For all those who feared their Game Boy days would be but a memory, worry no more! The Game Boy may be dead, but with the Pico-GB you’ll have a chance to revive it.
The Pico-GB is a retro-gaming emulation console that ressembles to the original Nintendo Game Boy released in 1989.
It is based on the $4 Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller. The case and buttons are 3D printed. The screen is a 2.2-inch LCD with a resolution of 220×176 pixels and 65K colors. There are 8 buttons: 4 for the DPAD + 4 action buttons (A, B, select, start). The buttons are 6x6x6mm micro push buttons. The sound is provided by a simple piezo buzzer.
The Pico-GB can play original Game Boy DMG games using the RP2040-GB (DMG) Game Boy emulator from Mahyar Koshkouei (deltabeard).
Technical Specifications
The Pico-GB is still a work in progress and specifications are subject to change.
| Pico-GB | Original Game Boy (1989) | |
| Size | 148x90x32mm (1:1 Scale) | 148x90x32mm |
| Weight | 160g (without batteries) | 220g |
| Screen | 2.2 inch ILI9225 LCD IPS | 2.6 inch LCD STN |
| Display size | 47x38mm | 47x43mm |
| Resolution | 220×176 pixels | 160×144 pixels |
| Color support | 65K Colors | 4 shades of “gray” |
| Power | USB | 4xAA batteries |
| Sound | Piezo Buzzer | Speaker + headphone |
| Inputs | Eight-way control pad 4 action buttons (A, B, Start, Select) | Eight-way control pad 4 action buttons (A, B, Start, Select) Volume potentiometer Contrast potentiometer Power switch |
| CPU | Raspberry Pi Pico RP2040 133MHz dual ARM Cortex-M0+ cores | Custom 8-bit Sharp LR35902 4.19Mhz |
| Memory | 264KB RAM + 2MB Flash | 8KB internal RAM + up to 128KB game cartridge RAM + 8KB RAM for LCD display |
Bill of Materials
To make the Pico-GB, you need the parts below:
| 1x | Download .STL files for Pico-GB on Cults Download everything I release by becoming a Patreon! |  |
| 1x | Raspberry Pi Pico |  |
| 1x | 2.2inch ILI9225 176×220 LCD Display Module |  |
| 8x | Micro Push Button Switch, Momentary Tactile Tact Touch, 6x6x6 mm, 4 pins |  |
| 1x | 9042 Mini Piezo Buzzer Speaker 3.3V |  |
| 1x | Solderless Breadboard |  |
| 1x | Solderable Breadboard |  |
| 1x | Dupont Wires Assorted Kit (Male to Female + Male to Male + Female to Female) |  |
40x | Dupont Connector Kit Right angle header |  |
| 1x | Preformed Breadboard Jumper Wires |  |
| SUNLU PLA+ 3D Printer Filament Grey, Red, and Black or the colors of your choice! |  | |
4x 4x 4x 4x | M2 M3 M4 M5 Stainless Steel Hex Socket Head Assortment Kit M3x4mm Hex Socket Head Cap Screws M2x4mm Hex Socket Head Cap Screws M2x6mm Hex Socket Head Cap Screws M2x8mm Hex Socket Head Cap Screws |  |
Recommended Tools
| 3D Printer (e.g. Creality Ender 3 V2) |  |
| Yihua 939D+ III Soldering Station (e.g. Yihua 939D+ III) |  |
| Set of 4 hexagonal screwdrivers (1.5 mm, 2mm, 2.5mm and 3mm) |  |
| Digital Multimeter |  |
Slicing the parts
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Electronics
Assembly
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Game Boy Emulator for Pico-GB
The Pico-GB can play original Game Boy DMG games using the RP2040-GB (DMG) Game Boy emulator from Mahyar Koshkouei (deltabeard).
Note that this emulator is very much a work in progress. As such, some games may run incorrectly or not run at all.
Future Work
- Emulator improvements: sound support, game saves, rom selection etc.
- Hardware PCM sound support, headphone jack, volume potentiometer
- Battery & Power switch
Makes
Change Log
- 20220613: Initial Release
