How to play PC Games on Mac via VM, streaming or boot-loader

They say that Apple users dream about how to play PC games on Mac. It’s now time for dreams to become a reality, as we show you exactly how to do it.

PC gamers have had the releases of the RTX 40-series, Intel 13th Gen, and RDNA 3 to revel in recently. Last year was filled with plenty of opportunities to upgrade your gaming PC and get the best hardware to play the hottest games, including Hogwarts Legacy and Modern Warfare 2. Unfortunately, Mac users haven’t quite had the same experience.

If you own a Mac or a Macbook, you may be wondering how you can run PC games from it. We’ve covered the easiest methods to go about doing this.

How to play PC games on Mac using Parallels

Parallels is a paid software that lets you run a virtual machine parallel to your original operating software. In this case, you can run Windows through a virtual machine on Mac OS/X.

Setting it up is really simple, and you only have to install it and set up a profile. Once you’ve done that, you need to source a copy of Windows, which you can grab here.

Once you’ve paid for a copy, you can then download it, alongside using the relevant registration key to authenticate your software.

After this, you’re going to need to install relevant graphics drivers, which could be tricky to source. This will definitely be easier if you’re running an Intel Mac, as Intel graphics drivers will be easier to find.

From here, you can then install Steam or whichever games library you prefer, and you should be able to run games compatible with integrated graphics.

Before you get excited, you also have to check what type of anti-cheat software your target game runs. For example, Hogwarts Legacy uses Denuvo anti-cheat software, meaning that the game can’t be run in Parallels.

Your options will be slightly limited, though it’s definitely possible.

Read More: Can you play Hogwarts Legacy on Mac? In short – no…

How to play PC games on Mac using OneCast

A slightly easier option is to stream games through OneCast, which can be used to cast gameplay from your Xbox to your Mac.

OneCast can be downloaded on the App Store or from their website, and you simply run it to stream your chosen game.

The only downside is that you need to own the game on Xbox Series X or S, which means you might as well play it from there.

OneCast is also a paid subscription service, so if you’re planning to play PC games on Mac for a while, you could be slightly out of pocket.

While this solution is a working solution to gaming on Mac, it doesn’t really give you the ability to play PC games on your Mac.

Read More: Is 16GB RAM enough memory for PC gaming?

How to play PC games on Mac using a Windows boot-loader (Boot Camp)

The final, and likely most reliable, option is to use Boot Camp to install a copy of Windows directly onto your Mac. If you do this, you’re actually running a native Windows laptop without the possibility of it being flagged by anti-cheat software.

In order to do this, you need to follow these steps:

• Partition Mac hard-drive
• Download Windows 11 or 10
• Flash Windows ISO to USB (using PowerISO or relevant software)
• Open Boot Camp Assistant (/applications/utilities/)
• Choose Windows ISO image from USB
• Select which partition to install Windows to. This partition cannot be resized, so ensure you have enough space for what you need.
• Install Windows and follow all on-screen instructions

After this, you can go ahead and install your desired game, so long as your Mac meets the minimum hardware requirements the game demands.

Read More: Best laptop for Fortnite – our top picks

Frequently Asked Questions

Is gaming worth it on a Mac?

This really depends on what your standards are. The short answer is no, it’s not. PC gaming is far superior. Though not everyone wants to buy a Mac and gaming PC, so it’s really up to personal preference.

Will PC games run well on Mac?

PC games will not run well on Mac. Mac’s only have integrated graphics and not dedicated GPUs, which is a huge bottleneck.