The Best Game Compatibility Layers in 2026
Game compatibility layers let you run games built for another operating system by translating or re-implementing system interfaces rather than emulating the original hardware. We researched products through official websites, pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation, then ranked them on core compatibility, value for money and verified features in game compatibility layers.
Our top picks
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Top ranked
CrossOver#1 of 279.3/10A mature paid compatibility layer with broad Windows app support for Mac and Linux.
14-day trial
-
Runner-up
Wine#2 of 279.0/10A mature, free compatibility layer for running many Windows apps across Linux and macOS.
Free plan
-
Top-ranked free plan
Bannerlator#4 of 278.7/10A broad, free Android compatibility layer for Windows games, with device-dependent results.
Free plan
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
The full ranking 27 tools, best first
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Best forMac and Linux users wanting polished Windows support
A mature paid compatibility layer with broad Windows app support for Mac and Linux.
9.3/10★★★★★Visit CrossOver -
Best forLinux and macOS users needing a mature base layer
A mature, free compatibility layer for running many Windows apps across Linux and macOS.
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit WineHQ -
Best forAndroid users wanting configurable game containers
A flexible Android game container with broad runtime controls and unsupported anti-cheat.
- Steam integration
- Vulkan support
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit OpenNative -
Best forAndroid gamers needing broad Windows game compatibility
A broad, free Android compatibility layer for Windows games, with device-dependent results.
- Steam integration
- Vulkan support
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Bannerlator -
Best forLinux Steam users wanting enhanced Proton support
A free, open-source Proton build for Linux gamers seeking custom fixes and graphics options.
- Steam integration
- Vulkan support
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit CachyOS -
Best forAndroid users running Windows games
A configurable Wine-based layer for running compatible Windows games on Android.
- Steam integration
- Vulkan support
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Winlator -
Best forLinux users wanting guided Wine installations
A free graphical layer for guided Wine installations and Windows app management on Linux.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit PlayOnLinux -
Best forLinux gamers prioritizing sandboxing and portability
A free, portable Linux compatibility layer for advanced users who value isolation.
- Vulkan support
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit TDF -
Best forMac users installing cataloged Windows games
A free Mac-focused compatibility layer with a catalog, custom ports, and prefix tools.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Porting Kit -
Best forLinux and macOS users managing Wine environments
A flexible open-source layer for organizing Wine and Proton environments on Linux and macOS.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Bottles -
Best forUsers combining PC libraries with streaming and emulation
A free hub for combining PC libraries, emulation, streaming, and controller play.
- Steam integration
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit GameHub -
Best forLinux Steam users needing game-specific Proton fixes
A focused Linux Steam compatibility layer with game-specific patches and fixes.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit GE-Proton -
Best forARM64 Linux users running x86 Windows games
A focused compatibility layer for running Windows games on ARM64 Linux.
- Steam integration
- Vulkan support
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit FEX-Emu -
Best forARM64 Linux users running Windows applications
A focused open-source layer for Windows applications on ARM64 Linux.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Hangover -
Best forLinux users running non-Steam Windows games with Proton
A focused open-source Proton backend for non-Steam Windows games on Linux.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit umu-launcher -
Best forARM and other non-x86 Linux gaming setups
A free, open-source compatibility layer for ARM and other alternative Linux architectures.
- Steam integration
- Vulkan support
7.2/10★★★★☆Visit Box64 -
Best forDevelopers and Linux users needing Direct3D translation
A focused open-source layer for running Direct3D 8–11 applications through Vulkan.
- Steam integration
- Vulkan support
7.1/10★★★★☆Visit DXVK -
Best forUsers needing Direct3D 12 over Vulkan
A focused open-source translation layer for running D3D12 through Vulkan.
- Steam integration
- Vulkan support
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit vkd3d-proton -
Best forDevelopers implementing Direct3D 12 over Vulkan
A developer-focused Vulkan translation layer for Direct3D 12 applications through Wine.
- Vulkan support
6.9/10★★★☆☆Visit Wine Project -
Best forLinux users experimenting with macOS software
Darling offers broad macOS runtime support, with graphical applications still experimental.
- Vulkan support
6.7/10★★★☆☆Visit Darling -
Best forLinux users running 32-bit x86 software
A focused open-source layer for 32-bit x86 Linux apps, games, and Wine workloads.
- Steam integration
- Vulkan support
6.6/10★★★☆☆Visit Box86 -
Best forLinux users supporting legacy Direct3D games
A focused open-source bridge for running legacy Direct3D 3–7 software through Wine and Vulkan.
- Vulkan support
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit D7VK -
Best forUsers fixing legacy DirectDraw games across platforms
A focused open-source fix for DirectDraw games across four host platforms.
6.4/10★★★☆☆Visit cnc-ddraw -
Best forLinux users wanting a free Roblox Android runtime
A free, focused Roblox runtime for Linux with flexible APK installation.
- Vulkan support
6.3/10★★★☆☆Visit Sober -
Best forLinux players using Windows game trainers
A focused Linux launcher for running Windows trainers inside Steam game prefixes.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Visit Proton Trainer -
Best forDevelopers needing cross-platform XAudio compatibility
A focused audio runtime for developers porting XNA-based games to open platforms.
6.1/10★★★☆☆Visit FAudio -
Best forWindows users running legacy 16-bit applications
A focused open-source bridge for running legacy Win16 software on 64-bit Windows.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit WineVDM
No tools match those filters.
Compare at a glance
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Host platforms | Runtime model | DirectX support | Anti-cheat status | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CrossOver | No | $74 one-time | 9.3 | ||||
| 2 | Wine | Yes | Free | 9.0 | ||||
| 3 | OpenNative | Free | Android | Translation + runtime | Directx 9/10/11 + 12 | Unsupported | 8.8 | |
| 4 | Bannerlator | Yes | Free | Android | Translation + runtime | Directx 9/10/11 + 12 | Partial | 8.7 |
| 5 | Proton-CachyOS | Yes | Free | Linux | Translation + runtime | Directx 9/10/11 + 12 | Partial | 8.6 |
| 6 | Winlator | Free | Android | Translation + runtime | Directx 9/10/11 + 12 | Not stated | 8.5 | |
| 7 | PlayOnLinux | Yes | Free | 8.3 | ||||
| 8 | TDF | Yes | Free | Linux | Translation + runtime | Directx 9/10/11 + 12 | Partial | 8.2 |
| 9 | Porting Kit | Yes | Free | 8.1 | ||||
| 10 | Bottles | Yes | Free | 8.0 | ||||
| 11 | GameHub | Yes | Free | Android, iOS, macOS | Not stated | Not stated | 7.8 | |
| 12 | GE-Proton | Free | 7.6 | |||||
| 13 | FEX-Emu | Free | Linux | Translation + runtime | Directx 9/10/11 + 12 | Not stated | 7.5 | |
| 14 | Hangover | Yes | Free | 7.4 | ||||
| 15 | umu-launcher | Free | Linux | Translation + runtime | Not stated | Not stated | 7.3 | |
| 16 | Box64 | Yes | Free | Linux, Android | Translation + runtime | Not stated | Not stated | 7.2 |
| 17 | DXVK | Yes | Free | Linux, Windows | Translation | Directx 9/10/11 | Partial | 7.1 |
| 18 | vkd3d-proton | Yes | Free | Windows, Linux | Translation | Directx 12 | Not stated | 7.0 |
| 19 | VKD3D | Free | Translation + runtime | Directx 12 | Not stated | 6.9 | ||
| 20 | Darling | Yes | Free | Linux; Windows via WSL2 | Translation + runtime | Not stated | Not stated | 6.7 |
| 21 | Box86 | Free | Linux | Translation + runtime | Not stated | Not stated | 6.6 | |
| 22 | D7VK | Free | Linux, Windows | Translation | Not stated | Not stated | 6.5 | |
| 23 | cnc-ddraw | Yes | Free | Windows, Linux, macOS, Android | Translation + runtime | Not stated | Not stated | 6.4 |
| 24 | Sober | Yes | Free | Linux | Translation + runtime | Not stated | Not stated | 6.3 |
| 25 | Proton Trainer Launcher | Yes | Free | 6.2 | ||||
| 26 | FAudio | Yes | Free | Windows, GNU/Linux, macOS, iOS/tvOS | Translation + runtime | Not stated | Not stated | 6.1 |
| 27 | WineVDM | Free | Windows | Translation + runtime | Not stated | Not stated | 6.0 |
Head-to-head All 25 comparisons →
- CrossOver vs OpenNative
- CrossOver vs Bannerlator
- CrossOver vs Proton-CachyOS
- CrossOver vs Winlator
- CrossOver vs TDF
- Wine vs OpenNative
- Wine vs Bannerlator
- Wine vs Proton-CachyOS
- Wine vs Winlator
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How we rank game compatibility layers
Every tool on this page was researched by iTechGuides Editors from its official website — pricing pages, plan tables and product documentation. We rank on how well each one does this category's core job, what the free or entry plan includes, and where it falls short. Where we have enough verified facts, the score out of 10 is a rubric — job fit, value and how much we could verify — shown with its breakdown on every tool's page; a tool we have not verified enough to score yet shows its rank without a number. Scores are re-checked when a product changes its plans. Read the full editorial policy, or submit a tool we missed.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update