The Long Dark cover art

Is The Long Dark available on Mac?

Yes, playable on Mac. The Long Dark runs natively on macOS, including Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later).

The Long Dark Mac specs at a glance

Mac compatibilityYes, playable on Mac
How it runsNative
Metacritic score76 / 100
Time to beat~21 hours (main story)
PublisherHinterland Studio Inc.
Last verifiedAug 9, 2026

Compatibility verified against Steam and ProtonDB.

What does this mean?

Native means there's an official macOS version built to run directly on Apple Silicon, with no extra software needed. GeForce NOW is cloud streaming: the game runs on NVIDIA's servers, not on your Mac, so it is shown as a separate way to play, not as Mac compatibility. Compatibility is verified against Steam and community sources. Learn how Mac game compatibility works →

Will The Long Dark run on your Mac?

Yes, it runs natively

Built for Apple Silicon, nothing extra to install.

See everything your Mac can run →
Played it on your Mac?

Minimum Mac requirements for The Long Dark

OSOSX 10.9.3
ProcessorCore i5 @ 2.2GHz
Memory4 GB RAM
GraphicsIntel HD Graphics 5000
Storage7 GB available space
Sound CardOn-board.

Source: the minimum macOS specs listed on Steam. If your Mac meets or beats these, The Long Dark should run.

How to play The Long Dark on Mac

Good news: The Long Dark has a native macOS version, so there's nothing extra to install or configure.

  1. Get the game. The Long Dark is sold on Steam. Buy and download it there. Some Apple Silicon ports are also on the Mac App Store.
  2. Install and launch. It's built for Apple Silicon, so it runs directly on M1 and later Macs at full native speed, with no translation layer, no Windows, and no workarounds.
  3. Play. Open it from your Applications folder or Steam library and you're in.

Or play The Long Dark in the cloud with GeForce NOW

The Long Dark is on NVIDIA's GeForce NOW, a cloud gaming service with a Mac app (macOS 10.15 or later) and a browser version. The game runs on NVIDIA's servers and streams to your screen, so there is nothing to install or tune, and it plays the same on an Intel Mac as on Apple Silicon.

  • Own the game on Steam. GeForce NOW streams your copy; it does not sell or include it.
  • A membership. Either the free tier, which shows ads while you queue and has shorter sessions, or a paid Performance or Ultimate membership (up to 1440p or 5K, with 100 hours of play a month).
  • A good connection. at least 15 Mbps for 720p or 25 Mbps for 1080p, ideally over Ethernet or 5GHz Wi-Fi.

From NVIDIA's published game list, synced weekly, last Oct 12, 2026. Cloud gaming on a Mac, compared.

Common questions about The Long Dark on Mac

Is The Long Dark available on Mac?

Yes. The Long Dark runs natively on macOS, including Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and later).

How do I play The Long Dark on Mac?

Good news: The Long Dark has a native macOS version, so there's nothing extra to install or configure.

Can I play The Long Dark on Mac with GeForce NOW?

Yes. The Long Dark is on NVIDIA's GeForce NOW, which streams games to your Mac through a Mac app (macOS 10.15 or later) and a browser version. It runs on NVIDIA's servers, so it works on any Mac, Apple Silicon or Intel. You need to own it on Steam, and either the free tier, which shows ads while you queue and has shorter sessions, or a paid Performance or Ultimate membership (up to 1440p or 5K, with 100 hours of play a month), plus at least 15 Mbps for 720p or 25 Mbps for 1080p, ideally over Ethernet or 5GHz Wi-Fi.

How long does The Long Dark take to beat?

The Long Dark takes about 21 hours to beat (main story).

What is The Long Dark's Metacritic score?

The Long Dark has a Metacritic score of 76.

What are the minimum Mac requirements for The Long Dark?

The Long Dark lists a minimum of macOS OSX 10.9.3, Core i5 @ 2.2GHz, 4 GB RAM on Steam. If your Mac meets or beats those, it should run.