How to play Ghostrunner 2 on Mac?
Ghostrunner 2 immerses players in a thrilling, fast-paced first-person action experience, but while the game offers an adrenaline-pumping adventure, it poses a challenge for Mac users as it lacks a native macOS version. Despite this setback, our article delves into a comprehensive exploration of four methods to play Ghostrunner 2 on Mac. Each approach is meticulously examined as we share our firsthand experiences, with the idea to provide Mac gamers with viable solutions to enjoy this captivating title on their preferred platform.
Ghostrunner 2 Mac Methods and Instructions
Here are the verified Ghostrunner 2 Mac methods if you’re eager to dive into the game right away. Additionally, you can continue reading below for a comprehensive overview of the workarounds, based on our hands-on experience during the testing process.
Boosteroid Cloud Gaming (Recommended method)
Features: Constant 1080p/60 FPS; Stable connection; Low bandwidth requirements (15 MBPS); Huge gaming library with all the latest AAA titles.
Pros
- Cheapest cloud-gaming option
- Compatible with all macs
- Hardware specs don’t matter
- You can play in your browser in about 15 minutes
Cons
- Requires a good internet connection
- You need to look if the game is supported with your chosen vendor
Extras: Here’s our review of Boosteroid with a comparison to GeForce Now; also check out our Boosteroid Games List.
For Mac users seeking a relaxed gaming experience, Boosteroid emerges as an excellent recommendation. Its remarkable feature lies in achieving a blend of visual quality and performance, catering to users in search of a seamless and enjoyable gaming experience, devoid of the complexities associated with advanced gaming setups.
- Click the “Play with Boosteroid” button to visit their site. Sign up for a new account or use your Google Account to log in.
- In the upper right of the homepage, select “My account”. Choose and activate a subscription plan under “My subscription”.
- To find your game, use the search feature. Remember, that in order to play, you should first own the game on platforms such as Steam, Epic Games, or check for a discount on CD Keys.
GeForce Now
Pros
- Access to a vast library of games.
- High-quality graphics and performance.
- No need for powerful local hardware.
- Cross-platform support.
Cons
- Requires a stable and fast internet connection.
- Limited to supported games.
- Potential latency issues in online games.
- Requires a subscription for some features.
GeForce Now revolutionizes Mac gaming by providing a cloud gaming service that brings a vast array of games to your fingertips.
Note: Remember, that in order to play, you should first own the game on platforms such as Steam, Epic Games, or check for a discount on CD Keys.
- GeForce Now stands out as a gaming solution for Mac users, offering a top-tier gaming experience without the need for high-end hardware. A key feature that sets it apart is NVIDIA’s management of processing that ensures superior graphics and seamless performance, even on older Mac models. The platform’s versatility is another notable characteristic, allowing users to effortlessly switch between their Mac, PC, and mobile devices while maintaining their gaming progress—an invaluable feature for those who relish gaming across diverse platforms.
- It’s essential to emphasize the role of a stable internet connection in guaranteeing a consistently smooth gaming experience on GeForce Now. Users should also bear in mind that not all games are accessible on this platform, and certain premium features may come with a subscription fee, highlighting the importance of considering these factors before immersing themselves in the gaming experience on GeForce Now.
CrossOver + the Game Porting Toolkit
Pros
- It’s free
- Unlimited compatibility
- Stable and reliable
Cons
- Takes time to set up
- Takes tons of storage
Note: Remember, that in order to play, you should first own the game on platforms such as Steam, Epic Games, or check for a discount on CD Keys.
Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit (GPTK) allows for a native Windows gaming on Mac but using it can be a complex endeavor. However, by integrating CrossOver with GPTK, users can potentially navigate the complexities associated with native Windows gaming on Mac more efficiently and this guide has all the information that you need to get started.
1. Visit the CrossOver site by clicking the button below, and download and install CrossOver.
2. Open CrossOver and create a new Bottle from the Bottle menu.
3. Right-click the newly-created bottle, click Install Software in Bottle, and then search for and install Steam (or another game launcher if you own the game elsewhere).
4. Make sure that D3DMetal option is enabled if you are about to play a DirectX 11 or 12 game, and then launch and log into Steam, find the game in your library, install it, and click Play.
Boot Camp
Features: Provides a native Windows 11 experience. Allows running all Windows-compatible programs and games as long as the Mac’s hardware can support them.
Note: Not available for Apple Silicon models.
Pros
- It’s free
- Unlimited compatibility
- Stable and reliable
Cons
- Takes time to set up
- Takes tons of storage
- Unavailable for M1/M2
Note: Remember, that in order to play, you should first own the game on platforms such as Steam, Epic Games, or check for a discount on CD Keys.
Boot Camp, a method that installs Windows on a separate partition, offers stable gameplay on Macs without compatibility issues.
- The Boot Camp method offers a significant advantage by providing a gaming experience that closely resembles the native environment. This means that your Mac’s resources are utilized efficiently, contributing to a stable non-cloud gaming experience.
- However, Boot Camp does come with its set of drawbacks. The setup process is lengthy, which may pose a challenge for less experienced users who find it somewhat confusing. Moreover, it demands a substantial amount of free storage space, as you need room for both the game and the entire Windows 10 OS. Another notable disadvantage is the inevitable heat buildup in your Mac when using this method for gaming, which can be a concern for those seeking cooler operating conditions.
Is Cloud Gaming A Viable Path to play Ghostrunner 2 on Mac?
The absence of a macOS version for Ghostrunner 2 is no barrier for cloud gaming as this technology streams the game, making local hardware less critical. So, even if your Mac isn’t a powerhouse, it’s all good as long as your internet connection isn’t sluggish or unreliable.
Yet, cloud gaming isn’t without its caveats. The main concern? Increased input and output delays, particularly noticeable with subpar internet connections. This could be a significant issue in an action-packed FPS game like Ghostrunner 2, where precision and quick reflexes are key, therefore, we were curious to test how well plays Ghostrunner 2 on Mac using two renowned cloud services, Boosteroid and GeForce Now.
Ghostrunner 2 on Mac via Boosteroid: A Streaming Adventure
Boosteroid lets you play games in high quality on your Mac and all you need is an internet speed of at least 15 Mbps. In our case we had 50 Mbps, so we were good to go. It was easy to start the game on Boosteroid as we just signed in from our Chrome browser, found the game, and clicked play. We wanted to see how good the game looked, so we turned up the graphics settings and started playing. We got 60 FPS and 1080p resolution all the time. There were a few moments where the game lagged a bit because of the internet, but it quickly got better and we had fun playing.
There was a small delay between our actions and the game, but it was not a big deal and we did not mind it. So, if you want to play Ghostrunner 2 on Mac easily and without worrying about the game being too demanding, Boosteroid is a good choice.
Experiencing Ghostrunner 2 for MacBook with GeForce Now
Next, we played Ghostrunner 2 on Mac with GeForce Now and we have to say that it felt like playing with Boosteroid. The game was easy to start and the quality was high. The service needed a good internet speed of minimum 25 Mbps, but that was not a problem for us.
In terms of performane, the game ran fast and the visuals were clear at 1080p resolution and 60 FPS. We did notice that GeForce Now also had a small delay, but it did not bother us much, so if we have to summarize our experience with the two cloud gaming services, we think both of them are good ways to play Ghostrunner 2 on Mac.
Alternative Non-cloud Ghostrunner 2 Mac Methods : CrossOver + GPTK and Boot Camp
For those less inclined towards cloud gaming, CrossOver and Boot Camp are the local ways to enjoy Ghostrunner 2 for Mac.
Some users on Reddit have shared that Ghostrunner 2 works well on Mac with CrossOver + GPTK, but we could not take this as a clear coin and had to test it ourselves on our M1 MacBook Air to see if we can copy that experience. We played with Medium settings and 1080p resolution, and we got 40 FPS on average with occasional drops, which is not ideal but allowed us to play. We have to say that the game did stutter a few times during our gaming session, but, overall, we had fun playing.
The second local Ghostrunner 2 Mac method that we tested was Boot Camp. Since this tool requires an Intel-based Mac, however, we used our 2018 MacBook Pro with 16 GB RAM for the experiemnt. After we set everything up, the game worked well but we played with low settings and we got around 35 FPS, which was playable but not very nice. The bad thing was that this method made the MacBook very hot, which happens when you play demanding games on Intel Macs.
So, our conclusion was that, while the two local gaming methods worked, their drawbacks make it hard flor us to recommend them over cloud gaming. The cloud services that we tried allowed us to stream the game from the internet without installing anything. But if you do not mind the long time it takes to set up everything for a local play, you can still use these methods.
Running Ghostrunner 2 for Mac via Parallels: A Tough Call
Technically, Parallels Desktop can run Ghostrunner 2 on Mac, but according to user reports performance doesn’t go as well as the methods that we already suggested. The limitation stems from Parallels only utilizing half of the Mac’s resources, which makes it challenging to achieve smooth gameplay in a title like Ghostrunner 2, especially if your Mac is an older one.
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