How to play Horizon Forbidden West on Mac (Intel/M1/M2/M3)

Is it possible to play Horizon Forbidden West on Mac?

Horizon Forbidden West is a third-person roleplaying game developed by Guerrilla Games. Just like the first game in the series, Horizon Zero Dawn, it is set in an overgrown, post-apocalyptic America one thousand years from now. Like any good sequel, Forbidden West can be described as “Zero Dawn, but bigger and better” – it was improved in most aspects. The combat system was overhauled with several new mechanics, side-quests were made to be more interesting, and the world itself is larger and has more locations to explore. For those unfamiliar with the series, let’s briefly review the gameplay loop. In both Horizon games, you will fight aggressive machines that resemble extinct animals. Since you play as a tribal huntress, your main weapons will be a spear and a bow, but you can also use a variety of scavenged devices. Exploration also plays a big role, since many items can be found only in ancient ruins. In addition, the games also feature survival elements such as crafting and gathering. However, it’s unlikely that you’re unfamiliar with the game; after all, you’re interested enough to look up ways to play Horizon Forbidden West on Mac. Let’s cut to the chase: several such ways exist and they are described in the guide below.

System Requirements

Play Horizon Forbidden West on Mac with Parallels

One easy way to play Horizon Forbidden West on Mac is by using a program called Parallels Desktop. This program is capable of creating and running virtual machines that run Windows and support hardware acceleration. In simpler terms, Parallels Desktop allows you to install Windows 10 on Mac with just a couple of clicks and switch between MacOS and Windows instantly. So you will be able to run Windows, install Steam (or any other launcher for that matter), and enjoy Horizon Forbidden West game on Mac just like you would on a regular PC. Generally speaking, you will need an iMac Pro or a Mac Pro to run demanding games. However, if the game you’re trying to run is old, or simply doesn’t demand much from computer hardware, then you will likely be able to run it on any Mac computer, including MacBook Air. When it comes to games in-between, it is recommended to consider your Mac’s hardware specifications instead of thinking in terms of its model.

Please note that not all games are supported by Parallels Desktop. Several conditions must be met for the game to be playable. Your Mac must exceed minimum system requirements for the game. Playing a game on Windows running through Parallels places additional strain on your Mac, so meeting them is not enough. Games that require DirectX12 are currently not supported by Parallels. Online games that use anti-cheat software may be incompatible as well. AppsOnMac recommends using Parallels’ free trial feature to determine whether you can run the game or not if you’re uncertain.

Install Windows 10 on Parallels (Step 1)

Install Windows 10 on Parallels (Step 2)

Install Windows 10 on Parallels (Step 3)

Install Windows 10 on Parallels (Step 4)

Play Horizon Forbidden West on Mac with CrossOver

CrossOver, developed by CodeWeavers, is a Windows compatibility layer for macOS, ChromeOS, and Linux. It enables many Windows-based applications to run on these operating systems without virtualization. Though compatibility layers can be tricky to work with, CrossOver in particular includes user-friendly configuration tools, automated installation scripts, and technical support. Unlike Parallels Desktop, CrossOver supports DirectX12 games. All things considered, this is a relatively easy way to run Windows software and games on non-Windows devices. As such, you may be able to play Horizon Forbidden West on Mac using CrossOver.

Play Horizon Forbidden West on Mac with cloud gaming services

If you have an old Mac or it cannot satisfy Horizon Forbidden West game system requirements, there is an easy solution. Cloud gaming services will be happy to provide you with sufficient computing power – though not for free, of course. All you need is a fast internet connection. There are several great platforms that provide these services; the best ones are Boosteroid, Xbox Cloud, AirGPU, and NVidia GeForce NOW. As Boosteroid has Horizon Forbidden West in its library, it is an excellent choice for those who want to play it. AirGPU also features this game.

Play Horizon Forbidden West on Mac with BootCamp

Note: Mac computers with Apple Silicon chips (M1, M2, M3 Pro, or M1, M2, M3 Max) do not support BootCamp. In this case, please, use the options above to run Horizon Forbidden West on Mac

This method is simple but time-consuming. If your Mac meets all the system requirements above, you can play Horizon Forbidden West on Mac by installing Windows. You need to set up a dual boot of Windows and Mac via BootCamp. This is an application that allows users to choose the system to work in on startup, however, you won’t be able to switch between systems like in Parallels. You will need to reboot your machine every time you want to switch from Mac to Windows and vice versa. Remember that Mac is just a computer, in the end. And while newer Macs have their own special Apple Silicon chips that cannot run Windows, older Macs are very much similar to computers that run Windows, they have Intel processors, compatible RAM, disks, and other components. So you can install Windows on an older Mac by allocating no less than 64 GB of disk space (to be able to run Windows and a couple of games) and following these steps:

For MacOS versions prior to OS X El Capitan 10.11 you will need to create a bootable Windows USB.

1. Download this Windows ISO file.
2. Open Boot Camp Assistant (Go to Applications > Utilities).
3. Define the Windows partition size and choose the Windows ISO file you’ve downloaded.
4. Format the Windows partition and go through all Windows installation steps.
5. When Windows boots for the first time follow on-screen instructions to install Boot Camp and Windows support software (drivers)