QuickTap: Arduino Reaction Time Game with LEDs and TM1637 Display

Introduction

In a world where reflexes and focus are constantly put to the test, QuickTap delivers a captivating experience using four brightly colored LEDs — red, yellow, green, and blue — each paired with a dedicated button ready to measure your instant response.

The game is powered by an Arduino microcontroller, the electronic heart of the system, orchestrating every move with the help of a TM1637 7-segment display that precisely shows your reaction time in milliseconds.

At startup, you're greeted by the word “RED” on the screen, while the red LED pulses rhythmically — signaling that you're about to enter a sensory challenge. Once you press the red button, as prompted by the display, a countdown begins, accompanied by rising sound cues. Then, one of the LEDs lights up randomly, and you must quickly identify the color and press the matching button before time runs out.

If you succeed, you're rewarded with a short confirmation sound and your reaction time flashes elegantly on the display — marking your performance. If you miss, a dramatic “0000” appears, and the buzzer plays a failure sequence, daring you to try again. After each round, the game resets to its standby state, with “RED” displayed and the red LED calmly pulsing, ready to test your reflexes once more.

QuickTap is more than just a game — it’s an invitation to precision, a focus exercise, and a joy for electronics enthusiasts and fans of interactive challenges.

Gameplay overview

The game begins with the word “RED” displayed on the TM1637 and the red LED blinking rhythmically — a visual cue that the system is ready. A single press of the red button activates the game and launches a countdown: three, two, one — accompanied by a series of rising tones that build anticipation and sharpen focus.

Immediately after, the screen clears and the system enters observation mode. In each round, the player is exposed to a randomly selected LED — red, yellow, green, or blue — which lights up unexpectedly after a short random delay between one and three seconds. From that moment, the system begins timing your reaction: how long it takes you to press the button that matches the lit LED. The time is measured precisely in milliseconds and displayed immediately after your response, offering clear and direct feedback.

If the player reacts correctly, a short energizing sound confirms success, and the reaction time is shown on the display for a few seconds before the system resets to the initial “RED” screen. If the player presses the wrong button — one that doesn’t match the lit LED — the display shows “0000”, and the buzzer plays a dramatic failure sequence.

Each round is an unpredictable test of reflex and precision, with no cumulative score or level progression — just pure focus and performance in the moment. QuickTap doesn’t follow a traditional game structure; instead, it offers fast, intense, and varied rounds that challenge the player to improve their reaction time with every attempt.

How to play "QuickTap"

1. Starting the Game

The game begins with the word “RED” displayed on the TM1637 and the red LED blinking rhythmically. This signals that the system is ready for the next challenge. Pressing the red button starts a countdown: 3, 2, 1 — accompanied by rising tones that build suspense and focus.

2. Reflex Challenge

After the countdown, the screen clears and the system enters observation mode. Following a short random delay (1–3 seconds), one LED lights up suddenly (red, yellow, green, or blue). From that moment, the system begins timing the player’s reaction — how quickly they press the button that matches the lit LED.

3. Performance Feedback

Correct press → A short, energizing sound plays, and the reaction time in milliseconds appears on the display for a few seconds.
Incorrect press → The display shows “0000”, and the buzzer plays a dramatic failure sequence.

4. Automatic Reset

After each round — regardless of outcome — the system automatically returns to the standby screen with the “RED” message and pulsing red LED, ready for another attempt.

5. Game Objective

QuickTap has no levels or cumulative scoring — each round is a standalone exercise in precision and reflex. The goal is to train your attention and improve your reaction time. Players are encouraged to beat their own performance with every round.

🔌 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., quickTap.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...

First Update – Version 1.1

Refining the Reaction Game with Smarter Scoring

The QuickTap Reaction Game receives its first upgrade in version 1.1, introducing a subtle yet impactful improvement to the original concept. Designed to test reflexes with LEDs, buttons, and a buzzer, the game now adds a layer of strategy and performance tracking.

What’s New in Version 1.1?

Five Timed Attempts Players now have five chances to respond to randomly lit LEDs. Each attempt is individually timed, allowing for more consistent performance evaluation.
Average Reaction Time Displayed At the end of the game, the system calculates and displays the average reaction time across all five rounds. This gives players a clear benchmark for their reflexes.
Penalty for Incorrect Responses If the player presses the wrong button—one that doesn’t match the active LED—a fixed penalty of 3 seconds (3000 ms) is recorded for that round. This encourages accuracy and discourages random guessing.

You can download the source code here.

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., quickTap.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.

QuickTap Reaction Game – Version 1.2

“Repeat After Me” Gets an Arduino Twist

Following the success of QuickTap v1.1, which introduced timed rounds and average scoring, version 1.2 takes a bold step forward by reimagining the gameplay entirely. Inspired by the classic “Simon Says” concept, this update challenges not just reflexes—but memory and precision.

What’s New in Version 1.2?

Sequence-Based Challenge The player is shown a sequence of five LEDs lighting up one after another. Their task: repeat the exact sequence by pressing the corresponding buttons in the same order.
Time-Based Scoring If the player successfully reproduces the sequence, the total time taken to input the correct pattern is displayed on the TM1637 screen. The faster the response, the better the score.

This version transforms QuickTap from a reflex game into a memory-and-speed hybrid, offering a deeper and more engaging experience.

You can download the source code here.

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., quickTap.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.

QuickTap Reaction Game – Version 1.3

Chaos Mode Activated: Memory vs Distraction

Just when players thought they had mastered the art of reflexes and memory, QuickTap v1.3 arrives to shake their confidence. This version doesn’t just test your ability to remember—it tests your ability to remember under pressure.

Inspired by cognitive overload and designed to push players to their limits, version 1.3 introduces a devilishly clever twist: distraction.

What’s New in Version 1.3?

Main Sequence Challenge As in previous versions, the player is shown a sequence of five LEDs (or optionally six for advanced mode), lighting up one by one. The goal remains the same: repeat the sequence in the correct order, as fast as possible.
Distraction Sequence Just when the player thinks it’s time to respond, the game throws in a surprise: a rapid-fire burst of random LED flashes designed to confuse and distract. This sequence plays one second after the main sequence ends.
Post-Chaos Response Only after the distraction ends can the player attempt to reproduce the original sequence. If they succeed—against all odds—their reaction time is displayed as a reward.

Gameplay Flow

Countdown begins.
Main sequence of 5 (or 6) LEDs is displayed.
A short pause.
A fast, random distraction sequence plays.
The player must then input the original sequence correctly.
If successful, the total time is displayed.

Why It’s Brilliant (and Brutal)

Version 1.3 introduces cognitive interference—a psychological concept where irrelevant stimuli disrupt memory recall. It’s not just a game anymore; it’s a brain workout. Players must focus, filter out noise, and act with precision.

This version is perfect for competitive play, brain-training apps, or just tormenting your friends in the best way possible.

You can download the source code for the five LEDs sequence here.

You can download the source code for the six LEDs sequence here.

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., quickTap.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.

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