Description:

In this project we build a Snake Game using Arduino and 8×8 Dot Matrix Display. This is just a classic snake game which we all used to play back in the day. Here we have used an 8×8 Dot Matrix Display. You can use buttons to move the snake and score can be viewed on 16×2 LCD Display. Arduino UNO is used.

Circuit Diagram:

Components:

SR. NO.	COMPONENT	PINOUT DIAGRAM	BUY
1	Arduino UNO (Other Arduinos can be used too)	Arduino UNO Pinout Diagram⇗
2	8×8 Dot Matrix Display
3	74HC595 Shift Register IC
4	16×2 LCD Display
5	Push Buttons x 5
6	10K Potentiometer

Steps and Info:

1. Get correct components as given. You can buy online or offline. I buy electronics components mostly from Amazon.

2. Start connecting the components. If you are new to connecting components in an electronic circuit, then use a Breadboard or you can straight up make connections using Jumper wires but it will create problem when there will be two or more connections needed at one pin (for example two or more different sensors 5V connection to Arduino’s 5V pin). But before soldering components on a PCB or printing a PCB for your circuit, better try using breadboard so that any errors and mistakes can be observed on breadboard and not after soldering. Or do connections in your way.

3. Now after building the circuit, download the Arduino IDE from https://www.arduino.cc/ website.

4. If you are new to Arduino IDE software, then watch this video we made specially for beginners about Arduino IDE.

5. If you know Arduino IDE then straight up copy the code we given and paste it into the Arduino IDE sketch.

6. Connect the Arduino to your Computer/device. Select a proper port, proper Arduino type and whatever other settings are. Here it is Arduino UNO. (If you don’t know what this all is then watch our video: ).

7. Compile the code and Upload it.

8. If any error occurs then try to troubleshoot it by finding/copy-pasting it into our Solve Errors page https://electronicsprojects.in/solve-errors/, or you can straight up paste the error on Internet and you know the rest. Also check if there are no spelling/syntax errors in the code. Compile the code again once to check if errors are fixed. I have given proper connections and code but still nothing is perfect.

9. Once code compiles and uploads smoothly, you can start testing the working of your circuit/project.

10. Arrange the Buttons in correct positions as per the moment of the snake. Start playing it.

11. If it doesn’t work, then check connections and code. Also you can talk with me and the community through discord. All the links to social is given at the right side of this page.

Program Code:

/* https://www.electronicsprojects.in Snake Game using Arduino and 8x8 Dot Matrix Display */

#include<LiquidCrystal.h>
LiquidCrystal lcd(7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2); 
#define ds_col 15
#define sh_col 16
#define st_col 14
#define ds_row 17
#define start 11
#define up 9
#define down 12
#define left 10
#define right 13
char Col[21],Row[21],move_c,move_r;
int colum_data(int temp)
{
  switch(temp)	
  {
   case 1: return 1;break;
   case 2: return 2; break;
   case 3: return 4; break;
   case 4: return 8; break;
   case 5: return 16; break;
   case 6: return 32; break;
   case 7: return 64; break;
   case 8: return 128; break;
   default: return 0; break;
  }
}
int row_data(int temp)
{
  switch(temp)
  {
   case 1: return 1;break;
   case 2: return 2; break;
   case 3: return 4; break;
   case 4: return 8; break;
   case 5: return 16; break;
   case 6: return 32; break;
   case 7: return 64; break;
   case 8: return 128; break;
   default: return 0; break;
  }
}
void read_button()
{
 if(!digitalRead(left))
 {
   move_r=0;
   move_c!=-1 ? move_c=-1 : move_c=1;
   while(!digitalRead(left));
 }
 if(!digitalRead(right))
 {
   move_r=0;
   move_c!=1 ? move_c=1 : move_c=-1;
   while(!digitalRead(right));
 }
 if(!digitalRead(up))
 {
   move_c=0;
   move_r!=-1 ? move_r=-1 : move_r=1;
   while(!digitalRead(up));
 }
 if(!digitalRead(down))
 {
   move_c=0;
   move_r!=1 ? move_r=1 : move_r=-1;
   while(!digitalRead(down));
 }
}
void show_snake(int temp)
{
 for(int n=0;n<temp;n++)
 {
   int r,c;
  for(int k=0;k<21;k++)
  {
   int temp1=Col[k];
   c=colum_data(temp1);
   int temp2=Row[k];
   r=0xff-row_data(temp2);
   for(int i=0;i<8;i++)
   {   
         int ds=(c & 0x01);
         digitalWrite(ds_col, ds);
         ds=(r & 0x01);
         digitalWrite(ds_row, ds);
         digitalWrite(sh_col, HIGH);
         c>>=1;
         r>>=1;
         digitalWrite(sh_col, LOW);
    }
    digitalWrite(st_col, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(st_col, LOW);
    read_button();
    delayMicroseconds(500);
  }
 }
}
void setup()
{   
    lcd.begin(16,2);
    pinMode(ds_col, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(sh_col, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(st_col, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(ds_row, OUTPUT);
    pinMode(start, INPUT);
    pinMode(up, INPUT);
    pinMode(down, INPUT);
    pinMode(left, INPUT);
    pinMode(right, INPUT);
    digitalWrite(up, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(down, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(left, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(right, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(start, HIGH);
    lcd.setCursor(0,0);
    lcd.print("  Snake game    ");
    lcd.setCursor(0,1);
    lcd.print("Circuit Digest  ");
    delay(2000);
    lcd.setCursor(0,0);
    lcd.print("   Press Start  ");
    lcd.setCursor(0,1);
    lcd.print("     To Play    ");
    delay(2000);
}
void loop()
{
  int j,k,Speed=40,score=0;
  j=k=move_c=0;
  move_r=1;
  lcd.clear();
  lcd.setCursor(0,0);
  lcd.print("Score: ");
  lcd.print(score);
  while(1)
  {
   for(int i=3;i<21;i++)
   {
     Row[i]=100;
     Col[i]=100;
   }
   Row[0]=rand()%8+1;
   Col[0]=rand()%8+1;
   Row[1]=1;
   Col[1]=1;
   Row[2]=2;
   Col[2]=1;
   j=2,k=1;
   while(k==1)
   {
    move_c=0;
    move_r=1;
    show_snake(1);
    lcd.setCursor(7,0);
    lcd.print(score);
    if(!digitalRead(start))
    {
     k=2;
     Speed=40;
     score=0;
    }
   }
  
  while(k==2)
  {
        show_snake(Speed);
        if(Row[1]>8 || Col[1]>8 || Row[1]<0 || Col[1]<0)
        {
         Row[1]=1;
         Col[1]=1;
         k=1;
         lcd.setCursor(0,1);
         lcd.print("Game Over");
         delay(5000);
         score=0;
         lcd.clear();
         lcd.setCursor(0,0);
         lcd.print("Score: ");
         lcd.print(score);
        }
        if(Row[0]==Row[1]+move_r  &&  Col[0]==Col[1]+move_c)
       {
         j++;
         Speed-=2;
         score=score+5;
         lcd.setCursor(7,0);
         lcd.print(score);
         Row[0]=rand()%8+1;
         Col[0]=rand()%8+1;
  }
  for(int i=j;i>1;i--)
  {
   Col[i]=Col[i-1];
   Row[i]=Row[i-1];
  }
  Col[1]=Col[2]+move_c;
  Row[1]=Row[2]+move_r;
  }
  }
}

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