Build Your Own Text Adventure Game¶

In this exercise, you will build a text adventure game using functions, conditions, and loops.

Your player starts in one location. They can type commands to:

Move to new locations
Pick up items
Complete actions

The game ends when they reach the final location with the right items.

Working with a Partner¶

I encourage you to work with a partner for this assignment. Two brains are better than one. But if you'd like to work alone, that's OK too.

Part 1: Create Your Story¶

First, think of a story you want to tell. Your story needs:

A unique setting (where does it happen?)
A clear goal (what must the player do to win?)

Examples:

Escape from the Mudd building
A warrior escaping a dungeon
A mouse finding cheese in a maze

Be creative! Make your own story.

Part 2: Making Multiple Rooms¶

Here's a simple game with three locations:

def location_1():
    print("You're in a beautiful field.")
    print("ACTION MENU:")
    print("- walk east")
    print("- walk west")
    action = input("INPUT ACTION: ")
    if action == "walk east":
        print("You walk east towards a house.")
        location_2()
    elif action == "walk west":
        location_1()
    else:
        print(f"Invalid action: {action}")
        location_1()

def location_2():
    print("You see a house with a locked door.")
    print("ACTION MENU:")
    print("- walk west")
    action = input("INPUT ACTION: ")
    if action == "walk west":
        location_1()
    else:
        print(f"Invalid action: {action}")
        location_2()

def location_3():
    print("You enter the house. You won!")

# Start the game
location_1()

Your task:

Make each room a function
Use function calls to move between rooms
If the player types a wrong command, repeat the current room
Create a final room that ends the game

Part 3: Adding a Lose Condition¶

Your game needs a way to lose. Add a game_over() function:

def game_over():
    print("GAME OVER")

def location_1():
    # ... other code ...
    elif action == "walk west":
        print("You fall into a hole.")
        game_over()

Part 4: Adding Inventory¶

Let's track what items the player has. We use function arguments to pass inventory between rooms:

def location_1(has_key):
    print("You're in a beautiful field.")
    if not has_key:
        print("A key is on the ground.")

    print("ACTION MENU:")
    print("- walk east")
    print("- walk west")
    if not has_key:
        print("- pickup key")

    action = input("INPUT ACTION: ")

    if action == "walk east":
        print("You walk east towards a house.")
        location_2(has_key)
    elif action == "walk west":
        print("You walk west. The field continues.")
        location_1(has_key)
    elif action == "pickup key" and not has_key:
        print("You pick up the key.")
        has_key = True
        location_1(has_key)
    else:
        print(f"Invalid action: {action}")
        location_1(has_key)

def location_2(has_key):
    print("You see a house with a locked door.")
    print("ACTION MENU:")
    print("- walk west")
    if has_key:
        print("- use key")

    action = input("INPUT ACTION: ")

    if action == "walk west":
        location_1(has_key)
    elif action == "use key" and has_key:
        location_3(has_key)
    else:
        print(f"Invalid action: {action}")
        location_2(has_key)

def location_3(has_key):
    print("You enter the house. You won!")

# Start the game
has_key = False
location_1(has_key)

Tips for Inventory:¶

Multiple items: Add more arguments

def location_1(has_key, has_sword, has_map):
    # ... your code ...

Different types: Use numbers and strings too

def location_1(health, gold_coins, player_name):
    # health = 100 (number)
    # gold_coins = 5 (number)
    # player_name = "Alex" (string)

Track events: Use inventory to remember what happened

def location_1(talked_to_wizard, door_is_open):
    # talked_to_wizard = True/False
    # door_is_open = True/False

BONUS: Improve your Input Handling¶

Want to avoid repeating code? Consider writing a function to handle your menus:

def three_action_menu(action_1, action_2, action_3):
    print("ACTION MENU:")
    print(f"1. {action_1}")
    print(f"2. {action_2}")
    print(f"3. {action_3}")
    while True:
        action = input("INPUT ACTION: ")
        if action == "1" or action == action_1:
            return 1
        elif action == "2" or action == action_2:
            return 2
        elif action == "3" or action == action_3:
            return 3
        else:
            print(f"INVALID ACTION '{action}'")

def location_1():
    print("You're in a beautiful field.")
    action = three_action_menu("walk east", "walk west", "sit")
    if action == 1:
        print("You walk east.")
        location_2()
    elif action == 2:
        print("You walk west.")
        location_1()
    elif action == 3:
        print("You sit and rest.")
        location_1()

Note: In the above example, three_action_menu works only when you have exactly three options. There are ways for functions to have a variable number of arguments, but we haven't learned these yet.

BONUS: Add Random Events¶

Make your game more interesting with randomness:

from random import randint

# Random chance to find items
def location_1():
    chance = randint(0, 10)
    if chance > 7:
        print("You notice a key on the ground!")

# Dice rolling mini-game
def roll_dice():
    result = randint(1, 6)
    print(f"You rolled a {result}")
    return result

# Combat system
from random import randint

def attack(target_hp, has_sword):
    if has_sword:
        damage = randint(3, 10)
    else:
        damage = randint(0, 4)
    target_hp = target_hp - damage
    return target_hp

def combat(player_hp, enemy_hp, has_sword):
    while True:
        print(f"PLAYER HP: {player_hp} / ENEMY HP: {enemy_hp}")
        action = input("INPUT ACTION (attack, run): ")

        if action == "attack":
            print("PLAYER ATTACKS")
            enemy_hp = attack(enemy_hp, has_sword)
            if enemy_hp <= 0:
                return True # You won!

        elif action == "run":
            print("PLAYER RAN")
            return False

        # Enemy attacks with a 50% chance
        if randint(0, 1) == 1:
            print("ENEMY ATTACKS")
            player_hp = attack(player_hp, False)
            if player_hp <= 0:
                return False # You were defeated

def location_1(hp, has_sword, slayed_the_dragon):
    if slayed_the_dragon:
        print("No dragon here. You win!")
    else:
        print("Hark! There goes a dragon!")
        slayed_the_dragon = combat(hp, 10, has_sword)
        location_1(hp, has_sword, slayed_the_dragon)

hp = 10
has_sword = True
slayed_the_dragon = False
location_1(hp, has_sword, slayed_the_dragon)

Submitting the Assignment¶

This is your chance to be creative with programming. Make a fun game and challenge yourself!

Requirements:

At least 3 locations
A way to win
A way to lose
Some form of inventory
Your own creative story

When you're done with the assignment, click the "Share" button in the top-right hand corner of your notebook and add dp3305@columbia.edu (please give me "commenter" or "editor" permissions so I can leave feedback!).

Best Game Prize¶

Next week, I will select my favorite (most elaborate) game to be "The Best Game" and to show the class how to put it on a website for your friends to be able to come and play.

Rules:

Your submission may be from up to two people.
You may only qualify for "The Best Game" if everyone in your "Team" (your row of seats) is part of a submission. So, if your neighbor is struggling with a bug, HELP THEM OUT!

Get Help¶

If you're stuck and your neighbor can't help you, try adding a post to the Ask for Help board!

https://bigd103.link/ask-for-help

I will be responding to posts from 3pm to 5pm and throughout the weekend.

Play Zork Online!¶

For inspiration, you can play a version of Zork on the web! https://bigd103.link/play-zork