How to Play BeamNG.drive on Mac (Best Options Compared)
- Sven Frese
- Games
- March 25, 2025
BeamNG.drive has the most realistic vehicle physics in any game—watch cars crumple, bend, and deform in ways that are mesmerizing and horrifying in equal measure. It’s a sandbox for destruction enthusiasts, stunt creators, and anyone who’s ever wondered what happens when you send a pickup truck off a cliff at 100mph. BeamNG never made a Mac version, but the soft-body physics madness is surprisingly accessible on Apple Silicon.
Mac users have three solid options: CrossOver (a compatibility layer that runs Windows games directly on your Mac), Whisky (a free alternative to CrossOver), or CloudDeck (cloud gaming that streams the game from a remote PC). Here’s how they compare for BeamNG.drive.
Option 1: CrossOver
CrossOver is a compatibility layer that lets you run Windows games directly on your Mac—no Boot Camp, no Windows license, no virtual machine. It translates Windows commands to macOS in real-time, so games run natively on your hardware.
How does BeamNG.drive perform?
BeamNG.drive’s physics engine translates surprisingly well to Apple Silicon. An M1 Pro with 16GB delivers around 55 FPS at High settings—smooth enough to appreciate every crumple and crash in detail. A base M1 with 16GB manages 60 FPS at Normal-Low settings, or 40 FPS at Low if you push the physics. The game’s CPU-heavy nature benefits from the efficiency cores on Apple Silicon.
Quick reference:
- ✅ M1 Pro 16GB — 55 FPS, High settings
- ✅ M1 16GB — 60 FPS, Normal-Low settings
- ⚠️ M1 16GB — 40 FPS, Low settings
- ❌ 8GB RAM Macs — Physics simulation needs more RAM
How to get started:
- Download CrossOver ($74/year, 14-day free trial)
- Install Steam through CrossOver
- Purchase and install BeamNG.drive
- Use DirectX 10 mode for best compatibility
Tips: The game’s physics engine translates surprisingly well to Apple Silicon.
Option 2: Whisky (Free Alternative)
If you’d rather not pay for CrossOver, Whisky offers similar functionality for free. It’s built on the same Wine technology that powers CrossOver, but it’s open-source and community-maintained.
Performance: Expect similar results to CrossOver—the underlying technology is the same.
The trade-off: Whisky requires more manual setup. You may need to install additional Windows components, troubleshoot shader compilation issues, and tweak settings yourself. It’s a great option if you’re comfortable with technical tinkering, but CrossOver’s polish might be worth $74/year if you value convenience.
How to get started:
- Download Whisky (free)
- Create a new “bottle” (Whisky’s term for a Windows environment)
- Install Steam inside the bottle
- Install BeamNG.drive through Steam
- Troubleshoot as needed (check the Whisky Discord for help)
Option 3: CloudDeck (Cloud Gaming)
If your Mac doesn’t have the horsepower for CrossOver, or you just want to skip the compatibility headaches, CloudDeck offers a completely different approach: cloud gaming.
Instead of running the game on your Mac, CloudDeck runs it on our high-performance servers and streams the video to your screen. Your Mac just needs to display the stream, so even an 8GB MacBook Air works perfectly.
Performance: 60 FPS at 1080p, High settings (runs on our cloud servers).
Best for:
- 8GB RAM Macs
- Macs with limited storage (game needs 40GB locally)
- Anyone who wants zero setup headaches
Requirements: Any Mac and a stable internet connection (15+ Mbps recommended).
How to get started:
- Sign up for CloudDeck ($19.99/month, cancel anytime)
- Connect using Moonlight or your browser
- Install BeamNG.drive from your Steam library
- Play immediately—no compatibility tweaks needed
Which Option Should You Choose?
| Your Situation | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| M1 Pro+ Mac, want to run locally | CrossOver |
| Tech-savvy, prefer free solutions | Whisky |
| Any Mac, want it to just work | CloudDeck |
FAQ
Why isn’t there a Mac version?
BeamNG never ported it. Most Windows games use DirectX, which doesn’t run natively on macOS.
Can I use my Steam saves?
Yes—all three options work with Steam Cloud saves.
Last updated: March 2026.
