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ROMs

ROMs are the files that contain the data from a video game. These are digital copies of the original game cartridges or discs. ROMs are used by emulators to run games on modern hardware.

There are essentially two types of ROMs:

  • Cartridges ROMs: These are the most common type of ROMs, they were dumped from physical cartridges that were used for consoles like the NES, SNES, Game Boy, and many others. They are typically in a format called .nes, .sfc, .gb, etc., depending on the console they were released for.
  • ISOs: These are ROMs that were dumped from optical discs, such as CDs or DVDs. They are typically used for consoles like the PlayStation, Sega CD, GameCube and others. They are usually in a format called .iso, .bin, or .cue.

Even though the term "ROM" is often used to refer to both types, technically, only cartridge dumps are true ROMs, while ISOs are more accurately described as disc images.

However, in the context of emulation, both types of files are commonly referred to as ROMs. In this documentation, we will use the term "ROM" to refer to both cartridge dumps and disc images, unless otherwise specified.

Compressed formats

In some cases, ROMs may be distributed in custom compressed formats to save space.

Here are some popular compressed formats you might encounter:

  • .chd: PlayStation, Sega CD/Saturn/Dreamcast, and others.
  • .rvz: Gamecube and Wii.
  • .wua: Wii U

Most of the time, you shouldn't have to worry about these formats, as most emulators can read them directly. However, if you need to convert them to a more common format (for example, to apply patches), here are some tools you can use:

  • For .chd files
  • For .rvz files, use Dolphin's built-in conversion tool
  • For .wua files, use Cemu's built-in conversion tool

Where to get ROMs

There are 2 main ways to get ROMs: direct download and torrenting. Both have their pros and cons, but don't worry, we'll cover both of them here.

However, you first need to understand some security and legal concerns before downloading ROMs from the internet, so we'll cover that first.

Security and legality

As downloading ROMs from the internet can be a legal gray area (and you can't trust your ISP), it is recommended to use a VPN when doing so.

Avoid free VPNs, as they often have poor security and may even sell your data. Instead, consider using a reputable paid VPN service that has a strong privacy policy and no logs).

Direct download

Direct download is the most straightforward way to get ROMs. You simply find a website that hosts the ROMs you want, and download them directly from there.

The website usually have no way knowing who you are, but your ISP can see that you're downloading files from that website, which is why using a VPN is recommended.

Here are some popular sources for ROMs:

Keep in mind we do not guarantee integrity or legality of the ROMs found on these sites, so make sure to do your own research before downloading anything.

Torrenting

BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer file sharing protocol that allows users to share files with each other.

When you torrent a ROM, you are downloading it from other users who have the same ROM on their computer. It's a very important distinction to make, as it means that when you torrent a ROM, you are exposing yourself to other users directly.

Torrent-based sites usually gives you either:

  • A torrent file (with the .torrent extension), which is a small file that contains information about the ROM you want to download, and the trackers that will help you find other users who have the same ROM.
  • A magnet link, which is a URL that contains the same information as a torrent file, but in a more compact form.

To use torrent files or magnet links, you need a torrent client. Here are some of the most popular ones:

Some popular torrent-based sites for ROMs include: