Finding new ways to experience the games you love can unlock a whole new level of potential and enjoyment from a title you thought you had seen everything from.
Whether it’s turning Pokémon Emerald into a rogue-like, or adding a whole new story mode to Metroid: Zero Mission, ROM (read-only memory) Hacks offer unique experiences within some of the most recognizable games.
But what do you need to create a ROM Hack for your copies of classic games like Pokémon and Metroid, and how do you actually create a ROM Hacked version of a game? Let’s find out.
What You Need to Create and Play a ROM Hack
Because of the nature of ROM Hacking, there are specific things you will need to ensure you have before creating and playing a ROM Hacked game. To create and play a ROM Hack you must first ensure you have these key things:
- A legal ROM. If you haven’t copied your ROM from a game you own it would be illegal to play or use that ROM to create a ROM Hack.
- You’ll also need a UPS or IPS Patch File to apply to your legal ROM.
- Based on the type of Patch File, you’ll need specific software to apply Patch Files to your ROM.
- To play your ROM-Hacked game, you’ll need an emulator that is compatible with the platform your ROM is for.
As well as having the key requirements for playing and creating ROM Hacks, you may also want to look through the pros and cons of emulation before deciding to continue. After all, while emulation is safe and legal if you own the game your ROM originated from, there are still potential complications.
But, if you’re all set to start creating your own ROM Hack, you may need to know more about the Patch Files required and the software you need to apply the patch.
What Are Patch Files?
Patch Files are created to patch over a base ROM and create a new experience. Unfortunately, Patch Files also come in numerous forms, commonly IPS and UPS. Each type of Patch File requires certain software to patch your base ROM with:
- For any type of Patch File, you can download UniPatcher through the Google Play Store to use an Android device to apply your Patch File.
- For specific UPS Patch Files, you can download NUPS Patcher from ROMhacking to use your PC to apply your Patch File.
- For specific IPS Patch Files, you can download LunarIPS from ROMhacking to apply patches through your PC.
Applying Patch Files isn’t too dissimilar to using third-party software when randomizing Pokémon games and works best with classic Nintendo platforms.
For instance, if you have a legal ROM for Pokémon Emerald, and a UPS Patch File to turn the game into Pokémon Emerald Rogue, you will need to ensure you use software that supports UPS patching like NUPS Patcher or UniPatcher.
But you will still need to ensure you find your Patch Files from official sources. Pokecommunity, for instance, allows ROM Hack creators to directly post Patch Files for games like Pokémon Emerald Rogue.
How to Patch a ROM and Start Playing ROM Hacks
With a legal ROM, an associated Patch File, and software to apply the patch, you’re ready to create your ROM Hack. Regardless of the type of Patch File you have or what device you are looking to patch your ROM through, the process for applying a ROM patch is the same.
But if you use UniPatcher for Android, you can apply any type of Patch File. To universally patch your ROM, open UniPatcher, and follow these steps:
- Ensure the ROM and Patch File are stored on the device you are using UniPatcher with.
- Select Patch file and find the Patch File you want to apply to a ROM in the files for your device.
- With the Patch File added into UniPatcher, select ROM file and similarly choose the base ROM you wish to turn into a ROM Hack.
- From here, choose Output file and select a suitable destination to save your ROM Hack.
- Finally, select the download icon at the bottom-right of your screen to patch your ROM and save the ROM Hack.
Regardless of your chosen patching software, patching a ROM remains the same: choose a Patch File, select the associated base ROM, and export your ROM Hack.
With your ROM Hack created you need to load the correct emulation software to play your game. There are many great emulators for Android devices, but any applicable emulator for your chosen ROM will allow you to play your ROM Hack.
Re-experience Your Favorite Games With ROM Hacks
Now you know how to patch your own ROMs of your favorite games and some of the best games ever made, like Super Metroid, Pokémon, and a plethora of other retro titles, you can access hundreds of different takes on recognizable games.
And with emulation, you can upscale, improve and customize your games in ways otherwise impossible. You can even play games on platforms they initially weren’t intended for, like playing Nintendo titles on Android.
By learning how to safely emulate, customize, and patch your games, you can expand your gaming horizons in numerous ways.