The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition runs excellently through CrossOver at a median 60 fps (14 reports), and excellently in Parallels at a median 53 fps (3 reports) on Apple Silicon. Based on 17 reports across M1 to M5.
- 2016
- RPG
Mac Performance
Experience Reports
17
Average Rating
4.8/ 5
Play Methods
- Native0
- CrossOver14
- Parallels3
- Other0
Game Information
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Anniversary Edition
The Anniversary Edition includes a decade worth of content: the critically acclaimed core game and add-ons of Skyrim Special Edition, plus Creation Club content released on or prior to November 11, 2021 - including quests, dungeons, bosses, weapons, spells, and more.
For a full list of Creation Club content included read here.
Creation Kit
About the Game
Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year Awards, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition brings the epic fantasy to life in stunning detail. The Special Edition includes the critically acclaimed game and add-ons with all-new features like remastered art and effects, volumetric god rays, dynamic depth of field, screen-space reflections, and more.Skyrim Special Edition also brings the power of Bethesda Game Studios Creations to PC and consoles. New quests, environments, characters, dialogue, armor, weapons and more โ with Creations, there are no limits to what you can experience.
Experience Reports
PLAYWINDOWSGAMES
ONMAC
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CrossOver
v23.7.1
- Graphics:
- ULTRA
- FPS:
- 40
- Resolution:
- 1920x1080
- Hardware:
- M1 BASE
Review Note:
Works perfectly with everything maxed out. Mods, ENB and SKSE.
-PrettyTale1904
CrossOver
v25.0
- Graphics:
- ULTRA
- Hardware:
- M3 MAX
CrossOver
v24.0
- Graphics:
- ULTRA
- FPS:
- 40
- Resolution:
- 1280x800
- Hardware:
- M2 BASE
Review Note:
Kegworks - working fine, no hitches.
CrossOver
v25.0- Graphics:
- MEDIUM
- FPS:
- 50
- Resolution:
- 1680x1050
- Hardware:
- M1 BASE
Review Note:
Runs without Problems on Base Model MacBook Air M1
CrossOver
v25.0.1
- Graphics:
- ULTRA
- FPS:
- 60
- Resolution:
- 1920x1080
- Hardware:
- M4 BASE
Review Note:
Skyrim fps is locked dead on 60 fps
CrossOver
v25.0.1
- Graphics:
- ULTRA
- FPS:
- 60
- Resolution:
- 1920x1200
- Hardware:
- M4 PRO
Review Note:
Excellent. FPS drops to 30 in Windhelm, but that's it.
CrossOver
v25.0.1- Graphics:
- LOW
- FPS:
- 50
- Resolution:
- 1470x956
- Machine:
- MacBook Pro
- Chip:
- M1 BASE
- Cores:
- 8 CPU, 8 GPU
- RAM:
- 8 GB
Review Note:
Runs almost perfectly with occasional stutter/frame drops.
CrossOver
v25.0.1- Graphics:
- ULTRA
- FPS:
- 60
- Resolution:
- 1512x982
- Machine:
- MacBook Pro
- Chip:
- M4 PRO
- Cores:
- 14 CPU, 20 GPU
- RAM:
- 24 GB
Review Note:
Runs perfectly. Use Mod Organizer 2 for mods.
CrossOver
v26 beta 1
- Graphics:
- HIGH
- FPS:
- 60
- Resolution:
- 2016x1309
- Machine:
- MacBook Pro
- Chip:
- M5 BASE
- Cores:
- 10 CPU, 10 GPU
- RAM:
- 16 GB
Review Note:
Skyrim SE AE, steam version, works great with a few important mods like skse, sse display fix, etc, 60-90 fps. It can run at native resolution with fps at around 40
CrossOver
v26
- Graphics:
- ULTRA
- FPS:
- 60
- Resolution:
- 3456*2234
- Machine:
- MacBook Pro
- Chip:
- M1 MAX
- Cores:
- 10 CPU, 32 GPU
- RAM:
- 32 GB
Review Note:
Steam version: Looks and plays very good, a bit louder fan noise outside, but nearly silent inside dungeons.
GOG version: Refuses to run smooth on higher resolutions, its difficult to install mods
CrossOver
v26.0- Graphics:
- HIGH
- Machine:
- Mac mini
- Chip:
- M4 BASE
- Cores:
- 10 CPU, 10 GPU
- RAM:
- 32 GB
Review Note:
Works flawlessly. A classic!
CrossOver
v26.0
- Graphics:
- HIGH
- FPS:
- 60
- Resolution:
- 1920x1080
- Machine:
- MacBook Pro
- Chip:
- M3 PRO
- Cores:
- 12 CPU, 18 GPU
- RAM:
- 36 GB
Review Note:
Here's my video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6o-blHOihY
CrossOver
v26.0
- Graphics:
- ULTRA
- FPS:
- 60
- Resolution:
- 2056x1329
- Machine:
- MacBook Pro
- Chip:
- M1 PRO
- Cores:
- 10 CPU, 16 GPU
- RAM:
- 16 GB
Review Note:
Rock solid 60FPS, mods that rely on DLLs are hit or miss, but vanilla works flawlessly.
CrossOver
v26.0
- Graphics:
- ULTRA
- FPS:
- 60
- Resolution:
- 1440p
- Machine:
- MacBook Pro
- Chip:
- M5 MAX
- Cores:
- 18 CPU, 32 GPU
- RAM:
- 36 GB
Review Note:
Mac Studio not MBP. Runs great. FPS capped ay 60 but I'm sure can be pushed beyond that with MODS.
Parallels
v20- Graphics:
- ULTRA
- FPS:
- 45
- Resolution:
- 1920x1080p
- Hardware:
- M4 BASE
Review Note:
Smooth performance with extensive modding. Balance to be found as no dedicated GPU so temper expectations but running very well for me currently.
Parallels
v26
- Graphics:
- HIGH
- FPS:
- 60
- Machine:
- MacBook Pro
- Chip:
- M2 MAX
- Cores:
- 12 CPU, 38 GPU
- RAM:
- 32 GB
Review Note:
Works like a charm!
I'm running Gate to Sovngarde (Nexus modlist) revision 101 on Skyrim Special Edition 1.6.1170 through Parallels on Apple Silicon, and it holds a stable 60 FPS with no noticeable lag.
Setup:
- Installed the modlist using Vortex Mod Manager
- Parallels VM on macOS (Apple Silicon)
Mods that must be disabled (not working on Mac/Parallels):
- Community Shaders (disable completely)
- Target Focus
Additional fixes:
- Update Faster HDT-SMP to the latest version
- Ignore the warning Vortex gives about the update- it works fine in-game.
After these adjustments the game runs smoothly and existing saves load without issues.
Parallels
v26- Graphics:
- HIGH
- Machine:
- Mac mini
- Chip:
- M1 BASE
- Cores:
- 8 CPU, 8 GPU
- RAM:
- 8 GB
Review Note:
Modded, high settings, perfectly stable.