| File ext
|
File type
|
Notes
|
| .rar
|
Compressed Archive
|
Use WinRAR or 7-Zip to open and extract.
|
| .7z/.7zip
|
Compressed Archive
|
Use WinRAR or 7-Zip to open and extract.
|
| .zip
|
Compressed Archive
|
Can be extracted by Windows' own file explorer.
|
.tar.gz
.gz
|
Compressed Archive
|
Use WinRAR or 7-Zip to open and extract.
|
| .tar
|
Archive
|
Use WinRAR or 7-Zip to open and extract.
|
| .001/.part1/.r01
|
Split Archive
|
Use WinRAR or 7-Zip to open and extract.
|
| .gzip
|
Compressed Archive
|
Use 7-Zip to open and extract. Can be loaded by PCSX2 directly.
|
.tar.bz2
.bz2
|
Compressed Archive
|
Use WinRAR or 7-Zip to open and extract. Could previously have been loaded by PCSX2 (Old CDVD plugin) until PCSX2 became plugin-free.
|
- Main article: Save disk space for ISOs
- Main article: Ripping games
| File ext
|
Name
|
System
|
Notes
|
| .mmi
|
Mixed Media Image
|
Pioneer LaserActive PAC
|
LaserDisc image containing full analog video, audio and digital content in a single file and used by Ares. Should NOT be compressed or otherwise messed with. Attention: HUGE file sizes (up to ~40GB per disc side).
|
| .iso/.img
|
Disk Image
|
Multiple
|
|
| .ccd
|
CloneCD Control File
|
Multiple
|
Usually comes with .img files.
|
| .bin
|
Binary File
|
Multiple
|
Usually accompanied with, and used by, a cue sheet.
|
| .cue
|
Cue Sheet
|
Multiple
|
Metadata file for .bin/.iso/.img tracks.
|
| .cci
|
Cerbios Compressed ISO
|
Xbox
|
Compressed Xbox game image created by Team Resurgent Repackinator
|
| .chd
|
Compressed Hunks of Data
|
Multiple
|
Originally made for MAME, now used by multiple emulators
|
| .mdf
|
Media Descriptor File
|
Multiple
|
Disc image made from Alcohol 120%
|
| .mds
|
Media Descriptor Sheet
|
Multiple
|
Similar to .cue or .ccd, but for .mdf files.
|
| .ecm
|
Error Code Modeler
|
PlayStation
|
Compressed PS1 disc image, use Unecm to decompress it.
|
| .cso
|
Compressed ISO
|
PS2/PSP/GC/Wii
|
Compressed disc image, see here to convert to and from .iso
|
| .gcz
|
Compressed Dolphin ISO
|
GC/Wii
|
Compressed Wii/GC disc image, see here to convert to and from .iso
|
| .rvz
|
Modern Dolphin Format
|
GC/Wii
|
A new compressed format developed by the Dolphin team able to efficiently compress junk/padding data, allowing both small file sizes and archival quality.
|
| .cdi/.gdi
|
CD Image
|
Dreamcast
|
Typically used with Dreamcast, CDI is a compressed GDI
|
| .sbi
|
CD Image
|
|
Sub-channel data. Generally used in the case of PS1 for Digital Rights Management
|
| .sub
|
CloneCD Subchannel File
|
PS1/others?
|
Sub-channel data for CloneCD, may come with .img/.ccd. Don't confuse with MicroDVD subtitle files with the same extension.
|
| .nrg
|
Nero Image File
|
PS1/PS2/others?
|
|
| .isz
|
ISO Zipped
|
PS2/others?
|
|
| .fds
|
Famicom Disk System
|
NES
|
|
| .ndd
|
Nintendo 64DD
|
N64
|
|
| .adf
|
Amiga Disk File
|
Amiga
|
|
| .adz/adf.gz
|
ADZ
|
Amiga
|
Name derived from Amiga Disk File and the compression format gzip
|
| .dms
|
Disk Masher System
|
Amiga
|
|
| .ipf
|
Interchangeable Preservation Format
|
Amiga
|
A file format designed to replace the 'Amiga Disk File' format due to many files in the .adf format "cracked" variants of software. Has better support for copy protected disks.
|
| .wud
|
Wii U Disc
|
Wii U
|
A raw Wii U disc image
|
| .wux
|
Wii U Compressed Disc
|
Wii U
|
A compressed .wud image
|
| .wua
|
Wii U Archive
|
Wii U
|
ZArchive derived from .wud
|
| File ext
|
Name
|
System
|
Notes
|
| .wav
|
Waveform Audio File Format
|
Tape-Based Systems
|
Raw data in audio format[N 1]
|
| .tap
|
Tape File
|
Tape-Based Systems
|
Raw tape data usable by appropriate emulators
|
| .tzx
|
ZX Spectrum Tape File
|
Compatible Tape-Based Systems (ZXS, CPC, C64, etc.)
|
Prefered file type for all emulators, perfect representation
|
| .cdc
|
CPC Digital Tape
|
Amstrad CPC
|
Identical to the .tzx file but useable only by Amstrad CPC emulators
|
| .cas
|
PC-6000 and PC-6601 Cassette
|
NEC PC-6000 series
|
- ↑ When listened to, the file will play white noise. If this noise is perfectly recorded on to a tape, that tape should theoretically be able to be used on a system. In practice, however, this is more difficult to do, as any interference can potentially ruin the tape and some copy protection systems may render the re-recording unusable
| File ext
|
Name
|
System
|
Notes
|
| .lnx
|
Atari Lynx ROM
|
Atari Lynx
|
For use in Handy or the GameDrive flashcard
|
| .lyx
|
Atari Lynx ROM
|
Atari Lynx
|
For use in the El Cheapo flashcard
|
| .j64/.jag
|
Atari Jaguar ROM
|
Atari Jaguar
|
|
| .nes/.nez/.unf/.unif
|
NES ROM
|
NES
|
.unf and .unif correspond to the now deprecated Universal NES Image Format.
|
| .smc
|
Super Magicom
|
SNES
|
Headered ROMs dumped from a Super Magicom copier.
|
| .sfc
|
Super Famicom ROM
|
SNES
|
Headerless SNES ROM
|
| .sms
|
Sega Master System
|
Sega Master System
|
SMS ROM
|
| .md
|
Multi Game Doctor
|
Genesis
|
ROMs dumped from a Multi Game Doctor
|
| .smd
|
Super Magic Drive
|
Genesis
|
Headered ROMs dumped from a Super Magic Drive
|
| .gen
|
Genesis ROM
|
Genesis
|
Headerless Genesis ROM
|
| .gg
|
Game Gear ROM
|
Game Gear
|
|
| .z64
|
Zip Diskette N64 ROM
|
Nintendo 64
|
Headered N64 ROMS dumped with a Mr. Backup Z64
|
| .v64
|
Doctor V64
|
Nintendo 64
|
Headered N64 ROMS dumped with a Doctor V64
|
| .n64
|
N64 ROM
|
Nintendo 64
|
|
| .gb
|
Game Boy ROM
|
Game Boy
|
|
| .gbc
|
Game Boy Color ROM
|
Game Boy Color
|
|
| .gba/.srl
|
Game Boy Advance ROM
|
Game Boy Advance
|
|
| .gcm
|
GameCube Master Image
|
GameCube
|
GC disc dumped the way it's read
|
| .gcz
|
Compressed GameCube Disc Image
|
GameCube
|
Can be either a compressed .gcm or .iso
|
| .xiso
|
Xbox ISO
|
Xbox
|
|
| .nds/.srl
|
Nintendo DS ROM
|
Nintendo DS
|
|
| .dsi/.nds/.app/.srl
|
DSiWare ROM
|
DSiWare
|
Different from regular DS ROMs.
|
| .ids
|
iQue DS ROM
|
iQue/Nintendo DS
|
The same thing as regular Nintendo DS ROMs, but for the Chinese iQue DS.
|
| .wbfs
|
Wii Backup File System
|
Wii
|
Use WBFS Manager to convert to and from .iso
|
| .wad
|
Wii Application Data
|
Wii
|
Used for Wii channels
|
| Where's All the Data?
|
Doom Engine games
|
Used for games derived from the Doom engine and a few 90's games.
|
| .cia
|
CTR Importable Archive
|
3DS
|
|
| .zcia
|
CTR Importable Archive
|
3DS
|
Compressed .cia
|
| .cci
|
Citra Cartridge Image
|
3DS
|
Used by Citra
|
| .zcci
|
Citra Cartridge Image
|
3DS
|
Compressed .cci
|
| .3ds
|
Nintendo 3DS ROM
|
3DS
|
|
| .3dz
|
Nintendo 3DS ROM
|
3DS
|
Same as .3ds but with online functionality support if you have proper ROM header
|
| .nsp
|
Nintendo Switch ROM
|
Nintendo Switch
|
Dump of SD and NAND games, Updates
|
| .xci
|
Nintendo Switch ROM
|
Nintendo Switch
|
Dump of a game cartridge
|
| .dnsp
|
Nintendo Switch ROM
|
Nintendo Switch
|
Decrypted .nsp
|
| .dxci
|
Nintendo Switch ROM
|
Nintendo Switch
|
Decrypted .xci
|
| .ngp/.ngc
|
NGP/C ROM
|
Neo Geo Pocket/Color
|
|
| .pce
|
PC Engine ROM
|
PC Engine
|
|
| .sgx
|
SuperGrafx ROM
|
SuperGrafx
|
|
| .vpk
|
PlayStation Vita ROM
|
PlayStation Vita
|
Compressed files forming a PlayStation Vita ROM
|
| .vb
|
Virtual Boy ROM
|
Virtual Boy
|
Also used for Visual Basic source files
|
| .ws/.wsc
|
WonderSwan (Color) ROM
|
WonderSwan/Color
|
|
| .bin/.dat/.lst
|
NAOMI ROM
|
Dreamcast
|
NAOMI format supported by relevant Dreamcast emulators. MAME-deprecated and mostly irrelevant
|
| .ipa
|
Apple iPhone App Data
|
iOS
|
|
| .apk
|
Android App Data
|
Android
|
|
| .obb
|
Android App Data Resources
|
Android
|
| .32x
|
Sega 32X ROM
|
Genesis
|
|
| .jar
|
Java ARchive
|
Java ME
|
|
| File ext
|
Name
|
System
|
Notes
|
| .dsv
|
DeSmuME Save
|
NDS
|
|
| .ds1 to .ds9
|
DeSmuME Save State
|
NDS
|
|
| .sav
|
Save file
|
Multiple
|
|
| .ps2
|
PCSX2 Memory Card
|
PS2
|
|
| .p2s
|
PCSX2 Save State
|
PS2
|
|
| .mcr
|
Memory Card Reader
|
PS1
|
PS1 emulator memory card
|
| .mpk
|
Memory Pack
|
Nintendo 64
|
N64 saves
|
| .eep
|
EEPROM
|
Nintendo 64
|
N64 saves
|
| .st0/.sta/
|
Savestate
|
Multiple
|
|
| .srm
|
Save RAM
|
Most often: SNES; rarely: Genesis, GB/GBC, GBA
|
Save RAM dump, used with emulators and flashcards
|
| .bess
|
Best Effort Save State
|
Game Boy/Game Boy Color
|
Save state format specification designed to allow different emulators, as well as majorly different versions of the same emulator, to import save states from other BESS-compliant save states
|
| File ext
|
Name
|
System
|
Notes
|
| .cg
|
C for Graphics
|
|
Nvidia's shader format based on C's syntax.
|
| .glsl
|
OpenGL Shading Language / GLslang
|
|
OpenGL only shader format based on C's syntax.
|
| .hlsl
|
High-level shader language
|
Windows, Xbox, 360
|
Microsoft's proprietary DirectX only shader language, based on C's syntax.
|
| .slang
|
Slang
|
|
Shading language that extends HLSL.
|
| .slangp
|
Slang preset
|
|
Lists Slang files and provides parameters for them.
|
| File ext
|
Name
|
System
|
Notes
|
| .elf
|
Executable and Linkable Format
|
PS2/PS3/GC/Wii
|
Typically a homebrew/small application file
|
| .3dsx
|
Nintendo 3DS Homebrew Launcher File
|
3DS
|
Used for homebrew
|
| .z3dsx
|
Nintendo 3DS Homebrew Launcher File
|
3DS
|
Compressed .3dsx
|
| .cxi
|
Nintendo 3DS Executable Image
|
3DS
|
Executable
|
| .zcxi
|
Nintendo 3DS Executable Image
|
3DS
|
Compressed .cxi
|
| .cfa
|
CTR File Archive
|
3DS
|
Used in conjunction with .cxi
|
| .pbp
|
Perl Builder File
|
PlayStation Portable
|
Game and homebrew eboot file, also used for PS1 ISO storage (eboot.pbp)
|
| .dol
|
Dolphin File
|
GameCube/Wii
|
Executable
|
| .xbe/.xex
|
Xbox Executable
|
Xbox/X360
|
Xbox Executable. Usually comes with a folder with game data. X360 ones can be loaded by Xenia.
|
| .cfg/.ini
|
Configuration File
|
Multiple
|
Use a text editor such as notepad/Notepad++ to edit
|
| .dll
|
Dynamic Link Library
|
Multiple
|
Typically used for plugins/emulation cores in emulators
|
| .so
|
Shared Library
|
Multiple
|
Typically used for plugins/emulation cores in emulators
|
| .xml
|
Extensible Markup Language
|
MAME/MESS
|
Contains various information about emulated systems and ROMs.
|
| .hsi
|
XML-like
|
MESS
|
Contains various information about ROMs.
|
| .lay
|
Layout
|
MAME/MESS
|
XML-like file used to describe the visual layout of artwork overlays and placement of emulation input/output.
|
| .nv
|
Non Volatile RAM
|
MAME/MESS
|
Created by default to store nvram of emulated systems or software in the NVRAM folder.
|
| .m3u
|
Playlist file
|
Multiple
|
Used to play multiple discs back to back, automates disc swapping.
|
| .m3u8
|
Playlist file
|
Multiple
|
Same as .m3u but with UTF-8-encoded text.
|
| .rp9
|
RP9
|
Amiga/Commodore 64
|
Packaging format for Commodore 64 and Amiga file formats. Designed by Cloanto. used by C64 Forever and Amiga Forever software.
|
| .2mg/.2img
|
Apple IIGS Disk Image/Apple II Universal Disk Image
|
Apple II
|
These are disk images (e.g. .dsk or .nib) with a prefix which includes information about size, format, sector ordering,
volume number, locked/unlocked, etc. Can accommodate disk images ranging from 5.25"
diskette up through hard disk.
|
| File ext
|
Extension
|
Notes
|
| .c8, .ch8
|
Original
|
| .ch10
|
CHIP-10
|
| .c8b
|
?
|
proposed standard CHIP-8 binary file
|
| .c8h
|
CHIP-8 with two page display (64x64)
|
| .c8e
|
CHIP-8E
|
| .c8x
|
CHIP-8X
|
| .sc8
|
S-CHIP
|
| .mc8
|
MegaChip8
|
| .xo8
|
XO-CHIP
|
| .8o
|
Octo
|
Source file
|
The following formats are for Commodore 64 disc images.
| File ext
|
Notes
|
| .d64
|
5¼-inch diskette for the 1541, 1551, 1571, and other floppy images, single-sided
|
| .d71
|
5¼-inch diskette for the 1571 floppy image, double-sided (i.e. about twice the size of a .d64 diskette)
|
| .d80
|
5¼-inch diskette for the 8050 floppy images
|
| .d81
|
3½-inch diskette for the 1581 floppy images
|
| .d82
|
5¼-inch diskette for the 8250 or SFD-1001 floppy images
|
| .g64
|
5¼-inch diskette, single-sided, also suitable for copy-protected software, originally .g41 (obsolete naming)
|
| .x64
|
for various floppy diskettes
|
| .p64
|
5¼-inch diskette for the 1541 floppy images, also suitable for copy-protected software
|
| .fdi
|
5¼-inch diskette for the 1541 floppy images, also suitable for copy-protected software
|
| .d2m/.d4m
|
container format of 3½-inch diskette for the Floppy CMD FD-2000/FD-4000
|
| .dhd
|
container format of a complete CMD-HD hard disk
|
| .dnp
|
native partition of a CMD-HD, FD-2000/FD-4000 or RAMLink
|
| .m2i
|
early container format for MMC2IEC that hadn't supported D64 yet. Not a true file format, an M2I file stores the mapping of (PC/FAT-) file names to C64 filenames. There's no size limit and no sector-by-sector access
|
| .nib
|
Exact disk image created by NIBTOOLS utilities
|
The following formats are others, particularly relevant for Commodore 64 emulators:
| File ext
|
Notes
|
| .prg
|
program file (2 bytes with load address followed by program data)
|
| .p00
|
program file (similar to .prg, but also contains the original filename)
|
| .tap
|
raw tape copy
|
| .t64
|
container for .prg, often used instead of .tap, but is not a true cassette image
|
| .crt
|
Expansion Port Module image, contains image of the plug-in module ROM as well as information about the underlying plug-in module hardware
|
| .sid
|
music file, contains a 6510 program that controls the SID
|
| .vsf
|
snapshot images from VICE
|
| .cvt
|
archive format for GEOS/VLIR files/ programs
|
| .lnx
|
Commodore 64 Lynx Archive is an archive that contains one or more files that comprise a Commodore 64 game or program. It is packaged with the Lynx archiver program and is not compressed
|
See also the relevant documentation on C64 formats.
The following formats are memory ZX Spectrum snapshots:
| File ext
|
Notes
|
| .z80
|
most widespread format
|
| .sna
|
simple format
|
| .szx
|
preferred format for Spectaculator and FUSE
|
The following formats are memory ZX Spectrum tapes:
| File ext
|
Notes
|
| .tap
|
container format, doesn't describe the data blocks' contents contained within
|
| .tzx
|
format for preserving tapes with turbo or custom loading routines
|
| .pzx
|
simplified replacement for .tzx
|
The following formats are memory ZX Spectrum disc/diskette images:
| File ext
|
Notes
|
| .dsk
|
standard for storing floppy diskette images
|
| .hdf
|
format for storing hard disk images for emulation
|
| .mgt/.img
|
format for storing DISCiPLE/+D disk images for emulation. Only contains dumped sector data without headers
|
| .opd
|
format for storing Opus Discovery disk images for emulation. Only contains dumped sector data without headers
|
| .trd
|
format for storing Beta Disk (TR-DOS) disk images for emulation. Only contains dumped sector data without headers
|
| .scl
|
compact representation of TR-DOS filesystem content. Only contains file headers and used sectors.
|
See also the formats' description.
This article is a never-ending list. It will always need updates and will likely have new content added to it on a consistent basis. Because of this, it can never truly be a finished article.