Adafruit
Adafruit Arcade Bonnet for Raspberry Pi with JST Connectors [Mini Kit]
The Adafruit Arcade Bonnet makes it easy to build retro gaming projects with a Raspberry Pi. It's sized to match the Pi Zero for compact builds, but works wi...
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The Adafruit Arcade Bonnet makes it easy to build retro gaming projects with a Raspberry Pi. It's sized to match the Pi Zero for compact builds, but works with any Pi that has a 2×20 header (Pi Zero, Pi 2, Pi 3, Pi B+, etc.).
The bonnet manages all buttons and switches through an I2C GPIO expander with interrupt output, freeing up the Pi's GPIO pins for other accessories like a PiTFT display. A 3W digital speaker amplifier provides audio output even when using displays without built-in sound.
Key Features
- 6× JST Button Sockets – Plug in arcade buttons using quick-connect wires
- Digital Joystick Header – For clicky switched-type arcade joysticks
- Analog Joystick Support – Header and converter for potentiometer-based joysticks and thumbsticks
- 3W Speaker Output – Drives 4–8 ohm speakers, works even on Pis without a headphone jack
- I2C GPIO Expander – All switches managed via I2C with interrupt, freeing up Pi GPIO
- Pi Zero Sized – Compact footprint for small builds
Ideal For
- Retro arcade console builds (desktop or stand-up)
- Portable gaming handhelds
- Custom game controllers
- Emulation station projects
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit Arcade Bonnet PCB
- 1× Header strip
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- GPIO
- General-purpose input/output pins are microcontroller pins you can set in software to read signals, switch devices on and off, or connect to peripherals. The number of GPIO pins matters because it limits how many buttons, LEDs, sensors, and other parts you can wire directly to the board.
- Headers
- Rows of connector contacts on a fixed pitch (commonly 2.54 mm) used to link a board to a breadboard, jumper wires, or another board. They come as male pin headers and female socket headers; when a module ships with pre-soldered headers it can be used straight away, whereas bare pads require soldering the pins yourself.
- I2C
- I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- PCB
- A printed circuit board (PCB) is a board, usually rigid, with etched copper tracks that connect electronic components together without loose wiring. Components are mounted on the board and signals route between them through the copper layout.
- potentiometer
- A variable resistor usually turned with a knob or shaft to create an adjustable electrical signal. It is often used for inputs such as volume, brightness or position, so it helps beginners learn how a microcontroller reads changing values.
- Terminal block
- A terminal block is a connector that joins wires together in a neat, removable, or serviceable way, usually clamping each wire under a screw or spring instead of soldering. It makes it easier to connect, change, or service wiring without permanent joints.
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