Color Clash: Arduino Reaction Game with LEDs, Buttons & TM1637 Display

Introduction

Color Clash is a fast-paced, interactive game built with Arduino that blends LEDs, buttons, and a TM1637 four-digit display into a challenge of focus, pattern recognition, and quick decision-making.

The experience begins with a pulsing red LED, signaling the player to start. A countdown sequence—complete with sound effects—sets the mood, and the player is launched into a series of increasingly intense levels.

In each round, colored LEDs flash in rapid succession. One color is randomly selected to appear more frequently than the others—this is the dominant color. The player must identify which color shows up most often and press the corresponding button within a short time frame. A speaker adds audio feedback throughout the game, playing success tunes, error tones, and transition sounds to enhance the experience.

With clean code and intuitive logic, Color Clash is more than just a fun project—it’s a great way to learn Arduino programming and explore how electronic components work together in real applications. Whether you're teaching STEM, hosting a workshop, or building for fun, this modular and customizable game offers fresh challenges at every level.

How to play "Color Clash"

Color Clash is built around a progressive challenge that tests attention and reaction speed. The player must quickly identify the most frequent color in a randomized LED sequence and respond accurately.

Everything begins with a visual and audio cue: the red LED blinks, and the word “RED” appears on the TM1637 display, signaling that the game is ready. Pressing the start button triggers a countdown (3–2–1), accompanied by sound effects, and the game enters active mode.

Each level generates a fast sequence of LED flashes—red, yellow, green, and blue—in a randomized order. One color is chosen at random to appear more often than the others. The player must observe the sequence carefully and determine which color was dominant. Immediately after the sequence ends, there’s a short window to press the button that matches the dominant color.

If the player chooses correctly, the game advances to the next level with a celebratory sound. If not, the final score is displayed, and the game resets to the starting screen.

Game Rules – Color Clash

1. Starting the Game

The red LED blinks rhythmically, and the word “RED” appears on the TM1637 display.
The player presses the red button to begin.
A countdown (3–2–1) starts, accompanied by sound effects.

2. Sequence Generation

The system flashes colored LEDs—red, yellow, green, and blue—in a randomized order.
One color is randomly selected as the dominant hue, appearing more frequently than the others.
The number of flashes increases with each level.

3. Player Response

After the sequence ends, the player must press the button that matches the dominant color.

4. Validation and Progress

✅ Correct answer: the game moves to the next level, and a short success melody plays.
❌ Incorrect answer: the final score is displayed, and the game resets to the start screen.

5. Game Objective

Boosts attention and visual memory
Trains decision-making under pressure
Perfect for educational activities, STEM workshops, or friendly competitions

🔌 The Circuit Diagram

At first glance, the circuit diagram might look intimidating—its lines twisting and turning like a never-ending technical tale. But don’t let appearances discourage you. We’ll walk through it together, step by step, decoding each symbol and uncovering the logic behind the layout. As we place the components onto the breadboard in a clear and intuitive way, you’ll see how quickly confusion turns into curiosity—and curiosity into confidence.

Wiring Overview: Connecting the Circuit

As you can see, the circuit is built from a series of straightforward connections between the Arduino and various components. Each wire has a purpose, and together they form the backbone of the game’s interactive experience. Here's how everything links up:

🔴 Red Button & LED

Red Button Terminal 1 → Arduino Pin D12
Red Button Terminal 2 → Arduino GND
Arduino Pin D7 → Resistor R1 (Terminal 1, for Red LED)
Resistor R1 (Terminal 2) → Positive (+) leg of Red LED
Negative (−) leg of Red LED → Arduino GND

🟡 Yellow Button & LED

Yellow Button Terminal 1 → Arduino Pin D6
Yellow Button Terminal 2 → Arduino GND
Arduino Pin D10 → Resistor R2 (Terminal 1, for Yellow LED)
Resistor R2 (Terminal 2) → Positive (+) leg of Yellow LED
Negative (−) leg of Yellow LED → Arduino GND

🟢 Green Button & LED

Green Button Terminal 1 → Arduino Pin D8
Green Button Terminal 2 → Arduino GND
Arduino Pin D4 → Resistor R3 (Terminal 1, for Green LED)
Resistor R3 (Terminal 2) → Positive (+) leg of Green LED
Negative (−) leg of Green LED → Arduino GND

🔵 Blue Button & LED

Blue Button Terminal 1 → Arduino Pin D9
Blue Button Terminal 2 → Arduino GND
Arduino Pin D5 → Resistor R4 (Terminal 1, for Blue LED)
Resistor R4 (Terminal 2) → Positive (+) leg of Blue LED
Negative (−) leg of Blue LED → Arduino GND

🔊 Speaker

Positive (+) terminal of Speaker → Arduino Pin D12
Negative (−) terminal of Speaker → Arduino GND

🖥️ TM1637 Display

CLK (Terminal 1) → Arduino Pin D3
DIO (Terminal 2) → Arduino Pin D2
GND (Terminal 3) → Arduino GND
VCC (Terminal 4) → Arduino 5V

Materials Needed

Arduino Uno or a compatible equivalent board

4 LEDs (preferably 5mm) in different colors: red, yellow, green, and blue

4 momentary push buttons (normally open) that can be mounted on a breadboard

1 four-digit, seven-segment display controlled by a TM1637 driver chip

a speaker for sound feedback

1 large breadboard (830 tie-points recommended)

Jumper wires for all necessary connections

🛠️ Installing Components on the Breadboard

As you’ll notice, the number of electrical connections required is quite manageable. You just need to pay attention to a few key details to ensure everything is set up correctly:

LEDs are polarized components, meaning they must be connected in the correct direction. To help guide you, we’ve labeled the legs as A (anode, +) and K (cathode, −). If installed backwards, the LEDs won’t light up.

Push buttons have four pins arranged in a rectangular layout—not a perfect square. This means they naturally fit into the breadboard in only one orientation, without forcing them.

Resistors are non-polarized, so they can be placed in either direction. Their role is to limit current and protect sensitive components, especially the LEDs.
The speakers may come with colored wires. If the terminals aren’t marked, remember: the red wire typically indicates the positive side and should be connected to Pin D12, while the black wire goes to GND.
Breadboard power rails are grouped in sets of 25 pins along the sides. To ensure consistent voltage across the board, it’s important to bridge the power rails—this keeps the power supply uniform throughout the entire length of the breadboard.
If this is your first time using an Arduino board, you can connect everything without worry. A fresh board won’t have any preloaded programs, so there’s no risk of unexpected behavior during setup.

Source Code

Before compiling the source code, you’ll need to install a library that enables communication with the 4-digit, 7-segment display powered by the TM1637 driver chip. The library is called “TM1637”, developed by Avishay Orpaz.

To install it:

Open the Library Manager in the Arduino IDE
Search for “TM1637”
Select “TM1637 by Avishay Orpaz”
Click “INSTALL”

You can download the source code here. The file includes detailed comments explaining nearly every line, making it easy to follow and customize.

Note: The link opens a .ino file in a new browser tab. Since most browsers treat it as plain text, you’ll need to save it properly:

Press Ctrl + S
In the “Save as type” dropdown, choose “All files”
Add the .ino extension to the filename (e.g., colorClash.ino). Alternatively, you can copy the entire code (Ctrl + A, then Ctrl + C), open a new sketch in the Arduino IDE, and paste it (Ctrl + V) directly.

Once your components are installed on the breadboard, simply upload the code to your Arduino board and enjoy the game! 🎮

And That’s Not All…

You can take this project to the next level by integrating all components into a custom enclosure. If you have access to a 3D printer, you can design an attractive and ergonomic case tailored to your layout and style.

No 3D printer? No problem — an ABS plastic box, commonly used in electrical installations, is a great alternative. It offers durability, safety, and a clean, professional appearance.

With a proper enclosure, your project gains not only functionality but also a presentation that truly stands out.

Explore the resources and design ideas here...

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