Exploring a Tiny Python Game in 10 Lines of Code

In the world of programming, often the smallest of projects can demonstrate the beauty and power of a language. Today, we’ll explore a Python game that can be implemented in just 10 lines of code. This game, though simple, encapsulates the essence of game development in Python and serves as a great starting point for beginners.

The Game: Simple Guessing Game

The game we’ll build is a basic number guessing game. The computer will randomly choose a number between 1 and 100, and the player will have to guess it. If the player’s guess is too high or too low, the game will provide feedback accordingly.

The Code

Here’s the code for the game:

pythonimport random
secret_number = random.randint(1, 100)
guess = None
while guess != secret_number:
    guess = int(input("Guess a number between 1 and 100: "))
    if guess < secret_number:
        print("Too low!")
    elif guess > secret_number:
        print("Too high!")
print("Congratulations! You guessed correctly!")

Code Explanation


Imports: We start by importing the random module, which allows us to generate random numbers.


Setting the Secret Number: We use the randint() function from the random module to generate a random number between 1 and 100 and assign it to the secret_number variable.


Guessing Loop: The game’s main functionality is implemented in a while loop. This loop continues until the player guesses the correct number.

Inside the loop, we prompt the player to guess a number using the input() function. We convert the input to an integer using the int() function.
We compare the player’s guess with the secret number. If the guess is too low, we print “Too low!” using the print() function. If the guess is too high, we print “Too high!”.
If the guess is correct, the loop terminates, and we print “Congratulations! You guessed correctly!” to congratulate the player.



Modifying the Game
While this game is already fun and engaging, you can easily modify it to create your own variations. Here are some ideas:

Limit the Number of Guesses: Add a variable to track the number of guesses and terminate the game if the player exceeds a certain limit.
Add a Score System: Keep track of the number of guesses it takes the player to guess correctly and display a score at the end.
Change the Range: Adjust the range of numbers that the computer can choose from.
Provide Hints: Give the player hints or clues to help them guess the correct number.

Conclusion
This tiny Python game demonstrates how even a simple project can be fun and educational. With just 10 lines of code, we’ve created a challenging and engaging number guessing game. By modifying the code, you can create your own variations and explore the possibilities of game development in Python. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced programmer, this game serves as a great starting point for learning and experimentation.