I Built a Retro Gaming Console Using ESP32 and OLED Display š®
Build your own handheld mini console with ESP32, play classic games like Pacman & Tetris and learn embedded development in a fun way.
š® Building a DIY Gaming Console Using ESP32
Retro games never get old.
As makers and embedded developers, we usually build IoT dashboards, sensor projects, automation systems, and robots. But this time I wanted to build something different:
A mini gaming console powered by ESP32.
The goal was simple:
ā Build with low-cost components ā Add multiple games ā Use an OLED display ā Keep it open source ā Make it easy for anyone to recreate
The result is a compact DIY gaming console capable of running classic games directly from an ESP32 development board.
š Demo Video
Watch the complete build and gameplay demonstration here:
šŗ YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYA9_YRBI0EKhktI-nhHoXQ š® Full tutorial & demo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vUG4ccxg8Y
In the video I show:
Hardware setup OLED interface Game menu system Button controls Gameplay demo Complete working project
Components
7 itemsThe complete design stays lightweight and inexpensive, making it perfect for:
Students DIY makers Arduino beginners Embedded developers Retro gaming fans
š® Games Included
The console currently supports multiple games including:
āļø Asteroids š§± Breakout š¦ Dino š¦ Flappy Bird š Maze Runner š» Pacman š Pong š Snake š¾ Space Invaders š Tank š§© Tetris
The interface includes a menu system where users can select and launch games directly from the OLED screen.
Even though the display is small, gameplay feels surprisingly fun.
š» Source Code and Project Repository
Complete source code:
ESP32 Gaming Console Repository -> https://github.com/karthick965938/learn-tech-with-karthick/tree/master/esp32_gaming_console
Main project collection repository:
Learn Tech With Karthick GitHub Repository -> https://github.com/karthick965938/learn-tech-with-karthick
The repository contains:
ESP32 code Game implementation Menu system Display logic Hardware configuration DIY setup references Feel free to fork, improve, and add more games.
š§ How to Build This Project
Step 1
Connect the OLED display to ESP32 using I2C pins.
Typical connections:
OLED VCC ā 3.3V OLED GND ā GND OLED SDA ā ESP32 SDA OLED SCL ā ESP32 SCL
Step 2
Connect navigation buttons.
Buttons control:
Up Down Left Right
Step 3
Add buzzer output for sound effects.
Step 4
Upload the source code.
After flashing:
Power ON ā Open Menu ā Select Game ā Play š®
