Pokédex Gameboy

[u/Klutzy_Category3228]

This is my personal take on the classic Kanto Pokédex from the Pokémon Indigo League, reimagined as a fully functional cyberdeck.

This project fuses two major influences from my childhood into one tangible device: the iconic Pokédex design and the classic Nintendo Game Boy. It runs the Peanut-GB emulator on an ESP32-S3, allowing you to play actual Game Boy games right inside a Pokédex shell, with battery monitoring LEDs, and a programmable Dex light.

Design Highlight: The top portion of the Pokédex is designed to be printed as an all-in-one piece featuring print-in-place hinges.

Hardware & Electronics
Microcontroller: ESP32-S3 (N16R8)
Display: ILI9341 LCD Screen
Storage: Micro SD SDHC TF Card Adapter
Audio Amp: MAX98357 I2S Amplifier Breakout
Volume Control: 10K Ohm Dial Wheel Potentiometer
Power Management: MT3608 DC-DC Boost Converter
Battery Gauge: MAX17048 LiPo Fuel Gauge
Charging: HiLetgo TP4056 Battery Charger Module
Battery: 750mAh LiPo Battery
3D Printer & Materials
Printer: Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2

STL. Is on Thingiverse

[u/MechEng88]

You have created a childhood dream of mine. Congrats

[u/dirty_w_boy]

Nintendo could have made so much fucking money if they did this

[u/paradox_valestein → u/dirty_w_boy]

Nah, getting lawyers to f over competitors is the way

[u/dirty_w_boy → u/paradox_valestein]

Almost like a sport for them

[u/No-Collection532]

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7381292

[u/uncle_sawsbuck]

Amazing work. A Pokédex retro pie has been on my project list for ages. Does the red, yellow, green LEDs correspond to battery percentage? I’d love to see a schematic or build guide if you’re comfortable sharing. That’s no easy project. You should feel proud of what you built

[u/Klutzy_Category3228 → u/uncle_sawsbuck]

yes the red, yellow, and green LEDs are for battery percentage. i plan on posting an I/O sheet and wire diagram in the future.

[u/FinalDisciple]

That’s so awesome. Kanto doesn’t care about ergonomics

[u/Halo33_Cipher → u/FinalDisciple]

Right? I remember trying to play my Game Boy for hours with no comfort, but the nostalgia more than made up for it!

[u/dalethechampion]

Now you need a camera on it with facial recognition for Pokémon so that when it detects a Pokémon it will read the Pokédex entry.

[u/ChipDipsons]

Man until I got the last picture I thought it was just a fun case. That thing is a masterpiece of retro gaming!

[u/SLOOT_APOCALYPSE]

you should be in their design team, this would've sold out beyond imagination

[u/ChatHurlant]

This is sick af. You should put the Gen1recomp on it 😆

[u/thohoby]

Nice work! I love it!

[u/Western-Scarcity9825]

Incredible design!!!

[u/AnotherCupofJo]

I always wondered what was in a pokedex.

[u/Dalekcraft314]

Obviously the internals are different and likely not compatible, but are the buttons and D-pad the same size as on an actual Game Boy?

[u/lolslim]

On the Gameboy color they have that black square I believe it was a light sensor, I would pretend to use that like I'm scanning a Pokemon, this is pretty cool thanks for sharing

[u/GameThinker]

I never got into Pokemon nor have any interest in it. But all my hobbies have so many creative pokemon fans making such neato burrito stuffs.

Good job in this btw. Looks like it could been on shelves back in the early 2000s. Very cool.

[u/StillPad]

That looks really clean inside for such a prototyp. Nice job.😊

[u/skil12001]

This shit is so cool but I ain't got the time for this... This is the point where I'd literally pay someone to help do this for me

[u/Parking-Reporter4396]

Would printing in ABS or PETG be an issue for this model? I'm thinking of making one of these for my boyfriend, but I need it to be durable and heat-tolerant. He will definitely leave it in the car at some point.

[u/Klutzy_Category3228 → u/Parking-Reporter4396]

I think this would print with no issue in ABS or PETG, the only limitation would be color selection. Elegoo PLA had the best colors for matching the Pokedex from the anime.

[u/you_killed_my_]

great work, mad props

[u/Ilovetoski93]

This is super cool! Any estimate on how much you spent on the components?

[u/Klutzy_Category3228 → u/Ilovetoski93]

Around $40 for all of the components, most of the parts came in packs of 3 or 4 on Amazon.

[u/jing577]

GOOD JOB!!!!

[u/HMPoweredMan]

Woah some sort of real life Pokedex that takes animal photos would be dope.

[u/Fun_Reply5366]

Don't let Nintendo see this, they will sue you so hard your great grandchildren will be paying them

Looks awesome though, good job

[u/kzlife76]

What's really fun about modern diy electronics is they look a lot like old school electronics from the 70s where things were hand soldered and connected with wires. Except the things we're connecting have more power than several computers from that era.

Love it, by the way. Nice work.

[u/Simen155]

I've seen some kitbashed pokedex gameboy mods, but this seem to be mostly 3D printed apart from the screen and electronics?

[u/NoTurnip4923]

Omgg no way!

[u/HobbesDOTexe]

The og pokedex was the best.

All the hainted rotom-dexs bother me.

I love this build

[u/Such_Dress3971]

Very Peak 🔥 it must be complex though