If you are building a dedicated RetroPie cabinet, modding a PlayStation Classic, or loading up an Anbernic RG35XX, ignore the bleeding edge. Find a verified, non-merged, MAME 0.78 set. It is the last great arcade time capsule.

The "MAME 0.78" ROM set is a legendary collection in retro gaming, specifically tied to the emulator core. While it officially debuted on December 25, 2003

MAME 0.78 was released in late 2003, documenting a massive library of arcade history before the emulator's hardware requirements began to climb significantly. It is the default recommendation for many popular retro platforms because:

MAME 0.78 ROM Set: The Ultimate Guide to Classic Arcade Emulation