The World’s Coolest Palm-Sized Arcade Just Received an Upgrade

If you’re looking for a miniature arcade cabinet to scratch your retro gaming itch—without taking up your entire living room with full-size machines—the Galagino is one of the best options out there. Built around a powerful ESP32 microcontroller, this DIY project manages to pack an accurate recreation of several classic games into a frame that fits in the palm of your hand. Unlike many novelty mini-cabinets that feel like cheap plastic toys, the Galagino prioritizes providing an authentic experience.

Now, thanks to the efforts of Davide Gatti and a group of his friends, this tiny arcade machine is even better. The Galagino 3.0 has just been announced, and it’s got some upgrades that will make it even more fun to play.

The main screen is a 3.2-inch “Cheap Yellow Display” that is compatible with LVGL. This slightly larger panel was chosen not only for better visibility, but also because it fits inside some existing miniature arcade shells such as the My Arcade Nano Player. Above the main screen sits a secondary, 0.91-inch “marquee” display that shows animated game logos and classic “Insert Coin” messages, adding a layer of authenticity that arcade fans will appreciate. The display module is also equipped with an ESP32 microcontroller that drives it and runs the emulation software.

While earlier versions supported just six games, version 3.0 doubles that number to twelve, bringing more legendary titles to the pocket-sized cabinet. The new version also introduces Bluetooth support through the Bluepad32 library, allowing players to connect external controllers from systems like Xbox or PlayStation for a more comfortable gameplay experience when the tiny built-in joystick isn’t enough.

Internally, the Galagino 3.0 uses a mix of custom PCBs and off-the-shelf parts. A tiny joystick sits on its own board, while a PCF8574 I/O expander handles additional button inputs over the I2C bus. The system also includes a small internal speaker and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, making the entire cabinet fully portable.

The 3D-printed enclosure uses a largely snap-fit design that minimizes tools and soldering. Most components connect with pre-terminated cables, and only two solder points are required for power wiring. A dedicated internal battery compartment also replaces the tape-based mounting used in earlier versions.

On the software side, the project runs in the Arduino IDE environment. Because original arcade ROMs are copyrighted, builders must supply their own game files, which are converted into header files that can be compiled directly into the ESP32’s flash memory.

Further details and source code can be found on GitHub under a permissive, open-source license.