3 Raspberry Pi projects with a gaming twist (2025)

It's no secret that people can use Raspberry Pis for gaming. They're not exactly 3D graphics powerhouses, but they do make fine emulators for retro games. As a result, you'll find them in DIY handheld consoles and arcade machines, as their small size lets them easily fit wherever you like them.

However, this article isn't about playing games on a Pi, because we've really explored that space already. So, how about Raspberry Pi projects with a gaming twist? That way, you have a Raspberry Pi gaming-related project to go along with your actual Raspberry Pi gaming projects. Because, you know. Never enough gaming stuff.

3 Now you can let GLaDOS from Portal control your smart home, complete with potato

This was a triumph

Okay, show of hands: who here, after meeting GLaDOS in the Portal series, really wanted to put her in control of their smart home? Anyone? No-one? Really? Okay, well, fair enough. I suppose finding out the hard way that your smart home managed to acquire and install neurotoxin vents without you noticing isn't a good project to make.

However, what you can do is create a Home Assistant-compatible replica of GLaDOS and have her take control instead. You can even sculpt a little potato-powered version of her that she used in Portal 2. This is what tinkerer Pham Binh pulled off on Hackster.io with their new project:

If you're a Portal fan like me, get ready to be excited! I've created what might be the coolest real-life Potato GLaDOS ever. This isn't just a static model - it can speak, think, and even control my smart home through Home Assistant. The best part? It costs less than $50 to build (assuming you already have Home Assistant running).

Fortunately, the potato isn't real. It's 3D-printed from plans created by a kind individual who uploaded the exact potato shape as an STL file for others to download. The project even uses GLaDOS's voice to let you know what's going on around your home.

2 Put your Raspberry Pi in a cool console-themed case

There's a lot to pick from

If you're not in the mood for making a new project, but you're still on the hunt for a nice-looking housing for your SBC, may I tempt you with a cool console case? These are shaped like the classic consoles of yore and designed to house your Raspberry Pi, keeping it safe and sound within a stylish case. Best of all, if you're emulating games on your Pi, you can grab a case that matches the console for the games you're playing for that extra immersion.

If you want one of these, you have two choices: you can either purchase a premade case or make one yourself. If you want to take the former route, you can find lots of Retropie cases over on ThePiHut, featuring cases shaped after Game Boys, N64s, PlayStation 1s, and more. If you'd rather save some cash and take the DIY route, you can 3D print your own, such as this cool GameCube case for your Pi.

1 Bring something from video games into the real world

Living the dream

Finally, you can put that hardware to good use by replicating something that you'd only find in games. With a little bit of 3D printing and the addition of a Pi, you can emulate a lot of things from fiction into the real world, and the best bit is, you can really take your own route on how you'd do it.

Whenever people get re-invested in Fallout (either due to a new game or a TV show), we often see a ton of Pip-Boys pop up. These aim to recreate the handy wrist-attached personal computer that the main character always sports in the Fallout games, and while the Raspberry Pi version can't give you an in-depth health report for each of your limbs, it can perform daily tasks and look cool at the same time.

If you want some inspiration, check out this Pip-Boy made with a Raspberry Pi W and scrap plastic. If you want something a little more lightweight, why not try the Pip-Watch? And while these don't come with Raspberry Pi integrations by default, you can always modify these six 3D-printed cosplay pieces that look shockingly real with lights, effects, and sound that's handled from the SBC.

Show off your geekdom

If you have a Raspberry Pi emulator for every suitable console under the sun, why not make something gaming-related? These cool projects with a gaming twist are an ideal build for people who love games, but already have a backlog that stretches too far back.