Classic console games are now playable natively on Mac, bypassing traditional emulation through fan-made decompilations and recompilations. This method offers potential advantages over emulation, such as improved performance, tighter hardware integration, and easier implementation of features like higher resolutions and widescreen support.

Two primary approaches exist: decompilation, where developers reverse-engineer compiled code to recreate source code, allowing for debugging and easier asset replacement; and static recompilation, which translates existing code for modern platforms, often a faster process. Both methods require users to provide their own game assets due to copyright.

Notable projects include native ports of "The Legend of Zelda," "Super Mario World," "Streets of Rage," "Doom," and "Super Mario 64." Mac Source Ports also offers native app builds for games that never officially released on the platform.