
These changes can involve translations, bug fixes, and (in the case of SNES ROMs) altering the data to make it compatible with modern hardware. Patching a ROM will alter the game’s code while keeping it functional. Patched ROMs are typically much smaller files than the original game data unpatched SNES ROMs can be as large as 6 MB, and patching them makes them drastically smaller. This is the process that makes the ROM playable on modern software. It’s illegal to own or distribute an unlicensed ROM, so make sure you have a legal ROM to avoid any issues. ROMs can’t be played on their own, and will need to be patched onto an emulator to be playable. This is usually found on the game cartridge, data chip, or main motherboard in the case of older arcade machines. ROMĪ ROM is a digital file that contains all the code and data of a game, copied from a read-only memory chip (hence the name ROM).

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If you don’t know how to do this (or what ‘patching a ROM’ even means), then you’re in luck! This handy guide will take you through all the steps you need to follow to patch an SNES ROM and play some of the greatest retro games ever made! What Is A ROM, And What Is Patching?įirst, there’s a lot of technical language at play here, so let’s take a look at some key terms and what they mean.

If you want to get into playing these classic games, you’ll need to patch them. Because of how far technology has come in the last 30 years, it can be hard to replicate the software of SNES games on modern systems.
