Wondering how to play Windows games on Mac?
This guide will discover the best possible methods to add and play Windows-exclusive games on your Macbook or iMac in under 5 minutes.
We will also go through a variety of optimization tips to ensure you’re enjoying smooth and uninterrupted gameplay on your Apple work machine!
Some of the best ways to play Windows-only games on Mac is through popular platforms such as Steam or Epic Games. Alternatively, you can download a third-party emulator like HyperPlay and upload games through Steam to play completely for free.
Can You Play Windows Games On Mac?
While there are many Windows-exclusive games on popular platforms such as Epic Games or Steam, many games support macOS systems and can be installed on your Apple devices.
If you’re not interested in downloading a third-party emulator or cloud player such as NVIDIA GeForce NOW, you will be limited to playing games that are compatible with Mac by default. However, considering cloud gaming and integration options will enable you to play many games on your Mac that were originally available only for Windows.
So, let’s go through the best methods to play Windows-exclusive games on your Mac!
How to Play Windows Games On Mac?
Tip: Have you checked if your Mac already supports the game you wish to play?
1. Play Supported Games on Steam or Epic Games
Method 1/4
Popular gaming providers such as Steam and Epic Games offer an extensive lineup of Mac-compatible games if you’re not interested in installing third-party software.
You will be able to filter out games by OS availability and check which software products are compatible with your Mac prior to purchasing.
Let’s learn how to view Mac-supported games on Steam first!
1.1 How to Play Mac-Supported Games on Steam?
Steam’s game database offers the greatest quantity of PC games that have been made compatible with macOS. You can check if a particular game will be compatible with your Macbook or iMac prior to purchasing it.
You could also filter out the library tab to display games that are only compatible with the current OS you’re viewing Steam through.
Make sure that the other icons are gray, meaning you have only filtered games that are available on your Mac. If you click on any of the other icons, the games will be sorted out by “Recent Activity” or “Ready to Play” games.
1.2 How to Check Mac-Supported Games On Epic?
Like with Steam, you’re able to filter out games on Epic by OS availability by navigating to “Store” → “Browse” → “FIlter” → “Platform” → “Mac OS.” The filter option will be right under the “Platform” button and you must extend the section before pressing it.
Prior to purchasing a game, look through the “Specifications” section and verify it is also supported by macOS. If there is only Windows 10 and Windows 11 in the supported OS menu, you will be unable to download and play this game on your Mac.
2. Play Windows Games on Mac Through HyperPlay
Method 2/4
The HyperPlay launcher is another excellent method to stream Windows-only games to your Mac without having to pay hefty subscription fees. The platform is fully integrated with Windows, MacOS, SteamDeck, and most Linux versions to emulate high-quality games.
So, let’s go through the steps of setting up HyperPlay on your iMac or MacBook!
2.1 How to Set Up HyperPlay On My Mac?
- Navigate to HyperPlay’s official download page and click “MacOS.”
- Run the executable installer file and follow the on-screen steps.
- Choose “MacOS Intel (Before 2020)” or “MacOS Apple Silicon (M1 and higher).”
- Finish the installation and open the program on your computer to test.
2.2 How to Upload Launchers to HyperPlay?
- From the homepage of HyerPlay, click the “Library” controller icon.
- Click on “Add Game” and type the game’s name under “Game/App Title.”
- Ensure “macOS” is specified under the “Select Platform:” function below.
- Navigate to Steam or Epic’s directory under the “Select Executable” window.
- Click on “Finish” and wait until HyperPlay processes the game you add.
2.3 How to Get Epic Games/Steam On HyperPlay?
After successfully adding the Steam or Epic Games launcher to HyperPlay, the next step is to install a compatible Wine version. Follow these steps to configure HyperPlay’s settings properly:
- Access HyperPlay and navigate to the “Settings” menu from the side.
- Go to “Wine Manager” from the top navigation menu and scroll down.
- Click download under next to “Game-Porting-Toolkit1.1-Gstreamer.”
- Wait until the installation finalizes as it takes between 2-5 minutes.
- Open the Steam/Epic Games and download the game you wish to play.
While the Epic Games launcher or Steam is opened through HyperPlay, there will not be any OS restrictions, meaning you will be able to download any game that’s in your library.
Pro Tip: If you have any issues with games on launching on Mac, we got you covered!
3. Add your Games to NVIDIA GeForce NOW Cloud
Method 3/4
NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW platform is a great alternative to any macOS game provider, with its lightning-fast servers and acceptable length of the free version queue. If you own a game for example in Steam or Epic Games, you will be able to add it to GeForce NOW and play it over the cloud on any PC or laptop connected to the internet.
The only requirement is to have a stable internet connection on your Mac and to either download the NVIDIA GeForce NOW launcher or play it through your PC’s browser.
After registering and following the introduction steps to add your favorite games, you simply wait out a short queue each time before you play.
How to Avoid GeForce NOW Queues?
The only possibility to skip the queue before each gaming session is to subscribe to NVIDIA GeForce NOW’s membership plan and renew the subscription on a monthly basis. The priority queue at GeForce NOW comes at the affordable price of $9 to skip through all gamers waiting and hop on your game, without having to renew.
Additionally, you will gain access to premium hardware, ensuring top-tier in-game performance in terms of FPS and latency.
Tip: NVIDIA GeForce NOW is an optimal solution to play demanding games on your Mac without having to worry about performance.
4. Play Windows Games on Mac via Emulator
Method 4/4
If HyperPlay or GeForce NOW’s exclusive features do not meet your expectations for gaming on your Mac, you should consider emulators such as BlueStacks or NOX to play games on your Mac.
Many paid emulator applications offer high-performance plans, where you won’t be able to tell the difference with Windows gaming. However, you should keep in mind that most emulators replicate an Android version OS, where playing PC games will not be possible.
Trustworthy emulators available for Mac include:
- RetroArch: Emulation available for Multi-Platform
- OpenEmu: Emulation available for Multi-Platform
- BlueStacks: Seasoned and reliable emulator service
So whether you’re planning on playing FPS games that require a higher response rate or prefer to relax with something less demanding, these emulators will meet your gaming needs.
How to Sign Up With Steam or Epic Games Through Emulators?
Once you’ve downloaded and installed the emulator you wish to play through, the next step is to simply download the game provider’s application and sign in with your original account.
Consider the emulator as a virtual machine that replicates a Windows device. Everything you would typically do on a PC to sign in and play can also be done on the Windows emulator.
Quick Recap:
You now know how to play Windows games on Mac!
To wrap things up, we can say that via HyperPlay or NVIDIA’s GeForce NOW you can easily play any Windows-based game on your Mac. Otherwise, you will be limited to playing only the Mac-supported games through Steam or Epic Games.
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