Rompatcher
Rompatcher is a free ROM patching tool for Linux and Windows, written in Rust.
What Rompatcher is
Rompatcher is a free ROM patching tool for Linux and Windows, written in Rust. It identifies patch formats automatically and supports IPS, BPS, UPS, APS N64, APS GBA, EBP, RUP, PPF, xdelta, and BDF. These formats cover patch workflows for systems including Game Boy, NES, SNES, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, and PSP. Optional checksum checks support CRC32, Adler32, and MD5, and the tool can look up ROM hashes for more than 15 consoles through RetroAchievements. The project describes its file writes as atomic and says it can roll back a write if an error occurs. If you omit an output path, the command saves a patched file in a `patched/` directory, using the ROM name with `.patched` and its extension. The README reports about 27 microseconds to patch a 1 MB ROM in IPS format. Installation instructions use Cargo to build from source. The listed license is MIT OR Apache-2.0.
Good
- Detects patch formats automatically.
- Supports ten listed patch formats.
- Optional CRC32, Adler32, and MD5 checks.
- Can look up hashes for 15+ consoles.
- Writes atomically and can roll back on error.
Watch out
- Installation instructions use Cargo and build from source.
- No graphical interface is listed.
Who it suits
Rompatcher suits people patching ROMs on Linux or Windows who want format detection, optional checksum checks, or RetroAchievements hash lookup. Its listed formats cover several classic console systems.
Verdict
Rompatcher brings broad patch-format support and optional verification to a free command-line tool. Its source-based Cargo installation may matter to users looking for a packaged app.
Plans and prices
From Rompatcher's own pricing page, checked 7 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Rompatcher | Free | No pricing or usage limits stated on the project page |
The facts
Each one read from Rompatcher's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Audience
- The listed patch formats and example ROM extensions cover systems including Game Boy, NES, SNES, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, PlayStation, and PSP.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Checksums
- Optional checksum validation supports CRC32, Adler32, and MD5.checked 7 Oct 2026
- CLI output
- When no output path is specified, the command creates a file under patched/ named from the ROM with .patched and its extension.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Format detection
- The tool identifies patch formats from their magic bytes.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The README documents installation from source using Cargo.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The README names RetroAchievements for ROM hash lookups; it lists no other integrations.checked 7 Oct 2026
- License
- The README lists the project license as MIT OR Apache-2.0.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Patch formats
- Supported formats listed are IPS, BPS, UPS, APS N64, APS GBA, EBP, RUP, PPF, xdelta, and BDF.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Performance
- The README reports approximately 27 microseconds to patch a 1 MB ROM in IPS format.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Rompatcher is a ROM patcher written in Rust that applies patches with automatic format detection and optional checksum verification.checked 7 Oct 2026
- RetroAchievements
- It can look up ROM hashes for more than 15 consoles through RetroAchievements.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Security and compliance
- The README describes checksum verification and write rollback but does not state a security certification or compliance standard.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Write safety
- The project describes patch writes as transactional, with atomic writes and rollback on error.checked 7 Oct 2026
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