Python Essentials - Final Project: Guess the Number

Project 3: Guess the Number

This is your third final project option. Guess the Number is a deceptively simple game that exercises your understanding of loops, conditionals, functions, input validation and the random module. It is a great project for solidifying the core concepts before moving on to more complex programs.

The computer picks a random number. The player has a limited number of attempts to guess it. After each guess the game tells the player whether to guess higher or lower. You will build it step by step until you have a fully working game.

What You Will Build

Your finished game will:

Generate a random number between 1 and 100 using the random module
Give the player a limited number of attempts based on the difficulty they choose
Tell the player to guess higher or lower after each incorrect guess
Track the number of attempts used
Display a win or loss message at the end
Show the player their best score across multiple games
Ask the player if they want to play again

Concepts You Will Use

random to generate the secret number
Functions to organise the game into reusable blocks
While loops to keep the game running
Conditionals to give higher or lower hints and check for a win
input() and type conversion to handle player guesses
f-strings to display game information clearly
global to track the best score across games
Scope to understand where each variable lives

Step 1 — Set Up Your File

Create a new file in VS Code named guess_the_number.py in your final project folder. Add the following at the top:

# Python Essentials - Final Project
# Guess the Number Game
# Your name here

import random

best_score = None

best_score = None is a global variable that will track the fewest attempts the player has ever used to win. It starts as None because no game has been played yet.

Step 2 — Choose a Difficulty

Add a function called choose_difficulty() that asks the player to pick a difficulty and returns the number of attempts allowed.

def choose_difficulty():
    '''
    Asks the player to choose a difficulty level.
    Returns: an integer representing the number of attempts allowed.
    '''
    print("\nChoose a difficulty:")
    print("  1. Easy   - 10 attempts")
    print("  2. Medium - 7 attempts")
    print("  3. Hard   - 5 attempts")

    while True:
        choice = input("\nEnter 1, 2 or 3: ").strip()
        if choice == "1":
            return 10
        elif choice == "2":
            return 7
        elif choice == "3":
            return 5
        else:
            print("Please enter 1, 2 or 3.")

Step 3 — Get a Valid Guess

Add a function called get_guess() that asks the player for a number and validates it before returning it. This handles cases where the player types something that is not a number.

def get_guess():
    '''
    Asks the player to enter a number between 1 and 100.
    Validates the input and keeps asking until a valid number is entered.
    Returns: an integer between 1 and 100.
    '''
    while True:
        try:
            guess = int(input("Enter your guess (1-100): "))
            if 1 <= guess <= 100:
                return guess
            else:
                print("Please enter a number between 1 and 100.")
        except ValueError:
            print("That is not a valid number. Try again.")

The try / except block handles the case where the player types something that cannot be converted to an integer. This is your first look at error handling in Python.

Step 4 — Display the Welcome Message

Add a function called show_welcome() that prints a welcome message when the game starts.

def show_welcome():
    print("=" * 40)
    print("   PYTHON ESSENTIALS: GUESS THE NUMBER")
    print("=" * 40)
    print("I am thinking of a number between 1 and 100.")
    print("Can you guess it?")
    print("=" * 40)

Step 5 — Build the Main Game Loop

Add a function called play_game() that runs one full game. This is where all the pieces come together.

def play_game():
    global best_score

    secret_number = random.randint(1, 100)
    max_attempts = choose_difficulty()
    attempts = 0

    print(f"\nOK. I have picked a number. You have {max_attempts} attempts.")

    while attempts < max_attempts:
        attempts += 1
        remaining = max_attempts - attempts
        guess = get_guess()

        if guess == secret_number:
            print(f"\n{'=' * 40}")
            print(f"  Correct! The number was {secret_number}.")
            print(f"  You got it in {attempts} attempt{'s' if attempts != 1 else ''}.")

            if best_score is None or attempts < best_score:
                best_score = attempts
                print(f"  New best score: {best_score} attempt{'s' if best_score != 1 else ''}!")
            else:
                print(f"  Your best score is still {best_score} attempt{'s' if best_score != 1 else ''}.")

            print(f"{'=' * 40}")
            return

        elif guess < secret_number:
            print(f"Too low! ", end="")
        else:
            print(f"Too high! ", end="")

        if remaining > 0:
            print(f"You have {remaining} attempt{'s' if remaining != 1 else ''} remaining.")
        else:
            print()

    print(f"\n{'=' * 40}")
    print(f"  Out of attempts! The number was {secret_number}.")
    print(f"{'=' * 40}")

Step 6 — Ask to Play Again

Add the same ask_play_again() function used in the other projects.

def ask_play_again():
    while True:
        choice = input("\nPlay again? (yes / no): ").lower().strip()
        if choice == "yes":
            return True
        elif choice == "no":
            return False
        else:
            print("Please type yes or no.")

Step 7 — Wire It All Together

Add the main() function and call it at the bottom of the file.

def main():
    show_welcome()

    while True:
        play_game()

        if best_score is not None:
            print(f"\nYour best score this session: {best_score} attempt{'s' if best_score != 1 else ''}.")

        if not ask_play_again():
            print("\nThanks for playing. Goodbye!")
            break

main()

The Complete Game

Here is the full completed game for reference. Only look at this after you have tried building it yourself.

# Python Essentials - Final Project
# Guess the Number Game
# Your name here

import random

best_score = None


def choose_difficulty():
    print("\nChoose a difficulty:")
    print("  1. Easy   - 10 attempts")
    print("  2. Medium - 7 attempts")
    print("  3. Hard   - 5 attempts")

    while True:
        choice = input("\nEnter 1, 2 or 3: ").strip()
        if choice == "1":
            return 10
        elif choice == "2":
            return 7
        elif choice == "3":
            return 5
        else:
            print("Please enter 1, 2 or 3.")


def get_guess():
    while True:
        try:
            guess = int(input("Enter your guess (1-100): "))
            if 1 <= guess <= 100:
                return guess
            else:
                print("Please enter a number between 1 and 100.")
        except ValueError:
            print("That is not a valid number. Try again.")


def show_welcome():
    print("=" * 40)
    print("   PYTHON ESSENTIALS: GUESS THE NUMBER")
    print("=" * 40)
    print("I am thinking of a number between 1 and 100.")
    print("Can you guess it?")
    print("=" * 40)


def play_game():
    global best_score

    secret_number = random.randint(1, 100)
    max_attempts = choose_difficulty()
    attempts = 0

    print(f"\nOK. I have picked a number. You have {max_attempts} attempts.")

    while attempts < max_attempts:
        attempts += 1
        remaining = max_attempts - attempts
        guess = get_guess()

        if guess == secret_number:
            print(f"\n{'=' * 40}")
            print(f"  Correct! The number was {secret_number}.")
            print(f"  You got it in {attempts} attempt{'s' if attempts != 1 else ''}.")

            if best_score is None or attempts < best_score:
                best_score = attempts
                print(f"  New best score: {best_score} attempt{'s' if best_score != 1 else ''}!")
            else:
                print(f"  Your best score is still {best_score} attempt{'s' if best_score != 1 else ''}.")

            print(f"{'=' * 40}")
            return

        elif guess < secret_number:
            print(f"Too low! ", end="")
        else:
            print(f"Too high! ", end="")

        if remaining > 0:
            print(f"You have {remaining} attempt{'s' if remaining != 1 else ''} remaining.")
        else:
            print()

    print(f"\n{'=' * 40}")
    print(f"  Out of attempts! The number was {secret_number}.")
    print(f"{'=' * 40}")


def ask_play_again():
    while True:
        choice = input("\nPlay again? (yes / no): ").lower().strip()
        if choice == "yes":
            return True
        elif choice == "no":
            return False
        else:
            print("Please type yes or no.")


def main():
    show_welcome()

    while True:
        play_game()

        if best_score is not None:
            print(f"\nYour best score this session: {best_score} attempt{'s' if best_score != 1 else ''}.")

        if not ask_play_again():
            print("\nThanks for playing. Goodbye!")
            break

main()

Challenges — Take It Further

Challenge 1 — Narrow the Range

After each incorrect guess display the current valid range
For example after a too low guess of 30 show "Guess between 31 and 100"
Track the lower and upper bounds as variables and update them after each guess

Challenge 2 — Multiplayer

Ask for two player names at the start
Alternate turns between the two players
The first player to guess correctly wins the round
Track wins across multiple rounds

Challenge 3 — Reverse Mode

The player thinks of a number and the computer tries to guess it
The player tells the computer higher, lower or correct after each guess
The computer uses a binary search strategy to guess efficiently

Challenge 4 — Session Statistics

Track total games played, total wins and total losses across the session
Display a full statistics summary when the player chooses to quit
Calculate and display the win percentage

What You Just Demonstrated

By completing this project you have shown you can:

Import and use the random module
Validate user input and handle type conversion errors
Use the global keyword to track state across function calls
Structure a program using multiple focused functions
Use while True with break and return to control flow
Give the player meaningful feedback on every action
Handle singular and plural grammar dynamically using ternary expressions
Build a complete interactive game from scratch

That is not a beginner skill set anymore.

Don't Forget to commit and Push!