Gathering previous online game consoles and classic computer systems is a enjoyable interest, however preserving all that {hardware} working can shortly change into an costly, unending process — to not point out all of the area you want simply to retailer the gear. You would possibly as an alternative (correctly) decide to play your favourite video games and software program utilizing emulators on your Mac.
On this information to Mac emulation, I’ll stroll you thru the most effective apps you need to use to perform the 2 commonest eventualities: enjoying previous video video games, and taking Traditional Mac OS for a check drive on a contemporary Mac. Plus, I’ll wrap up with the best approach to virtualize trendy working programs like Home windows and Linux in your Mac. (This helpful virtualization software program additionally works for previous and obscure pc working programs.)
Better of all, every of those Mac emulation strategies is free and open supply.
Play retro video video games and use previous computer systems with emulators on your Mac
You may watch a video that walks by these apps right here:
1. OpenEmu performs Nintendo, Sega, Atari, Sony video games and extra
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
OpenEmu is, arms down, the best approach to play previous video video games in your Mac. If you first launch the app, it’ll ask which consoles you need to allow. There are dozens of choices from the Nineteen Eighties, ’90s and 2000s — together with some obscure ones just like the Vectrex and the ColecoVision.
Successfully, it’s a user-friendly interface on high of a bunch of separate emulators that you’d in any other case have to spend an hour or extra every establishing. However with OpenEmu, you’ll be able to obtain ROM recordsdata on-line copy ROM recordsdata from sport cartridges you already personal and easily drag-and-drop them into the app so as to add them to your library.
Then, you simply double-click on a sport to launch it. You may customise the controls on your Mac’s keyboard or use a linked controller. And you’ll simply create save states to select up the place you left off. You may even use a shader to simulate the blurring impact of a CRT tv for previous console video games or the pixellated LCD of a GameBoy Colour.
The video games will robotically type into classes by console; you’ll be able to create your personal collections, too.
Obtain from: OpenEmu
2. Traditional Mac OS emulators on your net browser
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Infinite Mac is the best approach to device round with early variations of Mac OS, as a result of there’s no set up wanted. Utilizing the magic of WebAssembly, these open supply digital machines run straight inside any trendy net browser. You may arrange all method of mixtures of Apple system software program with the traditional Mac of your selection.
All of the installations include a few of the hottest apps and video games of the period by which the Mac OS was launched: MacWrite and MacPaint, Photoshop, Microsoft Phrase, KPT Bryce, Marathon, One other World, SimCity, Lemmings, Civilization and extra.
You may add your personal software program that you just discover on-line from websites like Macintosh Backyard with a easy drag-and-drop. Infinite Mac will deal with it such as you’re inserting a floppy disk.
Save your work by placing recordsdata within the Outdoors World folder, which will probably be downloaded immediately to your Mac.
Use it at: Infinite Mac web site
3. UTM virtualizes trendy working programs
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
UTM is the best approach to emulate or virtualize trendy working programs on a Mac. It’s evening and day simpler to arrange than VirtualBox, which has sucked away many irritating hours of my life that I’ll by no means get again.
In contrast to VirtualBox, including a brand new digital machine utilizing UTM is so simple as clicking a few buttons. After you obtain the free software program, simply hit the + and click on Obtain prebuilt from UTM Gallery. You may obtain any of the preset machines proven there and boot them proper up.
Possibly you need to play a traditional PC sport, like Quake III, Rollercoaster Tycoon or SimTower, inside Home windows XP. Or, you’ll be able to have an set up of Mac OS 9 that runs regionally in your pc. (It’s extra dependable than Infinite Mac, which runs in your net browser.) There’s additionally Solar Solaris 9, a singular working system made for workstation {hardware}, that’s simply plain enjoyable to poke round.
UTM can also virtualize trendy working programs like Home windows 11 for the few PC packages you would possibly have to run. Should you use your Mac for software program improvement, you’ll be able to run all types of flavors of Linux — Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian and extra.
After all, you’ll be able to construct your personal, when you don’t see what you need within the gallery. On an Apple silicon Mac, you’ll be able to virtualize some other model of macOS for Apple silicon (macOS Monterey and newer). This might be a vital device for testing Mac apps on older Apple working programs with out preserving a pile of MacBooks in your workplace.
I plan on utilizing UTM to make backups of a few of my private computer systems, beginning with my beloved 2006 Acer TravelMate 2430, for the day when it inevitably fails.
Obtain from: UTM mission web site (free) or the Mac App Retailer ($9.99).
We initially revealed this text about emulators for Mac on November 18, 2023. We republished it on Might 29, 2025.
