Every fact on this page applies to update 1.3.7, the one version tested. Other versions may behave differently.
No emulator needed: Cuphead runs natively on the Apple chip. How nxnative compares with emulators
Running through nxnative
How Cuphead runs
Cuphead plays on the iPhone. Its Packed app came to about 5 GB when the project developers last published sizes. It came up on the Mac without any change to nxnative itself.
How it runs
On the Mac the title, the save slots, the opening storybook, Elder Kettle's house, Inkwell Isle One and the Forest Follies level all ran at 60 fps with no errors logged. Earlier builds had sprites breaking into dark slivers on the Mac and a flicker every fourth frame on the iPhone; the cause is fixed, and both are resolved.
Controls
The Packed app starts in the 2D touch layout (left stick, face buttons, shoulders, minus and plus). The layout button at the top centre switches layouts in game, and the app remembers your choice.
Good to know
- If you own The Delicious Last Course, it was tested mounted alongside the game.
- The game saves a slot when you reach the map, not when you pick the slot.
- Tested on update 1.3.7. Other versions may behave differently.
Known issues
None reported
Packing command
Run this in your nxnative folder on the Build Mac. Replace the game folder and the keys path with your own. Add --platform mac-app to get a Mac app instead of an iPhone and iPad app.
python3 scripts/build_ipa_from_nsp.py ~/Games/cuphead -k ~/keys/prod.keysFAQ
Does Cuphead work with nxnative?
Yes. Cuphead is tested with nxnative on update 1.3.7.
Which iPhone, iPad or Mac do I need to play Cuphead?
An iPhone 15 Pro or newer (A17 Pro chip or later) or an iPad with an M1 chip or later, on iOS or iPadOS 26 or later, or a Mac with Apple silicon. iPads with the A17 Pro chip (iPad mini) have the iPhone 15 Pro's chip but are untested by nxnative. Packing needs a Mac with macOS 26.6 or later and Xcode 27.1.
Is Cuphead included?
No. Neither this site nor nxnative includes any game. You Pack Cuphead from your own copy of the game, with keys dumped from your own Switch.
Does online play work in Cuphead?
Online play in Cuphead is not confirmed to work, so do not count on it.
