Can You Play Windows Games On Windows On A Mac

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Many high-profile games, as well as indie games like Minecraft, readily come with Mac versions. Buying a game made for Windows should entitle you to the Mac version of the game. If the games you like are exclusively designed for the Windows platform, you can still play them on a Mac by using Boot Camp.

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It’s 2015, and the gaming scene has changed for the better. But most of the vivacity and momentum are focused on the PC, while the Mac lags behind. Gamers with a Mac gaming rig need not despair though because several methods are available for playing PC games on a Mac.

Windows

First, verify if the game you want to play doesn’t really have a Mac version. Go to the game’s developer website or to popular cross-platform digital stores and look for your game. Many high-profile games, as well as indie games like Minecraft, readily come with Mac versions. Buying a game made for Windows should entitle you to the Mac version of the game.

How To Get Mac Os On Windows

If the games you like are exclusively designed for the Windows platform, you can still play them on a Mac by using Boot Camp. It’s an OS X utility that allows Intel-based Mac computers to boot other operating systems, including Windows. With Boot Camp, you simply have to restart your Mac computer, boot into Windows and install and play your games there.

But Boot Camp requires you to be in a Windows environment. What if you want to remain in OS X and still play? This is where Wine comes in. It’s an open-source software application that gives Mac OS X, Linux and other Unix-related platforms to run Windows applications. Some of the games are fully supported and run flawlessly while others may be buggy. You can check any compatibility issues for your games in the Wine Application Database.

Can You Play Windows Games On Mac Using Parallels

If you want a better experience than what Wine offers, consider using virtual machines. They are software applications that let you run an operating system inside another. Popular choices for Mac include Parallels and VirtualBox. However, in most cases, virtual machines require much more system resources to run smoothly. That means you’ll need to spend more on hardware upgrades in addition to software licenses.

Run Windows Programs On Mac

On a Mac, you have several options for installing software that allows you to run Windows and Windows applications:

  • Run Windows and Windows applications locally:
    • To dual-boot between macOS and Windows, use Apple's Boot Camp. This approach provides the most compatibility with Windows software and peripherals, but does not allow you to run Windows and macOS applications at the same time.
    • To run Windows in a virtual machine within macOS, use Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion, or VirtualBox. This method will allow you to run Mac and Windows applications concurrently, though the virtual machine does not support as much Windows functionality as a dual-boot configuration.
    • To run Windows programs without having to install Windows itself, use a Windows compatibility layer, such as CrossOver Mac. This option typically offers good functionality for a limited set of Windows applications.
  • IUanyWare

    IUanyWare is a client virtualization (CV)service available to Indiana University students, faculty, andstaff. With IUanyWare, you can use a web browser or mobile app to runcertain IU-licensed software applications without having to installthem on your computer or mobile device.

    See Set up and use IUanyWare.