Man makes world’s smallest arcade machine that’s pocket-sized but filled with power
Since he was a young boy, Kiran Patil (India) has always had an interest in electronics, with an even bigger passion for microelectronics.
But what exactly is microelectronics? It involves the creation of tiny electronic devices that can be used for many different things. Some of the most common are microchips and processors that are used to help power the devices that we use today, or in Kiran’s case, the creation of the smallest arcade machine.
The 24-year-old from Bangalore, India has been involved in the creation of many electronic projects for years, and it quickly became a hobby for him, a way for him to challenge himself, and explore new ideas.
“I have built many electronic projects before involving microcontrollers and displays, but this is the first gaming arcade project that I have attempted,” he told us.
In his work life, Kiran spends his days as a trained Aerospace Engineer, which often involves the planning, creating, and testing of prototypes for spacecrafts and satellites.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kiran discovered the smallest arcade machine record and decided that he wanted to take his aerospace skills to a new height, and try to make record-breaking history.
He said: “I built an initial prototype during that time, but it was fairly rudimentary and I also needed to further develop the software side of the project. University and work commitments paused the progress for a while, but in the summer of 2025 I decided to revive the idea and take it forward.”
There was a significant amount of planning that went into the project over the years, and Kiran collected the smallest components that he could find to make the attempt a success. He explained: “The process began with understanding whether attempting this record was truly feasible and defining the constraints clearly.
Kiran holding the arcade machine
“Without setting strict boundaries, miniature electronics projects can quickly become open ended. For this record, the challenge was to keep the dimensions extremely tight while still producing a fully functional unit.”
Read about more record-breaking inventions in our Science and Technology section.
On 20 July 2025, the project was a success, and Kiran officially became a Guinness World Records title holder for smallest arcade machine. In the end, the tiny arcade measured 24.85 mm (0.98 in) tall, 15.25 mm (0.6 in) long, and 15.1 mm (0.59 in) wide, and you can see how small it really is with it stood next to an AA battery.
And if you're wondering if you can play it, the unit does feature tactile buttons for game control and it can run an emulated version of the classic arcade game Space Invaders.
This actually wasn’t Kiran’s first time breaking a record. On 19 April 2019, he beat his first Guinness World Records title for smallest working drill, which measured 6.1 mm (0.24 in) tall, 6.7 mm (0.27 in) long and 4.6 mm (0.18 in) wide, which is around 30 times smaller than a regular working drill.
So, what’s next for Kiran and his fantastic electronic feats? He has more Guinness World Records title attempts that he plans to try in the future. “Looking ahead, I plan to continue exploring the intersection of engineering, design, and extreme miniaturization, and I’m excited to see where the next ideas lead,” he said.
We can’t wait to see what microelectronic marvel he comes up with next!