Thumby (console)
Miniature keychain sized game console
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Thumby is a small Bumble Bee-sized programmable game console produced by TinyCircuits of Akron, Ohio[3][4] and funded by a Kickstarter campaign.[5][6][7] The console measures 1.2 by 0.7 by 0.3 inches (30.5 mm × 17.8 mm × 7.6 mm).
Thumby game console close-up | |
| Developer | TinyCircuits |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | TinyCircuits |
| Type | Handheld game console |
| Generation | Ninth |
| Released | 2022 |
Introductory price | $20–35 |
| Media | Digital distribution |
| RP2040 | |
| CPU | 2 ARM Cortex-M0+ cores @ Up to 133 MHz[1] |
| Memory | 264 KB[1] (SRAM[1]) |
| Storage | 1.4 MB (advertised as 2 MB) |
| Display | 72×40 1-bit OLED |
| Sound | Piezoelectric speaker |
| Connectivity | Link cable |
| Power | 40 mAh Lithium polymer battery |
Online services | Thumby Arcade |
| Dimensions | 1.2 by 0.7 by 0.3 inches (30.5 mm × 17.8 mm × 7.6 mm) |
| Weight | 4.7 grams (0.17 oz) |
Marketing target | Programming education[2] |
| Predecessor | Pocket Arcade |
| Website | thumby |
| Language | MicroPython, Arduino |
History
The first concept for the Thumby originated roughly around 2015 or 2016.[3] An early version of the system was shown at the 2016 Bay Area Maker Faire.[8]
A Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the console began on September 28, 2021.[9] The company projected a production of at least 10,000 Thumby consoles despite the 2020–2023 global chip shortage.[3] A stated goal was to ship consoles to backers by February 2022, with plans to ship some early units in Fall 2021.[3] The console shipped in 2022.[10] The Verge reported on a follow-up Thumby Color console Kickstarter in August 2024.[11] Listed improvements include a color display, improved processor, and a haptic feedback motor.[12] The Thumby Color entered the market in 2025.[13]
Games
The Thumby includes six preloaded games:
- TinySaur/Saur Run
- Thumgeon
- TinyTennis/Tennis
- Annelid
- Space Debris
- TinyBlocks/TinyTris
Additional games can be downloaded from the internet on a personal computer, then loaded onto the console over USB.
Hardware
The Thumby is powered by a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller.[7] The console provides 2MB of onboard storage.[7] MicroPython is supported with a web based development environment.[14]
A small 0.38 by 0.27 inches (9.7 mm × 6.9 mm) 72×40 pixel 1-bit OLED panel is used as the display.[15][7][16] A buzzer is also included[17] for simple audio feedback.
A microUSB port is used to connect the console with computers, as well as to support the Thumby link cable.[7] This port is also used to charge the lithium polymer battery, which provides about 2 hours of operational runtime with a capacity of 40 mAh.[7]
The system is notable for its small size, measuring at 1.2 by 0.7 by 0.3 inches (30.5 mm × 17.8 mm × 7.6 mm).[15] The console can be mounted on a keychain.[9][15] The system has a mass of 4.7 grams (0.17 oz).[18]
The console casing was made in a variety of colors including gray, dark gray, blue, pink, gold, green, and clear.[19]