Can you download pc games on a chromebook

Some Chromebooks, especially older ones, might have some trouble with this new app. In simple terms, you need one of the best Chromebooks that run Android apps. And naturally, you'll need to download and install the app.

Here's a quick tutorial video from Codeweavers for it. CrossOver will automatically fetch the installation of some Windows software for you. But for most programs, you will need to first download the offline installer of the desired program. Whether it's Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop , or even a small program like IrfanView, get the full offline installer from its site. If you can't find it, go to Standalone Offline Installers and download it from there.

Keep the installer in an easy-to-find location on your Chromebook, like the Downloads folder. This simple process works for some games and software, but not all. As already noted, it's best if you downloaded an offline installer. In that case, the installation procedure is slightly different.

CrossOver for Chrome OS is still in beta , so there are some things that won't work as advertised. And even when they do, remember, you are essentially running Wine with a virtual Windows environment.

So the programs retain the look and feel of Windows software. The most problematic apps were those that require Microsoft's. NET framework to work. Avoid those if you can. For now, CrossOver for Chrome OS is free, so there is nothing stopping you from downloading it and trying out your favorite Windows text editors and other apps on a Chromebook.

Creative coders used to put their own spins on Nintendo games and other licensed IP, which lawyers have now quashed, leaving games like Wife Quest and Escape from Happy Homes next to a few genuinely interesting games like Pink or Tiny Fragments. Browser-based gaming starts to open up a bit more when you visit the Chrome Web Store, which allows you to download Chrome game extensions.

Click with caution here, as Google seems to have ditched its dedicated gaming section for some reason. Games like Fallen London and Kingdom of Loathing are more traditional point-and-click adventures. They should all be playable on a Chromebook. Virtually every Chromebook shipping since includes this capability. The Asphalt series still provides one of the more graphically intensive experiences of any Android app running locally on a phone or Chromebook.

It also runs in landscape mode. For the purposes of gaming, your Chromebook is simply a larger Android phone. Select the app you want to install, and Google will download it and install it on your Chromebook. Many Android games will carve out a narrow vertical strip on a horizontal screen.

Many Android games formatted for traditional smartphones will align themselves vertically on a Chromebook. A Chromebook also allows you to mix and match input methods. In some games a touchscreen is best, though a touchpad or a mouse may serve just as well. Games like Asphalt 8 smartly support both keyboard input as well as Chromebooks that include gyroscopes, for tilt steering. We selected the best action games for Android a few years ago, and followed that up with the best Android games of the year , period.

Once you start combining the power of a web or Android app with a Chromebook, your gaming horizons can expand further.

Remote or cloud gaming uses a PC or a console situated remotely, and streams the resulting content down to your Chromebook. You sign up for a service like Google Stadia, and typically download a small web app or Android utility.