Materials Used

Wiring Instructions

MAX7219 LED Matrix Connections:
• DIN → Pin 12
• CS → Pin 11
• CLK → Pin 10
• VCC → 5V
• GND → GND

Joystick Module:
• VRx → A3
• VRy → A4
• +5V → 5V
• GND → GND

LED Indicators:
• Green LED → Pin 9 (through 220Ω resistor) → GND
• Red LED → Pin 13 (through 220Ω resistor) → GND

Project Photos & Demo

How It Works

The game uses a MAX7219-controlled LED matrix to display the snake and apple. The joystick reads analog values to determine movement direction (up, down, left, right). The green LED blinks during gameplay, while the red LED activates on game over with a flashing "L" pattern on the matrix. The snake grows when eating apples, and the game resets on collision with walls or itself.

Arduino Code

#include 

// ----- Struct Definitions -----
typedef struct Snake {
  int head[2];
  int body[40][2];
  int len;
  int dir[2];
} Snake;

typedef struct Apple {
  int rPos;
  int cPos;
} Apple;

// ----- MAX7219 LED Matrix Pins -----
const int DIN = 12;
const int CS  = 11;
const int CLK = 10;
LedControl lc = LedControl(DIN, CLK, CS, 1);

// ----- Joystick Pins -----
const int varXPin = A3;
const int varYPin = A4;

// ----- LED Pins -----
const int greenLED = 9;
const int redLED   = 13;

// ----- Game Variables -----
byte pic[8] = {0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0};
Snake snake = {{1,5}, {{0,5},{1,5}}, 2, {1,0}};
Apple apple = {(int)random(0,8),(int)random(0,8)};

float oldTime = 0;
float timer = 0;
float updateRate = 3;
int i, j;

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

  pinMode(varXPin, INPUT);
  pinMode(varYPin, INPUT);
  pinMode(greenLED, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(redLED, OUTPUT);

  randomSeed(analogRead(0));

  digitalWrite(redLED, LOW);
  digitalWrite(greenLED, HIGH);
}

// ----- Main Loop -----
void loop() {
  // Blink green while playing
  static unsigned long blinkTimer = 0;
  if (millis() - blinkTimer > 400) {
    blinkTimer = millis();
    digitalWrite(greenLED, !digitalRead(greenLED));
  }

  float deltaTime = millis() - oldTime;
  oldTime = millis();
  timer += deltaTime;

  int xVal = analogRead(varXPin);
  int yVal = analogRead(varYPin);

  if (xVal < 100 && snake.dir[1] == 0) {
    snake.dir[0] = 0; snake.dir[1] = -1;
  } else if (xVal > 920 && snake.dir[1] == 0){
    snake.dir[0] = 0; snake.dir[1] = 1;
  } else if (yVal < 100 && snake.dir[0] == 0){
    snake.dir[0] = -1; snake.dir[1] = 0;
  } else if (yVal > 920 && snake.dir[0] == 0){
    snake.dir[0] = 1; snake.dir[1] = 0;
  }

  if (timer > 1000/updateRate) {
    timer = 0;
    Update();
  }

  Render();
}

// ----- Helpers -----
void resetPic() { for (int j=0;j<8;j++) pic[j]=0; }

void removeFirst() {
  for (j=1;j7 || newHead[1]<0 || newHead[1]>7) {
    showLossScreen();
    restartGame();
    return;
  }

  // Self Collision
  for (j=0;j> snake.body[j][1];
  pic[apple.rPos] |= 128 >> apple.cPos;
}

// ----- Render -----
void Render() {
  for (i=0;i<8;i++) lc.setRow(0,i,pic[i]);
}

// ----- Loss Screen -----
void showLossScreen() {
  lc.clearDisplay(0);
  digitalWrite(greenLED, LOW);
  digitalWrite(redLED, HIGH);

  byte Lshape[8] = {
    B11111111,
    B00000001,
    B00000001,
    B00000001,
    B00000001,
    B00000001,
    B00000001,
    B00000001
  };

  // Blink twice
  for (int k=0;k<2;k++) {
    for (int row=0;row<8;row++) lc.setRow(0,row,Lshape[row]);
    delay(300);
    lc.clearDisplay(0);
    delay(300);
  }

  for (int row=0;row<8;row++) lc.setRow(0,row,Lshape[row]);
  delay(1000);

  digitalWrite(redLED, LOW);
}

// ----- Restart -----
void restartGame() {
  lc.clearDisplay(0);
  snake={{1,5},{{0,5},{1,5}},2,{1,0}};
  apple={(int)random(0,8),(int)random(0,8)};
  digitalWrite(greenLED, HIGH);
}

🔧 Troubleshooting

Having issues with your circuit? Check these common problems and solutions:

What You Learned