The four options at a glance
| Portnaut (Wine) | Virtual machine | Cloud gaming | Boot Camp | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Runs Windows programs directly on macOS | Runs a whole copy of Windows inside macOS | Streams games from a PC in a data centre | Installs Windows next to macOS |
| Apple silicon Macs | Yes | Yes, with Windows for Arm | Yes | No, Intel Macs only |
| Windows licence | Not needed | Needed | Not needed | Needed |
| Cost | Free | Windows licence, and some apps are paid | A subscription; some have a limited free tier | Windows licence |
| Games | Many DirectX 9–12 games; not kernel-level anti-cheat | Limited 3D graphics, so demanding games often struggle | Only games the service supports | Nearly all |
| Works offline | Yes | Yes | No, needs a fast connection | Yes |
Why "emulator" is the wrong word, and why that's good news
An emulator imitates a whole computer in software, which is far too slow for modern games. What actually runs Windows games on a Mac is translation:
- Wine provides the parts of Windows that games call, directly on macOS, so no copy of Windows runs at all.
- Rosetta, built into macOS, translates a game's Intel code for Apple silicon.
- A renderer such as DXMT or D3DMetal translates the game's DirectX graphics to Apple's Metal. How the renderers compare.
Portnaut sets these up for you and keeps each launcher in its own bottle, a separate Windows environment. It's tested most with Assassin's Creed III Remastered, which plays through missions at about 60 fps on an M4 Pro.
Virtual machines
A virtual machine, such as Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion or UTM, runs Windows 11 for Arm inside macOS. Windows then runs Intel programs through its own translation layer.
- Good for: Windows software that needs a full copy of Windows, such as business apps or tools that Wine doesn't handle. Programs that bring their own Intel drivers are the exception, because Windows for Arm can't use those.
- Less good for games: it needs a Windows licence, a lot of memory and disk space, and 3D graphics support is limited. Demanding games often run slowly or not at all.
Cloud gaming
Services such as GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming run games on their own PCs and stream the picture to your Mac.
- Good for: online games with kernel-level anti-cheat, which don't run through Wine or most virtual machines, and Macs with little free space.
- Less good: it works only for the games a service supports, needs a fast and stable connection, and costs a subscription.
Boot Camp
Boot Camp installs Windows next to macOS, so the Mac starts as a real Windows PC. It runs nearly every game, but only on Intel Macs. Macs with Apple silicon (M1 and later) can't use it.
Which option for which game?
- Single-player and most Steam, EA app or Ubisoft Connect games: try Portnaut first. It's free, and setting up a launcher takes a few clicks. See the guides for Steam, the EA app and Ubisoft Connect.
- Online games with kernel-level anti-cheat, such as many competitive shooters and EA Sports FC: cloud gaming, if the service offers the game.
- Windows software that needs a full copy of Windows: a virtual machine.
- Any single .exe or installer: Portnaut can run it. See how to open .exe files on a Mac.
Try Portnaut in a few minutes
- Download Portnaut and move it to your Applications folder.
- Open it, allow it once in System Settings › Privacy & Security, and choose Prepare Portnaut.
- Choose Bottles › New Bottle…, pick Steam, the EA app or Ubisoft Connect, sign in, and install a game.
Questions
Is there a free Windows emulator for Mac?
For games, the free option is Portnaut. It isn't an emulator: it runs Windows games through Wine, with Rosetta and a graphics renderer, so no copy of Windows and no Windows licence is needed.
Can I play Steam games on a Mac without Windows?
Yes, many of them. Portnaut runs the Windows version of Steam in a bottle, so your Windows games appear and can be installed and played. How to play Steam games on a Mac.
Do Windows games run on M1, M2, M3 and M4 Macs?
Yes, every Apple silicon Mac can run Windows games through Wine. How well a game runs depends on the game, its DirectX version and your Mac's graphics. Newer and Pro or Max chips are faster.
Why can't I use Boot Camp on my Mac?
Boot Camp only works on Intel Macs. Macs with Apple silicon can't start Windows directly, which is why options like Portnaut exist.
Next: Open .exe files on a Mac · DXMT vs D3DMetal vs DXVK · FAQ
Parallels Desktop, VMware Fusion, UTM, GeForce NOW, Xbox Cloud Gaming and Boot Camp are trademarks of their owners. Portnaut is not affiliated with them.