A collection of these chip dumps is bundled into a compressed archive (typically .zip or .7z ).
MAME is constantly updated. For the best compatibility, your ROM set version should match your MAME software version (e.g., use a 0.281 ROM set with MAME 0.281).
Place your zipped ROM archives directly into the \roms folder within your MAME installation directory. Do not unzip them .
Newer arcade games that used hard drives or CD-ROMs require a CHD file in addition to the standard ROM set. How to Set Up MAME ROMs on Your PC
Many PC-based arcade ROMs had regional variants or “upgrade” versions. MAME lets you switch between them easily — useful for comparing game balance, bugs, or translation differences without physical hardware.