The MAX7219 is certainly one solution, something like this would do it as well,
both require software which may not be that simple. I also have something like this that does something like 64 leds and a 103 keys (switches) for a few bucks more that has an adafruit library available for it. There are lots of options, but they get more complex to implement as you go and I think that simple may be better for you for now.
Peter