Terraria can run on M1 Macs via Rosetta 2.
[toc] Indie superstar, Terraria, continues to make noise and capture the attention of thousands of gamers.
Available on macOS since 2015, the game continues to receive significant updates. For that reason, it remains a fan favorite and one of the best adventure games for Mac.
More M1 gaming? Visit our M1 Supported Games list for 100+ Mac games we have tested and confirmed as M1-compatible.
| Art | Game | Genre | 64-bit? | 64-bit | API | M1 Support | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Terraria | Adventure | Yes |  | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
Terraria M1 Mac support
Terraria runs on M1 Macs with Apple Silicon via Rosetta 2.
Terraria M1 support (using Rosetta 2 and OpenGL)
As you can see below, the game is still written for Intel-based Macs, but thanks to Rosetta 2, Terraria can nonetheless run great on M1 Macs.
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.
We tested the game using the following M1 Mac:
14-inch MacBook Pro (2021): Apple M1 Pro chip with 8-core CPU, 14-Core GPU, and 16GB of Unified Memory
Terraria M1 Mac benchmarks
These are all the official benchmarks results so far (including tests from other members of the community):
| Game | Machine | Resolution | Settings | FPS | Tester | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terraria | 💻 M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14", 16 GB | 1512x982 | High | 60 | Mac Gamer HQ | 25/6/2022 |
| Terraria | 💻 M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14", 16 GB | 1920x1200 | High | 60 | Mac Gamer HQ | 27/6/2022 |
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.
Terraria Mac requirements
These are the game’s official Mac requirements:
| Minimum Requirements | |
| OS: | 10.9.5 |
| Processor: | 3.0 Ghz Dual Core |
| Memory: | 4 GB RAM |
| Graphics: | 256 MB Video Memory, capable of OpenGL 3.0+ support |
| Hard Drive: | 200 MB |
⚠️ According to these system requirements, a Mac with integrated graphics should not be able to run it. But we can confirm it’s definitely possible.
Terraria on Mac: Verdict
Terraria is an open-ended sandbox game that revolves around exploration, building, and fighting. You will have to dig, build and fight your way through bosses, caves, and mysteries. The game uses a graphical style reminiscent of the 16-bit era and feels like Minecraft in 2D.
And while Terraria is not as famous as Minecraft, it’s still one of the most played games in the world.
Terraria Mac Gameplay
And both critics and user reviews explain why this game is so popular: It has extremely solid gameplay, quirky graphics, and a sandbox so deep, that you can spend hours building and exploring its procedurally generated worlds.
| OpenCritic: | 79 – 79% of Critics recommend |
| Steam: | 98% – Very Positive reviews |
Terraria Mac download
You can download the game from Steam.
But more importantly, if you have your own M1 test results to share, on this game or another, let us know on our Discord server!
Terraria can run on M1 Macs via Rosetta 2.
[toc] Indie superstar, Terraria, continues to make noise and capture the attention of thousands of gamers.
Available on macOS since 2015, the game continues to receive significant updates. For that reason, it remains a fan favorite and one of the best adventure games for Mac.
More M1 gaming? Visit our M1 Supported Games list for 100+ Mac games we have tested and confirmed as M1-compatible.
| Art | Game | Genre | 64-bit? | 64-bit | API | M1 Support | Performance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terraria | Adventure | Yes | | TBC | Rosetta | Good |
Terraria M1 Mac support
Terraria runs on M1 Macs with Apple Silicon via Rosetta 2.
Terraria M1 support (using Rosetta 2 and OpenGL)
As you can see below, the game is still written for Intel-based Macs, but thanks to Rosetta 2, Terraria can nonetheless run great on M1 Macs.
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.
We tested the game using the following M1 Mac:
14-inch MacBook Pro (2021): Apple M1 Pro chip with 8-core CPU, 14-Core GPU, and 16GB of Unified Memory
Terraria M1 Mac benchmarks
These are all the official benchmarks results so far (including tests from other members of the community):
| Game | Machine | Resolution | Settings | FPS | Tester | Tested |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terraria | 💻 M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14", 16 GB | 1512x982 | High | 60 | Mac Gamer HQ | 25/6/2022 |
| Terraria | 💻 M1 Pro MacBook Pro 14", 16 GB | 1920x1200 | High | 60 | Mac Gamer HQ | 27/6/2022 |
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.
Terraria Mac requirements
These are the game’s official Mac requirements:
| Minimum Requirements | |
| OS: | 10.9.5 |
| Processor: | 3.0 Ghz Dual Core |
| Memory: | 4 GB RAM |
| Graphics: | 256 MB Video Memory, capable of OpenGL 3.0+ support |
| Hard Drive: | 200 MB |
⚠️ According to these system requirements, a Mac with integrated graphics should not be able to run it. But we can confirm it’s definitely possible.
Terraria on Mac: Verdict
Terraria is an open-ended sandbox game that revolves around exploration, building, and fighting. You will have to dig, build and fight your way through bosses, caves, and mysteries. The game uses a graphical style reminiscent of the 16-bit era and feels like Minecraft in 2D.
And while Terraria is not as famous as Minecraft, it’s still one of the most played games in the world.
Terraria Mac Gameplay
And both critics and user reviews explain why this game is so popular: It has extremely solid gameplay, quirky graphics, and a sandbox so deep, that you can spend hours building and exploring its procedurally generated worlds.
| OpenCritic: | 79 – 79% of Critics recommend |
| Steam: | 98% – Very Positive reviews |
Terraria Mac download
You can download the game from Steam.
But more importantly, if you have your own M1 test results to share, on this game or another, let us know on our Discord server!
Absolutely FALSE. I would advise against playing this on Mac; the UI is so small and pixelated it’s impossible to read, no option to change it in options either. Fullscreen mode is extremely buggy with mouse. This has been reported for YEARS.