If you are downloading a ROM site then you are most likely a gamer. We understand how difficult it can be when your ROM or emulator isn’t responding properly and you want to play your favorite game. Though for a game to work properly on an emulator, you need to first find a good ROM. We have covered a list of 17 totally safe ROM sites from where you can download ROMs.
Make sure you download the ROMs safely since a lot of the websites that feature downloadable ROM have viruses hidden in them. That’s why we wrote a small guide on how to ensure you safely download ROMs.
Guide to download ROMs Safely from the Internet
Downloading anything from the internet can be highly risky. There are numerous risky softwares and whatnot, that can steal your data or cause harm to your system. You need to be cautious when downloading anything from the web. Never download anything from a website that’s not trusted or are not secure.
- Never download anything from a website that prompts you to download some sort of a software. Such softwares are mostly mere ways to get inside your system.
- Most ROMs which you will download will come in the form of a compressed package with a .zip extension.
- Never click on a downloadable link that shows .exe as a .exe file is meant to be an executable file for windows system which could be a malicious software.
Gamulator
Gamulator is one of the best ROM sites available on the internet. On this website, you can get an access to various game ROMs for more than 20 consoles. In fact, you can get ROM files available for various other consoles. However, various emulator folders only have a couple for games for you to check out. The Gamulator website also allows you to download or install the games using a direct download link. You may also download the games using their download manager.
Beside the ROMs, you also get bios and emulators on the website. Search ROMs by category and tags on the Gamulator website. With Gamulator, you can also download ROM for your computer, tablet or smartphone.
CDRomance
If you are looking for ROMs for classic consoles like Gamecube, GBA, GBC and GB, CDRomance is the place to be. This site has an attractive repository of great ROMs. On visiting the home page of the website, you shall find the original artworks of the games on the website and also some screenshots of the game play.
There is no dearth of ROMs that you may find here on this website. Besides the original ones, you can also get your hands on mods, hacks and even fan-made pods. You shall also be provided with a few details about the games such as the region of the ROM file, date of release of the game, and the genre of the game.
DopeRoms
DopeRoms is one of the best and the most popular search engines that bring you closer to some of the great quality ROMs available on the internet. DopeRoms allows you to explore more than 171,500 ROMs available on their website for over 140 consoles. One of the best things about this website is that it provides you with cheat-codes to ace any part if the game.
You can also get some tips and glitches on the DopeRoms website and enjoy the game like there is no tomorrow! This website hosts some of the most unique ROMs that are very hard to find anywhere else. So, if you are struggling to find the game you love, DopeRoms is the place to be.
EdgeEmu
Find thousands of games for various consoles including SEGA, GBA, GBC, GB, MAME and more on EdgeEmu. EdgeEmu is one of the sites that attract a considerable amount of traffic on a daily basis. Get more than 57,000 ROMs, valid across 20 consoles and various other gaming devices.
You are more likely to prefer the EdgeEmu site more than others because of its responsive user interface. The interface is quite clean and does not feature advertisements or pop-ups. You can also find a Flash player on the website with which you can emulate various games online. The website also allows you to test other ROM files. EdgeEmu facilitates easy download of available ROMs. This website is one of the safest and the best websites for getting some of the classic ROMs for free.
FreeRoms
Even though this website provides ROMs for only a few consoles, it hosts a great collection of ROM files. Through this website, you can also download some emulators like the PSP emulator for windows and the JPCSP emulator for Mac. At FreeRoms, you get to check out more than 3,000 ROM files and download them for free.
The only drawback of this website is that its interface is not free of ads. There are frequent ads popping up on this website that might jeopardize your experience. But nevertheless, at FreeRoms, you get quick and safe access to an amazing collection of ROM files. The website even has a rating system using which you can rate the ROMs as per your experience.
NICOBLOG
Want to get full ROM sets for consoles like Atari, GBA, N64, NES, Sega and more? Check out NICOBLOG and get to download links to various ROM files from some reputable websites on the internet like Mediafire and Mega. Unlike other names on the list, the blog does not host its own content, but makes download links from various other websites available to those who love classic ROMs.
At NICOBLOG, you can also download full ROMs for certain console type in a compressed file with just a click. What gives an extra edge to this blog is the fact that they have ROMs for wii, PS Vita and PS3; given that finding ROMs for such consoles are a rarity. The blog also has articles and tutorials that elaborate on running the games on various systems successfully.
Vimm’s Lair
This website, is arguable, the safest and the best site for free ROMs on the internet. One can easily download some of the classic ROMs and emulators from this website. Stated back in 1997, this website provides ROMs for some of the greatest gaming consoles ever!
Not only does the website boasts of having a collection of game titles for unique consoles released in the US, but the website also allows the users to download emulators to run the games. You can download emulators for Android, Mac, Windows and Linux. The website also features a search engine that helps you find and sort your favorite ROMs and sort them nearly. The website draws a fair share of monthly traffic which makes it very reliable for new users.
The Eye
The Eye is not just another website with a list of few ROMs, valid across a few consoles. The website is described as an archival site that hosts ROMs from all over the internet. At The Eye, you can get ROMs for 60+ consoles! Irrespective of what you are searching for, your search is sure to end here at The Eye.
The interface of this website is one of the most attractive things about it. It does not bother you with intrusive advertisements and pop-ups. Also, the ROMs on this website are every easy to download. You can use the search tool on the website to navigate to the content that you desire. Sort ROMs in an alphabetical order and use the Find and Replace browser to find them.
Romulation
Tired of scanning websites to get your favorite ROMs? Visit the Romulation website. This website has some of the classic video games that you might want to experience. You shall find some of the most popular games since 2004 on the Romulation website! All you have to do is take a minute to sign up and you can download your favorite ROMs supported across various consoles.
On the homepage of this website, you can find the list of some of the most popular games alongside the list of the newest games! More than 28,000 ROM files are available on this site for various SEGA, Playstation and Nintendo consoles. You will also find a search engine on the home page that allows you to get started without much hassle. Certainly, Romulation is one of the safest sites for free ROMs.
Romsmode
Despite being fairly new as compared to its contemporaries, Romsmode is one of the best sites for free ROMs on the internet. The website hosts everything from the classic to some of the latest ROMs. Besides ROM files, there is a separate section on the website for emulators as well. The section features various emulators for a list of consoles including Nintendo, Playstation, Atari and more.
The interface of the website is one of the best things about it. You will find it very easy to navigate your way through the website. Find some of the most popular ROMs listed neatly on the homepage at ease. You can also find games as per particular consoles such as wii, Dreamcast, GBA, NDS, SEGA and more.
Emulator.Games
The Emulator.Games website is quite similar to its predecessors on the list. The website has a huge lobby full of free ROMs and emulator games for you to explore. Perhaps, the website allows the users to play these games online, which is one of the features that make it stand out from the rest.
Play some of the best Pokémon games available in myriad versions on the website. You can also search ROMs based on various consoles like Playstation, Nintendo GameBoy, Game Gear and more. For emulators, look no further than Emulator.Games! Download the needful emulators to run your favorite ROMs across various consoles. Emulator.Games is one of the most popular platforms for free ROMs and Emulators.
MyAbandonware
Play some of the popular old games like the Turbo Out Run, Arctic Banner, Nemesis and more only when you download them from MyAbandonware. Here on this website, you can explore the some of the most highly rated video game ROMs from 1978 to 2010! That’s not it. You can also browse by the name, platform, year, publisher, theme, developer and genre of the ROMs.
If you are a gaming enthusiast, the contents of this website can stimulate a rush of adrenaline down you. Choose from more than 15,200 ROMs and various other adventure and war strategy games on the MyAbandonware website. You must not forget to check out the list of top downloads and try your hand at some of the most loved games of the decades gone by.
EagleForces
Although it is a Korean website, it is one of the most preferred website for download free ROMs. One of the reasons that the traffic in this website is incredibly high is because the website is very safe. For those of you are worried about legal considerations, this website can put your worries to an end.
You will find ROMs indexed on the website in thousands. All of these ROMs can be downloaded for free. You will also notice that the download speed is quite decent. Overall, the website is on par with the others on this list.
ClassicGameRoms
If you are averse to websites with too much clutter, this might be the one for you. ClassicGameRoms is a simple website that hosts a plethora of game ROMs for some of the most popular consoles such as Atari, Capcom, Nintendo, Playstation, SEGA, Game Boy and more. On this website you can also find a list of emulators to efficiently run the downloaded games.
ClassicGameRoms is a popular website among ROM lovers. It is also certified as one among the safest ROM websites by the users. You can also find the list of links to other gaming sites on ClassicGameRoms.
WoWrom
At present, WoWroms is one of the most preferred destinations for free ROMs, ISOS, games and more. Get a list of ROMs, ISOS, Games and Emulators to download on the homepage of the website. You can also get a list of links to download emulators and bios files on the home page too.
The website also has the link to download myriad popular games for GBA, SNES or PSPs. What makes this website stand out from the rest is that it facilitates the download of the top rated game manuals, game music and game magazines.
Retrostic
Another great ROM site that you can discover is Retrostic. The website provides you a link to some of the most classic ROMs, free of any cost. Downloads on this website are fast, smooth and are free from any virus or other malware.
The interface of Retrostic is quite user friendly which makes it easy for users to navigate. There are no intrusive pop-ups or ads on this website. You can over 83,000 ROMs for over 50 consoles. The website also features a list of 383 emulators for you to download. Overall, this website is one of the best options for a lover of classic ROMs.
Emulanium
With Emulanium, you can download ROMs for consoles like GBA, Dreamcast, NES, N64, and a few other consoles. Although the collection is not as great as many of the other names on the list, it is still one of the safest sites to download popular ROMs.
How to download ROM?
FAQs
My ROM is not running smoothly
Fix: In case your ROM is not running smoothly then there is a high possibility that your ROM may have a bug. The fix is you need to check if there is any update to the ROM, if Yes, go ahead and update your ROM. If there’s no update then you should contact the developers behind that ROM.
When such a thing happens, You may have to change a few settings inside the emulator itself. Better visit some relevant forums where you can know more about the possible solution for your issue. You can also try using an alternative ROM.
Is it legal to download ROMs?
If you own a mere copy of the game which you are trying to download then there’s no issue with it. There are multiple ways in which you can get rid of the cartridges to ROM files using some hardware and software, it’s legal. In case of emulators, they are totally legal to use.
Conclusion
Apart from the ROMs, you also get emulators to run the games smoothly in various different consoles. Always make sure, that it may be not legal to download a ROM file if you never owned it in the first place. We keep updating the list of above mentioned ROMs and as of now, all of them work well. Though, if you do come across any new ROM, let us know and we will add it to our list.
