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Posted on Sep 14

Rock, Paper, Scissors Python Tutorial 2025

#programming #python #coding #pythongame

Overview: Python Game Tutorial

Let’s get started with a Python game tutorial 2025: Rock, Paper, Scissors. Here we will take a look at how to write a Python program for Rock, Paper, Scissors. Along with will also explore other essential Python concepts.

What’s Next? - Python Game Tutorial

In this article, we will explore how to write Python game program for Rock, Paper, Scissors. With this we will explore more Python concepts like conditional statements, loops, error handling, etc.

Complete Code:

import random

def game():
    game_options = ["Rock", "Paper", "Scissors"]

    while True:
        print("\n1. Rock")
        print("2. Paper")
        print("3. Scissors")
        print("4. Exit")

        try:
            user_option = int(input("Choose any one number to start the game (1-4): "))
        except ValueError:
            print("Please enter a valid number!")
            continue

        if user_option == 4:
            print("\nThanks for playing!")
            break

        if user_option not in [1, 2, 3]:
            print("\nInvalid choice! Please select 1, 2, 3, or 4.")
            continue

        user_choice = game_options[user_option - 1]
        computer_index = random.randint(0, 2)
        computer_choice = game_options[computer_index]

        print(f"\nUser: {user_choice}")
        print(f"Computer: {computer_choice}")

        if user_choice == computer_choice:
            print("\nGame Tie! Play Again...")
            continue

        # Correct game logic for winning conditions
        if (user_choice == "Rock" and computer_choice == "Scissors") or \
           (user_choice == "Paper" and computer_choice == "Rock") or \
           (user_choice == "Scissors" and computer_choice == "Paper"):
            print(f"'{user_choice}' beats '{computer_choice}' | Winner: USER")
        else:
            print(f"'{computer_choice}' beats '{user_choice}' | Winner: COMPUTER")

game()

Example Output:

Rock
Paper
Scissors
Exit

Choose any one number to start the game (1-4): 1

User: Rock
Computer: Scissors

'Rock' beats 'Scissors' | Winner: USER

Explanation: Step by Step

Step 1: Game Start Function

def game()

Explanation: The whole game is written under function to run the whole program together and would not have to write the program again over each run.

Step 2: Game Options Setup

game_options = ["Rock", "Paper", "Scissors"]

Explanation: A list is declared which stored 3 game options.

Step 3: Infinite Loop (Until User Exits)

while True:

Explanation: Since, the ‘while’ loop condition is ‘True’, means loop condition will be always executed until the user selects ‘exit’ from the program.

Step 4: Show Menu

print("\n1. Rock")
print("2. Paper")
print("3. Scissors")
print("4. Exit")

Explanation: Here, we have 4 game options a user can choose to start the game and given each number is associated with a game option. \n → it displays output to the new line.

Step 5: Get User Input

user_option = int(input("Choose any one number to start the game (1-4): "))

Explanation: Here, by using the input() function, we asked the user to enter any one number from (1-4) to select any one option to start the game.

By default the input() function returns the string type of the output but we need an ‘int’ type therefore, we convert the output using the ‘int’ function before the input() function.

Step 6: Exit Check

if user_option == 4:
    print("\nThanks for playing!")
    break

Explanation: Here, if the user chooses 4, execute the print() function and end the game.

Step 7: Validate Input

if user_option not in [1, 2, 3]:
    print("\nInvalid choice! Please select 1, 2, 3, or 4.")
    continue

Explanation: If the user inputs something else (like 5 or any number), it shows an error and asks again. The Python reserve keyword ‘continue’ allows the Python to continue the game and ask the user again.

Step 8: Set User & Computer Choices

user_choice = game_options[user_option - 1]

computer_index = random.randint(0, 2)
computer_choice = game_options[computer_index]

Explanation:

For user to choose option:

User choice is mapped from the list using user_option - 1. The computer randomly picks Rock, Paper, or Scissors. Since, here game options are numbered from 1 but in Python, the index number starts from 0, therefore; -1 is used to adjust the game options according to the index number.

For computer to choose option:

Here, we used a random function along with randint which allows users to select any random number + within the given range (both first and last number is included). Range is defined from 0 to 2 because the computer chooses the game option according to the index number. The variable computer_choice is mapped from the list to take out the game option based on the index number chosen by the computer.

Step 9: Show Choices

print(f"\nUser: {user_choice}")
print(f"Computer: {computer_choice}")

Explanation: Displays what the user and computer selected.

Step 10: Check for Tie Case

if user_choice == computer_choice:
    print("\nGame Tie! Play Again...")
    continue

Explanation: If both choose the same game option, it’s a tie, and the game asks to play again.

Step 11: Determine Winner

if (user_choice == "Rock" and computer_choice == "Scissors") or \
   (user_choice == "Paper" and computer_choice == "Rock") or \
   (user_choice == "Scissors" and computer_choice == "Paper"):
    print(f"'{user_choice}' beats '{computer_choice}' | Winner: USER")
else:
    print(f"'{computer_choice}' beats '{user_choice}' | Winner: COMPUTER")

Explanation: Here we check the possibilities of game options where a user can beat a computer and a computer can beat a user.

Applies simple rules: