Tiny Pac-Man Game Fits in Your Palm, and Will Be a 2026 Fiesta San Antonio Medal
A maker on the ESP32 subreddit, user aedile, has created a remarkably compact Pac-Man game using an ESP32-C6 microcontroller and a 1.69″ ST7789 LCD screen. The game is controlled by tilting the enclosure, offering a unique and engaging gameplay experience. While the creator admits thier presentation video wasn’t perfect due to holding the camera while playing left-handed, they describe the game as “wicked fun.”
But this project is more than just a fun build. It’s slated to become the official 2026 Fiesta San Antonio Medal, a collectible pin celebrating San Antonio’s annual festival. Fiesta medals are a tradition in San Antonio, featuring unique and collectible pins, and this year’s will be a fully functional handheld game!
According to the project’s GitHub page,the game achieves “full Z80 CPU emulation at original arcade speeds,” preserving the original game logic. It utilizes SPI DMA to maintain a smooth 60 FPS and includes original sound effects.
The creator notes that the ROM for Pac-Man is not distributed with the project, requiring users to source their own. However, the GitHub page provides complete instructions for building your own version of this unique and functional medal.
This project is a fantastic example of combining hardware and software skills with local culture, resulting in a truly one-of-a-kind collectible. If you’re interested in building your own, the instructions are available on the GitHub page.
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