🎮 Expert Level
🍓 Raspberry Pi Pico
🕹️ 4 Games
🟢 Wokwi
Retro Arcade Gaming Console
on Raspberry Pi Pico
Turn a Raspberry Pi Pico into a pocket arcade machine running Snake, Pong, Space Shooter, and Breakout — all on a 128×64 OLED display with real button controls, 8-bit sound effects, and MicroPython. Simulate everything in Wokwi first.
Snake
D-Pad
Pong
UP / DOWN
Shooter
L/R + A
Breakout
LEFT / RIGHT
0Requirements
Hardware Components
Raspberry Pi Pico
RP2040, MicroPython
SSD1306 OLED
0.96" 128×64, I2C 0x3C
6× Push Buttons
D-Pad + A + B
Active Buzzer
8-bit sound effects
6× 10kΩ Resistors
Button pull-ups (optional)
Breadboard + Wires
Prototyping setup
MicroPython Firmware
Flashed on Pico
All components are available in Wokwi — no physical hardware needed to get started. Internal pull-ups are used via MicroPython configuration.
1Wiring
Circuit Connections
📺 OLED SSD1306 (I2C)
SDAGP0
SCLGP1
VCC3.3V(OUT)
GNDGND.8
🎮 D-Pad Buttons (Active Low)
UPGP10 / GND.1
DOWNGP11 / GND.2
LEFTGP12 / GND.3
RIGHTGP13 / GND.4
🔴 Action Buttons
A (Action)GP14 / GND.5
B (Back/Menu)GP15 / GND.6
🔊 Buzzer
Positive (+)GP16
Negative (−)GND.7
All buttons use Pin.PULL_UP internally — no external resistors required.
🎮 Games
4 Classic Arcade Games
RETRO ARCADE
─────────────
▶Snake
Pong
Shooter
Breakout
Game Menu
Game 01
🐍 Snake
Classic grid-based movement. Eat food to grow, avoid walls and your own tail.
D-Pad • +10pts/food
- Grid logic
- Self-collision detection
- Random food generation
- Direction control
Game 02
🏓 Pong
Arcade paddle ball. Keep the ball from passing your paddle to score points.
UP / DOWN • +1pt/rally
- Ball physics
- Paddle collision
- Score increment
- Velocity inversion
Game 03
🚀 Space Shooter
Destroy incoming enemies. 3 lives — survive as long as possible.
L/R + A (Shoot) • 3 lives
- Projectile management
- Enemy spawning
- AABB hit detection
- Life system
Game 04
🧱 Breakout
32 bricks, one ball. Clear all bricks without letting the ball fall.
LEFT / RIGHT • +5pts/brick
- Brick grid management
- Ball reflection physics
- Win-state detection
- Score scaling
⚙️ Design
Code Architecture
The project uses a clean state machine design with object-oriented game classes, running at 20 FPS (50ms sleep per frame).
Boot Splash
→
GameMenu
State: menu
State: menu
→
Game Selected
A button
A button
→
Gameplay
State: playing
State: playing
↩
B = Back
to menu
to menu
Classes
SSD1306_I2C
SnakeGame
PongGame
SpaceShooter
BreakoutGame
GameMenu
SnakeGame
PongGame
SpaceShooter
BreakoutGame
GameMenu
Key Functions
read_buttons()
button_pressed()
beep()
game.update()
game.draw()
oled.show()
button_pressed()
beep()
game.update()
game.draw()
oled.show()
Sound Patterns
"single"
"double"
"game_over"
"double"
"game_over"
2Wokwi Config
diagram.json
Paste this into Wokwi's diagram.json tab to auto-place and wire all components.
diagram.json
{
"version": 1,
"author": "Retro Gaming Console",
"editor": "wokwi",
"parts": [
{ "type": "wokwi-pi-pico", "id": "pico", "top": 0, "left": 0, "attrs": {} },
{
"type": "wokwi-ssd1306", "id": "oled1",
"top": -137.3, "left": 213.1,
"attrs": { "i2cAddress": "0x3C" }
},
{
"type": "wokwi-pushbutton", "id": "btn_up",
"top": -120, "left": -115.2,
"attrs": { "color": "blue", "label": "UP" }
},
{
"type": "wokwi-pushbutton", "id": "btn_down",
"top": -60, "left": -115.2,
"attrs": { "color": "blue", "label": "DOWN" }
},
{
"type": "wokwi-pushbutton", "id": "btn_left",
"top": -90, "left": -153.6,
"attrs": { "color": "blue", "label": "LEFT" }
},
{
"type": "wokwi-pushbutton", "id": "btn_right",
"top": -90, "left": -76.8,
"attrs": { "color": "blue", "label": "RIGHT" }
},
{
"type": "wokwi-pushbutton", "id": "btn_a",
"top": -90, "left": 57.6,
"attrs": { "color": "red", "label": "A" }
},
{
"type": "wokwi-pushbutton", "id": "btn_b",
"top": -90, "left": 124.8,
"attrs": { "color": "green", "label": "B" }
},
{
"type": "wokwi-buzzer", "id": "buzzer1",
"top": 120, "left": 100,
"attrs": { "volume": "0.6" }
}
],
"connections": [
[ "pico:GP0", "oled1:SDA", "green", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "pico:GP1", "oled1:SCL", "blue", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "pico:3V3(OUT)", "oled1:VCC", "red", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "pico:GND.8", "oled1:GND", "black", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "pico:GP10", "btn_up:1.l", "blue", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "btn_up:2.l", "pico:GND.1", "black", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "pico:GP11", "btn_down:1.l", "blue", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "btn_down:2.l", "pico:GND.2", "black", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "pico:GP12", "btn_left:1.l", "blue", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "btn_left:2.l", "pico:GND.3", "black", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "pico:GP13", "btn_right:1.l", "blue", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "btn_right:2.l","pico:GND.4", "black", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "pico:GP14", "btn_a:1.l", "red", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "btn_a:2.l", "pico:GND.5", "black", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "pico:GP15", "btn_b:1.l", "green", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "btn_b:2.l", "pico:GND.6", "black", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "pico:GP16", "buzzer1:1", "magenta", [ "v0" ] ],
[ "buzzer1:2", "pico:GND.7", "black", [ "v0" ] ]
],
"dependencies": {}
}
3Code
MicroPython Code (main.py)
Save this as main.py on your Pico, or paste into Wokwi's code editor.
main.py — MicroPython
from machine import Pin, I2C import time import framebuf import random # ── SSD1306 OLED Driver (128×64) ────────────────────────────── class SSD1306_I2C: def __init__(self, width, height, i2c, addr=0x3C): self.i2c = i2c; self.addr = addr self.width = width; self.height = height self.pages = height // 8 self.buffer = bytearray(self.pages * width) self.framebuf = framebuf.FrameBuffer( self.buffer, width, height, framebuf.MONO_VLSB) self.init_display() def init_display(self): for cmd in ( 0xAE, 0xD5, 0x80, 0xA8, 0x3F, 0xD3, 0x00, 0x40, 0x8D, 0x14, 0x20, 0x00, 0xA1, 0xC8, 0xDA, 0x12, 0x81, 0xCF, 0xD9, 0xF1, 0xDB, 0x40, 0xA4, 0xA6, 0xAF ): self.write_cmd(cmd) self.fill(0); self.show() def write_cmd(self, cmd): self.i2c.writeto(self.addr, bytearray([0x00, cmd])) def write_data(self, buf): self.i2c.writeto(self.addr, b'\x40' + buf) def show(self): for page in range(self.pages): self.write_cmd(0xB0 + page) self.write_cmd(0x00); self.write_cmd(0x10) self.write_data(self.buffer[page*self.width:(page+1)*self.width]) def fill(self, c): self.framebuf.fill(c) def pixel(self,x,y,c): self.framebuf.pixel(x,y,c) def text(self,s,x,y,c=1):self.framebuf.text(s,x,y,c) def rect(self,x,y,w,h,c): self.framebuf.rect(x,y,w,h,c) def fill_rect(self,x,y,w,h,c): self.framebuf.fill_rect(x,y,w,h,c) def line(self,x1,y1,x2,y2,c): self.framebuf.line(x1,y1,x2,y2,c) # ── Hardware Init ───────────────────────────────────────────── i2c = I2C(0, scl=Pin(1), sda=Pin(0), freq=400000) oled = SSD1306_I2C(128, 64, i2c) btn_up = Pin(10, Pin.IN, Pin.PULL_UP) btn_down = Pin(11, Pin.IN, Pin.PULL_UP) btn_left = Pin(12, Pin.IN, Pin.PULL_UP) btn_right = Pin(13, Pin.IN, Pin.PULL_UP) btn_a = Pin(14, Pin.IN, Pin.PULL_UP) btn_b = Pin(15, Pin.IN, Pin.PULL_UP) buzzer = Pin(16, Pin.OUT) # ── Sound Effects ───────────────────────────────────────────── def beep(duration=0.05, pattern="single"): if pattern == "single": buzzer.on(); time.sleep(duration); buzzer.off() elif pattern == "double": for _ in range(2): buzzer.on(); time.sleep(0.05) buzzer.off(); time.sleep(0.05) elif pattern == "game_over": for f in [0.1, 0.1, 0.15]: buzzer.on(); time.sleep(f) buzzer.off(); time.sleep(0.05) # ── Button Debouncing ───────────────────────────────────────── last_press = {"up":0, "down":0, "left":0, "right":0, "a":0, "b":0} debounce_time = 150 # ms def button_pressed(name): now = time.ticks_ms() if time.ticks_diff(now, last_press[name]) > debounce_time: last_press[name] = now; return True return False def read_buttons(): return { "up": btn_up.value() == 0, "down": btn_down.value() == 0, "left": btn_left.value() == 0, "right": btn_right.value() == 0, "a": btn_a.value() == 0, "b": btn_b.value() == 0, } # ── SNAKE ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── class SnakeGame: def __init__(self): self.reset() def reset(self): self.snake = [[64,32],[60,32],[56,32]] self.direction = [4,0] self.food = [random.randint(0,30)*4, random.randint(0,14)*4] self.score = 0; self.game_over = False def update(self, buttons): if self.game_over: return dx, dy = self.direction if buttons["up"] and dy == 0: self.direction = [0,-4] elif buttons["down"] and dy == 0: self.direction = [0,4] elif buttons["left"] and dx == 0: self.direction = [-4,0] elif buttons["right"] and dx == 0: self.direction = [4,0] head = [self.snake[0][0]+self.direction[0], self.snake[0][1]+self.direction[1]] if head[0] < 0 or head[0] >= 128 or head[1] < 0 or head[1] >= 64: self.game_over = True; beep(0.1, "game_over"); return if head in self.snake: self.game_over = True; beep(0.1, "game_over"); return self.snake.insert(0, head) if head == self.food: self.score += 10; beep(0.05, "double") self.food = [random.randint(0,30)*4, random.randint(0,14)*4] else: self.snake.pop() def draw(self): oled.fill(0) for s in self.snake: oled.fill_rect(s[0],s[1],4,4,1) oled.fill_rect(self.food[0],self.food[1],4,4,1) oled.text(f"Score:{self.score}",0,0) if self.game_over: oled.fill_rect(20,25,88,20,0); oled.rect(20,25,88,20,1) oled.text("GAME OVER",30,30) oled.show() # ── PONG ────────────────────────────────────────────────────── class PongGame: def __init__(self): self.reset() def reset(self): self.paddle_y = 24; self.ball_x = 64; self.ball_y = 32 self.ball_dx = 2; self.ball_dy = 1 self.score = 0; self.game_over = False def update(self, buttons): if self.game_over: return if buttons["up"] and self.paddle_y > 0: self.paddle_y -= 3 if buttons["down"] and self.paddle_y < 48: self.paddle_y += 3 self.ball_x += self.ball_dx; self.ball_y += self.ball_dy if self.ball_y <= 0 or self.ball_y >= 62: self.ball_dy *= -1; beep(0.03) if self.ball_x <= 8 and self.paddle_y <= self.ball_y <= self.paddle_y+16: self.ball_dx *= -1; self.score += 1; beep(0.05) if self.ball_x < 0: self.game_over = True; beep(0.1, "game_over") if self.ball_x >= 126: self.ball_dx *= -1 def draw(self): oled.fill(0) oled.fill_rect(2,self.paddle_y,4,16,1) oled.fill_rect(self.ball_x,self.ball_y,2,2,1) oled.text(f"Score:{self.score}",40,0) if self.game_over: oled.fill_rect(20,25,88,20,0); oled.rect(20,25,88,20,1) oled.text("GAME OVER",30,30) oled.show() # ── SPACE SHOOTER ───────────────────────────────────────────── class SpaceShooter: def __init__(self): self.reset() def reset(self): self.player_x = 60; self.bullets = []; self.score = 0 self.enemies = [[random.randint(0,120), random.randint(-30,-10)] for _ in range(3)] self.lives = 3; self.game_over = False def update(self, buttons): if self.game_over: return if buttons["left"] and self.player_x > 0: self.player_x -= 3 if buttons["right"] and self.player_x < 120: self.player_x += 3 if buttons["a"] and button_pressed("a"): self.bullets.append([self.player_x+3, 50]); beep(0.03) for b in self.bullets[:]: b[1] -= 4 if b[1] < 0: self.bullets.remove(b) for e in self.enemies: e[1] += 1 if e[1] > 64: e[0] = random.randint(0,120); e[1] = random.randint(-30,-10) self.lives -= 1; beep(0.1) if self.lives <= 0: self.game_over = True; beep(0.1, "game_over") for b in self.bullets[:]: for e in self.enemies[:]: if abs(b[0]-e[0]) < 6 and abs(b[1]-e[1]) < 6: self.bullets.remove(b) e[0] = random.randint(0,120); e[1] = random.randint(-30,-10) self.score += 10; beep(0.05, "double"); break def draw(self): oled.fill(0) oled.fill_rect(self.player_x,54,8,6,1); oled.pixel(self.player_x+4,52,1) for b in self.bullets: oled.fill_rect(b[0],b[1],2,4,1) for e in self.enemies: oled.fill_rect(e[0],e[1],6,6,1) oled.text(f"S:{self.score}",0,0); oled.text(f"L:{self.lives}",100,0) if self.game_over: oled.fill_rect(20,25,88,20,0); oled.rect(20,25,88,20,1) oled.text("GAME OVER",30,30) oled.show() # ── BREAKOUT ────────────────────────────────────────────────── class BreakoutGame: def __init__(self): self.reset() def reset(self): self.paddle_x = 52; self.ball_x = 64; self.ball_y = 50 self.ball_dx = 2; self.ball_dy = -2 self.bricks = [[x*16, y*6+10] for x in range(8) for y in range(4)] self.score = 0; self.game_over = False; self.won = False def update(self, buttons): if self.game_over or self.won: return if buttons["left"] and self.paddle_x > 0: self.paddle_x -= 4 if buttons["right"] and self.paddle_x < 104: self.paddle_x += 4 self.ball_x += self.ball_dx; self.ball_y += self.ball_dy if self.ball_x <= 0 or self.ball_x >= 126: self.ball_dx *= -1; beep(0.03) if self.ball_y <= 0: self.ball_dy *= -1; beep(0.03) if (self.paddle_x <= self.ball_x <= self.paddle_x+24 and 58 <= self.ball_y <= 60): self.ball_dy *= -1; beep(0.05) if self.ball_y > 64: self.game_over = True; beep(0.1, "game_over") for brick in self.bricks[:]: if (brick[0] <= self.ball_x <= brick[0]+14 and brick[1] <= self.ball_y <= brick[1]+4): self.bricks.remove(brick); self.ball_dy *= -1 self.score += 5; beep(0.04) if not self.bricks: self.won = True; beep(0.1, "double") break def draw(self): oled.fill(0) oled.fill_rect(self.paddle_x,58,24,4,1) oled.fill_rect(self.ball_x,self.ball_y,2,2,1) for b in self.bricks: oled.rect(b[0],b[1],14,4,1) oled.text(f"Score:{self.score}",0,0) if self.game_over: oled.fill_rect(20,25,88,20,0); oled.rect(20,25,88,20,1) oled.text("GAME OVER",30,30) elif self.won: oled.fill_rect(20,25,88,20,0); oled.rect(20,25,88,20,1) oled.text("YOU WIN!",35,30) oled.show() # ── GAME MENU ───────────────────────────────────────────────── class GameMenu: def __init__(self): self.games = ["Snake", "Pong", "Shooter", "Breakout"] self.selected = 0 def update(self, buttons): if buttons["up"] and button_pressed("up"): self.selected = (self.selected - 1) % len(self.games); beep(0.03) if buttons["down"] and button_pressed("down"): self.selected = (self.selected + 1) % len(self.games); beep(0.03) if buttons["a"] and button_pressed("a"): beep(0.05, "double"); return self.selected return None def draw(self): oled.fill(0); oled.rect(0,0,128,64,1) oled.text("RETRO ARCADE",20,5); oled.line(0,15,128,15,1) for i, game in enumerate(self.games): y = 22 + i * 10 oled.text(f"{'>' if i==self.selected else ' '}{game}", 15, y) oled.show() # ── MAIN LOOP ───────────────────────────────────────────────── print("=" * 40); print("🎮 RETRO GAMING CONSOLE"); print("=" * 40) print("\nD-Pad: UP/DOWN/LEFT/RIGHT | A=Select | B=Back\n") oled.fill(0) oled.text("RETRO ARCADE",25,20); oled.text("Loading...",30,35) oled.show(); time.sleep(1) menu = GameMenu(); current_game = None; game_mode = "menu" try: while True: buttons = read_buttons() if game_mode == "menu": selected = menu.update(buttons); menu.draw() if selected is not None: current_game = [SnakeGame, PongGame, SpaceShooter, BreakoutGame][selected]() game_mode = "playing" print(f"🎮 Starting {menu.games[selected]}...") elif game_mode == "playing": current_game.update(buttons); current_game.draw() if buttons["b"] and button_pressed("b"): game_mode = "menu"; beep(0.05) print("📋 Back to menu...") time.sleep(0.05) # 20 FPS except KeyboardInterrupt: print("\n🛑 Shutting down...") oled.fill(0); oled.text("GAME OVER",35,28); oled.show() buzzer.off()
📚 Skills
What You'll Learn
Game loop architecture
Frame rate control (20 FPS)
AABB collision detection
OOP in MicroPython
Pixel frame buffer rendering
State machine design
Input debouncing
GPIO sound generation
Memory-efficient coding
I2C display driving
Embedded UI/UX
Ball physics & reflection
4Run
Run the Simulation
Paste diagram.json
Copy into Wokwi's diagram tab to auto-wire all components.
Paste main.py
Copy the full code into Wokwi's code editor.
Click ▶ Play
Press the green start button — the OLED boot animation appears.
Navigate Menu
UP/DOWN to select a game, A to launch it.
Play Games
Use the 6 virtual buttons. B returns to the main menu.
More Arduino & Pico Projects
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03Knight Rider LED Chaser
04RGB LED Color Mixing
05Potentiometer Analog Input
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🔵 Intermediate — Displays & Sensors
0116×2 LCD Text Output
02DHT22 + LCD Weather Station
03LCD + Ultrasonic Parking Sensor
04OLED Graphics (SSD1306 128×64)
🔴 Advanced — Motors & Actuators
🟣 Expert — Security, IoT & Gaming
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