How to Play Dead by Daylight on Mac (Best Options Compared)
- Sven Frese
- Games
- March 25, 2025
Dead by Daylight is the asymmetric horror game that lets you play as iconic killers like Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Ghostface—or desperately try to survive against them. With constant updates and crossovers, it’s become the definitive multiplayer horror experience. Behaviour Interactive dropped Mac support years ago, and Easy Anti-Cheat blocks compatibility layers entirely.
Mac users typically have three options for running Windows games: CrossOver (a compatibility layer), Whisky (a free alternative), or CloudDeck (cloud gaming). For Dead by Daylight, cloud gaming is the only option that works—here’s why.
Option 1: CloudDeck (Only Working Option)
CloudDeck offers a completely different approach to gaming on Mac: instead of running the game locally, 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:
- Any Mac (M1, M2, M3, M4)
- Macs with limited storage (game needs 50GB locally)
- Anyone who wants to play without anti-cheat issues
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 Dead by Daylight from your Steam library
- Play immediately—hunt or be hunted
Option 2: CrossOver or Whisky (Blocked by Anti-Cheat)
CrossOver is a compatibility layer that lets you run Windows games directly on your Mac. Whisky is a free, open-source alternative built on the same Wine technology.
Unfortunately, Dead by Daylight does not work through either—Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) blocks the game from running.
Why doesn’t it work?
- EAC detects that CrossOver is not native Windows
- You’ll see an “unsupported host machine architecture” error
- There’s no workaround—bypassing anti-cheat would get you banned
Can I disable anti-cheat?
No. Dead by Daylight requires EAC for online play. You cannot disable it, and attempting to bypass it will result in a ban.
Will CrossOver ever work?
Unlikely. EAC would need to add macOS/Wine support, which they haven’t done for CrossOver users.
Which Option Should You Choose?
| Your Situation | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| Want to play Dead by Daylight on Mac | CloudDeck |
| Prefer free options | None available for this game |
FAQ
Why isn’t there a Mac version?
Behaviour Interactive never ported it. The game uses Easy Anti-Cheat, which doesn’t support macOS.
Can I use my Steam saves?
Yes—all progress syncs through your Steam account, which works with CloudDeck.
Last updated: March 2026.
