Outer Wilds cover art
Adventure

Is Outer Wilds available on Mac?

Yes, with a compatibility layer. Outer Wilds can be played on Mac using CrossOver, a Wine-based compatibility layer.

Outer Wilds Mac specs at a glance

Mac compatibilityYes, with a compatibility layer
How it runsCrossOver
CrossOver ratingProtonDB Platinum
Metacritic score85 / 100
Time to beat~17 hours (main story)
GenreAdventure
PublisherAnnapurna Interactive
Last verifiedSep 12, 2026

Compatibility verified against Steam and ProtonDB.

What does this mean?

CrossOver means there's no Mac build, but the Windows version runs through CrossOver (a paid, supported Wine layer), rated Platinum on ProtonDB, which tracks how well Windows games run on the same Wine technology. GeForce NOW is cloud streaming: the game runs on NVIDIA's servers, not on your Mac, so it is shown as a separate way to play, not as Mac compatibility. Compatibility is verified against Steam and community sources. Learn how Mac game compatibility works →

Will Outer Wilds run on your Mac?

Yes, via CrossOver

No native build, but the Windows version runs through CrossOver.

See everything your Mac can run →
Played it on your Mac?

How to play Outer Wilds on Mac

Outer Wilds 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 Platinum, so it runs great right out of the box.

  1. 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.
  2. Install the game in a "bottle". Open CrossOver, search for Outer Wilds, and let it create a bottle (a self-contained Windows environment), then install the game from Steam, GOG, or Epic inside it.
  3. Apply any tweaks. CrossOver usually applies the right settings for you. If something's off, ProtonDB's community reports for Outer Wilds list the exact fixes other players used.
  4. 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.
Get CrossOver

Free 14-day trial. Using our link gets you 15% off CrossOver+ ($62.90 instead of $74) and helps support this site.

Or play Outer Wilds in the cloud with GeForce NOW

Outer Wilds is on NVIDIA's GeForce NOW, a cloud gaming service with a Mac app (macOS 10.15 or later) and a browser version. The game runs on NVIDIA's servers and streams to your screen, so there is nothing to install or tune, and it plays the same on an Intel Mac as on Apple Silicon.

  • Own the game on Steam. GeForce NOW streams your copy; it does not sell or include it.
  • A membership. Either the free tier, which shows ads while you queue and has shorter sessions, or a paid Performance or Ultimate membership (up to 1440p or 5K, with 100 hours of play a month).
  • A good connection. at least 15 Mbps for 720p or 25 Mbps for 1080p, ideally over Ethernet or 5GHz Wi-Fi.

From NVIDIA's published game list, synced weekly, last Oct 12, 2026. Cloud gaming on a Mac, compared.

Common questions about Outer Wilds on Mac

Is Outer Wilds available on Mac?

Yes. Outer Wilds can be played on Mac using CrossOver, a Wine-based compatibility layer.

How do I play Outer Wilds on Mac?

Outer Wilds 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 Platinum, so it runs great right out of the box.

Can I play Outer Wilds on Mac with GeForce NOW?

Yes. Outer Wilds is on NVIDIA's GeForce NOW, which streams games to your Mac through a Mac app (macOS 10.15 or later) and a browser version. It runs on NVIDIA's servers, so it works on any Mac, Apple Silicon or Intel. You need to own it on Steam, and either the free tier, which shows ads while you queue and has shorter sessions, or a paid Performance or Ultimate membership (up to 1440p or 5K, with 100 hours of play a month), plus at least 15 Mbps for 720p or 25 Mbps for 1080p, ideally over Ethernet or 5GHz Wi-Fi.

How long does Outer Wilds take to beat?

Outer Wilds takes about 17 hours to beat (main story).

What is Outer Wilds's Metacritic score?

Outer Wilds has a Metacritic score of 85.