Amassing previous online game consoles and classic computer systems is a enjoyable pastime, however protecting all that {hardware} working can rapidly turn into an costly, endless job — to not point out all of the house you want simply to retailer the gear. You may as a substitute (correctly) choose to play your favourite video games and software program utilizing emulators to your Mac.
On this information to Mac emulation, I’ll stroll you thru the most effective apps you should use to perform the 2 most typical situations: enjoying previous video video games, and taking Traditional Mac OS for a take a look at drive on a contemporary Mac. Plus, I’ll wrap up with the simplest solution to virtualize fashionable working methods like Home windows and Linux in your Mac. (This useful virtualization software program additionally works for previous and obscure pc working methods.)
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 to your Mac
You’ll be able to watch a video that walks by means of 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 simplest solution to play previous video video games in your Mac. Whenever you first launch the app, it’ll ask which consoles you wish 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 must spend an hour or extra every organising. However with OpenEmu, you’ll be able to obtain ROM information on-line copy ROM information from recreation 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 recreation to launch it. You’ll be able to customise the controls to your Mac’s keyboard or use a linked controller. And you’ll simply create save states to choose up the place you left off. You’ll be able to 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 mechanically kind into classes by console; you’ll be able to create your personal collections, too.
Obtain from: OpenEmu
2. Traditional Mac OS emulators to your net browser
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Infinite Mac is the simplest solution 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 fashionable net browser. You’ll be able to arrange all method of combos of Apple system software program with the basic Mac of your alternative.
All of the installations include a few of the hottest apps and video games of the period during which the Mac OS was launched: MacWrite and MacPaint, Photoshop, Microsoft Phrase, KPT Bryce, Marathon, One other World, SimCity, Lemmings, Civilization and extra.
You’ll be able to add your personal software program that you simply 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 information within the Outdoors World folder, which can be downloaded immediately to your Mac.
Use it at: Infinite Mac web site
3. UTM virtualizes fashionable working methods
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
UTM is the simplest solution to emulate or virtualize fashionable working methods on a Mac. It’s night time 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.
Not like 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’ll be able to obtain any of the preset machines proven there and boot them proper up.
Possibly you wish to play a basic PC recreation, 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 domestically 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 fashionable working methods like Home windows 11 for the few PC applications you may must run. For those who use your Mac for software program improvement, you’ll be able to run all types of flavors of Linux — Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian and extra.
In fact, you’ll be able to construct your personal, should 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 could possibly be a necessary device for testing Mac apps on older Apple working methods with out protecting 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 undertaking 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.
