Is Natural Selection 2 available on Mac?
Yes, with a compatibility layer. Natural Selection 2 can be played on Mac using CrossOver, a Wine-based compatibility layer.
Natural Selection 2 Mac specs at a glance
| Mac compatibility | Yes, with a compatibility layer |
|---|---|
| How it runs | CrossOver |
| CrossOver rating | ProtonDB Gold |
| Metacritic score | 80 / 100 |
| Genre | Strategy |
| Publisher | Unknown Worlds Entertainment |
| Last verified | Oct 11, 2026 |
Compatibility verified against Steam and ProtonDB.
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Reports are re-verified against Steam and ProtonDB in the weekly sweep. If this page is wrong, it gets fixed.
What does this mean?
CrossOver means there's no Mac build, but the Windows version runs through CrossOver (a paid, supported Wine layer), rated Gold on ProtonDB, which tracks how well Windows games run on the same Wine technology. Compatibility is verified against Steam and community sources. Learn how Mac game compatibility works →
Will Natural Selection 2 run on your Mac?
Yes, via CrossOver
No native build, but the Windows version runs through CrossOver.
See everything your Mac can run →Thanks — counted. If something did not run, use "Report an issue" instead.
How to play Natural Selection 2 on Mac
Natural Selection 2 has no Mac build, but the Windows version runs on Mac through CrossOver, a compatibility layer built on Wine (the same technology behind Steam's Proton). ProtonDB rates it Gold, so it runs well after minor, often automatic tweaks.
- Install CrossOver (or Whisky). Get CrossOver from CodeWeavers. It's paid but has a free trial. Prefer free? Whisky is an open-source alternative built on the same technology.
- Install the game in a "bottle". Open CrossOver, search for Natural Selection 2, and let it create a bottle (a self-contained Windows environment), then install the game from Steam, GOG, or Epic inside it.
- Apply any tweaks. CrossOver usually applies the right settings for you. If something's off, ProtonDB's community reports for Natural Selection 2 list the exact fixes other players used.
- Play. It runs right on top of macOS, with no full Windows install and no rebooting. One caveat: online modes with strict anti-cheat can be hit-or-miss, so CrossOver is most reliable for single-player.
Free 14-day trial. Using our link gets you 15% off CrossOver+ ($62.90 instead of $74) and helps support this site.
Common questions about Natural Selection 2 on Mac
Is Natural Selection 2 available on Mac?
Yes. Natural Selection 2 can be played on Mac using CrossOver, a Wine-based compatibility layer.
How do I play Natural Selection 2 on Mac?
Natural Selection 2 has no Mac build, but the Windows version runs on Mac through CrossOver, a compatibility layer built on Wine (the same technology behind Steam's Proton). ProtonDB rates it Gold, so it runs well after minor, often automatic tweaks.
What is Natural Selection 2's Metacritic score?
Natural Selection 2 has a Metacritic score of 80.
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