CrossOver vs Parallels for Mac gaming
For games, buy CrossOver. For a real Windows environment, buy Parallels. They solve different problems: CrossOver translates a Windows game to run directly on macOS, while Parallels runs the whole of Windows in a virtual machine. For gaming specifically, the translation route wins on performance and price.
Side by side
| CrossOver | Parallels | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Wine layer; the game runs on macOS | Full Windows 11 (Arm) in a VM |
| Game performance | Good to excellent for supported titles | Lower; VM overhead on CPU and graphics |
| Windows license | Not needed | Needed |
| Cost shape | Paid, yearly, free trial | Paid subscription, plus Windows |
| Coverage | Per-game; check ratings first | Almost any Windows app; games vary |
| Anti-cheat games | Usually blocked | Usually blocked |
| Disk footprint | Light (per-bottle) | Heavy (a whole Windows install) |
When CrossOver is the right call
You want to play specific Windows-only games: Elden Ring, God of War, the Souls games, and hundreds more run well this way on Apple Silicon. Every game on our CrossOver list is rated Gold or Platinum by ProtonDB's community, so you can check before spending anything. Setup is per-game and occasionally fiddly, but when a game is well-rated it mostly just works.
When Parallels is the right call
You need Windows itself: work software, launchers that refuse Wine, older or niche games with no ProtonDB data, or you simply want one environment that runs anything Windows-shaped without per-game setup. Games run, but a demanding title will be noticeably smoother through CrossOver. The games we've verified in a VM are on the Parallels list.
Neither fixes anti-cheat. Competitive shooters with kernel-level anti-cheat generally refuse both routes. If that's your main game, check its page here before buying either product.
The practical answer
Start with CrossOver's free trial on the game you care about most. If it runs, you're done, cheaper and faster. If it doesn't, and the game isn't anti-cheat-blocked, Parallels is the fallback. And before any of this, check whether the game already has a Mac build: then you need neither.
Common questions
Is CrossOver or Parallels better for gaming?
CrossOver, in most cases. It runs the Windows game directly on macOS without a virtual machine, so more of your Mac's performance goes to the game. Parallels runs a full copy of Windows, which costs performance but works for software that needs a real Windows environment.
Does CrossOver need a Windows license?
No. CrossOver runs Windows programs without Windows. Parallels needs a Windows 11 license for activation.
Can I use both?
Yes, they don't conflict. A common setup is CrossOver for games and Parallels for work software that needs real Windows.
Do anti-cheat games work on either?
Mostly no. Strict kernel-level anti-cheat tends to block both Wine translation and virtual machines. Check a game's page on Mac Games List before buying anything.
