Nintendo DS archive file
File type: Archive and compressed file
A NARC file is a Nintendo DS archive used to package files and resources within a Nintendo DS game ROM.
It is an internal game-data container rather than a general-purpose desktop archive.
File type category:
Archive and compressed file
Date updated: September 28, 2026
NARC stands for Nintendo Archive. Nintendo DS games use NARC archives to store groups of files, including game resources and other data needed by the game.
The format is used internally in Nintendo DS ROMs to store files. A NARC file may be nested among the ROM's other files and is intended to be read by Nintendo DS software or by tools designed for inspecting and modifying Nintendo DS ROMs.
A NARC file usually cannot be opened meaningfully with standard archive applications. Use a Nintendo DS ROM file browser or archive utility that supports NARC, such as Tinke on Windows, to view or extract its contents.
If the file came from a Nintendo DS ROM, the tool may need to open the ROM first or preserve the archive's original location and related files.
NARC files are not normally converted to another general-purpose archive format. A compatible Nintendo DS tool can extract the contained files for separate use.
To use the data in a Nintendo DS ROM again, extract and repack it with a tool that supports NARC. Repacking may require preserving the archive's internal file structure and the ROM's expected file layout.
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