Yes, Planet Coaster runs on M1 Macs via Rosetta 2.
With tons of realistic and customizable systems and features, Planet Coaster is the most complete attraction park sim you can play on Mac.
Planet Coaster on Mac
TEXT – When released for Mac and main differences with Windows
| Genre: | Simulation | 64-Bit Support: | |
M1 Support: | Rosetta 2 |
| Developer (Mac): | Aspyr Media | API: | Metal | M1 Performance: | Good |
Is Planet Coaster worth it? The reviews
Both reviewers and users agree: You can’t go wrong with Planet Coaster, especially if you’re into simulation games and even more so if you’re a fan of the old-school RollerCoaster Tycoon series:
90% Reviews
Planet Coaster Mac requirements
These are the game’s official Mac requirements:
| Minimum Requirements | |
| OS: | 10.14 |
| Processor: | Intel Core i5 |
| Memory: | 6 GB RAM |
| Graphics: | Radeon R9 M290, GeForce GTX 775M or better |
| Hard Drive: | 15 GB |
| Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system | |
Note that according to these system requirements, a Mac with integrated graphics should not be able to run it. But we can confirm it’s possible, especially M1 Macs. More on that below.
Planet Coaster M1 Mac support
Yes, Planet Coaster runs on M1 Macs with Apple Silicon via Rosetta 2.
Last Updated: Jan 24, 2021:
What is Rosetta 2? Rosetta 2 is a translation process that enables an M1 Mac with Apple silicon to use apps built for Intel-based Macs.
The game was tested on the following M1 Mac:
- 13-inch MacBook Air (2020): Apple M1 chip with 8-core CPU, 8 GB RAM
As you can see below, the game is still exclusively written for Intel-based Macs, but thanks to Rosetta 2, Planet Coaster can nonetheless run great on M1 Macs:
Tested versions:
- MacBook Air: MacOS Big Sur version 11.1
- Planet Coaster: Build 1. 13.2.69904
More M1 gaming? Visit our M1 Supported Games list for 100+ Mac games we have tested and confirmed as M1-compatible.
Planet Coaster M1 Mac benchmarks
These are the Planet Coaster M1 benchmarks we have gathered so far:
| Benchmarks | Medium Settings & 900p | Ultra Settings & 900p | Max Settings & 1600p |
| MacBook Air (M1, 2020) | 35 FPS | 18 FPS | 22 FPS |
As a reminder, this is how we describe the different levels of performance:
- Below 20 FPS: Unplayable: Laggy gameplay, full of stutters and slowdowns.
- 20-30 FPS: Borderline: Can be OK in slow-paced games. Still, not optimal.
- 30-45 FPS: Playable: Acceptable for most (most gaming consoles do this).
- 45-60 FPS: Smooth: Fluid gameplay, with no perceivable stutters.
- 60+ FPS: Very Smooth: For hardcore and professional players, a luxury for most.
We usually aim for 30 FPS, because 30 FPS is enough to guarantee a smooth and fluid experience for most casual gamers.
Submit & Request M1 results
To take our M1 benchmarks and compatibility tests to the next level, we definitely need your support!
If you’re interested in testing games on your own M1 Mac, you can use this form:
You can also join our Discord to request a game or talk with other M1 Mac users.
Planet Coaster Mac download
You can download Planet Coaster from the following digital stores:
- Humble Bundle
- Nexus Store (if you’d like to support Mac Gamer HQ)
- Steam
And more importantly, if you have your own M1 test results to share, on this game or another, please share them with us using this form.
