Most modern emulators do not require ISO format. In fact, converting a Z64 to ISO may make it unreadable for standard emulators unless you "mount" the ISO first. Only convert if your specific hardware or software explicitly demands a disc image. Conclusion
Let’s start with the Z64 file itself. The .z64 extension is one of the most common formats for —digital copies of game data ripped directly from physical N64 game cartridges. These files contain the exact code, graphics, audio, and other assets stored on a game cartridge, allowing modern software (called emulators) to run classic N64 games on your PC, smartphone, or other devices. z64 to iso