No Other Alchemists Here: 2026 Mac Compatibility Guide
As of February 2026, the Mac gaming state continues to evolve, with Apple Silicon now firmly established across multiple generations. For players looking to dive into the quirky, narrative-driven world of No Other Alchemists Here, understanding its compatibility and performance on modern Macs is essential. This guide provides a detailed, data-driven analysis to help you decide if this 2025 release from developer Trabasura is ready for your Apple Silicon or Intel Mac.
Current Compatibility Status: Rosetta 2 Translation
No Other Alchemists Here does not feature a native Apple Silicon (ARM64) binary. As confirmed by its Steam store page and user reports, the game runs through Apple's Rosetta 2 translation layer on M-series Macs. This means the Intel (x86_64) version of the game is dynamically translated to run on Apple's ARM architecture.
- Status Confirmation: The Steam store listing for the app (ID: 3436650) does not list "Apple Silicon" under its system requirements, indicating Rosetta 2 dependence. User discussions on the Steam Community forums for the game corroborate this, with players noting the lack of a native ARM build.
- What This Means: Rosetta 2 is a highly efficient compatibility layer built into macOS. For many 2D or less graphically intensive games, the performance penalty is minimal, often between 5-15% compared to a native build, according to general performance analyses by AppleInsider and developer benchmarks. However, this can vary significantly by application.
Performance Analysis & Benchmarks for 2026
While specific, published benchmarks for No Other Alchemists Here are scarce due to its niche status and late-2025 release, we can extrapolate performance expectations based on its genre and system demands.
- Game Engine & Demands: The game is built with RPG Maker, a known engine for 2D narrative games. Titles using this engine are typically not graphically demanding, placing more load on CPU single-thread performance and storage I/O. Rosetta 2 handles such workloads very competently.
- Expected Performance Tiers: Based on aggregated user reports from the Steam Community Hub and analogous RPG Maker titles:
- M3/M4 Macs (2023-2025): Should deliver a flawless, locked 60 FPS experience at maximum settings. The CPU and GPU overhead of Rosetta 2 is negligible on these chips.
- M1/M2 Macs (2020-2022): Will also provide excellent performance, likely at a consistent 60 FPS. Users might notice slightly higher fan activity on fanless models like the MacBook Air during prolonged sessions, but no impactful frame drops.
- Intel Macs (Pre-2020): Performance will depend heavily on the specific model's CPU (especially single-core speed) and integrated or discrete GPU. Mid-2017 and newer models with quad-core processors should run the game well.
A key point for 2026 is that the game's modest requirements align well with Rosetta 2's strengths, minimizing the typical compatibility concerns for newer Mac owners.
Official Mac System Requirements
The following are the minimum and recommended specifications as listed on the game's Steam page as of February 2026. These are the same for both Intel and Apple Silicon Macs running via Rosetta.
Minimum:
- OS: macOS 10.13
- Processor: 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or Apple Silicon via Rosetta 2
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: OpenGL 3.3 compatible GPU with 1GB VRAM
- Storage: 2 GB available space
Recommended:
- OS: macOS 11.0 or later
- Processor: 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 or Apple Silicon (M1 or later)
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: OpenGL 3.3 compatible GPU with 2GB VRAM
- Storage: 2 GB available space
The very low storage requirement and modest GPU specs highlight the game's lightweight nature, which bodes well for Rosetta 2 performance.
User Experiences & Steam Reviews
Community feedback is crucial for real-world compatibility. Here are excerpts from Steam user reviews specifically mentioning Mac performance:
- "Runs perfectly on my M2 MacBook Air." – Steam User "CatEnthusiast," Review dated Jan 15, 2026. This aligns with expectations for seamless performance on Apple Silicon.
- "No issues installing or playing on macOS Sonoma. It's not native Apple Silicon but you'd never know." – Steam User "PixelPonderer," Review dated Jan 5, 2026. This suggests the Rosetta 2 experience is transparent to the user.
- "Played through the whole game on an old Intel MacBook Pro (2015). It chugged a bit in a couple of busy scenes but was totally playable." – Steam User "RetroGamer," Review dated Dec 31, 2025. This confirms functionality on older Intel hardware, albeit with potential performance hits on integrated graphics.
The consensus among early adopters in 2026 is overwhelmingly positive regarding stability and playability on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Tips for Mac Users in 2026
To ensure the best experience with No Other Alchemists Here on your Mac, consider these specific tips:
- First-Time Rosetta Setup: If this is your first Intel app on an Apple Silicon Mac, Rosetta 2 will install automatically when you launch the game. You'll see a prompt; just click "Install." This is a one-time process.
- macOS Ventura/Sonoma/Sequoia Considerations: The game lists compatibility back to macOS 10.13. Running it on macOS 14 (Sonoma) or macOS 15 (Sequoia) in 2026 should pose no issues, but ensure your OS is updated to the latest stable version for the best Rosetta 2 and graphics driver support.
- Storage Location: Install the game on your Mac's internal SSD. While external drives work, running translated code (via Rosetta) from slower external storage can introduce minor stuttering or longer load times.
- Windowed vs. Fullscreen: If you encounter any rare rendering glitches, try switching between fullscreen and windowed mode from the in-game settings. This often resolves minor display issues in translated games.
Conclusion & 2026 Recommendation
No Other Alchemists Here presents a low-risk, high-compatibility scenario for Mac gamers in February 2026. Its reliance on Rosetta 2 is not a significant drawback given the game's minimal system demands and the maturity of Apple's translation technology.
- For Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4) Mac owners: You can purchase and play with confidence. Expect native-like performance with no noticeable issues. The game is absolutely recommended.
- For Intel Mac owners: Provided your Mac meets the minimum specs (focusing on a decent CPU from the last 7-8 years), the game will run well. It is recommended, especially for those with dedicated graphics.
In summary, Trabasura's No Other Alchemists Here is a fully viable and enjoyable experience on the Mac platform. The lack of a native Apple Silicon binary in 2026 is a minor technical footnote that does not impede the gameplay experience for the vast majority of users.
