Native vs Rosetta 2 vs CrossOver vs Parallels
There are four ways a game runs on a modern Apple Silicon Mac. In order of "just works": a native Apple Silicon build, an Intel build via Rosetta 2, a Windows game through CrossOver, or a Windows game inside Parallels. Here's what each means and when you'll see it, plus GameToMac, a new subscription app that does the CrossOver-style setup for you on a short list of games.
Side by side
| Method | What it is | Performance | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Native | Official macOS build for Apple Silicon | Full | None, just install |
| Rosetta 2 | Official Intel Mac build, auto-translated on Apple Silicon | Near-full | One-time Rosetta install |
| CrossOver | Windows build run via Wine, no Windows needed | Good (varies) | Install CrossOver/Whisky, set up a bottle |
| Parallels | Windows in a virtual machine | Lower (VM overhead) | Install Parallels + Windows |
| Cloud streaming | The game runs on a remote PC and streams to your Mac (GeForce NOW, Xbox Cloud Gaming) | Depends on your connection | Subscription, own the game |
| GameToMac (new) | Subscription app (7-day free trial) that sets up 21 specific Windows games; Apple Silicon, macOS 26+ | Good, per the developer (unconfirmed) | Pick the game, press Play |
Native (Apple Silicon)
The game ships an official macOS version built for M-series chips. It runs directly at full speed with nothing extra to install. This is always the best case. Browse native Mac games →
Rosetta 2
The game has an official Mac version, but it's an Intel (x86) build. On Apple Silicon, macOS translates it automatically through Rosetta 2, a built-in layer you install once when prompted. Performance is usually excellent, and for most games you won't notice. Browse Rosetta 2 games →
CrossOver
The game has no Mac build, but the Windows version runs on macOS through CrossOver, a compatibility layer built on Wine, the same technology behind Steam's Proton. No Windows install is needed. We only list a game as CrossOver when ProtonDB rates it Gold or Platinum, meaning it runs reliably. Whisky is a free, open-source alternative that uses the same tech. One catch: online modes with strict anti-cheat can be hit-or-miss, so CrossOver is most reliable for single-player. Browse CrossOver games →
Free 14-day trial. Using our link gets you 15% off CrossOver+ ($62.90 instead of $74) and helps support this site.
Parallels
Parallels Desktop runs a full copy of Windows (the ARM build, on Apple Silicon) in a virtual machine. You install the game inside Windows and play. It's heavier than CrossOver, but it's the most reliable route for games that need a complete Windows environment. Browse Parallels games →
Free 14-day trial, then a yearly subscription.
GameToMac (new in 2026)
GameToMac is an app that launched in September 2026, free at first and now a subscription with a 7-day free trial. Instead of handing you a general tool like CrossOver, it supports a fixed list of 21 Windows games, including Elden Ring, Red Dead Redemption 2, Diablo IV and Overwatch, and applies each game's fixes for you: sign in to Steam or Battle.net, install, press Play. It needs an Apple Silicon Mac on macOS 26 or later. The catches are that it is brand new, comes from an independent developer, and has only its own word behind it so far, so it does not change any game's label here until a second source confirms it. What GameToMac is, game by game →
Cloud streaming
Strictly, this is not running the game on your Mac at all: services like GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming run it on their own PCs and stream the picture. That is exactly why it works where nothing else does: on Intel Macs, and for games whose anti-cheat blocks Macs. 58 games we track have no Mac route but can be streamed with GeForce NOW. You pay a subscription, need a good connection, and accept a little input delay. We never count streaming as Mac compatibility; game pages show it as a separate "stream it" option. Cloud gaming on a Mac, compared →
Which should you use?
Prefer native, then Rosetta 2, then CrossOver, then Parallels. If your game is on GameToMac's list and your Mac runs macOS 26, it is worth trying before paying for CrossOver. On any game's page we tell you exactly which one applies and walk you through it step by step. Find your game →
Common questions
What is the best way to play games on a Mac?
A native Apple Silicon build is always best: full performance, nothing to install. If there is no native build, a Rosetta 2 (Intel) build is next best. For Windows-only games, CrossOver is the lightest option when ProtonDB rates the game Gold or Platinum; Parallels is the fallback when a full Windows environment is needed.
Is Rosetta 2 bad for gaming?
No. Rosetta 2 translates Intel Mac apps to run on Apple Silicon, usually with excellent performance. For most games you will not notice it is running.
Is CrossOver or Parallels better for gaming?
CrossOver is usually better for gaming: it runs the Windows game directly on macOS with less overhead than a virtual machine, so you get better performance. Parallels runs a full copy of Windows in a VM, which is heavier but works for games CrossOver cannot handle. Online games with strict anti-cheat can fail on CrossOver.
Do I need Windows to play Windows games on a Mac?
Not always. Many Windows games run on Mac through CrossOver (a Wine layer) without installing Windows at all. You only need Windows (via Parallels) for games that require a full Windows environment.
What is GameToMac?
A subscription app (7-day free trial), launched in September 2026, that sets up a fixed list of 21 Windows games on Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 26 or later, so you skip CrossOver-style configuration. It is new and we have not confirmed its games ourselves yet, so it does not change any game's label here.