I Built a PLAYABLE Pixelboard with Tetris & Snake
Building a 16x16 LED matrix display that brings retro games to life
PixelBoard: My DIY LED Matrix Journey That Brings Retro Games to Life
I’ve always been fascinated by the intersection of nostalgia and technology. That’s why I built the PixelBoard: a 16x16 LED matrix display powered by an ESP32 that brings classic games back to life right on your wall. And here’s the kicker—I started with zero hardware experience.
What Is the PixelBoard?
The PixelBoard is a interactive LED matrix (256 individual LEDs) that runs animated patterns, classic games like Snake and Tetris, and displays custom pixel art. What makes it special is its web-based control interface—you can change patterns, adjust settings, and even draw directly on the display from any device on your network.
Key Features
- 20+ Built-in Patterns: From fire simulations to Matrix-style digital rain
- Interactive Games: Play Tetris and Snake directly on the board
- Web Control: Access from any device on your network
- Custom Drawing: Create your own pixel art through the interface
- Video Pattern Support: Display simple animations
The Tech Behind It
The project runs on surprisingly accessible hardware:
- ESP32 Development Board (~$5): The brains of the operation
- WS2812B LED Matrix: 256 RGB LEDs for display
- FastLED Library: Handles the LED timing magic
Why Build This?
Three reasons drove this project:
- Learning hardware: As a software guy, I wanted to venture into physical computing
- Nostalgia: Growing up with Nintendo and classic games inspired the gaming features and interactive elements
- The challenge: Making something both fun and functional
Get Started With Your Own
Want to build one? The project is open source and surprisingly approachable. You don’t need to be an electrical engineer—just bring curiosity and patience. The ESP32 is incredibly beginner-friendly and compatible with the Arduino ecosystem.
- ESP32: Buy here
- 16x16 LED Matrix: Buy here
- Breadboard (optional but helpful): Buy here
- Jumper Wires: Buy here
Check out the GitHub repository for full documentation, code, and setup instructions.
The real magic of side projects is how they push us out of our comfort zones. This one certainly did that for me—and created a cool conversation piece for my wall in the process.