It’s simple in design philosophy and art style—albeit with an incredible and nearly limitless well of depth.  

It’s the top-selling game of all time, with over 300 million sales. An insane 140 million users are active monthly. 

Despite expanding to consoles and mobile devices, many Mac gamers have felt left behind.  

However, with Parallels Desktop Pro, you can experience the entire Minecraft game on Mac in all its glory.  

Here’s how you can make it happen and live through your first treacherous night.  

Recommended specs for playing Minecraft on a Mac 

Mac owners with Apple’s recent and hyper-powerful processors—M1, M2, and M3—will likely get seamless performance out of this Minecraft on their Mac.  

Other requirements include: 

Compatible Versions of Mac OS  

• macOS Sonoma 
• macOS Ventura 
• macOS Monterey 
• macOS Big Sur 
• macOS Catalina 
• macOS Mojave 

Processor Type 

• Apple M-series chips 
• Intel Core i5, Core i7, Core i9 or Xeon processor 

Recommended Memory Capacity 

• 16 GB of RAM or more 

Storage Space 

• 600 MB (for installing Parallels) 
• 16 GB (for Windows 11) 

Graphics Chips 

• Graphic processors M-series Macs 
• AMD Radeon Pro graphics cards 

Download Parallels Desktop Pro to play Minecraft on your Mac 

First, download Parallels Desktop for Mac. (There’s a free 14-day trial for uncertain gamers.)  

I recommend the Pro Edition for the best gaming performance.  

After providing your email, you’ll arrive at a download page. Click Download Parallels Desktop, then the link that was just sent to your address.  

1. Install Parallels Desktop on your Mac’s hard drive 

Double-click your newly downloaded .dmg executable. A pop-up window with the Parallels icon will appear. Double-click it or click Open if you’re first presented with a confirmation window.  

Click through the user agreement, and watch Parallels Desktop download and install itself. 

2. Download and install Windows 11 with Parallels Desktop 

While Parallels Desktop allows you to play PC games on your Mac, you still need Windows to do so. Thankfully, the installer makes it quick and painless. *  

Choose Windows 11 on the operating system selection screen. Parallels Desktop will automatically download and install the operating system.  

Once done, you’ll see a finder window containing a complete installation of Windows 11.  

3. Adjust virtual machine settings on Pro 

Access the Parallels Desktop Control Center and navigate to the “Hardware” section.   

If you are using Parallels Desktop Pro editions, you can adjust the virtual machine settings by allocating an adequate amount of RAM, CPU, and GPU resources to ensure an efficient gaming experience.  

You can accomplish this by enabling the Gaming Profile.   

When it is enabled, Parallels Desktop provides more RAM and CPU to Windows, enters full-screen view for greater immersion, and toggles the mouse mode for better compatibility with games.   

To enable the Gaming Profile:  

1. Shut down Windows via the Start menu and open its configuration.   

2. Click “Change” and select “Games only”.   

3. Now close the configuration menu and start Windows.  

4. Optimize Parallels Desktop for gaming    

By enabling “Optimize for games” in your virtual machine profile, you can further enhance your gaming experience and ensure smoother gameplay within the virtual machine.   

Note that if you’re using Parallels Desktop Standard Edition, you can choose from Productivity mode or “Games only” mode.   

With the Pro version of Parallels Desktop, you have more options.   

5. Sign up for a Microsoft account to play Minecraft on your Mac 

Minecraft, like other hugely popular live-service games—Valiant, Diablo 4, and Fortnite—requires a separate launcher. 

Visit Minecraft’s login page to begin signup. Unless you already have a Microsoft account, click Create Profile.  

Enter your location, email, and birthdate. Check your email for the confirmation code. 

You’ll now need a Gamertag. If you can’t think of one, choose one of the four automatically generated names. 

Click Let’s Go, and you’ll be logged in!  

6. Purchase Minecraft and download the launcher 

You can either purchase Minecraft through Minecraft’s official site or through Microsoft’s digital storefront. It costs $29.99 either way. 

Click Buy on the Microsoft store or Checkout on the official site. Complete the purchase and download Minecraft’s launcher. 

7. Decide — Minecraft Java or Minecraft Bedrock Edition? 

After your launcher pops up, you’ll be prompted to choose between installing Minecraft Java Edition and Minecraft Bedrock Edition.  

Which one should you choose? 

The two versions have hundreds of differences, most of which are technical and relatively small. A few are worth considering before making your choice: 

Minecraft: Bedrock Edition 

• More streamlined 
• More user-friendly 

• Runs better on hardware 
• You can cross-play with users’ consoles, mobile, and computer gamers 

Minecraft Java Edition 

• Best for tinkerers and thrill seekers 
• Has an endless library of popular mods and servers 
• You can only play with others on computers 

While many hardcore Minecrafters stake their lives on one version’s superiority, you’ll have a great experience either way. 

8. Download your chosen version and begin your journey with Minecraft on your Mac 

Press play after downloading your chosen version.  

Next, choose between an offline solo journey or mixing it up on a multiplayer server.  

While multiplayer is worthwhile, its complexity can be overwhelming, especially if you’re learning the game’s rules.  

Pick offline unless you’re ready for the deep end. 

How to play your newly Mac-compatible Minecraft 

Minecraft is known most for its sense of freedom as a childhood Lego play session coming to life.  

Minecraft is not just a cute crafting game, though. At its core, Minecraft is a survival game. Like the Australian outback, there’s an endless array of creatures and environments out to kill you/rain on your parade. Survival becomes far easier.  

The penalty for death is pretty light. You’ll drop all your items on the ground, which you can pick up again after a respawn (So long as you do so within five minutes).  

Here’s how you tackle the game without getting bodychecked by things that go bump in the night.  

In Minecraft, you’ll have to fight (and build) to survive 

Light is a precious resource in Minecraft. A day passes in ten minutes, after which virtual mobs of nasty enemies will spawn around you. You’ll have to avoid, battle, or trap them to survive. 

On your first day, you should get the following done: 

1. Chop down trees for survival resources 

2. Create a crafting table with dismembered trees 

3. Make a pickaxe and scout for rocks 

4. Find a hillside for your first shelter 

5. Protect your shelter from monsters by crafting torches 

Let’s go through each of these in more detail.

1. Chop down trees for survival resources 

Find your nearest tree and begin assaulting it with your fists. Because your fists lack fury, it’ll take 15 strikes for one block.  

You’ll need at least ten for your first day, more if you plan to build your initial structure with wood. 

Pick the wood blocks off the ground and destroy leaf blocks for a chance to get apples (Every action consumes hunger, and you’ll die if you starve). 

2. Create a crafting table with dismembered trees 

Go into your crafting menu and place one log in the center of your 3×3 crafting grid.  

You’ll get four wooden planks, a resource you’ll need extensively, especially in the early game. Place four blocks in the lower left-hand corner of your crafting grid to create a crafting table.  

3. Make a pickaxe and scout for rocks 

With a crafting block, we can build tools we’ll need to extract resources. We’ll need a pickaxe to mine a few stones. 

Set the crafting table on the ground and right-click. Place two wooden planks in the grid’s center and one below. You’ll get four sticks. Get four more. 

We’re done crafting for now. Scout out your environment to find a rock outcropping or mountain. Take out your axe and pick off eight cobblestones (or blackstones).  

4. Find a hillside for your first official Minecraft shelter 

Finally, you’ll need a structure to keep you safe. Rather than building your own, it’s easiest to carve out a little space on the side of a hill or mountain.  

Once you find the right spot, dig into it. Carve out a hole at least two blocks tall, three blocks wide, and three blocks deep.  

5. Gain monster protection and craft a furnace, torches and a door 

Finishing your humble home means employing torches and a door to ward off monsters.  

Place your crafting table on the ground and use it to create a furnace. Fill every square with rock blocks except the center. Set your furnace on the ground next to your crafting table.  

Right-click the furnace and smelt one wood block. You’ll now have one charcoal block. Open the crafting table again, place charcoal in the center and a stick below it. Now you’ve created your first light source!  

Finally, craft a door. Arrange six wood planks on the leftmost two columns using the crafting block. Place your door and torches and breathe a sigh of relief. Now, you can wait for your second morning in peace.  

Once morning comes, you’re free to begin your journey in full. Find further guidance with Minecraft’s excellent tutorials (keep this crafting guide handy, too).  

There are thousands of ways to enjoy Minecraft on your Mac 

It’s hard to understate just how much one can do, or participate in, with Minecraft. Unlimited offline inventions and adventures, limitless ways to thrive and play alongside others; all rising in quantity day after day, as hundreds of millions shape a universe of hand-sculpted worlds. 

Go ahead, make Minecraft your own. Start your adventure with Parallels Desktop Pro! 

*Note that you’ll need to purchase a Windows license if you don’t already have one. 

The post How to play Minecraft on a Mac appeared first on Parallels Blog.

It’s little wonder that MacOS nearly tripled its desktop market share in the ten years between June 2013 and June 2023. 

However, this revolution came with a steep price for gamers.  

Where Windows had developed into a sprawling ecosystem of cutting-edge experiences — with Steam playing a pivotal role—Apple’s processor of choice made development costly.  

In turn, Mac releases became infrequent. 

All that began to change with Apple’s switch to Intel-produced processors, enabling a fresh generation of great — albeit infrequent — Mac ports.  

Apple then switched to more powerful, internally developed chips, which integrate well with ARM-based Windows 10 and 11. 

Because of the chips’ greater power—and newfound commonalities in architecture—today’s average MacBook is also a potential legit gaming laptop, with a little help from Parallels Desktop. 

Once you hook your Mac up with Parallels Desktop, a whole new world of gaming awaits you. Don’t let us stop you – sign up for a free trial of Parallels Desktop. 

Recommended specs for playing Steam games on a Mac  

Virtual machines require a lot of memory and processor power—which not all Macs have. As such, not all Apple systems are compatible. 

Mac owners with Apple’s recent and hyper-powerful processors—M1, M2, and M3—will get the best performance out of this version.  

Compatible Versions of the macOS  

• macOS Sonoma 14.0 or newer  
• macOS Ventura 13.2 or newer  

• macOS Monterey 12.6 or newer  
• macOS Big Sur 11.7 or newer 
• macOS Catalina 10.15.7 or newer 
• macOS Mojave 10.14.6 or newer 

Processor type 

• Apple M3, M3 Pro, & M3 Max 
• M2, M2 Pro, M2 Max, M2 Ultra 
• M1 Pro, M1 Max, and M1 Ultra chips 
• Intel Core i5, Core i7, Core i9 or Xeon processor 

Recommended memory capacity 

• 16 GB of RAM or more 

Storage space 

• 600 MB (for installing Parallels) 
• 16 GB (for Windows 11) 

Graphics chips 

• Graphic processors inside all M1, M2, and M3 (including Pro, Max, and Ultra chips) 
• AMD Radeon Pro graphics cards 

Are there Steam games that are already Mac-compatible? 

Yes. Plenty of Steam games are Mac-compatible—though the majority aren’t. 

Despite the Mac’s longstanding gaming drought, developers increasingly publish their games on macOS.  

Check Steam’s dedicated MacOS page to find out for yourself. Use a custom search to include only MacOS-compatible games. 

How to play Steam games on a Mac with Parallels Desktop 

Adding a new operating system sounds like it would take forever. While it once did—please believe me—installing Parallels Desktop is pretty painless.  

1. Download Parallels Desktop and play Steam games on a Mac 

First, grab a copy of Parallels Desktop for Mac (There’s a free 14-day trial for uncertain gamers). 

Once you fill in your email, you’ll arrive at a download page.  

Click the Download Parallels Desktop button, then the link will be sent to your email address. 

2. Install Parallels Desktop to play Steam games on a Mac 

Double-click your newly downloaded .dmg executable. A window with the Parallels Desktop icon will pop up.  

Double-click (or hit “Open” if you’re presented with a MacOS confirmation window). 

Next, click through the user agreement. You’ll be asked to share usage data with Parallels Desktop to improve the service.  

Click enable or disable, depending on your preference. 

After that, Parallels Desktop gets automatically downloaded and installed. 

3. Download and install Windows 11 to configure a Parallels Desktop VM for Windows-based Steam games 

Now that Parallels Desktop is in place, you’ll need to install our operating system: Windows 11.  

After selecting Windows, the installer will automatically download and initialize it.  

Once done, you’ll see a window containing the complete virtualized operating system.  

Now, you can control Windows from a window on your Mac. Mind-blowing, right? 

4. Download and install Steam on the Windows VM you created  

You’ll need the Steam client to load Steam games on your Mac. 

Visit Steam’s storefront and download a Windows-compatible version. 

Once completed, click the installer. Give it a moment to download and initialize Steam.  

After, create a Steam account if you don’t already have one.  

The wide world of PC gaming is now at your fingertips. 

5. Download Steam games on your Mac 

If you’re a Steam newbie, you’ll spot an avalanche of games set to an infinite scroll.  

It’s best to use the search bar to find the games you’re looking for — if only to avoid eyestrain. 

Once you find your game’s store page, click Add to Cart.  

Hit “Continue to Payment” and choose your payment method. Then complete checkout. Your game should begin downloading immediately.  

Once completed, click the Library tab on your Steam app and select your chosen game.  

Lastly, hit that big green button to play. 

Pat yourself on the back, friend. Your PC gaming career has begun. Clear your schedule; inform your friends, family, and job that they’re on the backburner now.  

Optimize your Mac’s performance for Steam games 

Tweaking game settings for better performance is a skill in and of itself.  

That said, there are a handful of simple methods for improving stability and frame rates.  

Monitor CPU usage and close unnecessary tasks 

Pay close attention to the computer chip icon on your Parallel’s top window tray. This icon indicates your current CPU capacity (if usage rises above 70 percent, the chip turns red).  

Clicking the icon lets you view the exact percentage and gives you access to the Task Manager. 

Click it to open a window that displays the processes currently taxing your CPU.  

Be sure to close out any processes or software that aren’t necessary for gaming.  

Free up your Mac’s disk space 

While hard drives don’t determine gaming performance, computers often slow down when they’re more than 90% full.  

If yours is overstuffed, delete a handful of unneeded programs or large files—or throw them on the cloud for later.  

Change the resolution on your Steam games 

Resolution plays a massive role in performance. The more pixels your processor processes, the more stress your hardware experiences.  

Because the built-in displays on many Macs are higher than full HD, your computer may be working harder for pixels you won’t see.  

Pause your game and open the display or graphics settings.  

Reducing it a few notches may provide the performance boost you need. 

Steam gaming on Mac FAQs 

Do I need to buy a new Windows 11 license to use with Parallels Desktop for Mac? 

It depends.  

You’ll have a month to use Windows 11 unrestricted. After that, you’ll have to deal with some inconvenient limitations.  

You’ll still be able to game after this point, but the disadvantages of not activating your Windows 11 include an omnipresent watermark in the bottom-left corner of your screen.  

Unless you can tolerate those limitations, you’ll need a license.  

Get one from Microsoft’s official page, or opt for more affordable licenses from third-party retailers. 

Does DirectX work with Parallels Desktop for Mac? 

Parallels Desktop currently supports DirectX graphics up to Version 11 and OpenGL up to version 4.1, which expands the possibilities for playing Steam games and other PC games on Mac. It does not currently support DirectX 12.  

What are some great Steam games I can play on my Mac with Parallels Desktop? 

PC gaming is an embarrassment of riches.  

Whether you’re looking for simpler grab-and-go indie titles or full-fledged open-world adventures`—and anything in between—you can find it on Steam. 

Are you looking for games PC natives are losing their minds over? Here are a few worth checking out: 

• En Garde!: Tight, acrobatic swashbuckling 
• Sifu: Seamless Kung-fu combat 
• Friends vs Friends: Cute card-based shooter 
• Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain: Surreal open world stealth action 
• Scorn: Stunning Lovecraftian simulation  
• Persona 5 Royal: Give hope to the masses (in impeccable style)  
• Have a blast with literally any Yakuza Game 
• Age of Empires
• Lethal Company

How do I find good Steam games to play on my Mac? 

Steam’s community reviews system is one of its best features.  

Using it, any Steam user who’s purchased a game can leave feedback.  

Steam qualifies each game with ratings that range from Overwhelmingly Positive to Overwhelmingly Negative, based on the proportion of positive to negative reviews.  

Each game gets two scores.  

All Reviews is the score averaged across every single user review.  

Recent Reviews pulls newly published reviews, effectively showing you the degree to which a game has either been improved through subsequent updates or underwent a change in public perception. 

The day you install Parallels Desktop is the first day of your Mac’s new (gaming) life 

While it’s not literally true that your fun with Steam PC games will never end, there are enough great games to last you for actual years.  

Again, you should tell your loved ones if you plan on dropping off the face of the earth, but they’ll understand when you tell them how you helped achieve nuclear disarmament in our lifetime.  

Let Parallels Desktop open a new world of gaming for you. Sign up for a free trial of Parallels Desktop.  

The post How to unlock your Mac’s Steam gaming potential appeared first on Parallels Blog.

This game combines the exhilaration of high-speed car action with the strategic depth of soccer, captivating players with its dynamic stadiums, intense matches, and uniquely engaging gameplay. It’s soccer with cars!  

Imagine rocket-propelled vehicles battling fiercely mid-air, taking shots on goal while pulling off awe-inspiring saves. Players drive full throttle into vehicular mayhem while keeping their eyes on the prize — scoring those epic aerial goals. 

Rocket League has mass appeal with its vibrant community and competitive scene featuring regular themed seasons full of new tricks and challenges. But Mac users have found that Windows, ever the vigilant goalkeeper, consistently blocks their Rocket League experience. 

Armed with the right tools, you can now get past defenses and play Rocket League on your Mac 

Leverage the power of Parallels Desktop to bridge the gap between Mac hardware and the high-speed world of Rocket League. 

Ready to plunge into the action-packed world of Rocket League? Let Parallels Desktop Pro’s built-in gaming features pave your path to victory. 

How to play Rocket League on a Mac 

It’s time to hit the Rocket League arena. Here’s how to get started scoring goals and dominating your opponents in Rocket League on your Mac with Parallels Desktop: 

1. Install Parallels Desktop

If you don’t already have it, download and install the latest version of Parallels Desktop. The Pro or Business edition is recommended for the best gaming performance.  

2. Create a Windows 11 Virtual Machine

Open Parallels Desktop and set up the Windows 11* virtual machine using prompts on the screen. 

3. Adjust virtual machine settings on Pro or Business Edition

Access the Parallels Desktop Control Center and navigate to the “Hardware” section.  

If you are using Parallels Desktop Professional or Business editions, you can adjust the virtual machine settings by allocating an adequate amount of RAM, CPU, and GPU resources to ensure a seamless gaming experience. 

You can accomplish this by enabling the Gaming Profile.  

When the Gaming Profile is enabled, Parallels Desktop provides more RAM and CPU to Windows, enters full-screen view for greater immersion, and toggles the mouse mode for better compatibility with games.  

To enable the Gaming Profile: 

1. Shut down Windows via the Start menu and open its configuration.  

2. Click “Change” and select “Games only”.  

*Note that you’ll need to purchase a Windows license if you don’t already have one. 

Can I play Rocket League on Mac? 

Even though the macOS version of Rocket League is no longer updated or supported by maker Psyonix, there’s no need to feel left out. With virtualization software like Parallels Desktop, you can still get in on all the action without sacrificing the latest features of the game.  

First, make sure your Mac has what it takes to run the game. If your machine meets the minimum requirements, then buckle up and prepare for some high-speed fun: 

Can you play Rocket League on any computer? 

Any computer that meets the minimum requirements can be transformed into a high-powered arena for Rocket League game play. 

This video guide comprehensively explains the steps required to configure your virtual machine and boost its performance, allowing you to play Rocket League as though it were tailor-made for your Mac. 

Is Rocket League free to play? 

In 2020, Rocket League made the switch to a free-to-play model. This means you can download and play the game without any initial purchase. 

You can still splurge on in-game goods such as cosmetic items or the coveted Rocket Pass. The paid Rocket Pass unlocks access to weekly challenges with rewards that allow you to personalize your car and make it your style. 

How difficult is Rocket League? 

Rocket League’s difficulty level isn’t static. You can play it casually with friends or go all in and compete in challenging tournaments. Really skilled Rocket League players can even go pro!  

It all depends on your approach and play style — and the time you want to dedicate to playing Rocket League.  

In more intense Rocket League sessions, you’ll find that you need more than just fast reflexes. Tactical teamwork, strategic planning, and making aerial moves will make you a competitive player. 

What other games can I play on my Mac with Parallels Desktop? 

You can play many PC games on your Mac using Parallels Desktop to create a Windows virtual machine. Assassin’s Creed, Age of Empires, Lethal Company, and so many more will run on your Mac, thanks to the power of Parallels Desktop. 

Playing Rocket League on Mac 

With the help of Parallels Desktop, you have a clear shot to play Rocket League — with no goalkeeper in sight. 

Embrace the thrill of competition, take charge of the arena, and experience the rush of high-speed car-soccer matches all from your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air. No matter how you play, Parallels Desktop plus Rocket League offers an exhilarating gaming experience.  

Ready to launch your car in the air and carve your name into the Rocket League Hall of Fame? 

Begin the pursuit of glory and let Parallels Desktop serve as your bridge to the high-powered Rocket League Universe.  

The post Dominate the Rocket League Arena on Your Mac appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Fear is the mind killer.  

I have been anxiously awaiting the game Dune: Spice Wars since it was announced late last year. Dune: Spice Wars is a real-time strategy (RTS) game set in the universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune. 

An “early access” version of the game became available on Steam in late April 2022, and I purchased it on the first day. There is no Mac version, so I am playing this game in Windows 11 in Parallels Desktop 17 on my Intel-based iMac. Figure 1 shows the details of my iMac and the Windows 11 configuration. 

The bottom line is that the game plays very well on the Mac in Parallels Desktop. I have compared the speed and responsiveness on my iMac with the fan videos that have been posted on YouTube and elsewhere, and I think the game plays the same on my iMac as on a Windows PC. You can judge for yourself in Video 1. (While I have trimmed this video for duration, I have not sped up the video – you are seeing the speed and responsiveness on the Mac.) 

If you are a fan of Dune or of RTS games, let us know in the Forums what your experience is in Parallels Desktop. 

The post Playing “Dune: Spice Wars” on a Mac in Parallels Desktop appeared first on Parallels Blog.

As I have detailed in a previous post, many newly released games don’t work well in Parallels® Desktop. (There are several reasons for this that are all explained in that earlier post.) So, it is a real treat when a new game works well in Parallels Desktop out of the gate. Humankind is just such a treat. 

Humankind, released on August 17, 2021, is a turn-based, 4X strategy game in the same general category as the Civilization series. (“4X” is an abbreviation for “Explore, Expand, Exploit, Exterminate”, a sub-genre of strategy games.) In Humankind you develop a civilization from the Neolithic Era to modern times. (Figure 1) 

Humankind has both Windows and Mac versions. Normally, when a game has a Mac version, I don’t bother testing it in Parallels Desktop. However, the Mac version of Humankind has two caveats: 

1. The product is not compatible with macOS 10.15 Catalina or above. 

2. M1 chips are not supported. 

While I have an Intel Mac, all of the Mac computers I have run either macOS Big Sur or macOS Monterey, so for this reason I decided to test the Windows version of Humankind in Windows 11 in Parallels Desktop. 

As you can see in Video 1, Humankind runs great in Windows 11 on my Intel iMac using Parallels Desktop 17.1.1. (While I have no video for this, I also tested Humankind on my M1 MacBook Pro, and it also worked great there.) Artwork in the video title screen credit: Pooterman and used with permission of the artist. 

I am looking forward to developing an Athens-like, science-based civilization in Humankind on my iMac in the coming months. Please tell us in Parallels Forums about the games you play in Parallels Desktop, and also the ones you want to play in future releases of Parallels Desktop.

The post Playing the game ‘Humankind’ on a Mac with Parallels Desktop appeared first on Parallels Blog.

The answer is “Probably not…”, but sometimes the answer is “Yes!” 

I am frequently asked “will this new game that was released last week run on my Mac using Parallels Desktop?” My standard answer is “Probably not.” Then I go on to explain that games usually stress the hardware of your computer. This new game likely won’t run on a Windows PC purchased last year. While I would be thrilled to say that Parallels® Desktop can magically transform a four-year-old MacBook Air into a high-end PC gaming rig with a $3,000 liquid-cooled graphics card, that is never going to happen. 

But sometimes I am wrong. 

Sometimes a new game runs well on the Mac in Parallels Desktop. Overwatch runs well, and so does Age of Empires II Definitive Edition and Age of Empires III Definitive Edition. A newly free game that was placed on the Epic Game Store in November 2021, Aven Colony, also runs great. So, I will show you Aven Colony in this blog post. 

Aven Colony is a city-building game like the famous SimCity, but instead of being on Earth, Aven Colony is based on an alien planet light-years away from Earth (Figure 1).

There is an excellent tutorial that teaches the game’s controls, and there are both scenarios and freestyle experiences in the game. Video 1 shows parts of this tutorial and some game play, running in Windows 11 with Parallels Desktop 17 on my home iMac. (While this video has been edited for length, I have deliberately not sped the video up. You are seeing the actual game speed and animations in the video.)  

As you can see in the video, the graphics are gorgeous, and the animations are buttery-smooth (artwork in the video title screen credit: Pooterman and used with permission of the artist). 

I am looking forward to lots of fun game play in Aven Colony on my iMac in the coming months. In the Parallels Forums, please tell us about the games you play in Parallels Desktop, and also the ones you want to play in future releases of Parallels Desktop. 

The post “Will this new game run on my Mac using Parallels Desktop?” appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Age of Empires, Overwatch and many other games play well. 

On an M1 Mac, operating systems in Parallels® Desktop virtual machines must be ARM-based operating systems, and this has led to many misconceptions. I have seen people make the following statements: 

“Only ARM apps can run in an ARM operating system.” 

“Some Microsoft apps may run in an ARM OS, but no others will.” 

Both these statements are false. 

Even more false statements abound about Windows games. So, in this blog post I will set the record straight about games, and I will show you several Windows games running on an M1 MacBook Pro in a Windows 11 VM in Parallels Desktop 17. 

I won’t keep you waiting any longer: this short video shows four different Windows games running on an M1 Mac. 

I purposely made sure you could see the Mac desktop in the video, and included the launch of Parallels Desktop 17, the launch of Windows 11, and the launch of each game to emphasize the environment in which each game was running. To keep the video short, I only included enough game play so that you could see that the game was working fine. (Full disclosure: I also only included a small amount of game play so that you couldn’t see my poor game skills in some of the games!) 

Here are all the configuration details of the setup I used to make this video: 

Mac
Parallels Desktop
VM operating system
Game versions	Age of Empires II Definitive Edition,  version: 101.101.51737.0 7126076  Overwatch version: 1.63.0.0.85660  Kingdom Run Frontiers version: kr2-desktop-5.4.07  Ori and the Blind Forest Definitive Edition version: 5.3.29582331

Here are some of the questions you might be asking: 

Do all games run in a Windows 11 VM? No, for many of the same reasons that all games don’t run on the Windows PC you bought last year: 

• Some games require a specific video card. 
• Some games require high-end features in a video card. 
• Some games require specific Windows libraries that may not be in your system. 
• Some games require more memory than you have in your system. 

Will the game I want to play run in a Parallels Desktop VM? Unfortunately, there is no easy way to predict this with complete accuracy, but here is a loose guide you can follow: 

Does the game require DirectX 12? If so, then the game probably won’t run in a VM. 

Does the game require one of a few specific video cards? If so, then the game probably won’t run in a VM. 

Was the game released in the last few months? If so, the game may not run in a VM nor on the Windows PC you bought last year. 

Otherwise, it is likely that the game will run in a VM.  

Can I get a refund if the game I want to play doesn’t run or doesn’t play well in Parallels Desktop? Even better than a refund, you can test the game without any payment to either Parallels or Microsoft. There is a 14-day free, full-featured trial of Parallels Desktop 17. If you are using an M1 Mac, no payment is required to use the Insider Preview of Windows 10 on ARM or Windows 11 on ARM during this 14-day trial. (If you are using an Intel Mac, you already know that at first launch Parallels Desktop will offer to download Windows 10 for you.) If the game you want runs and plays well, then you can purchase both Parallels Desktop and Windows. 

I hope this sets the record straight about playing Windows games on an M1 Mac in Parallels Desktop. Please let us know in the Forums about your game play experience in Parallels Desktop – whether it is positive or negative, and on either an Intel Mac or an M1 Mac. 

The post Yes, you can play Windows games on an M1 Mac using Parallels Desktop appeared first on Parallels Blog.

My favourite game franchise of all-time, Age of Empires, is not available on the Mac, so I use Parallels® Desktop for Mac to run it in Windows 10 on the iMac in my home. Here is a one-minute video showing several game snippets of two of the Age of Empires games running in Parallels Desktop. The video doesn’t contain any of the details of the various settings I have used to make sure everything runs fine on my Mac, so I will provide that detail in this blog post. 

Video 1: Some game snippets of Age of Empires:

My home iMac 

While I wish that Parallels Desktop could turn even a 5-year-old MacBook Air into a super-charged gaming platform, the hardware you are running on sets the theoretical maximum for the level of performance you will be able to experience using Parallels Desktop. 

In my case, as you can see in Figure 1, my iMac is a 27-inch, Retina 5K 2020 iMac with a fast processor, lots of memory, and a good video card. In addition, it has a large SSD for storage. I got this iMac about 10 months ago, and it is the best Mac I have ever used. Even big resource-hungry apps launch quickly and run very well. 

Parallels Desktop for Mac 

As you would expect, I use the latest version of Parallels Desktop, version 16.5, and I have nine virtual machines installed with operating systems ranging from Windows XP and MacOS Lion to Windows 10 Insider Preview and macOS Big Sur. (Figure 2.) Normally, I just run one VM at a time, but on occasion I will run three or more VMs simultaneously. There is nothing unusual or special about my Parallels Desktop preference settings. 

Windows 10 – my gaming VM 

Typically, games take a lot of system resources, so I have changed the configuration details for my Windows 10 gaming VM. I usually run Windows 10 Insider Preview builds from the Developer Channel, and this VM is no exception: 

Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview, Build 21370, with the Windows 10 Feature Experience Pack version 321.9601.0.3 

I have the Xbox app installed (along with required utilities like the Xbox Game Bar and Gaming Services) as well as Microsoft Office for Windows and CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2020, and about 60 other Windows apps. 

Age of Empires 

Video 1 has snippets both from Age of Empires II and Age of Empires III. 

Details: 

• Age of Empires II Definitive Edition (101.101.47820.0) with both the Enhanced Graphics Pack and the Lords of the West expansion pack. 
• Age of Empires III Definitive Edition (100.12.24632.0) with the United States Civilization expansion pack. 

I play both of these in the full screen in Windows, but I use the Window View mode in Parallels Desktop. I turn off some of the high-end graphics preferences like Fog Animation and Bloom. At first launch, I do see a warning that Age of Empires does not detect sufficient graphics memory, but I ignore this warning because I know that Parallels Desktop provides graphics memory to Windows apps in a manner that Age of Empires does not know about. Age of Empires also runs a quick processor and graphics benchmark test, and my system is rated “High” for both CPU and graphics. 

Speaking of benchmarks, Age of Empires II does have an internal game benchmark, which runs for a few minutes with LOTS of players and LOTS of game action (Figure 3). The final score of this benchmark for my iMac is 1172.6. 

Video 1 contains snippets of game play from some user-contributed custom scenarios, as well as scenarios I created just for this video with the Scenario Editors in each game. (Figure 4) 

If you use Parallels Desktop to play some Windows 10 games, tell us in the comments which game and if you changed any specific settings for these games. Do you use the “Games only” configuration in Parallels Desktop for Mac? 

The post How to Play Age of Empires on a Mac appeared first on Parallels Blog.

Unfortunately, Among Us is not officially supported on Mac. Fortunately, you can play Windows games on Mac with Parallels® Desktop. Parallels Desktop runs Steam on Windows, which means if your computer meets the requirements you can run the game, even on a Mac. For those casual gamers out there, that don’t necessarily have a super gaming PC, Parallels does a great job of running quite a few Steam games.

Don’t have Parallels yet?

Sign up for a completely free 14-day trial (no credit card required).

Among Us launched in 2018 and has since become one of the top party games to play on a PC. To date, no Mac version has been released, but that doesn’t mean we can’t play Among Us on Mac OS.

Just look at the user growth of Among Us over the summer.

One great thing about Among Us is the cost—just $5 on Steam. This is probably why it is so easy to find a random user to play a quick match with.

The premise? Among Us is an online and local party game of teamwork and betrayal for 4-10 players. There is a crew and an imposter. The crew wins by completing tasks to prepare the ship or by ejecting all the impostors. The imposter tries to frame the crew and sabotage the ship without getting discovered.

In terms of requirements, the game can run easily on most computers.

• OS: Windows 7 SP1+
• Processor: SSE2 instruction set support
• Memory: 1 GB RAM
• DirectX: Version 10
• Storage: 250 MB available space

When running the game on my 2017 MacBook pro, resource usage was minimal. It handled the game as if it ran natively on Mac!

Did you know you can also run the Android version of Among Us using Parallels? Yep, we support that too!

Running Other Windows Steam Games on Mac
Beyond Among Us, I’ve enjoyed playing both Age of Empires II definitive edition as well as Red Alert remastered.

As shown in the photo, Red Alert runs beautifully on my Mac. 

Check out our knowledge base to learn more about other great games that work well on a Mac.

The post How to Run Among Us on a Mac appeared first on Parallels Blog.

I have written several times in the Parallels blog about my most favorite game franchise of all time: Age of Empires (Here, here, and here). Since Age of Empires is a Windows game, when I want to play it, I use a Windows virtual machine (VM) in Parallels Desktop – and that is why I write about Age of Empires here. 

The last few years have seen a real resurgence in Age of Empires. (“There likely has never been a more vibrant community around this 21-year-old game,” said Jonathan Bolding). Newly released versions of Age of Empires I and Age of Empires II, called Definitive Editions, have fueled this resurgence and I have really enjoyed playing them on my Mac with Parallels Desktop. So, when I was asked if I would like to play the about-to-be-released new Age of Empires III Definitive Edition a few days before its release, I jumped at the chance. Age of Empires III has some major differences from its predecessors, and the new Definitive Edition adds two new cultures, Sweden and Inca. The two new home cities for these new cultures are shown in Figure 1. 

We are proud to collaborate with Microsoft and officially support AoE III DE as a platform for playing this game on the Mac. 

I used Age of Empires III Definitive Edition on two different Macs: a MacBook Pro and an iMac, both using the same Windows 10 VM. The machine specs and the VM settings are shown in Figure 2.

As expected for any game with “Definitive Edition” in its name, the graphics have been dramatically improved. (Figure 3 and 4). 

On both the MacBook Pro and the iMac, the Age of Empires III Definitive Edition game gave me the warning that it couldn’t detect sufficient video RAM (Figure 5).

Undoubtedly, this is because Parallels Desktop allocates video RAM for the VM out of Mac system memory and it will provide the video RAM that an app needs (Figure 6), but the game had no way of knowing this. This warning can be ignored, and I detected no issues related to video memory. 

At first launch, Age of Empires III Definitive Edition also checks the performance of the hardware, and Figure 7 shows the result of this performance check on my iMac. Please note the CPU score of “Very High” and the GPU score of “Ultra High”.

Because my GPU was rated “Ultra High”, for the Age of Empires III Definitive Edition screenshots (Figure 3 and 4) and the game play video (Video 1), I set all the graphics options to their maximum settings. As you can see in the video, the game play was fine, and the game never froze or crashed. 

Now I freely admit that the Macs I used were high-end Macs. I would not recommend that you try to play Age of Empires III Definitive Edition, for example, on a four-year-old MacBook Air with 4GB of RAM. The suggested minimum requirements for a Mac to run Age of Empires III Definitive Edition are: 

• Processor: Intel processor, Core i5, i7 or i9
• Memory: 16 GB or more 
• Storage: SSD drive
• Graphics: AMD graphics card 

These are my first impressions of Age of Empires III Definitive Edition after a few days. I look forward to many more days of playing both Age of Empires III Definitive Edition and Age of Empires II Definitive Edition. Watch for another blog post in a couple of weeks. 

Age of Empires III Definitive Edition is available now on the Microsoft Store and on Steam. It is $19.99 and is a 34GB download. 

Want to try it yourself on your Mac? Get the free trial of Parallels Desktop. 

The post How to Run the New Age of Empires III DE on a Mac with Parallels Desktop appeared first on Parallels Blog.