Number Guessing Game in Python Source Code 2026

If you’re building your very first Python project, the number guessing game in Python is the perfect place to start in 2026 — and there’s a reason every programmer remembers making one. It’s small enough to finish in a single sitting, but it quietly teaches you the building blocks behind almost every program: loops, conditions, user input, and the random module.

In this guide you’ll get two complete, working versions with free source code — a simple one to learn from, and an upgraded one with difficulty levels, limited attempts, a scoring system, and a play-again loop. Both are tested and ready to run. This is project #1 of our 145+ Python Projects roadmap.

What This Project Does

The computer secretly picks a random number, and the player keeps guessing until they find it. After every guess, the program gives a hint — “too high” or “too low” — until the player wins. Simple to describe, surprisingly satisfying to play.

• Random secret number between 1 and 100
• “Higher / lower” hints after every guess
• Attempt counter so you can compete with friends
• Input validation (typing “abc” won’t crash it)

Version 1 — Simple Number Guessing Game (Best for Learning)

Save this as guessing_game.py and run it. Around 25 lines, no libraries to install — the random module ships with Python.

import random

secret = random.randint(1, 100)
attempts = 0

print("I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 100.")
print("Can you guess it?\n")

while True:
    guess = input("Your guess: ")

    if not guess.isdigit():
        print("Please enter a valid number.\n")
        continue

    guess = int(guess)
    attempts += 1

    if guess < secret:
        print("Too low — try a HIGHER number.\n")
    elif guess > secret:
        print("Too high — try a LOWER number.\n")
    else:
        print(f"Correct! You got it in {attempts} attempts. 🎉")
        break

How the Code Works (Line by Line)

• random.randint(1, 100) — picks the secret number once, before the game starts. Both ends are included.
• while True: — an infinite loop that keeps asking until we break out of it on a correct guess. This “game loop” pattern appears in every game you’ll ever write.
• guess.isdigit() — input() always returns text, so we check it’s really a number before converting with int(). Skip this and one stray letter crashes the program.
• if / elif / else — the entire game logic in three branches: too low, too high, or correct.
• attempts += 1 — a counter that only increases on valid guesses, so typos don’t count against the player.

Version 2 — With Difficulty Levels, Scoring & Replay

Once the simple version makes sense, this upgrade turns it into a real game: three difficulty levels, limited attempts, a score based on how fast you win, and a play-again loop. It also introduces functions — your first step toward organized code.

import random


def choose_level():
    print("Choose difficulty:")
    print("1. Easy   (1-50,  10 attempts)")
    print("2. Medium (1-100,  7 attempts)")
    print("3. Hard   (1-200,  5 attempts)")
    while True:
        choice = input("Enter 1, 2 or 3: ").strip()
        if choice == "1":
            return 50, 10
        elif choice == "2":
            return 100, 7
        elif choice == "3":
            return 200, 5
        print("Invalid choice, try again.")


def play():
    top, max_attempts = choose_level()
    secret = random.randint(1, top)
    attempts = 0

    print(f"\nI'm thinking of a number between 1 and {top}.")
    print(f"You have {max_attempts} attempts. Good luck!\n")

    while attempts < max_attempts:
        guess = input(f"Attempt {attempts + 1}/{max_attempts} — your guess: ")

        if not guess.isdigit():
            print("Please enter a valid number.\n")
            continue

        guess = int(guess)
        attempts += 1

        if guess < secret:
            print("Too low — go HIGHER.\n")
        elif guess > secret:
            print("Too high — go LOWER.\n")
        else:
            score = (max_attempts - attempts + 1) * 10
            print(f"Correct! You won in {attempts} attempts.")
            print(f"Your score: {score} points 🎉\n")
            return

    print(f"Out of attempts! The number was {secret}. 😢\n")


if __name__ == "__main__":
    while True:
        play()
        again = input("Play again? (y/n): ").strip().lower()
        if again != "y":
            print("Thanks for playing!")
            break

What You’ll Learn From This Project

• The random module — generating unpredictable values, the heart of most games
• while loops & break — the game-loop pattern used everywhere from Snake to real applications
• Conditionals — clean if / elif / else decision-making
• Input validation — defensive coding that separates beginners from careful programmers
• Functions (version 2) — structuring code into reusable pieces

5 Ways to Extend This Project

Finished both versions? Make it yours — that’s where the real learning is:

• High score file — save the best score to a text file so it survives between games
• Two-player mode — one player sets the number, the other guesses
• Reverse mode — YOU think of a number and the computer guesses it (teaches binary search!)
• Hot & cold hints — “very close!” when within 5, “freezing” when far away
• GUI version — rebuild it with Tkinter buttons and a text box

When you’re ready for the next challenge, try the Simple Calculator in Python — project #2 on the roadmap.