This adorable miniature ESP32 arcade cabinet tests how strong your flicking power is

I really like it when people use their time, effort, and knowledge of electronics to recreate really teeny-tiny versions of real-world devices. There's just something really cute about a miniature replica of a PC, console, or other computing device that jmakes me really happy.

However, until now, I hadn't really seen many miniaturized versions of arcade games. Fortunately for me, someone has done just that, creating a boxer arcade game that's a fraction of the size of the real deal. And while it's too small to actually punch, you can still give it a mean flick.

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Flick-Out!! is a tiny ESP32-powered arcade you can actually play

As spotted by Hackster.io, this cute little device is called the Flick-Out!!, presumably a nod to the video game series Punch-Out. As you might expect from a device this size, you won't do any actual punching; however, you can test the power of your digits by flicking the punching bag as hard as you can. It even keeps score.

On the hardware side, we're looking at a LilyGO T-Display S3, which the project creator describes as an "ESP32-S3 development board with integrated display." There's also a DFPlayer Mini to play MP3s, LEDs to light things up, and a Force Sensitive Resistor to detect how hard you've "punched" the bag.

So, with all that hardware under its belt, does it have any special features? Boy, does it ever:

• 🎬 Animated GIF Support - Boot animations, idle loops, and game sequences
• 👊 Force-Sensitive Gameplay - Punch strength detection using FSR sensor
• 🔊 Sound System - MP3 audio with DFPlayer Mini module
• 💡 NeoPixel Effects - Dynamic LED lighting synchronized with game states
• 🔋 Battery Monitoring - Real-time voltage tracking with low battery warnings
• 🏆 Highscore System - Persistent storage with reset functionality
• 🎵 Volume Control - Adjustable audio levels with visual menu
• ✨ Attract Modes - Cycling highscore display and scrolling credits

If you want to get making your own (and I don't blame you), head over to the Flick-Out!! project GitHub page. There, you'll find all the hardware specifications, 3D-printable STL files, and code required to get this project up and running. The creator was even nice enough to add a troubleshooting section in case something in your build goes wrong. Once it's ready to go, plug it in, leave it on your desk, and see if you can beat your own high score whenever you're bored.