Unlocking the Past: The Role of ROMs in Video Game History

Okay, you can place your hands down now. For those unaware, game ROMs are short for Read-Only Memory files, digital copies of classic video games. For some, they are a nostalgic piece of their joyful past. For others—especially gaming companies—they are considered a legal issue. But which is it? Let's dive into it, shall we? 

What are they? 

On the surface, they preserve older games by making them accessible on modern devices through emulation software available on phones, computers, and handhelds.

From Far Cry 6 Official GIPHY

Why do people do it? They are a simple way to relive childhood classics, especially when original hardware or physical copies are expensive, rare, or simply out of production. I can get behind this because I love my GameBoy Advance and the Pokémon Emerald it had; Littleroot just hits differently. Now, note that I stated that it hits differently because the industry moves fast, and not every classic title gets a shiny remaster or port. 

ROMs often fill the gaps, preserving titles that might otherwise disappear into the gaming void. Massive retro fans are considered a lifeline to experiencing the games they may have missed. Moreover, emulation and ROMs can help democratize gaming. Not everyone can afford to hunt down expensive retro consoles and cartridges. 

Legal concerns 

From Nintendo Official Website

This is where the bad technically comes in. While ROMs provide accessibility, they exist in the legal gray area. Companies like Nintendo see them as copyright infringement—a “death sentence” for their intellectual property. After all, when games are downloaded without payment, publishers lose revenue, potentially impacting the development of new projects. The weird thing is that some old games are still priced almost the same as new IPs, which I find extremely unfair, but that is my opinion. 

I digress; if we look beyond legality, there’s also an ethical question: Are you properly supporting the creators? While most ROMs are for older, unsupported games, the line blurs when newer or actively sold titles enter the mix.

Can we reach a balance? 

From Kendrick Lamar Official GIPHY

ROMs play a role in preserving gaming history. However, they also highlight the need for companies to take preservation seriously. Gamers want access to the past without the legal risks—official re-releases, virtual libraries, and emulated ports could bridge the gap. 

The answer depends on how they are used. If they are a clear tool for preservation, then great. But when they impact current sales, they can be bad. It would be bad to continue playing games on your handheld if it is close to dying. You wouldn’t want to lose progress, right? Prepare your battery and keep your saved data files safe with the Promate Titan-160, a great power bank that can juice any handheld.