Snake Game on 8x8 Matrix using Arduino
From the beginning of the mobile phones, Snake has been incredibly popular. Black and white mobile phones were initially available and became extremely popular. Cell phones have changed t…
Know the mission before touching a wire.
Understand what you are making, prepare the right tools, and make the workbench safe.
Project details
Snake Game on 8x8 Matrix using Arduino is a arduino project. From the beginning of the mobile phones, Snake has been incredibly popular. Black and white mobile phones were initially available and became extremely popular. Cell phones have changed t…
- Source pages
- 771-775
- Named parts
- 6
- Build goal
- Working, tested prototype
Tools you need
- Digital multimeter
- Wire stripper and side cutters
- Soldering iron with a fine tip
- Current-limited bench supply
- Computer with a data-capable USB cable
Use eye protection, good lighting, and a clean insulated surface throughout the build.
Safety precautions
- Disconnect every power source before changing a connection.
- Check component polarity, pinout, and supply voltage twice.
- Use a current limit for the first power-up.
- Keep liquids, loose metal, and uninsulated wires away from the bench.
Gather, identify, and understand every part.
Use the standardized inventory, then open What's this? to learn each part's role, advantages, limitations, handling, and specifications.
What's this?Image, role, pros, cons, handling & specifications
Arduino UNO
A programmable controller that reads inputs, makes decisions, and drives the project's outputs.
What it does hereIt is the control centre and must use the documented board, pin map, supply, and logic level.
Buy / compare this part ↗Advantages
- Reprogrammable and reusable
- Large learning ecosystem
- Complex behaviour remains changeable
Limitations
- GPIO voltage and current are limited
- Some pins affect boot or communication
- Loads normally need a driver
Handling
- Disconnect power before rewiring
- Avoid static discharge
- Never power motors, relays, or pumps directly from GPIO
Specifications to verify
- Use the exact model, value, package, and rating listed for Arduino UNO; similar-looking parts are not always interchangeable.
- Confirm operating voltage, logic level, pinout, memory, USB interface, and maximum GPIO current.
What's this?Image, role, pros, cons, handling & specifications
x8 LED Dot Matrix Display
An output component turns an electrical control signal into light, sound, motion, switching, or displayed information.
What it does hereIt presents the circuit result or acts on the physical world.
Buy / compare this part ↗Advantages
- Makes system state visible
- Can be tested separately
- Supports clear troubleshooting
Limitations
- Loads may exceed controller current
- Polarity or driver direction can matter
- Inductive loads create voltage spikes
Handling
- Use the documented driver stage
- Check polarity and load current
- Add flyback protection for inductive loads
Specifications to verify
- Use the exact model, value, package, and rating listed for x8 LED Dot Matrix Display; similar-looking parts are not always interchangeable.
- Confirm voltage, current, polarity, interface, driver requirements, and duty cycle.
What's this?Image, role, pros, cons, handling & specifications
Shift Register 74HC595
A named project component whose exact role is defined by the source circuit and build guide.
What it does hereIt performs a documented electrical, control, interface, or construction function in this project.
Buy / compare this part ↗Advantages
- Selected for this project
- Can be checked independently
- Supports modular troubleshooting
Limitations
- Substitutes may differ
- Generic names can hide variants
- Pinouts and ratings vary
Handling
- Compare the received part with the source
- Keep it labelled
- Do not force connectors or adjusters
Specifications to verify
- Use the exact model, value, package, and rating listed for Shift Register 74HC595; similar-looking parts are not always interchangeable.
- Confirm dimensions, ratings, connection method, polarity, and environmental limits.
What's this?Image, role, pros, cons, handling & specifications
x2 LCD, POT 1K
An output component turns an electrical control signal into light, sound, motion, switching, or displayed information.
What it does hereIt presents the circuit result or acts on the physical world.
Buy / compare this part ↗Advantages
- Makes system state visible
- Can be tested separately
- Supports clear troubleshooting
Limitations
- Loads may exceed controller current
- Polarity or driver direction can matter
- Inductive loads create voltage spikes
Handling
- Use the documented driver stage
- Check polarity and load current
- Add flyback protection for inductive loads
Specifications to verify
- Use the exact model, value, package, and rating listed for x2 LCD, POT 1K; similar-looking parts are not always interchangeable.
- Confirm voltage, current, polarity, interface, driver requirements, and duty cycle.
What's this?Image, role, pros, cons, handling & specifications
Push Buttons
A named project component whose exact role is defined by the source circuit and build guide.
What it does hereIt performs a documented electrical, control, interface, or construction function in this project.
Buy / compare this part ↗Advantages
- Selected for this project
- Can be checked independently
- Supports modular troubleshooting
Limitations
- Substitutes may differ
- Generic names can hide variants
- Pinouts and ratings vary
Handling
- Compare the received part with the source
- Keep it labelled
- Do not force connectors or adjusters
Specifications to verify
- Use the exact model, value, package, and rating listed for Push Buttons; similar-looking parts are not always interchangeable.
- Confirm dimensions, ratings, connection method, polarity, and environmental limits.
What's this?Image, role, pros, cons, handling & specifications
Bread Board, Power Supply
A power component supplies, converts, stores, or regulates energy for the project.
What it does hereIt must provide the documented voltage, polarity, isolation, and sufficient current safely.
Buy / compare this part ↗Advantages
- Stable power improves reliability
- Current limiting protects first tests
- Regulation reduces resets and noise
Limitations
- Wrong polarity can cause immediate damage
- Underrated parts overheat
- Mains circuits require qualified supervision
Handling
- Measure output before connection
- Use a fuse or current limit
- Insulate exposed conductors
Specifications to verify
- Use the exact model, value, package, and rating listed for Bread Board, Power Supply; similar-looking parts are not always interchangeable.
- Confirm input/output voltage, current, polarity, connector, isolation, and thermal rating.
Connect one verified path at a time.
Explore the named components and standardized signal flow, then use Source Check to verify exact physical pins, values, and topology before applying power.
Trace this circuit.
Snake Game on 8x8 Matrix using Arduino: interactive parts, standardized terminals, responsive anchored wires, student explanations, and the original circuit reference in one shared system.
Trace before wiring
Follow power, ground, inputs, processing, and outputs in that order. Never guess a pin from package shape alone.
Connect with power off
Make short, labelled connections and share a common ground only where the schematic requires it.
Inspect every joint
Check continuity, polarity, adjacent shorts, and loose connections before the first power-up.
Open all source diagrams and build views 4 visuals
Confirm the hardware-only control path.
This project does not include firmware in the source. The circuit itself provides the required behaviour.
How to connect
- Match every controller label to the circuit view and source pin map.
- Join grounds before signal wires when separate low-voltage supplies are used.
- Keep motors, relays, pumps, and other loads on a suitable driver and external supply.
Common mistakes
Reversed VCC/GND, board-label versus GPIO-number confusion, missing common ground, and charge-only USB cables.
Troubleshoot
Disconnect loads, continuity-test one path at a time, then test with a current limit.
Software preparation
No IDE, board package, library, or firmware upload is required for this project.
If you add a programmable controller as an extension, document its pin map separately.
How to upload code
The original design is implemented entirely in hardware, so proceed after verifying the circuit and supply.
Assemble, deploy, test, and troubleshoot.
Use the complete source notes in build order, then pass the final checks before calling the project finished.
Build in functional stages
- Power and regulation
- Controller or processing stage
- Inputs and sensors
- Outputs and loads
- Enclosure and strain relief
Power up safely
- Inspect unpowered continuity first
- Apply the lowest safe current limit
- Measure supply rails before signals
- Add one load at a time
- Record expected and actual results
Work from simple to complex
- Confirm power, ground, polarity, and orientation
- Compare each pin with the source
- Test inputs separately from outputs
- Replace only one variable at a time
- Power off before every correction
Follow the documented instructions.
These notes come from this project's source and remain in their original order.
Project overview
Project build noteFrom the beginning of the mobile phones, Snake has been incredibly popular. Black and white mobile phones were initially available and became extremely popular. Cell phones have changed this game dramatically as well, which has led to a range of graphical and colorful versions being available now.
Figure. Prototype of Arduino Snake Game Project Besides Snake, DIY electronics projects are also popular among students and hobbyists. Keeping it simple and yet providing all its functions is what we will be demonstrating today in the Arduino Snake Game.
Components Used
Project build noteArduino UNO 8x8 LED Dot Matrix Display Shift Register 74HC595 16x2 LCD, POT 1K Push Buttons Connecting wires Bread Board, Power Supply
Working Explanation
Project build noteA complex game like this requires a lot of work. Fortunately, we have simplified it in this tutorial for you. Our LCD screen displays the snake and
its food dot, the 8x8 red colour Dot matrix displays the score, 5 push buttons to initiate the game and an Arduino UNO controls the entire process. An 8x8 LED Dot Matrix Display pin diagram has been provided below, along with
Circuit Diagram
Project build noteProject Snake's circuit is rather complicated. Shift Register 74HC595 is used in this example to connect the dot matrix display. For driving the columns, one shift register is used while the other drives the rows. On Arduino, pin number 14 and 16 are connected directly to the control pins for both registers, the Column Shift Register (SH, ST). Pins 15 and 17 of Arduino are directly connected to the DS pins of column shift registers and rows shift registers, respectively. Game controls are connected at pins 3, 4, 6, 2 and 5. Left and right directions are linked at pins 3, 4 and 6, up and down directions are connected at pin 5. Our hardware also includes an LCD that displays scores. There is a direct connection between pin 13 and pin 12 for RS and EN. A ground wire runs directly from the RW pin to pin 11 of the Arduino, and data lines from d4-d7 are connected to pins 8, 9, and 10 of the board. Circuit diagrams are used to show the rest of the connections.
After we power the circuit up, the LCD displays a "Press Start to Play" message and a welcome message. A second dot matrix display appears with two snakes and a single food dot, and the score is displayed as zero on the LCD.
The game can now be started by pressing the middle button and the snake automatically moves upwards. In order to move the snake, the user must press the direction keys around the middle button. In this case we have used five push buttons (left, right, up, down, and start) respectively. Once the snake reaches the food dot or eats the food, its score will increase by five points and its length will increase by a dot (LED) every time, making it faster than before. The game would end whenever a snake struck any wall, reached the end of the LED matrix, or reached the end of the game mat. Once the user presses the start key, the game must be started again.
You built Snake Game on 8x8 Matrix using Arduino.
You followed the full workflow from understanding the mission to testing the finished project. That is a real engineering achievement - well done.
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