Build Your First Python Game: The Classic Number Guessing Game!
Are you learning Python and looking for a fun, hands-on project to test your skills? You’ve come to the right place.
When starting out with programming, it’s easy to get stuck just reading tutorials. The real magic happens when you build something interactive.
Today, we’re going to build a classic: The Number Guessing Game.
It’s simple concept: The computer picks a random number between 1 and 100, and you have a limited number of tries to guess it. After every guess, the computer tells you if you need to go "Higher" or "Lower."
Why This is the Perfect Beginner Project
Despite its simplicity, this game is a fantastic learning tool because it combines several fundamental programming concepts into one cohesive package.
By building this, you will master:
Variables: Storing information like the secret number and attempts left.
Loops (
while): Keeping the game running until the player wins or loses.Conditionals (
if/elif/else): Making decisions based on the user's guess.Input handling: Getting data from the user and converting it into usable numbers.
Error Handling (
try/except): A crucial skill—making sure your program doesn't crash if the user types "banana" instead of a number!
Let's dive into the code.
The Full Python Code
Here is the complete script for the game. You can copy this code, save it in a text editor as guessing_game.py, and run it.
import random
def number_guessing_game():
# --- Configuration ---
# Define the range for the random number
lower_bound = 1
upper_bound = 100
# Define the maximum number of attempts
max_attempts = 10
# --- Game Setup ---
# Generate a random number between lower_bound and upper_bound (inclusive)
secret_number = random.randint(lower_bound, upper_bound)
attempts_left = max_attempts
print("Let's play the Number Guessing Game!")
print(f"I'm thinking of a number between {lower_bound} and {upper_bound}.")
print(f"You have {max_attempts} attempts to guess it.")
# --- Main Game Loop ---
while attempts_left > 0:
print(f"\nAttempts left: {attempts_left}")
# Get user input and handle potential errors
try:
# We try to convert the input into an integer
guess = int(input("Take a guess: "))
except ValueError:
# If the input wasn't a number, this block catches the error
print("That's not a valid number. Please enter an integer.")
# 'continue' jumps back to the start of the loop without counting the attempt
continue
# Check if the guess is within the valid range (optional but good practice)
if guess < lower_bound or guess > upper_bound:
print(f"Your guess is outside the range ({lower_bound} to {upper_bound}). Try again.")
continue
# --- The Logic Check ---
if guess == secret_number:
# User wins!
attempts_used = max_attempts - attempts_left + 1
print(f"\nš **CONGRATULATIONS!** š")
print(f"You guessed the number {secret_number} correctly in {attempts_used} attempts.")
# 'return' ends the function immediately
return
elif guess < secret_number:
print("Too Low! Try a higher number.")
else: # guess must be > secret_number
print("Too High! Try a lower number.")
# Decrease the attempt counter only for incorrect, valid guesses
attempts_left -= 1
# --- Game Over Condition ---
# This part executes only if the loop finishes without a win
print("\nš **GAME OVER!** š")
print(f"You ran out of attempts. The secret number was **{secret_number}**.")
# Start the game by calling the function
if __name__ == "__main__":
number_guessing_game()
How It Works: The Breakdown
Let's walk through the key parts of the code so you understand exactly what's happening.
1. Setting the Stage (Import and Config)
At the very top, we do import random. Python doesn't naturally know how to pick random numbers; this line imports a "module" that gives it that ability. We also set up variables at the start for the range (1-100) and the attempts (10). This makes it easy to change the game's difficulty later just by editing those two numbers.
2. Picking the Secret Number
secret_number = random.randint(lower_bound, upper_bound)
This is where the magic happens. The computer picks an integer inclusive of the bounds we set and stores it secretly.
3. The Game Loop (while)
while attempts_left > 0:
This is the heart of the game. As long as the player has more than zero attempts remaining, everything inside this block will repeat.
4. Handling User Input Safely (try/except)
This is a pro move for beginners. If we just used int(input(...)) and the user typed text (like "hello"), the program would crash with a ValueError.
By wrapping it in a try... except ValueError block, we tell Python: "Try to convert this input to a number. If it fails, don't crash; just print a warning message and let them try again."
5. The Logic Check (if/elif/else)
Once we have a valid numbered guess, we compare it to the secret number:
IF it matches: Print a victory message and use
returnto exit the entire function immediately. Game over, you win!ELIF (Else If) it's lower: Tell the user to guess higher.
ELSE: It must be higher, so tell the user to guess lower.
6. The Game Over State
If the player uses up all 10 attempts, the while loop finishes. The code immediately following the loop is the "Game Over" section, which reveals the secret number.
Leveling Up: Challenge Ideas
Once you have this code running, don't stop there! The best way to learn is to modify existing code. Try adding these features:
Difficulty Selection: At the start, ask the user if they want "Easy" (20 attempts), "Medium" (10 attempts), or "Hard" (5 attempts) mode.
Play Again Loop: When the game ends, ask the user if they want to play another round without having to restart the program.
Score Tracking: Try to keep track of the fewest attempts it took to win in a single session.
Happy coding!
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