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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsYou can run DOOM on a modern microcontroller, but the documented project is not a finished pocket console. The most defensible starting point is an RP2350 board running the pico-doom port, paired with an HDMI display and at least one USB input device. A Raspberry Pi Pico 2 with the documented DVI breakout is the compact-board route; an Adafruit Fruit Jam is the reference platform. Turning that working prototype into a genuinely pocket-sized, battery-powered console still requires your own display, controls, power, charging and enclosure engineering.
What the documented DOOM setup actually is
pico-doom is an RP2350 port of the original game. Its supported configurations are development-friendly rather than handheld-specific: the board sends video through HSTX to an HDMI display, while input comes from USB peripherals. The project can run the full shareware DOOM1.WAD from flash. Audio is available through HDMI, or through an I2S DAC on boards and configurations that support it.
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That distinction matters. A board driving a separate monitor and keyboard proves that the game runs on the microcontroller; it does not prove that a particular tiny LCD, battery, charging board or button matrix will work. No complete, tested pocket-console bill of materials is established for this project. Treat the list below as a documented prototype requirement, then design the portable parts as a separate engineering phase.
Choose the computing platform first
Raspberry Pi Pico 2 with an RP2350 port
Pico 2 is a microcontroller board based on Raspberry Pi’s RP2350. Current Raspberry Pi hardware documentation lists 520 kB of memory and 4 MB of storage. Programs are flashed to on-board memory; this is not a Linux computer. In the documented DOOM configuration, the board handles the game, outputs HDMI through the specified DVI breakout, and accepts USB input.
#1 Best Overall
- Dual Arm Cortex-M33 or dual RISC-V Hazard3 processors @ 150MHz CPU
- 520 KB on-chip SRAM; 4 MB on-board QSPI flash
- 2 × UART, 2 × SPI controllers, 2 × I2C controllers, 24 × PWM channels, 1 × USB 1.1 controller and PHY, with host and device support, 12 × PIO state machines
- 26 multi-purpose GPIO pins, including 4 that can be used for ADC
- 21 mm × 51 mm
This route is the best fit when you want a small, dedicated appliance with predictable firmware behavior and no desktop operating system. It is also the route with the clearest evidence for a working current port. Its unresolved work is physical integration: a built-in display instead of an HDMI monitor, handheld controls instead of a keyboard or gamepad, and a safe battery and charging system.
Adafruit Fruit Jam
Fruit Jam is the reference platform described by the project. It provides the same general development model: RP2350 firmware, HDMI video and USB input. It is useful for getting the port running quickly because it is the board used in the project’s primary instructions, but its documented setup still assumes external display and controls. It is therefore a convenient prototype platform, not automatically a pocket enclosure solution.
Other supported RP2350 boards
The project also lists Murmulator M2 and Adafruit Feather RP2350 among supported alternatives. Board-specific firmware and peripheral support can differ, so do not assume that a release made for one board can simply be copied to another. Check the release instructions for the exact board target before flashing.
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Linux on a Raspberry Pi Zero
A Raspberry Pi Zero is a different class of solution. Raspberry Pi describes the Zero family as Linux-capable, with microSD storage, mini HDMI and two micro-USB ports. Chocolate Doom has Raspberry Pi guidance, including console or framebuffer use with:
Rank #2
- RPi Pico 2 W Microcontroller Board (pre-soldered header (color-coded)), Based on Official RP2350 Chip, Dual-core & Dual-architecture Design. Upgraded hardware from Pico 2 with wireless communication, onboard antenna, features 2.4GHz 802.11n WIFI and Bluetooth 5.2.
- Adopts unique dual-core and dual-architecture design: dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 processor and dual-core Hazard3 RISC-V processor, flexible clock running up to 150 MHz.
- Onboard Infineon CYW43439 wireless chip, supports WIFI 4 wireless and Bluetooth 5.2.
- 520KB of SRAM, and 4MB of on-board Flash memory.
- Castellated module allows soldering direct to carrier boards. USB 1.1 with device and host support. Low-power sleep and dormant modes. Drag-and-drop programming using mass storage over USB.
chocolate-doom -geometry 640x480 -bpp 24The command is an example from the Linux-oriented guidance, not a drop-in handheld configuration. You still need an operating-system image, packages, display wiring, controls, power and an enclosure. Choose this path if you value a familiar Linux environment and desktop-style software over the RP2350 port’s dedicated firmware approach.
Documented parts list for the RP2350 prototype
The following is the smallest evidence-backed list for trying the port in its documented form:
- One supported RP2350 board: Adafruit Fruit Jam, Raspberry Pi Pico 2 with the specified DVI breakout, Murmulator M2 or Adafruit Feather RP2350, according to the project’s supported-board list.
- HDMI display: video is sent over HSTX to an HDMI display.
- HDMI cable or adapter path: the display must be physically connected to the board’s documented video output.
- At least one supported USB input device: a USB keyboard, mouse or supported gamepad. Some boards have additional controller options.
- Shareware game data: a converted shareware
DOOM1.WADfile placed as required by the release instructions. - Optional audio hardware: HDMI audio may be enough; an I2S DAC, speaker or headphones are optional where the selected board and build support them.
- Optional microSD card: not required for the basic game in the documented setup, but useful or required for saves, settings and some alternate project routes.
Do not buy a microSD card on the assumption that it is mandatory for every build. The basic shareware game can run from flash in the documented configuration. Storage requirements change if you choose a different release process or want persistent data.
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How to get the documented build running
1. Select one exact board target
Decide whether you are using Fruit Jam, Pico 2 plus the documented DVI breakout, Murmulator M2 or Feather RP2350. Download firmware intended for that board. A board choice made for convenience is not interchangeable with the firmware target.
Rank #3
- The Raspberry Pi Pico is a beginner-friendly microcontroller board that uses MicroPython to give you a taste of the Internet of Things and microcontrollers. The RP2040 is a well-designed microprocessor that can be utilized in almost any Internet of Things project. It has enough power to complete the task quickly.
- 【Raspberry Pi RP2040 Microcontroller】Raspberry Pi Pico features Dual-core ARM Cortex M0+ processor, flexible clock running up to 133 MHz. With 264KB of SRAM, and 2MB of on-board Flash memory.Supports up to 16 MB of off chip flash memory via a dedicated QSPI bus
- 【Multiple Software Support】Pico has rich and complete software support, it comes with a complete Rasberry Pi official C/C++ SDK, Micropython SDK.The programming and burning of Pico need to be carried out on the computer. Supported operating systems and computers include:Raspberry Pie with Raspberry Pi OS,Other platforms equipped with Debian based Linux system Computer with MacOS, Computers with Windows, etc.
- 【Rich Hardware Interface】Raspberry Pi Pico has 30 GPIO pins, 4 pins for analog signal input and 26 × multi-function GPIO pins, 2 × SPI, 2 × I2C, 2 × UART, 3 × 12-bit ADC, 16 × controllable PWM channels.USB 1.1 supported by host and device, The installation mode can be flexibly selected by users to facilitate welding with other development boards.
- 【Build Project in Tiny Size】Only 2.1cm*5.1cm ( as small as your thumb). Pico has been designed to use either soldered 0.1" pin-headers or can be used as a surface-mountable 'module'.
2. Prepare the game data
Use the shareware DOOM1.WAD in the format and location specified by the project’s release instructions. The WAD is the game data; the port’s executable and board firmware are separate components. Do not treat a commercial WAD as automatically covered by the shareware setup.
3. Connect video before starting
Attach the HDMI display and cable or breakout path required by your board. The documented video route is an external HDMI display, not a generic SPI or RGB panel. A small panel can be part of a later custom design only after you verify an electrically compatible interface and write or adapt the required display driver.
4. Connect USB controls before power-up
Plug in the keyboard, mouse or supported gamepad before launching the game. The README warns that USB hot-plug is not reliable for this configuration. If a controller is connected after boot and is not detected, power down, connect it first and restart rather than assuming the controller is defective.
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Follow the release procedure for the selected board. The exact file and bootloader steps are board-dependent, so use the instructions for that target instead of copying a command from another RP2350 board. After flashing, the board should boot the port, find the prepared WAD and display the game on HDMI.
Rank #4
- RPi Pico 2 microcontroller board (with yellow Pre-Soldered Header) is powered by Official RP2350 microcontroller chip, with unique dual-core and dual-architecture design, running up to 150 MHz, embedded 520KB of SRAM and 4MB of on-board Flash memory, as well as 26x multi-function GPIO pins
- Adopts unique dual-core and dual-architecture design: dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 processor and dual-core Hazard3 RISC-V processor, flexible clock running up to 150 MHz
- 520KB of SRAM, and 4MB of on-board Flash memory
- 26 × multi-function GPIO pins. 2 × SPI, 2 × I2C, 2 × UART, 3 × 12-bit ADC, 24 × controllable PWM channels
- Castellated module allows soldering direct to carrier boards. USB 1.1 with device and host support. Low-power sleep and dormant modes.
6. Verify controls, sound and settings
Test movement, firing and menu navigation with the selected input device. The project exposes settings such as sound and music volume, screen size and mouse sensitivity. Confirm HDMI audio if you are using it; add an I2S DAC only when your board configuration supports that route.
What must change for a pocket-sized console
A pocket enclosure removes the assumptions that make the prototype easy. You must replace the external monitor with a physically integrated display, replace a full-size USB device with dedicated controls, provide regulated power and charging, and package everything so heat, cable strain and access to the boot interface are manageable.
Display integration
The documented project establishes HDMI output, not a validated tiny-panel design. An HDMI panel may preserve the software path but adds a converter, cable volume and power consumption. A direct microcontroller display could be smaller, but it would require a compatible interface and software work that the cited project does not document. Until you verify a specific panel electrically and in firmware, describe it as a design decision, not a guaranteed part.
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The documented inputs are USB keyboard, mouse and supported gamepad. A handheld normally needs a directional pad, action buttons, menu buttons and possibly shoulder buttons. Converting those switches into an input method the port recognizes may involve a USB gamepad controller, a board-specific controller interface or new firmware. The project proves USB input support; it does not publish a universal button wiring diagram.
Best Value
- Latest Version: Higher core clock speed, double memory, more powerful Arm cores, optional RISC-V cores (compared to the 1 series) (This W version has onboard wireless LAN and Bluetooth)
- Switchable Cores: Allows users to choose between dual industry-standard Arm Cortex-M33 cores and dual open-hardware Hazard3 cores
- Compatibility: Delivers a significant performance boost, while retaining software- and hardware-compatible with the 1 series
- Detailed Tutorial: Provides step-by-step guide with MicroPython, C and Processing (Java) Code (The download link can be found on the product box) (No paper tutorial)
- Example Projects: Each project has schematics, wiring diagrams, complete code and detailed explanations (Need extra items)
Battery and charging
No validated battery capacity, charger, protection circuit, power-management board or runtime figure is established for this build. Select those parts only after measuring the combined load of the RP2350 board, display, controller electronics and audio. The charging circuit must match the battery chemistry and include appropriate protection. Do not present a generic USB battery pack or a guessed milliamp-hour rating as tested compatibility.
Enclosure and service access
Plan openings for the display, buttons, power switch, charging port and any status indicators. Leave access to the board’s boot or programming connection so a firmware update does not require opening the case. Secure the display and battery independently, provide strain relief for internal cables and keep conductive parts away from exposed contacts. These are enclosure requirements for a custom build, not features supplied by the port.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Pico 2, Fruit Jam and Linux compared
| Approach | What is established | What you still have to solve | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pico 2 with RP2350 port | Current RP2350 target; shareware DOOM; HDMI video; USB input; 520 kB memory and 4 MB storage listed for Pico 2 | Integrated display, handheld controls, battery, charging, enclosure and board-specific firmware | A dedicated appliance built around microcontroller firmware |
| Fruit Jam with RP2350 port | Reference project platform with the same general HDMI and USB workflow | Compact integration and a complete battery-powered design | Fastest documented prototype starting point |
| Linux Raspberry Pi Zero | Linux computer with microSD, mini HDMI and two micro-USB ports; Chocolate Doom provides Raspberry Pi guidance | Operating-system setup, packages, power budget, display, controls and enclosure | A small Linux computer with familiar software tools |
The approaches are not equivalent. RP2350 firmware boots directly into a specialized port, while the Zero route carries a Linux operating system and its configuration overhead. The Linux route may be easier to customize with standard desktop tools, but the cited guidance does not amount to a finished battery handheld.
Historical context: why a Pico can run DOOM
Raspberry Pi previously reported that Graham Sanderson’s RP2040 Pico port ran original PC WAD files and audio. That article stated: “The executable, and a compressed version of the original shareware WAD, fit into Pico’s 2MB flash memory.” The 2 MB figure belongs to that historical RP2040 build and should not be used as a specification for every current port or every DOOM game file.
For the current Pico 2 decision, the relevant published figures are 520 kB of memory and 4 MB of storage. Neither source establishes a battery-life result, frame-rate benchmark, thermal measurement or complete product comparison. A build plan should therefore avoid promising a particular runtime or performance level without measurements from the exact display, controls and firmware combination.
Common failure points and fixes
The screen stays blank
- Confirm that the display and cable are connected through the board’s documented HDMI/HSTX path.
- Check that the firmware matches the exact board model.
- Test with a known-compatible HDMI display before troubleshooting a custom panel or converter.
The controller is not detected
- Connect the USB device before powering on; hot-plugging is explicitly unreliable in the documented setup.
- Try a supported keyboard, mouse or gamepad rather than an unverified wireless adapter.
- Reboot after changing the input device so the port can enumerate it during startup.
The game cannot find the WAD
- Use the shareware
DOOM1.WADconversion and filename expected by the release. - Verify that the file was copied to the location required by the selected firmware package.
- Do not assume that a microSD card is needed unless your chosen route specifies it for storage or settings.
There is no sound
- Check HDMI audio first if the display path is meant to carry sound.
- Verify that the selected board and firmware support the I2S DAC route before adding audio hardware.
- Check the project’s sound and music volume settings.
A practical build sequence
- Prototype on the desk: run the supported board with an external HDMI monitor and a wired USB controller.
- Lock the software target: confirm boot, WAD loading, controls, video and audio before changing the hardware.
- Choose the portable display path: decide whether the enclosure will retain HDMI or move to a different interface, and verify that path independently.
- Design the controls: map the physical buttons to a supported input method and test enumeration at boot.
- Measure power: record the actual current draw of the board, display, controls and audio together; then size the battery and charger from those measurements.
- Build the enclosure: provide service access, cable strain relief, charging access and safe separation around the battery.
- Run recovery tests: repeatedly cold-boot with controls attached, reconnect power after charging, test a depleted-battery scenario and verify that firmware updates remain possible.
What you can honestly claim about the finished device
With the documented hardware and software, you can claim a working RP2350 DOOM prototype that uses HDMI video, USB input and shareware DOOM1.WAD. You cannot claim that the cited project supplies a validated pocket enclosure, a tested battery design, a universal built-in display, a guaranteed runtime or a complete handheld button layout. Those features depend on the specific parts and engineering choices you add.
If your priority is the shortest path to playing, start with Fruit Jam or Pico 2 and prove the external HDMI setup. If your priority is a Linux environment, investigate the Raspberry Pi Zero and Chocolate Doom route instead. Only after one of those software configurations is stable should you commit to the custom display, control and power work that makes the console genuinely pocket-sized.
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