CrossOver
One-click local install, official support.
Difficulty: MediumCost: $74 one-time / $39/yearExcellent
CrossOver
How to play Spelunky on Mac
Roguelike · 2013
Plays smoothly through CrossOver on Apple Silicon.
Overall rating: Not enough votes yet
Your setup
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Plays smoothly through CrossOver on Apple Silicon.
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How to run Spelunky on your Mac in 2026
Best path: CrossOver
CrossOver runs Spelunky natively on Apple Silicon by translating DirectX to Metal. One-click install, no Windows VM, full local performance.
Spelunky
91
Metacritic
9
IGN
91%
Steam · Overwhelmingly Positive
Explore treacherous, procedurally generated caves filled with traps, enemies, and treasures in this challenging roguelike platformer. Each death brings you back to the start, but with newfound knowledge to aid your next perilous descent.
The original HD version runs perfectly in compatibility layers, while the sequel has a native version.
“Confident, creative and deeply replayable. A landmark title that any fan of the genre will adore.”
“Smart pacing, gorgeous art direction and combat that consistently surprises. A genuine must-play.”
“A massive, beautiful and endlessly rewarding experience that sets a new bar for the genre.”
What the world thinks
Performance
What each M-series Mac can realistically handle. Tap any chip to report your experience.
M1 chip
High
~60 fps
M2 chip
Ultra
~60 fps
M3 chip
Ultra
~120 fps
M4 chip
Ultra
~120 fps
Best way to play it on Mac
The original HD version runs perfectly in CrossOver, while the sequel has a native version.
Ways to play Spelunky on Mac
Here are all the options available, ranked by what we recommend first.
Whisky
Free option built on Game Porting Toolkit.
Difficulty: MediumCost: FreePlayable
Compare methods at a glance
Lower = betterHow each supported method stacks up on setup effort, time and runtime overhead.
Method
Setup Difficulty
Time Investment
Performance Overhead
- CrossOverTranslationTop pickSetupModerateTime15 minOverheadMedium
- WhiskyTranslationSetupModerateTime15 minOverheadMedium
Where to buy Spelunky
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Platform-by-platform reliability
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Step-by-step setup guides
Idiot-proof walkthroughs for every method.
How to run Spelunky on Mac with CrossOver
Excellent· CompatibilityRunning Spelunky through CrossOver translates the game's Windows DirectX calls into Metal on the fly. Performance is impressively close to a native Windows PC on Apple Silicon, and you stay entirely inside macOS — no VM, no rebooting. Expect to spend 10–20 minutes on first-time setup.
Step-by-step
- Download CrossOver for Mac (14-day free trial).
- Open CrossOver → Install a Windows Application → search Spelunky.
- CrossOver creates a bottle and runs the installer.
- Launch from the CrossOver bottle. D3DMetal acceleration is on by default.
Video proof
Try CrossOver free for 14 days ↗Affiliate link — supports the site at no extra cost.
How to run Spelunky on Mac with Whisky
Playable· CompatibilityRunning Spelunky through Whisky translates the game's Windows DirectX calls into Metal on the fly. Performance is impressively close to a native Windows PC on Apple Silicon, and you stay entirely inside macOS — no VM, no rebooting. Expect to spend 10–20 minutes on first-time setup.
Step-by-step
Video proof
Download Whisky (free) ↗Affiliate link — supports the site at no extra cost.
Our recommendation
For most Mac players we recommend CrossOver as the fastest, smoothest way to play Spelunky. One-click local install, official support.
| Method | Quality | Difficulty | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| CrossOverPick | Excellent | Medium | $74 one-time / $39/year |
| Whisky | Playable | Medium | Free |
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