Level Up Your Rig: 10 DIY Electronics Projects for Gamers (Raspberry Pi & Arduino)
Ready to level up your gaming rig beyond off-the-shelf gear? Hobbyist electronics like the Raspberry Pi and Arduino aren’t just for blinking LEDs anymore, they’re the keys to building custom controllers, retro consoles, and dynamic lighting that reacts to your gameplay.
Here are 10 must-try electronics projects for every gaming enthusiast, ranked by increasing complexity!
1. The Custom "Big Red Button" (Raspberry Pi Pico)
A single, giant, and satisfying arcade button is something that any desk needs whether you use it for Voice channel function like push-to-talk or in the office to switch windows as your manager walks by. It’s a must just for the feeling of pushing it
- What you’ll need: Raspberry Pi Pico, Red arcade button
- The Win: High visual impact, minimal coding, and instant quality-of-life improvement for PC gaming.
https://bikerglen.com/blog/usb-big-red-button
https://www.instructables.com/Photo-Booth-Big-Red-Button-Teensy-LC
2. DIY Retro Arcade Light Gun(Raspberry Pi)
Nothing is more perfect for immersion in the arcade than a light gun, especially for games like Time Crisis, The House of the Dead, Terminator and Alien. Using a 3D printer and Raspberry Pi can get you a long way!
- The Tech: Raspberry Pi, Infrared LEDs, Access to a 3D Printer.
- The Win: A fun, competitive and immersive controller for you and your friends.
https://www.instructables.com/Making-a-Retro-Arcade-Light-Gun-Game-Using-a-Raspb
https://tinkerdifferent.com/threads/modern-diy-arcade-lightguns.2532
3. The Retro Handheld Console (Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W)
Who needs a Nintendo Switch, Steam deck or ROG Ally X when with just an emulator, some clever case design and a Raspberry Pi Zero you can have hundreds of games in the palm of your hand. Using some laser cut or 3D printing casing can create an exceptional finish to the project.
- The Tech: The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W provides enough power for 8-bit and 16-bit emulation. Paired with a small display (2.8″ or 3.5″ SPI TFT) and tactile buttons wired directly to the Pi’s GPIO pins.
- The Win: Ultimate nostalgia in a pocket-sized form.
4. Classic Arcade Cabinet (Raspberry Pi 4/5)
A Classic arcade cabinet might also just be all you need to complete the vi.be of the room whether it be a full sized cabinet or a wall mounted version. We’ve written some articles on this topic, check out our initial planning for a deeper look into a PiShop themed Arcade Cabinet and learn about different types and materials to use!
- The Tech: A Raspberry Pi 4 or Pi 5 (for better performance on demanding systems) running RetroPie or Lakka. Controls are connected using a pre-made USB Encoder Board to keep wiring simple.
- The Win: The definitive retro gaming experience, blending woodworking/case design with simple electronics.
https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/build-an-arcade-cabinet-hackspace-35
5. Screen-Mirroring Ambient Lighting (Raspberry Pi/ESP32)
An Ambilight clone using Addressable RGB (A-RGB) LED strips (like WS2812B/Neopixels) mounted to the back of a monitor. The lights match the colors at the edge of the screen for increased immersion.
- The Tech: A Raspberry Pi uses the Hyperion software to capture the screen and control the RGB strip via its GPIO. The Pi often sits between the display source and the monitor.
- The Win: A cost-effective way to get the premium ambient lighting feature found on high-end TVs.
https://www.raspberrypi.com/tutorials/raspberry-pi-tv-ambient-lighting
6. Sim Racing / Flight Button Box (Arduino Leonardo)
A dedicated control panel with toggle switches, rotary encoders, and pushbuttons labeled for specific in-game commands in simulation games (e.g., Pit Limiter, Brake Bias, Engine Start).
- The Tech: An Arduino Leonardo or Pro Micro (We don’t have these just yet but are looking into it) is essential here, as its ATmega32U4 chip allows it to natively act as a USB Human Interface Device (HID), eliminating the need for complex PC drivers.
- The Win: A practical and highly customizable piece of sim gear that drastically improves control and realism.
7. Dynamic Health Bar Display (ESP32/Pi)
A physical accessory, often placed on a desk or PC case, that displays your in-game health, mana, or shield level using an A-RGB light bar.
- The Tech: An ESP32 or Raspberry Pi Pico is preferred for its built-in Wi-Fi, allowing it to wirelessly receive telemetry data sent from a PC application (which reads the game’s memory or API).
- The Win: Truly immersive electronics that use data from the PC to provide real-time, physical feedback.
https://www.instructables.com/How-to-make-an-RGB-LED-Health-indicator
https://github.com/luanabeckerdaluz/F12017-UDP-Telemetry-ESP32
8. Custom Macro Keypad with OLED Display (Arduino)
A small, auxiliary keyboard with 4-12 keys, each programmed for a complex macro. A tiny OLED screen above the keys shows the current function of each button.
- The Tech: An Arduino Micro or a Raspberry Pi Pico 2 provides the HID interface. The challenge is programming the software bridge to cycle through different “layers” of functions (e.g., one layer for editing, one for gaming).
- The Win: Boosts productivity and complex game control, with a sleek, futuristic look provided by the data display.
https://www.instructables.com/Raspberry-Pi-Pico-Macropad-Keypad
https://www.hackster.io/1NextPCB/how-to-build-a-pico-macro-pad-3638e6
9. Smart PC Case Display (Raspberry Pi)
A small, secondary screen installed inside your PC case that continuously monitors and displays system metrics like CPU Temp, GPU Usage, and Frame Rate (FPS)
- The Tech: A Raspberry Pi connects to the PC via USB and runs a Python script to retrieve and visualize system data using tools like Argus Monitor or Open Hardware Monitor. The display is typically a 5-inch HDMI screen.
- The Win: The ultimate bragging right for PC builders, showcasing hardware performance in real-time.
10. Head-Tracking Camera for Flight/Driving Sims (Arduino)
A DIY alternative to commercial head-tracking products. A camera tracks the movement of LED markers worn on a hat or headset, translating head movements into in-game camera movement.
- The Tech: A webcam with its IR filter removed (to only see the LEDs) and an array of IR LEDs driven by an Arduino. The PC software handles the image processing and game integration (e.g., OpenTrack).
- The Win: Provides truly natural viewing controls for flight and space simulators, adding a level of realism that’s hard to beat.
Conclusion
Ready to start your first build? Check out the resources and product links to get started with your new gaming space as soon as possible! If you’re interested in more projects like this then check out the rest of our blog and visit us at our warehouse or any events shown in our banner!
