Uploaded January 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This is a video tutorial explaining how to create your own "Mastermind" electronic puzzle game using an Arduino UNO. Players must determine a secret code (which can be numbers, letters, or symbols) by making a series of guesses. After each guess, segments of a Neopixel WS2812B LED Ring light up to let them know the number of elements in their guess that were completely correct, and those that were in the secret code but appeared in the wrong position. By refining their subsequent guesses, players can determine the correct secret code. If you were to use this puzzle in an escape room, this code could be the combination to a 4-digit padlock or could trigger a relay to automatically de-activate an electronic maglock, for example.
In addition to visual feedback provided to players via the LED ring, the Arduino also creates a JSON data packet after each guess which is sent via the serial connection. This can be read by the serial in node of escape room control software such as Node-RED and used to show a panel on a gamesmaster's dashboard representing the state of the puzzle, any guesses made, and the feedback players received. This allows a GM in an control room to track the players' progress throughout the room, which puzzles they have solved, and give them appropriate hints if the get stuck.
To download the Arduino code, wiring diagram, and additional resources for this and all my other escape room tech projects, please go to patreon.com/playfultech
Timings
---
00:00-04:50 Introduction, Demonstration, and Design
04:51-11:16 Wiring
11:17-37:27 Arduino Code
37:28-41:12 Integration with Node-RED Escape Room Control Software
41:13-42:08 Wrap-up
This is a video tutorial explaining how to create your own "Mastermind" electronic puzzle game using an Arduino UNO. Players must determine a secret code (which can be numbers, letters, or symbols) by making a series of guesses. After each guess, segments of a Neopixel WS2812B LED Ring light up to let them know the number of elements in their guess that were completely correct, and those that were in the secret code but appeared in the wrong position. By refining their subsequent guesses, players can determine the correct secret code. If you were to use this puzzle in an escape room, this code could be the combination to a 4-digit padlock or could trigger a relay to automatically de-activate an electronic maglock, for example.
In addition to visual feedback provided to players via the LED ring, the Arduino also creates a JSON data packet after each guess which is sent via the serial connection. This can be read by the serial in node of escape room control software such as Node-RED and used to show a panel on a gamesmaster's dashboard representing the state of the puzzle, any guesses made, and the feedback players received. This allows a GM in an control room to track the players' progress throughout the room, which puzzles they have solved, and give them appropriate hints if the get stuck.
To download the Arduino code, wiring diagram, and additional resources for this and all my other escape room tech projects, please go to patreon.com/playfultech
Timings
---
00:00-04:50 Introduction, Demonstration, and Design
04:51-11:16 Wiring
11:17-37:27 Arduino Code
37:28-41:12 Integration with Node-RED Escape Room Control Software
41:13-42:08 Wrap-up
