Best Game Compatibility Layers in 2026
Updated
In short: cnc-ddraw is ranked #1 of 27 as of 5 October 2026, ahead of GameHub and Bannerlator. The best-ranked option with a free plan is GameHub. The lowest first paid tier on this page is CrossOver at $6.17/mo.
Running games across host platforms brings several compatibility questions into play. Compare host platforms and runtime model with DirectX and Vulkan support, and check whether Steam integration or anti-cheat status matters for your setup. cnc-ddraw, GameHub, and Bannerlator are among the entries to consider against those criteria. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing give you further points for weighing options. Start with the host platform you plan to use, then compare the listed runtime and graphics support with what your games require.
27 game compatibility layers ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
27ranked
10free plans on this page
$6.17/molowest paid tier
5 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Game Compatibility Layers 25 channels on this page · 96 of 200 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromHost platformsRuntime modelDirectX supportVulkan supportSteam integrationAnti-cheat status Spec sheet Score
01 cnc-ddraw Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsWindows, Linux, macOS, AndroidRuntime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportNoSteam integrationNoAnti-cheat statusnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 7.4
02 GameHub Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsAndroid, iOS, macOSRuntime modelnot statedDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportnot statedSteam integrationYesAnti-cheat statusnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.3
03 Bannerlator Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsAndroidRuntime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportdirectx 9/10/11 + 12Vulkan supportYesSteam integrationYesAnti-cheat statuspartial 7/8spec lines stated 7.0
04 DXVK Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsLinux, WindowsRuntime modeltranslationDirectX supportdirectx 9/10/11Vulkan supportYesSteam integrationYesAnti-cheat statuspartial 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
05 PlayOnLinux Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsnot statedRuntime modelnot statedDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportnot statedSteam integrationnot statedAnti-cheat statusnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.9
06 TDF Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsLinuxRuntime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportdirectx 9/10/11 + 12Vulkan supportYesSteam integrationNoAnti-cheat statuspartial 7/8spec lines stated 6.9
07 vkd3d-proton Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsWindows, LinuxRuntime modeltranslationDirectX supportdirectx 12Vulkan supportYesSteam integrationYesAnti-cheat statusnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.9
08 CrossOver Free planNoPaid from74 one-timeHost platformsnot statedRuntime modelnot statedDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportnot statedSteam integrationnot statedAnti-cheat statusnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 6.8
09 Winlator Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedHost platformsAndroidRuntime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportdirectx 9/10/11 + 12Vulkan supportYesSteam integrationYesAnti-cheat statusnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.8
10 Box64 Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsLinux, AndroidRuntime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportYesSteam integrationYesAnti-cheat statusnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 6.7
11 Porting Kit Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsnot statedRuntime modelnot statedDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportnot statedSteam integrationnot statedAnti-cheat statusnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.7
12 Proton-CachyOS Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsLinuxRuntime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportdirectx 9/10/11 + 12Vulkan supportYesSteam integrationYesAnti-cheat statuspartial 7/8spec lines stated 6.7
13 VKD3D Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedHost platformsnot statedRuntime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportdirectx 12Vulkan supportYesSteam integrationnot statedAnti-cheat statusnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.7
14 Bottles Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsnot statedRuntime modelnot statedDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportnot statedSteam integrationnot statedAnti-cheat statusnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.6
15 Hangover Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsnot statedRuntime modelnot statedDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportnot statedSteam integrationnot statedAnti-cheat statusnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.5
16 FAudio Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsWindows, GNU/Linux, macOS, iOS/tvOSRuntime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportnot statedSteam integrationnot statedAnti-cheat statusnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.3
17 D7VK Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedHost platformsLinux, WindowsRuntime modeltranslationDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportYesSteam integrationnot statedAnti-cheat statusnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 6.0
18 Darling Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsLinux; Windows via WSL2Runtime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportYesSteam integrationnot statedAnti-cheat statusnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
19 Box86 Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedHost platformsLinuxRuntime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportYesSteam integrationYesAnti-cheat statusnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
20 FEX-Emu Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedHost platformsLinuxRuntime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportdirectx 9/10/11 + 12Vulkan supportYesSteam integrationYesAnti-cheat statusnot stated 5/8spec lines stated 5.9
21 OpenNative Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedHost platformsAndroidRuntime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportdirectx 9/10/11 + 12Vulkan supportYesSteam integrationYesAnti-cheat statusunsupported 6/8spec lines stated 5.9
22 Sober Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsLinuxRuntime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportYesSteam integrationnot statedAnti-cheat statusnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.9
23 umu-launcher Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedHost platformsLinuxRuntime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportnot statedSteam integrationNoAnti-cheat statusnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.8
24 WineVDM Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedHost platformsWindowsRuntime modeltranslation + runtimeDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportnot statedSteam integrationnot statedAnti-cheat statusnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 5.7
25 Wine Free planYesPaid fromnot statedHost platformsnot statedRuntime modelnot statedDirectX supportnot statedVulkan supportnot statedSteam integrationnot statedAnti-cheat statusnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.6
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Host platforms | Runtime model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | cnc-ddraw | 7.4 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, Linux, macOS, Android | translation + runtime |
| 2 | GameHub | 7.3 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Android, iOS, macOS | — |
| 3 | Bannerlator | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Android | translation + runtime |
| 4 | DXVK | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Linux, Windows | translation |
| 5 | PlayOnLinux | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 6 | TDF | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Linux | translation + runtime |
| 7 | vkd3d-proton | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Windows, Linux | translation |
| 8 | CrossOver | 6.8 | No | $6.17/mo | No | 74 one-time | — | — |
| 9 | Winlator | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | — | — | Android | translation + runtime |
| 10 | Box64 | 6.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux, Android | translation + runtime |
| 11 | Porting Kit | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | — |
| 12 | Proton-CachyOS | 6.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux | translation + runtime |
| 13 | VKD3D | 6.7 | No | — | — | — | — | translation + runtime |
| 14 | Bottles | 6.6 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 15 | Hangover | 6.5 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 16 | FAudio | 6.3 | No | — | Yes | — | Windows, GNU/Linux, macOS, iOS/tvOS | translation + runtime |
| 17 | D7VK | 6.0 | No | — | — | — | Linux, Windows | translation |
| 18 | Darling | 6.0 | No | — | Yes | — | Linux; Windows via WSL2 | translation + runtime |
| 19 | Box86 | 5.9 | No | — | — | — | Linux | translation + runtime |
| 20 | FEX-Emu | 5.9 | No | — | — | — | Linux | translation + runtime |
| 21 | OpenNative | 5.9 | No | — | — | — | Android | translation + runtime |
| 22 | Sober | 5.9 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Linux | translation + runtime |
| 23 | umu-launcher | 5.8 | No | — | — | — | Linux | translation + runtime |
| 24 | WineVDM | 5.7 | No | — | — | — | Windows | translation + runtime |
| 25 | Wine | 5.6 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which game compatibility layer is ranked first on Specifiction?
cnc-ddraw is ranked #1 of 27 with a score of 7.4. GameHub is second and Bannerlator third.
How many of these have a free plan?
10 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, CrossOver has the lowest first paid tier we found: $6.17/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing.
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