Welcome to my post where I help you play Stronghold Crusader on Mac M1 or M2.
The best castle-building and strategy game, Stronghold Crusader, can be easily played on Apple’s Mac systems. I tested the game on a Macbook Air M1 with 8 GB RAM and the Stronghold Crusader HD ran smoothly with Parallels Desktop or CrossOver with no issues. Here I explained each method with simple steps along with my recommendations.
The Parallels desktop allows you to install virtual Windows on your Mac. The latest version also is compatible with the new MacOS Sonama, which is a huge benefit. On the other hand, CrossOver deploys more of the game-ported approach. So there are most of the games that can play on Mac perfectly via CrossOver. So, in the end, it’s on you, which option you choose to play Stronghold Crusader on your Mac.
Steps to Play Stronghold Crusader on Mac M1/M2 using Parallel Desktop
- Download and Install Parallels Desktop.
- Run Parallels Desktop.
- Install Stronghold Crusader HD from Steam.
- Download and Install Game Rangers.
- Play and enjoy.
Note: Parallels desktop also supports multiplayer via GameRangers for Stronghold on Mac.
Parallels Desktop allows you to install any updates or patches for Stronghold Crusader HD same as running on Windows on a PC. That is the reason the application can any version of Stronghold on Mac, which includes:
- Stronghold: Crusader.
- Stronghold Crusader II.
- Stronghold Crusader Extreme.
- Stronghold.
- Stronghold 2.
- Stronghold Legends.
- Stronghold Kingdoms.
- Stronghold 3.
- Stronghold WarLords
Steps to Play Stronghold using CrossOver
- Install and Download CrossOver.
- Run CrossOver.
- Install and Run Steam.
- Install Stronghold Crusader or any other Stronghold franchise game you want to play.
- That’s it.
CrossOver is a good option if you don’t want to spend too much on Parallels Desktop. It will cost you quite less but comes with some limitations.
Note: Stronghold Crusader 2 and WarLords can be played online on Steam using CrossOver.
Limitations:
- Stronghold Crusader HD can not be played online multiplayer as it needs a separate program, Game Rangers, to allow it to run.
- Secondly, the game can only be installed via Steam. If you have setup files downloaded from torrent or anywhere else, then they can be installed on Parallel Desktop, but not on CrossOver.
What do I recommend?
I recommend you to go with Parallels Desktop as not only you can play single-player there but also you can install GameRangers to play Stronghold online multiplayer. However, for a single-player skirmish mode of play, CrossOver is a better option as it will cost you less for a yearly license.
He is the founder, lead writer, and editor for TechWoody.com. Here, you can read his articles on general tech guides, gaming, telecom, blogging and SEO. The SEO and blogging segment is also part of his professional life. He currently runs a web-publishing agency, where he along with his team manages different niche websites. His interest in strategy games and tech along with experience in telecom blogs and online expertise led to the start of this website.