Is it possible to play SimRail on Mac?
SimRail is a very descriptive name; it very plainly communicates that this game is a railway simulator. But it is not possible to learn all the details about the game this way. So, what kind of railway simulator is SimRail? What does it focus on? What is it good at? In SimRail, you can play as either a train driver or a train dispatcher. As a driver, you will obviously have to control your vehicle. Ensure that your passengers are safe, but make sure to arrive on time. This may sound easy, but it isn’t. Trains are complex machines, and this game accurately recreates all the procedures necessary to drive one. Though, it would be better to say that SimRail many different procedures to drive many different trains; after all, this game allows you to drive both ancient steam locomotives, ultramodern high-speed bullet trains, and everything in between. In the train dispatcher mode, you will control the rail network itself, changing the rail connections so that the trains go where they need to. Just like in the driver mode, you will be able to use both antiquated and modern machinery to accomplish this task. Although SimRail is a Windows exclusive, there are several (unofficial) ways to play SimRail on Mac. Read the article below to learn about them.
System Requirements
| Minimal | Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS: Windows 7 SP1, 8, 8.1, 10 (64-bit) | OS: Windows 7 SP1, 8, 8.1, 10 (64-bit) |
| Processor: Intel Core i5-4690 @ 3.5 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X @ 3.7 GHz | Processor: Intel Core i7-4790 @ 3.6 GHz or AMD Ryzen 7 1700 @ 3.8 GHz |
| RAM: 8 GB | RAM: 16 GB |
| Video card: NVIDIA GTX 970 | AMD Radeon RX 580 | Video card: NVIDIA GTX 1060 | AMD Radeon RX 590 |
| DirectX: Version 11 | DirectX: Version 11 |
| Storage: 50 GB | Storage: 50 GB |
Play SimRail on Mac with Parallels
SimRail 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 (or Epic Games Store), and enjoy the SimRail game on Mac just like on a regular PC.
Please note that not all games are supported by Parallels. Several conditions must be met for the game to be playable. Your Mac must exceed minimum system requirements for the game; meeting them is not enough. Generally speaking, you will need an iMac Pro or a Mac Pro to run demanding games. Some MacBook Pro and iMac models are also suitable; they must have an Intel processor, a discrete graphics card and at least 16 GB of RAM. If your Mac has an Apple Silicon chip (such as M1, M2, M3), you may experience issues playing modern games. Games that require DirectX 12 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.
Play SimRail on Mac with cloud gaming services
If you have an old Mac or it cannot satisfy the SimRail 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. As Boosteroid has SimRail in its game library, it is an excellent choice for those seeking to try the game out.
Play SimRail 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 SimRail on Mac
This method is simple but time-consuming. If your Mac meets all the system requirements above, you can play SimRail 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.
- Download this Windows ISO file.
- Open Boot Camp Assistant (Go to Applications > Utilities).
- Define the Windows partition size and choose the Windows ISO file you’ve downloaded.
- Format the Windows partition and go through all Windows installation steps.
- When Windows boots for the first time follow on-screen instructions to install Boot Camp and Windows support software (drivers)