Arduino Uno 8x8 LED Matrix Pong Game (MAX7219)

An 8x8 LED matrix Pong game built with an Arduino Uno and MAX7219 module, using a joystick for control, where the Arduino runs real-time game logic including ball movement, collision detection, and paddle control on a constrained embedded display.

May 19, 2026

•

1017 views

•

5 respects

•

MIT

Games

Devices & Components

Breadboard - 400 contacts

40 colored male-male jumper wires

Arduino Uno Rev3

40 colored male-female jumper wires

arduino Joystick Module

MAX7219 module

Software & Tools

Arduino IDE

Project description

Code

cpp

1#include <LedControl.h>
2
3// MAX7219 pins: DIN, CLK, CS
4LedControl lc = LedControl(12, 11, 10, 1);
5
6// Paddle (left side)
7int paddleY = 3;
8
9// Ball
10int ballX = 4;
11int ballY = 4;
12
13int dx = 1;
14int dy = 1;
15
16void setup() {
17  lc.shutdown(0, false);
18  lc.setIntensity(0, 8);
19  lc.clearDisplay(0);
20
21  Serial.begin(9600);
22}
23
24void loop() {
25
26  // ---------- JOYSTICK ----------
27  int joy = analogRead(A0);
28  paddleY = map(joy, 0, 1023, 0, 6);
29
30  // ---------- MOVE BALL ----------
31  ballX += dx;
32  ballY += dy;
33
34  // ---------- WALL COLLISION ----------
35  if (ballY <= 0 || ballY >= 7) {
36    dy = -dy;
37  }
38
39  // right wall bounce
40  if (ballX >= 7) {
41    dx = -1;
42  }
43
44  // ---------- PADDLE COLLISION ----------
45  if (ballX == 1) {
46    if (ballY == paddleY || ballY == paddleY + 1) {
47      dx = 1; // bounce back
48    } else {
49      // reset if missed
50      ballX = 4;
51      ballY = 4;
52      dx = 1;
53      dy = 1;
54    }
55  }
56
57  // ---------- CLEAR SCREEN ----------
58  lc.clearDisplay(0);
59
60  // ---------- DRAW PADDLE ----------
61  lc.setLed(0, paddleY, 0, true);
62  lc.setLed(0, paddleY + 1, 0, true);
63
64  // ---------- DRAW BALL ----------
65  lc.setLed(0, ballY, ballX, true);
66
67  delay(120);
68}

#include <LedControl.h>

// MAX7219 pins: DIN, CLK, CS
LedControl lc = LedControl(12, 11, 10, 1);

// Paddle (left side)
int paddleY = 3;

// Ball
int ballX = 4;
int ballY = 4;

int dx = 1;
int dy = 1;

void setup() {
  lc.shutdown(0, false);
  lc.setIntensity(0, 8);
  lc.clearDisplay(0);

  Serial.begin(9600);
}

void loop() {

  // ---------- JOYSTICK ----------
  int joy = analogRead(A0);
  paddleY = map(joy, 0, 1023, 0, 6);

  // ---------- MOVE BALL ----------
  ballX += dx;
  ballY += dy;

  // ---------- WALL COLLISION ----------
  if (ballY <= 0 || ballY >= 7) {
    dy = -dy;
  }

  // right wall bounce
  if (ballX >= 7) {
    dx = -1;
  }

  // ---------- PADDLE COLLISION ----------
  if (ballX == 1) {
    if (ballY == paddleY || ballY == paddleY + 1) {
      dx = 1; // bounce back
    } else {
      // reset if missed
      ballX = 4;
      ballY = 4;
      dx = 1;
      dy = 1;
    }
  }

  // ---------- CLEAR SCREEN ----------
  lc.clearDisplay(0);

  // ---------- DRAW PADDLE ----------
  lc.setLed(0, paddleY, 0, true);
  lc.setLed(0, paddleY + 1, 0, true);

  // ---------- DRAW BALL ----------
  lc.setLed(0, ballY, ballX, true);

  delay(120);
}

Comments

Only logged in users can leave comments

ej7

0 Followers

•

0 Projects

Intro