Photon Dodge is a fast-paced reflex game built around a 16×2 LCD display. Unlike traditional LCD games that use only one row, this game transforms both rows into independent racing lanes. A glowing "photon" travels across the screen and the player must press the correct button when it reaches the strike zone.

Components Used:

Breadboard X 1

ESP32 development board X 1

16×2 LCD with I2C Module X 1

Push buttons X 2

Active buzzer X 1

Jumper Wires X 1

USB Cable X 1

The LCD acts like a two-lane race track.

1. Top row = Lane 1
2. Bottom row = Lane 2

A photon appears on one of the lanes and moves from left to right.

Controls

ButtonFunction

Button A

Hit photon on top row

Button B

Hit photon on bottom row

Rules

1. Start with 3 lives.
2. Hit the photon when it reaches the last columns.
3. Successful hit = score increases.
4. Miss = lose one life.
5. Speed increases continuously.
6. Game ends when all lives are lost.

The ESP32:

1. Generates a random lane.
2. Creates a photon at column 0.
3. Moves the photon every few milliseconds.
4. Checks whether the player pressed the correct button.
5. Updates score and lives.
6. Increases speed after successful hits.
7. Shows Game Over and waits for restart.

Connections

Buttons

Button ESP32 Pin

Top Lane Button GPIO13

Bottom Lane Button GPIO12

Connect the other side of each button to GND.

Buzzer

BuzzerESP32

+ GPIO25

- GND

LCD I2C Module

LCD ESP32

VCC 5V

GND GND

SDA GPIO21

SCL GPIO22

1. Place the ESP32 on the breadboard.
2. Connect the LCD module.
3. Add two push buttons.
4. Connect one side of each button to GND.
5. Connect the buzzer to GPIO25.
6. Verify all wiring before powering the circuit.

Two custom LCD characters are used:

Photon Character

Heart Character

Used to display remaining lives.

These characters are stored inside the LCD memory using:

During startup:

1. Buttons are configured as INPUT_PULLUP.
2. LCD is initialized.
3. Backlight is enabled.
4. Custom characters are loaded.
5. Random number generator is seeded.
6. First photon is spawned.

A random lane is selected:

Possible values:

1. 0 = Top lane
2. 1 = Bottom lane

The photon starts from:

The game uses a non-blocking timer based on:

Every few milliseconds:

The photon moves one column to the right.

This makes animation smooth and responsive.

The last columns of the LCD act as the strike zone:

When the photon reaches this area, the player must press the correct button.

Top button:

Bottom button:

Since INPUT_PULLUP is used:

If the player presses the correct button inside the strike zone:

A short beep is generated:

The speed becomes faster:

Then another photon appears.

If the photon leaves the display:

The player loses one life:

An error tone is played:

A new photon is then generated.

When:

The display shows:

The buzzer plays a low tone and waits for the player to press any button to restart.

The game continuously repeats:

1. Open Arduino IDE.
2. Install the LiquidCrystal_I2C library.
3. Select your ESP32 board.
4. Select the COM port.
5. Upload the sketch.
6. Press reset.

Your game is ready!

1. Uses both LCD rows as independent lanes
2. Random photon spawning
3. Smooth movement using custom characters
4. Dynamic speed increase
5. Score counter
6. Three lives system
7. Sound effects with buzzer
8. Game Over screen
9. Automatic restart
10. Non-blocking code using millis()

1. Double Photon Mode
2. Spawn photons on both rows simultaneously.
3. Combo Multiplier
4. Consecutive hits increase score multiplier.
5. High Score Memory
6. Store highest score using EEPROM.

Power-Ups

1. Slow Motion
2. Extra Life
3. Shield

OLED Version:

1. Upgrade to a 128×64 OLED display.

Joystick Control:

1. Replace buttons with a joystick.

RGB LEDs:

1. Add visual effects for hits and misses.

Photon Dodge transforms a simple 16×2 LCD into a miniature arcade machine. By using both rows as independent lanes, custom characters, sound effects, and adaptive speed control, the game provides surprisingly engaging gameplay while demonstrating important, embedded programming concepts such as state machines, timers, random number generation, and non-blocking animation.

If you enjoyed this project, consider adding EEPROM high-score storage, double-photon mode, or RGB lighting effects to create your own portable LCD arcade console.