# Adafruit Arcade Bonnet for Raspberry Pi ## Introduction ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/039/651/medium800/gaming_3422_iso_demo_ORIG.jpg?1487805001) Playing retro games is easy on a Raspberry Pi - and the pocket computer is pretty good at it too! All you need is a little help to connect buttons and a joystick up and you can custom design your own arcade console, desktop or stand-up machine, even just a simple controller box. It makes for a fun weekend project that will last all year. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/039/652/medium800/gaming_3422_iso_ORIG.jpg?1487805013) This Adafruit Arcade Bonnet is designed to make small emulator projects a little easier to build. Here's what you can look forward to! - It is the same size as a Pi Zero, so for really compact builds, this is super small. You can use it with a Pi 2, 3, B+ or any 2x20 connector Pi. - It has JST sockets so you can plug in six arcade buttons easily [using our quick connects](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1152) - Header breakouts for use with both clicky-type switched joysticks _and..._ - Header breakout and converter for using analog-type joysticks or thumbsticks with potentiometers inside - A 3W speaker output that can drive 4-8 ohm speakers for when using with a TV output, HDMI display or PiTFT - Switches are all managed with an I2C-GPIO converter with interrupt out. The converter is very fast and frees up all the pins so you can use this Bonnet with a PiTFT or any other accessory/device that uses a lot of pins! If you don't need an amplified speaker output, analog-joystick input or minimal pin usage, [check out our plain-jane Retrogame tutorial which just plugs all the buttons and joysticks right into the Pi directly](../../../../retro-gaming-with-raspberry-pi). ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/039/653/medium800/gaming_3422_kit_ORIG.jpg?1487805065) This item as sold as a mini-kit, with a Bonnet and headers that need to be soldered in to attach it to a Raspberry Pi! It only takes a few minutes but soldering iron and solder are required. It also doesn't come with any of the extras, so you can choose which buttons/joysticks/speaker you want! Here is a list of the items you can use: # Joysticks: - [Small Arcade Joystick](https://www.adafruit.com/products/480) - [Mini Analog Joystick](https://www.adafruit.com/products/3102) - [Assembled 2 Axis Joystick](https://www.adafruit.com/products/245) - [Analog Thumbstick](https://www.adafruit.com/products/2765) - [2 Axis Joystick](https://www.adafruit.com/products/512) - [PSP Analog Joystick](https://www.adafruit.com/products/444) - [PSP3000 Analog Joystick](https://www.adafruit.com/products/3103) to connect them, you may want some [20 x 12" Female jumper wires](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1949) # Speakers - [4 ohm 3 Watt speaker](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1314) - [8 ohm 1 Watt speaker](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1313) - [Mono enclosed speaker](https://www.adafruit.com/products/3351) - [Mini Metal speaker](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1890) (may need to turn the volume down in Emulation station) - [Thin Plastic speaker (may need to turn the volume down in Emulation station)](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1891) # Arcade Buttons The JST connectors on the Bonnet [mate perfectly with these quick-connects, which we really like.](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1152) [Any of our Arcade buttons will work.](https://www.adafruit.com/new/?q=arcade%20button&)You can use any switch you like, really - doesn't even need to be a button! [The translucent 30mm ones work nicely with the quick-connects and are recommended!](https://www.adafruit.com/products/1152?q=30mm%20translucent%20arcade&) - [Next Page](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-arcade-bonnet-for-raspberry-pi/connections.md) ## Featured Products ### Adafruit Arcade Bonnet for Raspberry Pi with JST Connectors [Adafruit Arcade Bonnet for Raspberry Pi with JST Connectors](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3422) Playing retro games is easy on a Raspberry Pi - and that pocket-sized computer is pretty good at it too! All you need is a little help to connect buttons and a joystick up and you can custom design your own arcade console, desktop or stand-up machine, even just a simple controller box. It... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3422) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3422/guides) ### Arcade Button Quick-Connect Wire Pairs - 0.11" (10 pack) [Arcade Button Quick-Connect Wire Pairs - 0.11" (10 pack)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1152) Quick connector wire sets will make wiring up our arcade-style or metal buttons quicky-quick. Each wire comes as a 'pair' with two 0.11" quick-connects pre-crimped onto 20cm long wires. The wires are then terminated together in a JST 2.5mm/0.1" spaced 2-pin connector (we... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1152) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1152/guides) ### Small Arcade Joystick [Small Arcade Joystick](https://www.adafruit.com/product/480) This snappy 8-way joystick beckons you to play with it! It is rugged, and not too large, reminiscent of a Pac Man arcade cabinet. Unlike the potentiometer-based 2-axis and mini thumbsticks, this joystick uses 4 snap microswitches so it's good if you want a directional control but not the... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/480) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/480/guides) ### Mini Analog Joystick - 10K Potentiometers [Mini Analog Joystick - 10K Potentiometers](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3102) Sometimes a simple analog control device can be the perfect tactile solution for your project, but they can be surprisingly hard to come by. Luckily we've found a low-cost, quality **Mini Analog Joystick** to fill your directional analog input needs! Unlike most... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3102) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3102/guides) ### Analog 2-axis Thumb Joystick with Select Button + Breakout Board [Analog 2-axis Thumb Joystick with Select Button + Breakout Board](https://www.adafruit.com/product/512) This mini-kit makes it easy to mount a PSP/Xbox-like thumb joystick to your project. The thumbstick is an analog joystick - more accurate and sensitive than just 'directional' joysticks - with a 'press in to select' button. Since it's analog, you'll need two analog... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/512) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/512/guides) ### Mini 2-Axis Analog Thumbstick [Mini 2-Axis Analog Thumbstick](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2765) Sometimes a simple analog control device can be the perfect tactile solution for your project, but they can be surprisingly hard to come by. Luckily we've got a low-cost, quality **Mini 2-Axis Analog Thumbstick** to fulfill your directional analog input needs! This is a... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2765) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2765/guides) ### Analog Mini Thumbstick Breakout Board [Analog Mini Thumbstick Breakout Board](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3246) Are you itching for an easy way to mount a PSP-like thumb joystick to your project? This **Analog Mini Thumbstick Breakout Board ** will help you do just that! This is a neat little PCB, on which you can mount a joystick/thumbstick -- we recommend In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/3246) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/3246/guides) ### Arcade Button - 30mm Translucent Clear [Arcade Button - 30mm Translucent Clear](https://www.adafruit.com/product/471) A button is a button, and a switch is a switch, but these translucent arcade buttons are in a class of their own. They're the same size as common arcade controls (often referred to as 30mm diameter) but have some nice things going for them that justify the extra dollar. First,... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/471) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/471/guides) ## Related Guides - [Pro Trinket as a USB HID Mouse](https://learn.adafruit.com/pro-trinket-usb-hid-mouse.md) - [Unicorn Hat with Moving Ears](https://learn.adafruit.com/unicorn-hat-with-moving-ears.md) - [Arcade Bonnet Controller](https://learn.adafruit.com/arcade-bonnet-controller.md) - [Cupcade: the Raspberry Pi Micro Arcade Cabinet](https://learn.adafruit.com/cupcade-raspberry-pi-micro-mini-arcade-game-cabinet.md) - [JOY Controller for Adafruit Feather](https://learn.adafruit.com/joy-controller-feather.md) - [Animated Snake Eyes Bonnet for Raspberry Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/animated-snake-eyes-bonnet-for-raspberry-pi.md) - [Super Game Pi](https://learn.adafruit.com/super-game-pi.md) - [Electronic Animated Eyes for ARM Microcontrollers](https://learn.adafruit.com/animated-electronic-eyes.md) - [Adafruit Sparkle Motion](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-sparkle-motion.md) - [Adafruit Pro Trinket LiPoly/LiIon Backpack](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-pro-trinket-lipoly-slash-liion-backpack.md) - [Adafruit FONA 808 Cellular + GPS Shield for Arduino](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-fona-808-cellular-plus-gps-shield-for-arduino.md) - [MakeCode Arcade with Raspberry Pi Zero](https://learn.adafruit.com/makecode-arcade-with-raspberry-pi-zero.md) - [Adafruit VCNL4020 Proximity and Light Sensor](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-vcnl4020-proximity-and-light-sensor.md) - [MakeCode Arcade: Sparky Invaders](https://learn.adafruit.com/makecode-arcade-sparky-invaders.md) - [Adafruit New York and NYC DOE vendor information ](https://learn.adafruit.com/educational-orders-for-educators-based-in-new-york.md)