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Yes. Graham Sanderson’s RP2040 Doom port runs the original PC DOOM WAD format on a Raspberry Pi Pico. The documented demonstration produces VGA video, accepts a USB keyboard, plays audio, and stores a compressed shareware WAD with the executable in a Pico’s 2MB flash.
The Pico is not a complete console, however. You must match the firmware to a compatible display, input method, pinout and flash capacity. The standard VGA build, a tiny RP2040 Zero OLED build and an RP2350 HDMI-style build are separate projects; their UF2 files and wiring are not interchangeable.
What you can actually run
This is a genuine Doom engine port, not a video streamed from another computer. The RP2040 project derives from Chocolate Doom and was adapted to run within a microcontroller’s memory, storage and peripheral limits. It loads the original game’s WAD data, renders frames on the selected display and reads controls from the hardware supported by that build.
Raspberry Pi co-founder and CEO Eben Upton described the demonstration this way: “Doom might seem like a frivolous application, but it demonstrates just how powerful RP2040 can be in the hands of an experienced user.” The useful lesson is less that every Pico is a plug-and-play game console and more that a low-cost microcontroller can handle a complete classic game when its software and hardware are designed together.
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Why the RP2040 is capable of it
Processing and memory
The RP2040 has two Arm Cortex-M0+ cores running at up to 133MHz, 264kB of SRAM, USB 1.1 host/device support and eight programmable I/O (PIO) state machines. Those resources are modest beside a desktop PC, but they are sufficient for a carefully optimized Doom port.
- CPU: dual-core Arm Cortex-M0+, up to 133MHz.
- Working memory: 264kB SRAM.
- Connectivity: USB 1.1 host/device support, useful for the keyboard path in the documented demonstration.
- Timing and I/O: eight PIO state machines, which can generate or capture precisely timed signals for custom interfaces.
These specifications describe the chip, not a guarantee that any RP2040 board can run every Doom build. Board flash size, connected hardware, pin assignments and the firmware configuration determine whether a particular image works.
Flash capacity controls the game data
The original demonstration targets a 2MB Pico. Raspberry Pi’s account says the executable and a compressed shareware WAD fit together in that flash budget. That is the practical minimum for the documented shareware route, provided you use the matching firmware and data.
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Choose a build before buying hardware
There is no universal “Doom for Pico” firmware. Start with the display and board you want, then obtain the corresponding release image or source configuration.
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| Implementation | Board and storage | Display | Input and audio | Game-data scope | Firmware considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original RP2040 Doom demonstration | Raspberry Pi Pico; 2MB flash in the documented demonstration | VGA-compatible output | USB keyboard; audio is included in the demonstration | Compressed shareware DOOM1.WAD | Use the project’s VGA pin mapping and matching release UF2 |
| Expanded RP2040 build | RP2040 board with 8MB flash | Depends on the selected board build | Depends on the selected build | Ultimate Doom and Doom II are documented as playable on 8MB boards | Verify the exact board, wiring and release configuration |
| RP2040 Zero small-OLED project | RP2040 Zero | 72×40-pixel, 0.42-inch OLED | Not stated in the project documentation | Use the WAD and game support specified by that project | Separate community hardware and firmware; do not use the VGA image |
| RP2350 HSTX project | RP2350 board listed by that project | HDMI-style output through HSTX | Project-specific | Use the game-data support stated by that project | RP2350 firmware and HSTX wiring are not interchangeable with RP2040 VGA builds |
Hardware checklist for the standard Pico route
- A compatible RP2040 board: a 2MB Pico for the documented shareware demonstration, or an 8MB RP2040 board for the larger game editions supported by the project.
- The correct display hardware: the original route expects a VGA-compatible output circuit or expansion board wired according to the build’s pin map.
- A supported keyboard: the Raspberry Pi demonstration uses a USB keyboard. USB host wiring and power requirements depend on the board and expansion hardware.
- Audio hardware, if desired: audio is part of the original demonstration, but the connector, amplifier and speaker arrangement are build-specific.
- Legal game data: use the shareware DOOM1.WAD supplied through an authorized source, or WAD files from a game copy you are entitled to use. Do not assume that downloading an arbitrary WAD is permitted.
- A USB data cable and a computer: needed to place the UF2 firmware on the board and, where required, copy or configure the game data.
Step-by-step: the documented RP2040 VGA approach
1. Select the exact board and release
Open the current RP2040 Doom project documentation and identify a release for your board. Check the board model, flash capacity and whether the image is the VGA demo build. The project publishes prebuilt UF2 files, which are the simplest route if your hardware is supported. Source compilation is available for users who need a different pinout or board configuration.
2. Confirm the pinout before connecting anything
The VGA demo has a documented base pin mapping. Compare it with the pins exposed by your Pico carrier or VGA expansion board. A physically similar RP2040 board can still have different connectors, flash size or wiring. Never infer a pinout from a photograph of another build.
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Assemble the VGA-compatible output and connect the USB keyboard path described by the selected build. Add the documented audio circuit if you want sound. Keep the board’s power limits and the expansion hardware’s wiring in mind; a keyboard and display adapter may require more than a bare Pico can conveniently provide without a suitable carrier.
4. Obtain compatible WAD data
For a 2MB board, begin with the shareware DOOM1.WAD route described for the original demonstration. The WAD must match the port’s expected filename and format. If you choose Ultimate Doom or Doom II, use an 8MB RP2040 configuration documented as supporting those data sets and follow its file-placement instructions.
5. Install the UF2 firmware
Use the release UF2 intended for your board and display configuration. On a normal Pico workflow, hold the board’s BOOTSEL control while connecting USB so it appears as a removable drive, then copy the UF2 file and allow the board to reboot. If the project release specifies a different loader or file arrangement, follow that release’s instructions instead of assuming the standard workflow.
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6. Place the game data as instructed
Some embedded builds package the WAD in flash; others expect a separate file or a build-time conversion. Follow the current project instructions for the exact UF2 and board. Do not copy a large WAD onto a 2MB image and expect it to fit: executable size, filesystem overhead and compression all consume the same limited flash.
7. Test in a controlled order
- Power the board with only the display connected and verify that the firmware starts.
- Connect the keyboard path and test a menu or movement control.
- Add audio hardware and check sound after video and input work.
- If the build supports a separate WAD, install it last and confirm that the filename and edition match the documentation.
This sequence makes it easier to distinguish a bad UF2, a wiring error, an unsupported keyboard path and an invalid game-data file.
Using a tiny OLED instead of VGA
A separate community project demonstrates Doom on an RP2040 Zero with a 72×40-pixel OLED measuring 0.42 inches diagonally. This is a different engineering trade-off: the display is dramatically smaller than VGA, and the project’s firmware, graphics driver and wiring are tailored to that OLED.
Use the OLED project’s own build and connection diagram. Do not flash the original VGA UF2 and then attach the OLED, because a VGA image will expect different pins and a different display protocol. The project documentation does not establish the same keyboard or audio arrangement as the VGA demonstration, so check its stated controls and peripherals before assembling a complete setup.
Using an RP2350 with HDMI-style output
Another project targets RP2350 boards with HSTX hardware for HDMI-style output. RP2350 is a newer microcontroller family than RP2040, and HSTX is a different display interface from the VGA path. This can provide a more conventional monitor connection, but it is not a drop-in upgrade for a Pico running the RP2040 image.
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Follow the RP2350 project’s supported-board list, HSTX wiring and firmware instructions. A board may need the exact connector or level-shifting arrangement described by that project. Treat its UF2, game-data support and input path as independent from the RP2040 builds.
What the flash-size difference means in practice
2MB Pico
The 2MB route is appropriate for the documented compressed shareware demonstration. It is attractive because a standard Pico can hold the executable and shareware data, but it leaves little room for optional assets or additional game editions. Keep the firmware and WAD combination exactly as the project specifies.
8MB RP2040 board
The project documents Ultimate Doom and Doom II playability on RP2040 boards with 8MB flash. The extra storage makes those larger data sets feasible, but it does not remove the need for a board-specific build. Confirm that the release supports your board’s flash chip, pins and display interface.
Why compression is not a universal workaround
The original demonstration uses a compressed shareware WAD, yet compression details are part of that firmware’s implementation. You cannot assume that any WAD can be compressed into a 2MB image or that a compressed file will be accepted by another build. Storage limits, executable size and the project’s loader determine the result.
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The board does not appear as a UF2 drive
- Reconnect while holding BOOTSEL, using a known-good USB data cable.
- Check that the board is an RP2040 or RP2350 model supported by the selected release.
- Try the release image again and verify that the copy completed before the board rebooted.
The board boots, but the screen is blank
- Recheck the display type: VGA, OLED and HSTX images are not interchangeable.
- Compare every wire with the project’s pin map, including ground and sync connections.
- Confirm that the display is powered and using the signal format expected by the firmware.
The image appears corrupted or unstable
- Look for a pin conflict caused by using a carrier board with a different connector layout.
- Verify that the firmware was built for the board’s clock, flash and display configuration.
- Shorten improvised signal wiring and use the recommended expansion hardware where possible.
The keyboard is not detected
- Confirm that the selected build supports USB keyboard input; support is not guaranteed across projects.
- Check USB host power and the adapter or carrier used to connect the keyboard.
- Test with a simple wired keyboard before adding hubs or unusual input devices.
The game starts but cannot find the WAD
- Use the filename and directory arrangement required by that release.
- Check that the WAD edition matches the firmware’s documented support.
- On a 2MB board, remove optional data and use the compressed shareware route intended for that image.
Project status and limitations to check
Firmware compatibility is a moving target. The original repository’s README stated that the Evilution and Plutonia megawads were not yet supported at the time of that documentation. Because the README is live, check its current status before choosing those data sets.
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Prebuilt UF2 files and board support can change between releases. Record the release version you install and retain the matching README, pin map and WAD instructions. A later UF2 may change supported boards or peripherals even when the project name is unchanged.
No controlled benchmark establishes a universal frame rate for these builds, so claims that one display route is faster than another would be speculation. Performance depends on the port, rendering configuration, display driver and board setup.
How long the platform is expected to remain available
Raspberry Pi’s RP2040 specification page lists an expected production horizon of at least January 2041. That is the manufacturer’s planning expectation for the chip, not a promise that every Pico board, expansion board or prebuilt Doom image will remain available locally. It does make RP2040 a practical platform for a long-lived hobby project, provided you preserve the firmware and wiring documentation for your chosen build.
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The practical answer
For the most directly documented path, use an RP2040 Pico with the project’s VGA build, a compatible VGA output circuit, a USB keyboard and the compressed shareware DOOM1.WAD. Choose an 8MB RP2040 board when you need the documented Ultimate Doom or Doom II support. Choose the OLED or RP2350 HSTX projects only when their display, input and firmware requirements fit your goal.
The key decision is not whether a tiny microcontroller can run Doom—it can—but whether your board, flash capacity, display interface, controls, audio hardware and WAD all belong to the same supported build.
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