Archives
File ext.
|
Name
|
System
|
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
|
|
Use WinRAR or 7-Zip to open and extract.
|
.tar.gz .gz
|
Compressed Archive
|
|
Use WinRAR or 7-Zip to open and extract.
|
.tar
|
Archive
|
|
Use 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.
|
Disc/Disk Images
File ext.
|
Name
|
System
|
Notes
|
.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.
|
.chd
|
Compressed Hard Disk
|
MAME/MESS
|
|
.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 compress 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
|
.fds
|
Famicom Disk System
|
NES
|
|
.ndd
|
Nintendo 64DD
|
N64
|
|
Tape Files
File ext.
|
Name
|
System
|
Notes
|
.wav
|
Waveform Audio File Format
|
Tape Based Systems
|
Raw data in audio format†
|
.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
ROM Images
File ext.
|
Name
|
System
|
Notes
|
.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
|
.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
|
.nds/.srl
|
Nintendo DS ROM
|
Nintendo DS
|
|
.dsi/.nds/.srl
|
DSiWare ROM
|
DSiWare
|
Different from regular DS ROMs.
|
.wbfs
|
Wii Backup File System
|
Wii
|
Use WBFS Manager to convert to and from .iso
|
.wad
|
Game Data File
|
Wii/Doom
|
Use for Wii channels and old FPS games
|
.cia
|
CTR Importable Archive
|
3DS
|
|
.3ds
|
Nintendo 3DS ROM
|
3DS
|
|
.nsp
|
Nintendo Switch ROM
|
Nintendo Switch
|
Dump of SD and NAND games, Updates
|
.xci
|
Nintendo Switch ROM
|
Nintendo Switch
|
Dump of a game cartridge
|
.ngp/.ngc
|
NGP/C ROM
|
Neo Geo Pocket/Color
|
|
.pce
|
PC Engine ROM
|
PC Engine
|
|
.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
|
|
.ipa
|
Apple iPhone App Data
|
iOS
|
|
.apk
|
Android App Data
|
Android
|
|
.obb
|
Android App Data Resources
|
Android
|
|
Saves
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
|
|
.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
|
SNES/Genesis
|
Save RAM dump, used with emulators and flashcards
|
Shaders and Filters
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.
|
Other
File ext.
|
Name
|
System
|
Notes
|
.elf
|
Executable and Linkable Format
|
PS2/PS3/GC/Wii
|
Typically a homebrew/small application file
|
.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
|
.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.
|