Game Overview
Banana is a free-to-play clicker game on Steam that has gained significant popularity since its release in April 2024. The game involves clicking on an image of a banana to increase a counter, with the primary objective being to collect banana drops that can be traded on the Steam Marketplace. Despite its simplistic gameplay, which involves merely clicking a static image without any vibrant animations or sound effects, the game has become one of the most popular titles on Steam, even surpassing well-known games like GTA V and Rust in daily user counts. The game’s popularity can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, its simplicity and accessibility make it appealing to a wide audience, including those who may not typically engage in more complex games. Secondly, the integration with the Steam Marketplace allows players to trade banana drops, some of which can be quite valuable, creating a speculative market where players hope to profit from rare drops. Additionally, the game’s minimal resource demands have led to widespread use of bots, with some users running multiple accounts to farm rare drops, further inflating the player count. However, the game has also faced controversies. A significant portion of the player base consists of bots, raising concerns about the game’s sustainability and fairness. The speculative nature of the marketplace has drawn comparisons to cryptocurrencies and pyramid schemes, with some players viewing it as a get-rich-quick scheme. Moreover, one of the developers, Theselions, was previously involved in a Bitcoin scam, leading to their departure from the team. However, currently, Banana is only available for Windows and SteamOS. Learn how to run it on macOS.
1. Play Banana with CrossOver via Steam
CrossOver is a software tool that enables users to run Windows applications on macOS and Linux without needing a Windows operating system license. It is based on the popular open-source Wine project and works by translating Windows API calls into POSIX calls on-the-fly, eliminating the performance and resource penalties of virtual machines. With CrossOver, users can seamlessly integrate Windows applications into their native environment, running them as if they were native applications on their Mac or Linux systems. This software is especially useful for those who need access to certain Windows-only programs for business, education, or gaming purposes, providing a streamlined and efficient solution without the complexity of dual-booting or maintaining a separate Windows installation. Here’s how to play Banana using CrossOver through Steam:
- Visit the CrossOver website, purchase the software, and download it. Install CrossOver on your Mac by dragging it into the Applications folder.
- Open CrossOver, click Install a Windows Application, and select Steam from the list. Follow the prompts to install.
- On the right side, in the Advanced Settings, switch D3DMetal and MSync toggles.
- Launch Steam within CrossOver, log into your Steam account, find Banana in the Steam store, and install it.
- Navigate to the Library in Steam, find Banana, and click Play to start your simulation.
2. Play Banana using Parallels
Banana is playable on Parallels, however performance might not be the best on less powerful Mac machines.
Parallels is a software application that allows users to run Windows and other operating systems simultaneously alongside macOS without rebooting. This virtualization technology is particularly popular among Mac users who need to access Windows applications for work or play. Parallels Desktop is known for its seamless integration, offering features like Coherence Mode, which allows applications from different operating systems to run side-by-side as if they are part of the same system. This makes it incredibly convenient for users to switch between macOS and Windows applications. Additionally, Parallels is designed to optimize performance, ensuring that both the Mac and the virtualized environments run efficiently. This software is a robust solution for those who require multiple operating systems but prefer to use one computer. Here’s how to use it:
- Go to the Parallels website, download the installer and apply for free trial.
- Install a Windows operating system within Parallels. You’ll need a Windows license.
- On Windows, download and install Banana as you would on a PC (using Steam).
- Launch the game within the Windows virtual machine.
3. Use Boot Camp (for Intel-based Macs only)
Note: Boot Camp is not supported on Macs with M1/M2/M3 chips.
Boot Camp is a utility software included with macOS that allows users to install and run Windows on Macintosh computers in a dual-boot configuration. By partitioning the computer’s hard drive, Boot Camp enables a Mac to boot either into macOS or Windows, providing full system performance for Windows as it runs natively on the hardware. This solution is ideal for Mac users who need to run Windows applications that do not have macOS versions or who require the performance benefits of running certain programs directly on the hardware without virtualization overhead. Boot Camp simplifies the installation process, guiding users through the setup with step-by-step instructions and making it straightforward to switch between operating systems.
- Get the Windows 10 ISO file (Windows 11 ISO file) from the Microsoft website. Choose the version that matches your license.
- Find Boot Camp in the Utilities folder within your Applications. Open it to start the setup.
- Use Boot Camp Assistant to allocate space on your hard drive for Windows. Follow the on-screen instructions to adjust the partition size.
- Follow the prompts in Boot Camp Assistant to begin the Windows installation. Your Mac will reboot into the Windows setup.
- During the Windows installation, choose the BOOTCAMP partition and format it.
- Complete the installation by following the Windows setup instructions.
- To switch between macOS and Windows, restart your Mac and hold the Option key to select the operating system you want to use.
- Once Windows is installed, set up Banana like on any PC.
