How to play Kao the Kangaroo on Mac

Kao the Kangaroo is a platforming game created by Tate Multimedia. Though it is the 4th game in the series, it is also a reboot, so playing previous ones is not necessary. As the previous game was released in 2005, it is easy to understand why the developers have made this decision.
In Kao the Kangaroo, the players will have to navigate through obstacles in a beautiful environment, collect ducats, and engage in combat with the help of boxing gloves. Overall, it is a very old-fashioned platformer, which will remind older players of titles like Mario 64. Being nostalgic for games of that era is not a requirement to enjoy Kao, mind – this game shines because of its solid and straightforward mechanics, not because of nostalgia it may or may not evoke.
The player will have to do more than just jump around in this game, too. The puzzles and the boss fights provide some much-needed variety to the game. Those willing to sink many hours into this game will also not be disappointed – finding all the collectibles is quite a task, and beyond that, there are several secrets to uncover.
Responsive controls, enjoyable gameplay, and gorgeous graphics all make Kao the Kangaroo a title worth playing. The game released on Xbox One & Series X/S, PS4 & 5, Nintendo Switch, and, of course, Microsoft Windows. Apple’s macOS is not on the list, however. But that doesn’t mean Mac owners can’t enjoy the game – this guide will explain how to play Kao the Kangaroo on Mac even though it is not supported.

System Requirements

Play Kao the Kangaroo on Mac with Parallels

Kao the Kangaroo requires lots of PC resources, but if you have a powerful Mac computer (iMac, iMac Pro, or Mac Pro) Parallels Desktop can be a solution. This is an application that allows for Windows virtualization on Mac with the full support of DirectX and GPUs. In simpler terms, what this means is that it 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, and enjoy the Kao the Kangaroo game on Mac just like on a regular PC.

Note: Recommended devices to run resource-demanding games: MacBook Pro (models with an Intel processor, discrete graphics cards, and 16 GB of RAM or more), iMac (models with Intel processor, discrete graphics cards, and 16 GB of RAM or more), iMac Pro (all models are suitable), Mac Pro (all models are suitable). Parallels on Mac computers with M1 (M1 Pro, M1 Max) chips may not support recent games. Games that require DirectX 12 and later are currently not supported by Parallels. 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 Kao the Kangaroo on Mac with cloud gaming services

If you have an old Mac or it cannot satisfy the Kao the Kangaroo 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 browser or a small client program and a good internet connection starting from 15 MBit/s. There are several great platforms that provide these services, among the best are Boosteroid, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Nvidia GeForce Now.

Play Kao the Kangaroo on Mac with BootCamp

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

This method is simple but time-consuming. If your Mac meets all the system requirements above, you can play Kao the Kangaroo 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 OS X El Capitan 10.11 and older

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)