- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 4.5 × 2.6 in (11.4 × 6.7 cm)
Press start on your next craft project with this cute game console paper squishy featuring bright blue and red side controllers, colorful buttons, and a happy blushing face right on the screen. Our free printable template comes in both US Letter and A4 sizes and gives you 3 versions to play with: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline to draw your own screen art. Pair it with our retro TV squishy or a flip phone squishy for a full tech collection!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your handheld console sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper with “fit to page” turned off. Check the scale line in the top corner to make sure it measures 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you chose the coloring page or blank version, color the side controllers, buttons, and screen now, then let your marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape over the front and back console pieces only, not across the entire page. Smooth each strip from the middle of the dark screen outward toward the red and blue controllers without pulling—stretched tape will wrinkle later. This glossy coat makes the screen shine and keeps your paper strong for endless squishing.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and back pieces carefully along the solid black outer line. Take your time curving around the rounded controller ends and the slight bumps along the top shoulder buttons and bottom edge, making sure to keep the narrow white border intact all the way around.
4Add a tape border to the back
Flip the back piece of the console so the printed side faces down on strips of regular clear tape with the sticky side up. Trim the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip into this tape border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper around the straight screen edges and curved controller corners to create little sticky flaps.
5Join front and back
Place the front console piece directly on top of the back, with the white unprinted sides facing each other so the red and blue controllers line up properly. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down firmly. Leave a 4.5 cm (1 and ½ inch) gap open on the edge as shown by the pink line in the illustration.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small bits and push them inside through the open gap. Poke the first pieces all the way into the far controller curve and corners before filling the wide middle screen area. Stop once your 4.5 × 2.6 in (11.4 × 6.7 cm) console feels soft and nicely puffy, as overstuffing will pop the taped seams.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps neatly over the open edge and seal the gap shut with 1 extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger firmly around the entire perimeter—from the rounded joypad sides to the straight screen edges—so every single flap stays locked down tight.
8Squish!
Your handheld gaming console squishy is ready to play! Give the puffy screen a good squeeze and watch it bounce right back into shape. If you prefer a super slow-rising feel, gently prick 1 tiny pinhole into the back of the console so air escapes slowly when you press it.
Free Game Console Squishy Template
- Color
- Coloring page
- Blank, design your own
- Step-by-step guide
One free PDF: the template in three versions (pages 1–3) and the step-by-step guide (pages 4–5). Print the template at 100% on plain printer paper.
Tips for the perfect squish
- Screen tape is wrinkling. The dark screen shows air bubbles and creases easily, so lay shorter strips of packing tape across the console without pulling and smooth them from the center outward.
- Controller ends feel too hard. Your console has too much filling packed inside. Gently peel open the stuffing gap, pull out a few bits of filling from the center and sides, and tape the edge shut again.
- A curved corner splits open. The rounded controller curves take the most pressure when squished; just place a fresh short strip of clear tape right across the split, overlapping the old tape.
- Custom controller colors smeared. Always let dark or neon markers dry completely on the paper before laying down packing tape, whereas printer ink on the color version is ready right away.
Questions
What paper works best for a game console paper squishy?
Standard plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) is ideal. Heavy cardstock makes the wide console body too stiff to fold cleanly and it won’t squish as nicely.
Can I use glue instead of tape to seal the console edges?
No, glue will not stick to the laminated, tape-covered paper, so your seams would pop right open. Folding the snipped clear tape border over the edge holds the console together best.
What can I stuff my paper squishy with?
You can use torn plastic grocery bags for a light and crinkly feel, cotton balls or fiberfill for a plush feel, or tiny pieces of memory foam for a slow-rising squish.
Can I make this game console or a paper squishy phone bigger?
Yes! Whether you are crafting this handheld console or a smartphone paper squishy, you can print the page at a larger scale like 120%, as long as the front and back pieces stay on the same sheet so they match.
Can I make these or a paper squishy laptop with a class?
Definitely! Print 1 sheet per student—they can even pair their console with a laptop paper squishy—and pre-cut the tape strips ahead of time; kids can color their templates while you help with taping in about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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