User:Asie/Mapper Recommendations

Not sure which mapper to use for your homebrew project? Here's a (slightly opinionated) recommendation list, written under the following assumptions:

• You want to be able to distribute your game digitally (as a ROM) and physically (as a cartridge) going forward. As such, the list is mostly limited to mappers with home-scale manufacturing possibilities, with boards offered by independent makers.
• You cannot design your own cartridge boards. (If you are an electrical engineer, you can technically use any mapper as a base.)

		PRG		CHR					Accessibility
#	Mapper	Layout	Max (KiB)	Layout	Max (KiB)	Mirroring	Features	Comments	Emulator	Purchase	DIY	Donor?	Action 53?
0	NROM	Fixed	32	Fixed	8	Fixed H/V			Perfect	High	High	No	Yes

Some mappers are not listed in the table. While they are available for projects, they are not recommended for various reasons.

Discrete mappers

This term refers to mappers which can be built from discrete logic chips, without using donor ASICs, programmable CPLDs or FPGAs.

Only some discrete mappers are listed here, as they are typically very similar; a more complete list is available here.

NROM (000)

The simplest mapper, or the lack of one: a PRG and CHR ROM chip connected to the cartridge bus.

While this limits your game's scope, it also makes it the simplest to manufacture.