🎲 Retro Game: Guess The Number (with Levels, Score, and Custom Icons)

🔧 Components Needed

• Arduino Board (e.g., Uno, R4)
• I2C LCD 1602 Display (I2C address usually 0x27)
• Push Button (for resetting/advancing the game)
• Jumper Wires & Breadboard
• Computer (for Serial Monitor input)

📌 Wiring Connections

1. I2C LCD 1602 Display

• VCC: → Arduino 5V
• GND: → Arduino GND
• SDA: → Arduino A4 (Uno) or corresponding SDA pin
• SCL: → Arduino A5 (Uno) or corresponding SCL pin

2. Reset/Advance Button

• One Terminal: → Arduino Digital Pin 4
• Other Terminal: → GND
• Note: Use the internal pull-up resistor by setting the pin mode to INPUT_PULLUP in the code.

💻 Code Example

Below is the complete sketch that implements the game with the extra features. In this code:

• The secret number is generated within a range that increases with each level (Level 1: 1–100, Level 2: 1–200, etc.).
• Score keeping tracks the number of guesses.
• A custom smiley face (created as a custom LCD character) is displayed when the player wins.
• Pressing the reset button restarts the game immediately.

#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>

// ----- LCD Settings -----
LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2); // I2C address 0x27, 16 columns x 2 rows

// ----- Game Variables -----
int secretNumber;
bool gameOver = false;
int guessCount = 0;
int level = 1; // Starting level

// ----- Reset/Advance Button Pin -----
const int resetButtonPin = 4;

// ----- Custom Character: Smiley Face -----
byte smiley[8] = {
  B00000,
  B01010,
  B01010,
  B00000,
  B10001,
  B01110,
  B00000,
  B00000
};

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  lcd.init();
  lcd.backlight();
  
  // Set up reset button with internal pull-up resistor
  pinMode(resetButtonPin, INPUT_PULLUP);
  
  // Create custom smiley face character at slot 0
  lcd.createChar(0, smiley);
  
  // Seed the random generator using an unconnected analog pin
  randomSeed(analogRead(0));
  
  // Start the first game
  startNewGame();
}

void loop() {
  // ----- Check Reset/Advance Button -----
  if (digitalRead(resetButtonPin) == LOW) {
    // Wait until the button is released to avoid multiple triggers
    while (digitalRead(resetButtonPin) == LOW) { delay(10); }
    startNewGame();
    delay(500); // Debounce delay
  }
  
  // ----- Process Serial Input for Guesses -----
  if (Serial.available() > 0 && !gameOver) {
    int guess = Serial.parseInt();
    if (guess == 0) return; // Skip invalid input
    
    guessCount++; // Increase guess count
    
    lcd.clear();
    
    if (guess < secretNumber) {
      lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
      lcd.print("Too Low!");
      Serial.println("Too low! Try again:");
    } 
    else if (guess > secretNumber) {
      lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
      lcd.print("Too High!");
      Serial.println("Too high! Try again:");
    } 
    else {
      // Correct guess!
      lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
      lcd.print("Correct!");
      lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
      lcd.print("Guesses: ");
      lcd.print(guessCount);
      lcd.write(byte(0)); // Display custom smiley
      Serial.println("Correct! You win!");
      gameOver = true;
      
      // Increase level for the next game
      level++;
      
      // Wait a moment before starting a new game
      delay(3000);
      startNewGame();
    }
    
    delay(1500); // Short delay for user to see feedback
    
    // If the game isn't over, re-prompt on the LCD
    if (!gameOver) {
      lcd.clear();
      lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
      lcd.print("Level ");
      lcd.print(level);
      lcd.print(" Guess?");
      Serial.println("Enter your next guess:");
    }
  }
}

void startNewGame() {
  gameOver = false;
  guessCount = 0;
  // Generate a new secret number between 1 and (level * 100)
  secretNumber = random(1, level * 100 + 1);
  
  lcd.clear();
  lcd.setCursor(0, 0);
  lcd.print("Level ");
  lcd.print(level);
  lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
  lcd.print("1-");
  lcd.print(level * 100);
  
  Serial.print("New game started! Level ");
  Serial.print(level);
  Serial.print(": Guess a number between 1 and ");
  Serial.println(level * 100);
}

📋 How It Works

• Game Initialization:
  The startNewGame() function resets the game state: it generates a new secret number based on the current level, resets the guess counter, and displays the level and number range on the LCD.
• Score Keeping:
  Every valid guess increases the guessCount. When you guess correctly, the number of guesses is shown on the LCD along with a smiley face icon.
• Multiple Levels:
  Upon a correct guess, the game automatically advances to the next level by increasing the maximum possible secret number range (Level 1: 1–100, Level 2: 1–200, etc.).
• Reset Button:
  Pressing the push button (connected to pin 4) will immediately reset and start a new game, letting you restart at any time.
• User Input:
  The Serial Monitor is used to enter your guesses, and feedback (“Too Low!” or “Too High!”) is displayed on both the LCD and the Serial Monitor.
• Custom Characters:
  A custom smiley face character is defined and displayed when you win.

🎯 Conclusion

This enhanced retro game project now includes:

• Reset Button: Restart the game anytime.
• Score Keeping: Track how many guesses you make.
• Multiple Levels: Increase the difficulty as you win.
• Custom Icons: Enjoy a fun smiley face when you win!

Feel free to adjust or expand the project further, such as adding more game levels or integrating additional features. Enjoy coding your retro game! 😊👍