Project Hub /Audio Displays & Interactive Media/LED Matrix & Cube Displays/Build a Smart Digital Game Board Using Multicolour PCB

Advanced

ESP32

₹5,000 – ₹15,000

6 – 12 Hours

Partial Kit

Build a Smart Digital Game Board Using Multicolour PCB

Build a modern digital Ludo board game featuring a custom multicolor PCB, an ESP32-S3 microcontroller, addressable RGB LEDs, and a round IPS display.

Originally published on CircuitDigest

View original tutorial

Parts You'll Need

This project is sourced from another site, not written by us — this list is our best match of their components against what we stock, not a verified bill of materials. Always check the original blog (linked above) for the actual parts list before buying.

ESP32-C3 Development Board with Berg Pins - Unsoldered Rs. 390.00
2-Slot 18650 Holder with Protective Cover and On/Off Switch – Case Rs. 109.00
400 Points Mini Solderless Prototype PCB Breadboard High Quality Rs. 89.00
MB102 Adjustable Breadboard Power Supply Module (3.3V & 5V) for Arduino & Raspberry Pi Rs. 139.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Male 20cm Rs. 45.00
Jumper Wire 10 Pin Male To Female 20cm Rs. 45.00

Selected: Rs. 0.00

We don't carry yet: LCD (generic / unspecified)
Passive Components (generic)
LED Strip / NeoPixel / WS2812
Logic ICs (74xx / 40xx)
Custom PCB / PCB Fab
Enclosure / Box / Case
Header Pins / Terminals / Connectors
IP5306 power management SoC

Browse all components

How It Works

The Smart Digital Game Board operates through the orchestration of an ESP32-S3-WROOM-1-N16R8 microcontroller, which acts as the central processing unit and handles wireless communication, graphics rendering, and peripheral management. Power is managed by the IP5306 power management SoC alongside a MIC5219-3.3 low-dropout regulator, ensuring stable voltage delivery to the digital logic and display subsystems. Visual feedback and game states are presented via a Waveshare 1.28-inch Round IPS display (240x240 pixels) driven by the TFT_eSPI library, capable of rendering rich graphical assets using the PNGdec and AnimatedGIF libraries within the Arduino IDE environment. For dynamic board illumination and interactive player feedback, an array of 88 SK6812MINI-E addressable RGB LEDs is controlled via the Adafruit NeoPixel library. Additionally, two 74HC595 shift registers are integrated into the custom multicolor PCB to expand the available digital output pins, facilitating efficient control of auxiliary switches, connectors, and board peripherals. The entire electronics assembly is housed within a custom 3D printed enclosure, blending physical tabletop gaming mechanics with modern embedded systems.

Why Build This

Gain hands-on experience designing and prototyping a custom consumer electronics product integrating embedded microcontrollers and custom PCBs.

Master advanced graphics rendering and addressable LED animation techniques for interactive tabletop gaming applications.

Develop practical skills in power management integration, pin expansion using shift registers, and mechanical assembly using 3D printed enclosures.

Real-World Application

Interactive tabletop gaming, custom consumer electronics product prototyping, and modernizing traditional educational board games with embedded systems.

Skills You'll Learn

Custom PCB integration

Addressable RGB LED control

SPI display interfacing

Shift register pin expansion

Power management SoC implementation

Embedded graphics rendering

Firmware development in Arduino IDE

Safety Precautions

Ensure correct polarity when connecting the lithium battery and handling SMD components during reflow soldering.

Technology Tags

ESP32-S3

SK6812MINI-E ADDRESSABLE LEDS

IPS LCD DISPLAY

KICAD

PCB DESIGN

MULTICOLOR PCB

3D PRINTING

ARDUINO IDE

IP5306 POWER MANAGEMENT

74HC595 SHIFT REGISTER

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I program this board using the standard Arduino IDE?

Yes, the project is configured for the Arduino IDE, utilizing specific libraries such as TFT_eSPI, Adafruit NeoPixel, PNGdec, and AnimatedGIF to handle the display and lighting effects.

What is the purpose of the 74HC595 shift registers if the ESP32-S3 has many pins?

The shift registers are used to expand the digital input/output capabilities of the microcontroller, allowing efficient management of additional board switches and peripherals without exhausting the ESP32-S3's native GPIO pins.

How is power supplied and managed on the game board?

Power is handled by an IP5306 power management SoC paired with a MIC5219-3.3 LDO regulator, which together step down and regulate voltage safely for the microcontroller, display, and addressable LEDs.

Gallery

This page is part of Kitkraft's Project Hub — a curated collection of electronics & robotics projects gathered from the maker community to help students and hobbyists discover and learn to build. Kitkraft does not claim authorship of the original project, and makes no representation as to the accuracy, completeness or safety of third-party source material. The summary and "How It Works" explanation above are AI-generated, rewritten with reference to the original tutorial — not a reproduction of it. Full credit and a direct link to the original source are provided above. If you're the original creator and have a concern about how your work is represented here, please contact us and we'll address it promptly.

Kitkraft Project Hub — curated from the maker community, credited at the source.

PRJ-01138