Go to archive.org and click "Advanced Search." Enter:

To survive future DMCAs, the Archive is testing IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) integration. New ROM uploads now include an IPFS hash. You can download from Archive.org or a distributed network of volunteer nodes.

On Archive.org, never click "Download All" (a 200GB ZIP file will fail). Instead:

There is no legal “abandonware” doctrine. However, rightsholders often ignore distribution of titles where no commercial re-release exists. The Archive’s policy is to honor all DMCA notices but to restore content if a counter-notice is filed (rare due to risk of lawsuit).

Downloading a ROM of a game still sold by the rights holder (Nintendo, SEGA, Capcom) on modern platforms (Switch Online, Steam, etc.) is copyright infringement. The "UPD" tag does not fix this legally, only technically.

Real-world risk: Individuals are rarely sued. Uploaders face DMCA bans. Archive.org responds to takedown notices immediately. You will not go to jail, but your ISP may send a warning if you torrent—though Archive.org uses direct HTTPS downloads, so no one sees your activity.

Disclaimer: This is not legal advice. Consult a lawyer if you plan to redistribute ROMs.

The famous Console Living Room section—which offered Atari 2600, ColecoVision, and Odyssey² games playable in-browser—received a massive update in December 2025.

The U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Section 1201 prohibits circumventing access controls. Modern ROMs (e.g., Nintendo Switch) are encrypted; distributing decrypted ROMs violates 1201 even if the software is old. The Internet Archive typically avoids post-2000 ROMs for this reason.

The Internet Archive argues that providing access to out-of-print, non-commercial games counts as fair use for preservation. However, courts have not fully agreed. In 2023, the IA lost a major book lending case; ROMs could be next.