Dodge Game

Note

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Kit purchase

Looking for parts? Check out our all-in-one kits below — packed with components, beginner-friendly guides, and tons of fun.

../_images/elite_explore_kit.png

Name

Includes Arduino board

PURCHASE LINK

Ultimate Sensor Kit

Arduino Uno R4 Minima

BUY

Elite Explorer Kit

Arduino Uno R4 WiFi

BUY

3 in 1 Ultimate Starter Kit

Arduino Uno R4 Minima

BUY

Universal Maker Sensor Kit

×

BUY

Course Introduction

This is a simple dodgeball game using an OLED screen, joystick, and Arduino R4 UNO. Move the player to avoid falling obstacles.

The longer you survive, the higher your score. Press the joystick button to start or restart the game.

Note

If this is your first time working with an Arduino project, we recommend downloading and reviewing the basic materials first.

Required Components

In this project, we need the following components:

SN

COMPONENT INTRODUCTION

QUANTITY

PURCHASE LINK

1

Arduino UNO R4 WIFI

1

BUY

2

USB Type-C cable

1

3

Breadboard

1

BUY

4

Wires

Several

BUY

5

Joystick Module

1

BUY

6

OLED Display Module

1

BUY

Wiring

../_images/dodgeball_bb.png

Common Connections:

  • OLED Display Module

    • SDA: Connect to A4 on the Arduino.

    • SCK: Connect to A5 on the Arduino.

    • GND: Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.

    • VCC: Connect to breadboard’s red power bus.

  • Joystick Module

    • VRY: Connect to A1 on the Arduino.

    • VRX: Connect to A0 on the Arduino.

    • SW: Connect to 2 on the Arduino.

    • GND: Connect to breadboard’s negative power bus.

    • VCC: Connect to breadboard’s red power bus.

Writing the Code

Note

  • You can copy this code into Arduino IDE.

  • To install the library, use the Arduino Library Manager and search for Adafruit SSD1306 and install it.

  • Don’t forget to select the board(Arduino UNO R4 Minima) and the correct port before clicking the Upload button.

#include <Wire.h>
#include <Adafruit_SSD1306.h>

#define SCREEN_WIDTH 128
#define SCREEN_HEIGHT 64
#define OLED_ADDR 0x3C

Adafruit_SSD1306 display(SCREEN_WIDTH, SCREEN_HEIGHT, &Wire);

#define JOY_X A0
#define JOY_Y A1
#define JOY_BTN 2

struct Obstacle {
  int x, y;
  int size;
  int speed;
  bool active;
};

#define MAX_OBSTACLES 8
Obstacle obstacles[MAX_OBSTACLES];

int playerX = SCREEN_WIDTH / 2;
int playerY = SCREEN_HEIGHT - 10;
int playerSize = 6;
bool gameOver = false;
int score = 0;

unsigned long lastSpawnTime = 0;
unsigned long spawnInterval = 1000;  // initial spawn interval
unsigned long lastSpeedIncrease = 0;
unsigned long speedIncreaseInterval = 5000;  // every 5 seconds increase difficulty

void setup() {
  pinMode(JOY_BTN, INPUT_PULLUP);
  display.begin(SSD1306_SWITCHCAPVCC, OLED_ADDR);
  display.clearDisplay();
  display.setTextColor(SSD1306_WHITE);
  randomSeed(analogRead(A3)); // random seed
  showStartScreen();
}

void loop() {
  if (gameOver) {
    showGameOver();
    return;
  }

  handleJoystick();
  spawnObstacle();
  updateObstacles();
  checkCollision();
  render();

  // Increase difficulty
  if (millis() - lastSpeedIncrease > speedIncreaseInterval) {
    if (spawnInterval > 400) spawnInterval -= 100;
    lastSpeedIncrease = millis();
  }

  delay(30);
}

void showStartScreen() {
  display.clearDisplay();
  display.setTextSize(2);
  display.setCursor(20, 20);
  display.println("Dodgeball");
  display.setTextSize(1);
  display.setCursor(30, 50);
  display.println("Press to Start");
  display.display();
  while (digitalRead(JOY_BTN) == HIGH);
  delay(200);
  resetGame();
}

void handleJoystick() {
  int xVal = analogRead(JOY_X);
  int yVal = analogRead(JOY_Y);
  int speed = 3;

  if (xVal < 400) playerX -= speed;
  if (xVal > 600) playerX += speed;
  if (yVal < 400) playerY -= speed;
  if (yVal > 600) playerY += speed;

  playerX = constrain(playerX, 0, SCREEN_WIDTH - playerSize);
  playerY = constrain(playerY, 10, SCREEN_HEIGHT - playerSize);
}

void spawnObstacle() {
  if (millis() - lastSpawnTime > spawnInterval) {
    for (int i = 0; i < MAX_OBSTACLES; i++) {
      if (!obstacles[i].active) {
        obstacles[i].x = random(0, SCREEN_WIDTH - 8);
        obstacles[i].y = 0;
        // Randomize type
        if (random(0, 10) < 6) {
          obstacles[i].size = 6;
          obstacles[i].speed = 2;
        } else {
          obstacles[i].size = 10;
          obstacles[i].speed = 1;
        }
        obstacles[i].active = true;
        break;
      }
    }
    lastSpawnTime = millis();
  }
}

void updateObstacles() {
  for (int i = 0; i < MAX_OBSTACLES; i++) {
    if (obstacles[i].active) {
      obstacles[i].y += obstacles[i].speed;
      if (obstacles[i].y > SCREEN_HEIGHT) {
        obstacles[i].active = false;
        score++;  // survived = +1 point
      }
    }
  }
}

void checkCollision() {
  for (int i = 0; i < MAX_OBSTACLES; i++) {
    if (obstacles[i].active) {
      int dx = abs(playerX - obstacles[i].x);
      int dy = abs(playerY - obstacles[i].y);
      if (dx < (playerSize / 2 + obstacles[i].size / 2) &&
          dy < (playerSize / 2 + obstacles[i].size / 2)) {
        gameOver = true;
        return;
      }
    }
  }
}

void render() {
  display.clearDisplay();

  // Draw player
  display.fillCircle(playerX, playerY, playerSize / 2, SSD1306_WHITE);

  // Draw obstacles
  for (int i = 0; i < MAX_OBSTACLES; i++) {
    if (obstacles[i].active) {
      display.fillRect(obstacles[i].x, obstacles[i].y, obstacles[i].size, obstacles[i].size, SSD1306_WHITE);
    }
  }

  // Draw score
  display.setTextSize(1);
  display.setCursor(0, 0);
  display.print("Score: ");
  display.print(score);

  display.display();
}

void showGameOver() {
  display.clearDisplay();
  display.setTextSize(2);
  display.setCursor(20, 20);
  display.println("Game Over");
  display.setTextSize(1);
  display.setCursor(30, 45);
  display.print("Score: ");
  display.println(score);
  display.setCursor(20, 57);
  display.print("Press to Retry");
  display.display();
  while (digitalRead(JOY_BTN) == HIGH);
  delay(200);
  showStartScreen();
}

void resetGame() {
  gameOver = false;
  playerX = SCREEN_WIDTH / 2;
  playerY = SCREEN_HEIGHT - 10;
  score = 0;
  spawnInterval = 1000;
  lastSpeedIncrease = millis();
  for (int i = 0; i < MAX_OBSTACLES; i++) {
    obstacles[i].active = false;
  }
}