// ================================================== // ADITYA INVENTS - ARDUINO DOT MATRIX SNAKE GAME // HARDWARE: Arduino, MAX7219 8x8 Dot Matrix, Joystick // ================================================== #include // --- YOUR CUSTOM PIN CONFIGURATION --- #define DIN_PIN 12 #define CLK_PIN 11 #define CS_PIN 10 #define VRY_PIN A1 #define VRX_PIN A3 // Initialize LedControl for 1 module LedControl lc = LedControl(DIN_PIN, CLK_PIN, CS_PIN, 1); // --- GAME VARIABLES --- int snakeX[64]; // Max length of snake on 8x8 is 64 int snakeY[64]; int snakeLength = 3; int foodX; int foodY; // Directions: 0=Up, 1=Right, 2=Down, 3=Left int currentDir = 1; unsigned long lastMoveTime = 0; int gameSpeed = 300; // Lower is faster (milliseconds) bool gameOver = false; // --- ARDUINO JOYSTICK THRESHOLDS --- // Standard Arduino Analog is 0-1023. Center is roughly 512. const int JOY_CENTER = 512; const int JOY_DEADZONE = 150; void setup() { Serial.begin(9600); // Initialize Dot Matrix lc.shutdown(0, false); // Wake up MAX7219 lc.setIntensity(0, 8); // Set brightness (0-15) lc.clearDisplay(0); // Clear screen // Random seed using an unconnected analog pin for true randomness randomSeed(analogRead(A0)); resetGame(); } void loop() { if (gameOver) { playGameOverAnimation(); resetGame(); return; } handleJoystick(); // Move the snake based on gameSpeed timer if (millis() - lastMoveTime > gameSpeed) { moveSnake(); checkCollisions(); drawGame(); lastMoveTime = millis(); } } // ================================================== // 1. GAME LOGIC // ================================================== void resetGame() { snakeLength = 3; // Starting position in the middle snakeX[0] = 3; snakeY[0] = 4; // Head snakeX[1] = 2; snakeY[1] = 4; // Body snakeX[2] = 1; snakeY[2] = 4; // Tail currentDir = 1; // Start moving Right gameSpeed = 300; // Reset speed gameOver = false; spawnFood(); lc.clearDisplay(0); } void spawnFood() { bool validPos = false; while (!validPos) { foodX = random(0, 8); foodY = random(0, 8); validPos = true; // Check if food spawned ON the snake for (int i = 0; i < snakeLength; i++) { if (foodX == snakeX[i] && foodY == snakeY[i]) { validPos = false; break; } } } } void moveSnake() { // Shift body coordinates for (int i = snakeLength - 1; i > 0; i--) { snakeX[i] = snakeX[i - 1]; snakeY[i] = snakeY[i - 1]; } // Move Head based on direction if (currentDir == 0) snakeY[0]--; // Up else if (currentDir == 1) snakeX[0]++; // Right else if (currentDir == 2) snakeY[0]++; // Down else if (currentDir == 3) snakeX[0]--; // Left } void checkCollisions() { // 1. Wall Collision if (snakeX[0] < 0 || snakeX[0] > 7 || snakeY[0] < 0 || snakeY[0] > 7) { gameOver = true; } // 2. Self Collision (Start checking from index 1 to ignore head) for (int i = 1; i < snakeLength; i++) { if (snakeX[0] == snakeX[i] && snakeY[0] == snakeY[i]) { gameOver = true; } } // 3. Food Collision if (snakeX[0] == foodX && snakeY[0] == foodY) { snakeLength++; // Grow spawnFood(); // New apple // Speed up slightly every time you eat, capping at 80ms max speed if (gameSpeed > 80) { gameSpeed -= 15; } } } // ================================================== // 2. CONTROLS & GRAPHICS // ================================================== void handleJoystick() { int xVal = analogRead(VRX_PIN); int yVal = analogRead(VRY_PIN); // Note: Depending on how you hold your joystick, you might need // to swap xVal/yVal or the `<` / `>` operators. if (yVal < (JOY_CENTER - JOY_DEADZONE) && currentDir != 2) { currentDir = 0; // UP } else if (yVal > (JOY_CENTER + JOY_DEADZONE) && currentDir != 0) { currentDir = 2; // DOWN } else if (xVal > (JOY_CENTER + JOY_DEADZONE) && currentDir != 3) { currentDir = 1; // RIGHT } else if (xVal < (JOY_CENTER - JOY_DEADZONE) && currentDir != 1) { currentDir = 3; // LEFT } } void drawGame() { lc.clearDisplay(0); // Draw Food lc.setLed(0, foodY, foodX, true); // Draw Snake for (int i = 0; i < snakeLength; i++) { // Only draw if inside matrix bounds to prevent graphical glitches if(snakeX[i] >= 0 && snakeX[i] <= 7 && snakeY[i] >= 0 && snakeY[i] <= 7) { lc.setLed(0, snakeY[i], snakeX[i], true); } } } void playGameOverAnimation() { // Flash the screen 3 times for (int j = 0; j < 3; j++) { for (int r = 0; r < 8; r++) { lc.setRow(0, r, B11111111); // All LEDs ON } delay(300); lc.clearDisplay(0); delay(300); } delay(1000); // Wait 1 second before restarting }

Snake game arduino

Wiring Schematic

Source Code

Hardware Required