Save Command as a Launcher to create a reusable icon.
Does Xbox Cloud Gaming run my Windows PC games?
Xbox Cloud Gaming streams supported console editions, not arbitrary Windows PC installations. Access depends on the title and region. Supported free-to-play games work with a free Microsoft account; other titles require an eligible subscription and sometimes ownership.