Read next: Best free web browser games for Mac | Best Mac games Best Mac emulators guide: The obligatory warnings bitīefore we begin, it’s worth noting a few snags relating to emulation. We then delve into emulating ancient PCs, classic consoles, arcade games, and a few much-loved home computers. We begin with how to emulate old Apple hardware such as the Apple II and Macintosh Plus. In this feature, we explore the current state of emulation on macOS.

Emulation is also vital from an archiving standpoint, keeping safe countless pieces of software that would otherwise disappear forever as the media they’re stored on degrades. Today, even a years-old Mac can emulate a huge range of older hardware, giving you the chance to relive old favourites, or to experience apps and games you might have missed. But then systems became powerful enough to successfully mimic those that came before. Software and videogames were once on borrowed time, surviving only as long as the hardware on which they ran. What are the best Mac emulators? What’s the best way to run old software and retro console games in macOS?