for cross-referencing. You can look up a game's "short name" (like
The way your files are organized determines how easy they are to index and run.
What or device are you building your setup on?
Generating a static, text-based report of the entire MAME ROM index is not feasible due to the sheer scale of the project. As of recent versions, MAME supports over (including arcade games, consoles, computers, and mechanical systems). A simple list would be hundreds of pages long. index of mame roms
This is the most important thing to understand about MAME ROMs:
You don’t have to rely solely on file names. Several excellent database websites serve as interactive indexes of MAME ROMs, allowing you to search, sort, and filter:
Unlike commercial emulators built solely for gaming, MAME’s primary mission is . The development team documents how vintage hardware operates down to the individual circuit board component. Running the games seamlessly is a fortunate byproduct of this rigorous documentation process. Over nearly three decades, MAME has expanded to absorb MESS (Multi Emulator Super System), allowing it to emulate thousands of home consoles, computers, and calculators alongside classic arcade cabinets. 2. Demystifying the "Index of MAME ROMs" for cross-referencing
MAME emulates these media devices using .
Unlike console emulators (like NES or Sega Genesis), MAME operates differently. Understanding these differences is key to building a working collection.
As arcade technology advanced into the late 90s, machines began using hard drives, laserdiscs, and CD-ROMs alongside traditional silicon chips. MAME stores these massive disc images as CHD files. If you see a directory in a MAME index that matches a game's name and contains a .chd file, that file must accompany the standard ROM zip for the game to boot. The Vital Importance of MAME Versions Generating a static, text-based report of the entire
Index of /mame/roms/ Parent Directory mame0225.zip neogeo.zip pacman.zip sf2.zip
Reliable indexes are usually found on community-driven preservation sites. The Internet Archive is one of the most respected sources, hosting massive "Non-Merged" and "Merged" sets that are verified for accuracy. A "Merged" set combines all versions of a game—such as the US, Japanese, and European releases—into a single zip file to save space. A "Non-Merged" set keeps every game entirely independent, which is easier for beginners but takes up significantly more hard drive space.
A split set separates clones from the parent into their own ZIP files. However, each clone’s ZIP file contains . To run the game, MAME must also be able to access the parent’s ZIP file for all the shared data. This offers a good balance between size and manageability and is the format most commonly found in full set distributions.