diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 924d470fa..99181bba0 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -299,9 +299,17 @@ if(PLATFORM STREQUAL "desktop")
         target_include_directories(butterscotch PRIVATE ${SDL3_INCLUDE_DIRS})
         target_link_directories(butterscotch PRIVATE ${SDL3_LIBRARY_DIRS})
         set(BACKEND_LIBRARIES ${SDL3_LIBRARIES})
+    elseif(DESKTOP_BACKEND STREQUAL "appkit")
+        add_compile_definitions(USE_APPKIT)
+        target_compile_definitions(butterscotch PRIVATE GL_SILENCE_DEPRECATION)
+        set(BACKEND_LIBRARIES "-framework Cocoa")
     endif()
     target_link_libraries(butterscotch PRIVATE ${BACKEND_LIBRARIES} ${AUDIO_LIBRARIES} ${PLATFORM_LIBRARIES})
-    target_sources(butterscotch PRIVATE src/desktop/backends/${DESKTOP_BACKEND}.c)
+    if(DESKTOP_BACKEND STREQUAL "appkit")
+        target_sources(butterscotch PRIVATE src/desktop/backends/${DESKTOP_BACKEND}.m)
+    else()
+        target_sources(butterscotch PRIVATE src/desktop/backends/${DESKTOP_BACKEND}.c)
+    endif()
 
     # Enable AddressSanitizer by default in Debug builds
     if(CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE STREQUAL "Debug")
diff --git a/src/desktop/backends/appkit.m b/src/desktop/backends/appkit.m
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1d91de49d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/desktop/backends/appkit.m
@@ -0,0 +1,558 @@
+#include "stdio_compat.h"
+#include <time.h>
+
+#import <AppKit/AppKit.h>
+#import <Cocoa/Cocoa.h>
+#include <dlfcn.h>
+
+#include "common.h"
+#include "input_recording.h"
+#include "desktop/platformdefs.h"
+#include "gettime.h"
+#include "runner_mouse.h"
+
+static Runner *g_runner;
+static NSWindow *window = nil;
+static NSOpenGLContext *glContext = nil;
+static NSOpenGLView *glView = nil;
+
+#define USE_PRIVATE_API 0
+
+static int nsKeyToGML(unsigned short keyCode)
+{
+    switch (keyCode)
+    {
+        // Letters
+        case 0:  return 'A';
+        case 11: return 'B';
+        case 8:  return 'C';
+        case 2:  return 'D';
+        case 14: return 'E';
+        case 3:  return 'F';
+        case 5:  return 'G';
+        case 4:  return 'H';
+        case 34: return 'I';
+        case 38: return 'J';
+        case 40: return 'K';
+        case 37: return 'L';
+        case 46: return 'M';
+        case 45: return 'N';
+        case 31: return 'O';
+        case 35: return 'P';
+        case 12: return 'Q';
+        case 15: return 'R';
+        case 1:  return 'S';
+        case 17: return 'T';
+        case 32: return 'U';
+        case 9:  return 'V';
+        case 13: return 'W';
+        case 7:  return 'X';
+        case 16: return 'Y';
+        case 6:  return 'Z';
+
+        // Numbers
+        case 29: return '0';
+        case 18: return '1';
+        case 19: return '2';
+        case 20: return '3';
+        case 21: return '4';
+        case 23: return '5';
+        case 22: return '6';
+        case 26: return '7';
+        case 28: return '8';
+        case 25: return '9';
+
+        // Function keys
+        case 122: return 112; // F1
+        case 120: return 113; // F2
+        case 99:  return 114; // F3
+        case 118: return 115; // F4
+        case 96:  return 116; // F5
+        case 97:  return 117; // F6
+        case 98:  return 118; // F7
+        case 100: return 119; // F8
+        case 101: return 120; // F9
+        case 109: return 121; // F10
+        case 103: return 122; // F11
+        case 111: return 123; // F12
+
+        // Arrows
+        case 123: return 37; // Left
+        case 124: return 39; // Right
+        case 125: return 40; // Down
+        case 126: return 38; // Up
+
+        // Editing
+        case 51: return 8;   // Backspace
+        case 117:return 46;  // Delete
+        case 114:return 45;  // Insert
+        case 115:return 36;  // Home
+        case 119:return 35;  // End
+        case 116:return 33;  // Page Up
+        case 121:return 34;  // Page Down
+
+        // Whitespace
+        case 36: return 13;  // Enter
+        case 48: return 9;   // Tab
+        case 49: return 32;  // Space
+        case 53: return 27;  // Escape
+
+        // Modifiers
+        case 56: return 16;  // Left Shift
+        case 60: return 16;  // Right Shift
+        case 59: return 17;  // Left Control
+        case 62: return 17;  // Right Control
+        case 58: return 18;  // Left Option (Alt)
+        case 61: return 18;  // Right Option (Alt)
+        case 55: return 91;  // Left Command
+        case 54: return 92;  // Right Command
+        case 57: return 20;  // Caps Lock
+
+        default:
+            return 0;
+    }
+}
+
+@interface GameView : NSOpenGLView
+@end
+
+@implementation GameView
+
+- (BOOL)acceptsFirstResponder
+{
+    return YES;
+}
+
+- (void)updateTrackingAreas
+{
+    [super updateTrackingAreas];
+
+    NSTrackingArea *area = [[NSTrackingArea alloc]
+        initWithRect:self.bounds
+        options:NSTrackingMouseMoved |
+                NSTrackingActiveInKeyWindow |
+                NSTrackingInVisibleRect
+        owner:self
+        userInfo:nil];
+
+    [self addTrackingArea:area];
+}
+
+- (void)keyDown:(NSEvent *)event {
+    RunnerKeyboard_onKeyDown(g_runner->keyboard, nsKeyToGML(event.keyCode));
+}
+- (void)keyUp:(NSEvent *)event {
+    RunnerKeyboard_onKeyUp(g_runner->keyboard, nsKeyToGML(event.keyCode));
+}
+
+- (void)mouseDown:(NSEvent *)event {
+    RunnerMouse_onButtonDown(g_runner->mouse, GML_MB_LEFT);
+}
+
+- (void)mouseUp:(NSEvent *)event {
+    RunnerMouse_onButtonUp(g_runner->mouse, GML_MB_LEFT);
+}
+
+- (void)rightMouseDown:(NSEvent *)event {
+    RunnerMouse_onButtonDown(g_runner->mouse, GML_MB_RIGHT);
+}
+
+- (void)rightMouseUp:(NSEvent *)event {
+    RunnerMouse_onButtonUp(g_runner->mouse, GML_MB_RIGHT);
+}
+
+- (void)otherMouseDown:(NSEvent *)event {
+    // AppKit: 2 = middle, 3+ = extra buttons
+    RunnerMouse_onButtonDown(g_runner->mouse, (int32_t)event.buttonNumber + 1);
+}
+
+- (void)otherMouseUp:(NSEvent *)event {
+    RunnerMouse_onButtonUp(g_runner->mouse, (int32_t)event.buttonNumber + 1);
+}
+
+- (void)scrollWheel:(NSEvent *)event {
+    double dy = event.scrollingDeltaY;
+    RunnerMouse_onWheel(g_runner->mouse, dy);
+}
+
+@end
+
+void platformSetWindowTitle(const char* title) {
+    [window setTitle:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"Butterscotch - %s", title]];
+}
+
+bool platformGetWindowSize(int32_t *outW, int32_t *outH) {
+    NSRect bounds = [glView bounds];
+    CGFloat scale = [window backingScaleFactor];
+    *outW = (int32_t)bounds.size.width * scale;
+    *outH = (int32_t)bounds.size.height * scale;
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+bool platformGetScaledWindowSize(int32_t *outW, int32_t *outH) {
+    NSRect backing = [glView convertRectToBacking:[glView bounds]];
+    *outW = (int32_t)backing.size.width;
+    *outH = (int32_t)backing.size.height;
+    return true;
+}
+
+void platformSetWindowSize(int32_t width, int32_t height) {
+    NSRect frame = [window frame];
+    NSRect content = NSMakeRect(0, 0, width, height);
+
+    NSRect newFrame = [window frameRectForContentRect:content];
+
+    // Keep the top-left corner fixed.
+    newFrame.origin.x = frame.origin.x;
+    newFrame.origin.y = NSMaxY(frame) - newFrame.size.height;
+
+    [window setFrame:newFrame display:YES animate:NO];
+}
+
+void platformGetMousePos(double *xPos, double *yPos) {
+    NSPoint mouseLocation = [window mouseLocationOutsideOfEventStream];
+    *xPos = mouseLocation.x;
+    *yPos = mouseLocation.y;
+}
+
+NSMenu* createAppMenu() {
+    NSMenu *appMenu = [[NSMenu alloc] initWithTitle:@"App"];
+
+    // About
+    NSMenuItem *aboutItem = [[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:@"About"
+        action:@selector(orderFrontStandardAboutPanel:)
+        keyEquivalent:@""];
+
+    [appMenu addItem:aboutItem];
+
+    [appMenu addItem:[NSMenuItem separatorItem]];
+
+    // Preferences
+    NSMenuItem *prefsItem = [[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:@"Settings..."
+        action:@selector(openPreferences:)
+        keyEquivalent:@","];
+
+    [appMenu addItem:prefsItem];
+
+    [appMenu addItem:[NSMenuItem separatorItem]];
+
+    // Services submenu
+    NSMenuItem *servicesItem = [[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:@"Services"
+        action:nil
+        keyEquivalent:@""];
+
+    NSMenu *servicesMenu = [[NSMenu alloc] initWithTitle:@"Services"];
+    [appMenu setSubmenu:servicesMenu forItem:servicesItem];
+    [appMenu addItem:servicesItem];
+
+    [appMenu addItem:[NSMenuItem separatorItem]];
+
+    // Hide
+    [appMenu addItem:[[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:@"Hide"
+        action:@selector(hide:)
+        keyEquivalent:@"h"]];
+
+    // Hide Others
+    [appMenu addItem:[[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:@"Hide Others"
+        action:@selector(hideOtherApplications:)
+        keyEquivalent:@"h"]];
+
+    // Show All
+    [appMenu addItem:[[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:@"Show All"
+        action:@selector(unhideAllApplications:)
+        keyEquivalent:@""]];
+
+    [appMenu addItem:[NSMenuItem separatorItem]];
+
+    // Quit
+    NSString *appName = [[NSProcessInfo processInfo] processName];
+
+    [appMenu addItem:[[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"Quit %@", appName]
+        action:@selector(terminate:)
+        keyEquivalent:@"q"]];
+
+    return appMenu;
+}
+
+NSMenu* createWindowMenu() {
+    NSMenu *windowMenu = [[NSMenu alloc] initWithTitle:@"Window"];
+
+    // Minimize
+    [windowMenu addItem:[[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:@"Minimize"
+        action:@selector(performMiniaturize:)
+        keyEquivalent:@"m"]];
+
+    // Zoom
+    [windowMenu addItem:[[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:@"Zoom"
+        action:@selector(performZoom:)
+        keyEquivalent:@""]];
+
+    [windowMenu addItem:[NSMenuItem separatorItem]];
+
+    // Move window to left/right side (macOS 10.11+)
+    [windowMenu addItem:[[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:@"Move Window to Left Side of Screen"
+        action:@selector(moveWindowLeft:)
+        keyEquivalent:@""]];
+
+    [windowMenu addItem:[[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:@"Move Window to Right Side of Screen"
+        action:@selector(moveWindowRight:)
+        keyEquivalent:@""]];
+
+    [windowMenu addItem:[NSMenuItem separatorItem]];
+
+    // Fullscreen
+    [windowMenu addItem:[[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:@"Enter Full Screen"
+        action:@selector(toggleFullScreen:)
+        keyEquivalent:@"f"]];
+
+    [windowMenu addItem:[NSMenuItem separatorItem]];
+
+    // Arrange
+    [windowMenu addItem:[[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:@"Bring All to Front"
+        action:@selector(arrangeInFront:)
+        keyEquivalent:@""]];
+
+    // Tell AppKit this is the window menu
+    [NSApp setWindowsMenu:windowMenu];
+
+    return windowMenu;
+}
+
+@interface AppDelegate : NSObject <NSApplicationDelegate>
+@property (strong) NSWindow *preferencesWindow;
+@end
+
+@implementation AppDelegate
+
+- (void)applicationDidFinishLaunching:(NSNotification *)notification {
+    [self setupMenu];
+}
+
+- (void)setupMenu {
+    NSMenu *appMenu = createAppMenu();
+    NSMenu *windowMenu = createWindowMenu();
+
+    // Create main menu
+    NSMenu *mainMenu = [[NSMenu alloc] initWithTitle:@"Main Menu"];
+
+    // App menu
+    NSMenuItem *appMenuItem = [[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:@"App"
+        action:nil
+        keyEquivalent:@""];
+    [mainMenu addItem:appMenuItem];
+    [mainMenu setSubmenu:appMenu forItem:appMenuItem];
+
+    // Window menu
+    NSMenuItem *windowMenuItem = [[NSMenuItem alloc]
+        initWithTitle:@"Window"
+        action:nil
+        keyEquivalent:@""];
+    [mainMenu addItem:windowMenuItem];
+    [mainMenu setSubmenu:windowMenu forItem:windowMenuItem];
+
+    // Set the main menu for the application
+    [NSApp setMainMenu:mainMenu];
+}
+
+@end
+
+bool platformInit(int32_t reqW, int32_t reqH, const char *title, bool headless) {
+    // Create application
+    [NSApplication sharedApplication];
+    [NSApp setActivationPolicy:NSApplicationActivationPolicyRegular];
+
+    AppDelegate *delegate = [[AppDelegate alloc] init];
+    [NSApp setDelegate:delegate];
+
+    [delegate setupMenu];
+
+
+    // Create OpenGL pixel format
+    NSOpenGLPixelFormatAttribute attrs[] = {
+        NSOpenGLPFAOpenGLProfile,
+        NSOpenGLProfileVersionLegacy,
+        NSOpenGLPFADoubleBuffer,
+        NSOpenGLPFAColorSize, 24,
+        NSOpenGLPFADepthSize, 24,
+        0
+    };
+
+    NSOpenGLPixelFormat *pf =
+        [[NSOpenGLPixelFormat alloc] initWithAttributes:attrs];
+
+    if (!pf)
+        return false;
+
+    // Create window
+    NSRect rect = NSMakeRect(100, 100, reqW, reqH);
+
+    window =
+        [[NSWindow alloc]
+            initWithContentRect:rect
+                      styleMask:
+                          NSWindowStyleMaskTitled |
+                          NSWindowStyleMaskClosable |
+                          NSWindowStyleMaskResizable |
+                          NSWindowStyleMaskMiniaturizable
+                        backing:NSBackingStoreBuffered
+                          defer:NO];
+
+    if (!window)
+        return false;
+
+    [window setTitle:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"%s", title]];
+    [window setAcceptsMouseMovedEvents:YES];
+
+    // Create OpenGL view
+    glView =
+        [[GameView alloc]
+            initWithFrame:rect
+              pixelFormat:pf];
+
+    [window setContentView:glView];
+    [window makeFirstResponder:glView];
+    [window setContentView:glView];
+
+    glContext = [glView openGLContext];
+        
+    [glContext makeCurrentContext];
+
+    GLint swap = 0;
+    [glContext setValues:&swap
+            forParameter:NSOpenGLContextParameterSwapInterval];
+
+    if (!headless)
+        [window makeKeyAndOrderFront:nil];
+
+    [NSApp activateIgnoringOtherApps:YES];
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+void platformExit(void) {
+    [glContext clearDrawable];
+    [window close];
+    glContext = nil;
+    glView = nil;
+    window = nil;
+}
+
+static void platformSetCursor(int32_t cursorType) {
+    [NSCursor unhide];
+    switch (cursorType) {
+        case GML_CR_DEFAULT:
+        case GML_CR_ARROW:
+            [[NSCursor arrowCursor] set];
+            break;
+        case GML_CR_NONE:
+            [NSCursor hide];
+            break;
+        case GML_CR_CROSS:
+            [[NSCursor crosshairCursor] set];
+            break;
+        case GML_CR_BEAM:
+            [[NSCursor IBeamCursor] set];
+            break;
+#if USE_PRIVATE_API
+        case GML_CR_SIZE_NESW:
+            [[NSCursor _windowResizeNorthEastSouthWestCursor] set];
+            break;
+        case GML_CR_SIZE_NWSE:
+            [[NSCursor _windowResizeNorthWestSouthEastCursor] set];
+            break;
+#endif
+#if MAC_OS_X_VERSION_MAX_ALLOWED >= 1060 // 10.6
+        case GML_CR_SIZE_NS:
+            [[NSCursor resizeUpDownCursor] set];
+            break;
+        case GML_CR_SIZE_WE:
+            [[NSCursor resizeLeftRightCursor] set];
+            break;
+#endif
+        case GML_CR_DRAG:
+            [[NSCursor closedHandCursor] set];
+            break;
+        case GML_CR_HANDPOINT:
+            [[NSCursor pointingHandCursor] set];
+            break;
+        case GML_CR_SIZE_ALL:
+            [[NSCursor openHandCursor] set];
+            break;
+
+        // Uparrow, hourglass, and appstart cursors are not available on macOS, so we fall back to the arrow cursor for these cases.
+        case GML_CR_UPARROW:
+        case GML_CR_HOURGLASS:
+        case GML_CR_APPSTART:
+        default:
+            [[NSCursor arrowCursor] set];
+            break;
+    }
+}
+
+static bool windowIsFocused(void) {
+    return [window isKeyWindow];
+}
+
+void platformInitFunctions(Runner *runner) {
+    g_runner = runner;
+    runner->windowHasFocus = windowIsFocused;
+    runner->setCursor = platformSetCursor;
+    runner->currentCursor = GML_CR_ARROW;
+}
+
+void platformSwapBuffers(void)
+{
+    [glContext flushBuffer];
+}
+
+void *platformGetProcAddress(const char *name) {
+    return dlsym(RTLD_DEFAULT, name);
+}
+
+bool platformHandleEvents(void)
+{
+    if (![window isVisible])
+        return true;
+
+    NSEvent *event;
+    while ((event = [NSApp nextEventMatchingMask:NSEventMaskAny
+                                       untilDate:[NSDate distantPast]
+                                          inMode:NSDefaultRunLoopMode
+                                         dequeue:YES])) {
+        [NSApp sendEvent:event];
+    }
+
+    [NSApp updateWindows];
+
+    return false;
+}
+
+void platformSleepUntil(uint64_t time) {
+    int64_t remaining = time - nowNanos();
+    if (remaining > 2000000) {
+        remaining -= 1000000;
+        struct timespec ts;
+        ts.tv_sec  = 0;
+        ts.tv_nsec = remaining;
+        nanosleep(&ts, NULL);
+    }
+    while (nowNanos() < time) {
+        // Spin-wait for the remaining sub-millisecond
+        YIELD();
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file