DuckieDai Word Scramble Python Program

games · MIT License

Overview

A word scramble game: unscramble 10 mixed-up words from five categories, with optional hints, three levels of tries, and a streak bonus.

Owner-tested on a TI calculator
Version 1.0.0
3466 bytes
Uses random

Download WORDSCR.py Read the source How to install

Before you run it

TI-84 Plus CE Python · No calculator OS or Python App version has been verified.
TI Connect CE .py transfer to the Python App; the owner's transfer details were not recorded
The game has 25 words in five categories: Animals, Tech, Space, Fantasy, and Science, five words each.
Words are picked and shuffled at random by the calculator; a word does not come back in a game until every word in the chosen category has been used.
Type a single number at the Category and Level prompts.

Play it here first

Play a full round right here before you download. The screen below runs the same steps as the calculator game: type your answer in the box under it and press Enter, just as you would on the calculator. Each round picks a new secret, and nothing you type is saved.

JavaScript is required for the optional browser simulation. Source viewing and downloading remain available without it.

Simulation boundary: This preview uses a reviewed browser adapter. It does not execute the downloaded Python and does not prove TI-Python or calculator compatibility.

How to play

How to play Word Scramble

About the game

The calculator mixes up the letters of a word and you work out what it was. Each game is 10 words, and correct answers in a row earn a streak bonus.

There are 25 words in five categories: Animals, Tech, Space, Fantasy, and Science. Pick one category, or Mixed to draw from all five. The screen always shows which category the word comes from.

Controls

1 to 6: choose a category; 6 is Mixed
7: quit from the category menu
1, 2, or 3: choose Easy (4 tries a word), Medium (3), or Hard (2)
1 or 2: during a word: 1 to guess, 2 to show a hint
letters: type your answer; capitals do not matter
Y: play another game; any other answer ends the game

How to play

Press enter at the opening screen, then choose a category and a level.
Each round shows the scrambled word, its category, your score and streak, and the tries left.
Type 1 and then your answer. A wrong answer uses up a try; run out and the calculator shows the word.
Type 2 for a hint, such as STRIPED CAT for TIGER. The hint stays on screen for the rest of that word.
After 10 words the game shows your score, your best score, and how many games scored 100 or more.

Tips

A correct word is worth 10 points, plus 2 more for each word before it in your current streak, up to 20. A wrong guess resets the streak.
A hint takes 5 points off that word, but it keeps your streak alive, so a hint is often better than a wrong guess.
Ten words in a row without hints scores 170, the most a game can give.
In one category a word does not come back until all five have been used, so each word appears twice in a 10-word game. Mixed draws from all 25 words.

Good to know

A category or level that is not on the menu just shows the menu again.
The best score and game totals start over each time you run the program.
You can add your own words: the program's file lists each category as ("WORD","HINT") pairs. Use capital letters A to Z, 3 to 12 letters long.
To stop the game at any time, press the [on] key. The Python App returns to the shell.

Exact reviewed bytes

Source code

Download .py

View source below, copy it when JavaScript is available, or download the exact .py bytes.

# DuckieDai(TM) Word Scramble
# TI-84 Plus CE Python
from random import randint

# ADD WORDS HERE: ("WORD","HINT")
# Keep words A-Z, 3 to 12 letters.
banks=[
 [("TIGER","STRIPED CAT"),("RABBIT","LONG EARS"),("DOLPHIN","OCEAN MAMMAL"),("PANDA","EATS BAMBOO"),("MONKEY","CLIMBS TREES")],
 [("PYTHON","CODING LANGUAGE"),("SERVER","HOSTS DATA"),("LAPTOP","PORTABLE PC"),("ROUTER","NETWORK DEVICE"),("KEYBOARD","TYPING KEYS")],
 [("PLANET","ORBITS A STAR"),("GALAXY","MANY STARS"),("COMET","ICY SPACE ROCK"),("ROCKET","SPACE VEHICLE"),("SATURN","RINGED PLANET")],
 [("DRAGON","FIRE BREATHER"),("WIZARD","USES MAGIC"),("GOBLIN","FANTASY CREATURE"),("POTION","MAGIC DRINK"),("CASTLE","STONE FORTRESS")],
 [("ATOM","MATTER UNIT"),("ENERGY","DOES WORK"),("GRAVITY","PULLS OBJECTS"),("OXYGEN","GAS WE BREATHE"),("MAGNET","ATTRACTS IRON")]
]
names=['ANIMALS','TECH','SPACE','FANTASY','SCIENCE']

def clear():print('\n'*7)
def scramble(w):
 a=list(w)
 for t in range(12):
  b=a[:]
  for i in range(len(b)-1,0,-1):
   j=randint(0,i)
   b[i],b[j]=b[j],b[i]
  s=''.join(b)
  if s!=w:return s
 return s

def intro():
 print('DUCKIEDAI(TM)')
 print('WORD SCRAMBLE')
 print('      __')
 print('  ___(o )> quack!')
 print('  \\ <_. )')
 print("   `---'")
 print('by DuckieDai')
 print('hiddenwordscanner.com')
 input('Press Enter ')
 clear()

def game():
 wins=0;played=0;best=0
 while 1:
  print('WORD SCRAMBLE')
  print('1 Animals 2 Tech')
  print('3 Space   4 Fantasy')
  print('5 Science 6 Mixed')
  print('7 Quit')
  c=input('Category? ')
  if c=='7':break
  if c not in ('1','2','3','4','5','6'):continue
  print('1 Easy  2 Medium')
  print('3 Hard')
  d=input('Level? ')
  if d not in ('1','2','3'):continue
  tries=(4,3,2)[int(d)-1]
  rounds=10;score=0;streak=0
  used=[];clear()
  for r in range(rounds):
   # Avoid reusing a word until possible words are exhausted.
   choices=[]
   for k in range(5):
    if c=='6' or k==int(c)-1:
     for word,hint in banks[k]:
      if word not in used:choices.append((word,hint,k))
   if not choices:
    used=[]
    for k in range(5):
     if c=='6' or k==int(c)-1:
      for word,hint in banks[k]:choices.append((word,hint,k))
   w,h,k=choices[randint(0,len(choices)-1)]
   used.append(w)
   mixed=scramble(w)
   left=tries;hinted=False;won=False
   while left:
    clear()
    print('ROUND',r+1,'OF',rounds)
    print('SCORE',score,'STREAK',streak)
    print(names[k])
    print('WORD:',mixed)
    print('TRIES:',left)
    if hinted:print('HINT:',h)
    print('1 Guess 2 Hint')
    choice=input('Choice? ')
    if choice=='2':
     if not hinted:
      hinted=True
      print('Hint unlocked!')
     else:print('Hint already shown')
     continue
    if choice!='1':continue
    a=input('Your word? ').strip().upper()
    if a==w:
     won=True
     streak+=1
     gain=10+min(streak-1,5)*2
     if hinted:gain=max(1,gain-5)
     score+=gain
     clear()
     print('CORRECT! +',gain)
     if streak>=3:print('ON FIRE!')
     break
    left-=1
    streak=0
    print('NOPE!')
    if left:input('Press Enter ')
   if not won:
    clear()
    print('OUT OF TRIES!')
    print('WORD WAS:',w)
   input('Press Enter ')
  played+=1
  if score>best:best=score
  if score>=100:wins+=1
  clear()
  print('GAME OVER!')
  print('Score:',score)
  print('Best:',best)
  print('Games:',played)
  print('100+ games:',wins)
  if input('Again? Y/N ').upper()!='Y':break
  clear()
 print('QUACK QUACK!')
 print('hiddenwordscanner.com')

intro()
game()

# DuckieDai(TM) Word Scramble
# TI-84 Plus CE Python
from random import randint
# ADD WORDS HERE: ("WORD","HINT")
# Keep words A-Z, 3 to 12 letters.
banks=[
[("TIGER","STRIPED CAT"),("RABBIT","LONG EARS"),("DOLPHIN","OCEAN MAMMAL"),("PANDA","EATS BAMBOO"),("MONKEY","CLIMBS TREES")],
[("PYTHON","CODING LANGUAGE"),("SERVER","HOSTS DATA"),("LAPTOP","PORTABLE PC"),("ROUTER","NETWORK DEVICE"),("KEYBOARD","TYPING KEYS")],
[("PLANET","ORBITS A STAR"),("GALAXY","MANY STARS"),("COMET","ICY SPACE ROCK"),("ROCKET","SPACE VEHICLE"),("SATURN","RINGED PLANET")],
[("DRAGON","FIRE BREATHER"),("WIZARD","USES MAGIC"),("GOBLIN","FANTASY CREATURE"),("POTION","MAGIC DRINK"),("CASTLE","STONE FORTRESS")],
[("ATOM","MATTER UNIT"),("ENERGY","DOES WORK"),("GRAVITY","PULLS OBJECTS"),("OXYGEN","GAS WE BREATHE"),("MAGNET","ATTRACTS IRON")]
]
names=['ANIMALS','TECH','SPACE','FANTASY','SCIENCE']
def clear():print('\n'*7)
def scramble(w):
a=list(w)
for t in range(12):
b=a[:]
for i in range(len(b)-1,0,-1):
j=randint(0,i)
b[i],b[j]=b[j],b[i]
s=''.join(b)
if s!=w:return s
return s
def intro():
print('DUCKIEDAI(TM)')
print('WORD SCRAMBLE')
print(' __')
print(' ___(o )> quack!')
print(' \\ <_. )')
print(" `---'")
print('by DuckieDai')
print('hiddenwordscanner.com')
input('Press Enter ')
clear()
def game():
wins=0;played=0;best=0
while 1:
print('WORD SCRAMBLE')
print('1 Animals 2 Tech')
print('3 Space 4 Fantasy')
print('5 Science 6 Mixed')
print('7 Quit')
c=input('Category? ')
if c=='7':break
if c not in ('1','2','3','4','5','6'):continue
print('1 Easy 2 Medium')
print('3 Hard')
d=input('Level? ')
if d not in ('1','2','3'):continue
tries=(4,3,2)[int(d)-1]
rounds=10;score=0;streak=0
used=[];clear()
for r in range(rounds):
# Avoid reusing a word until possible words are exhausted.
choices=[]
for k in range(5):
if c=='6' or k==int(c)-1:
for word,hint in banks[k]:
if word not in used:choices.append((word,hint,k))
if not choices:
used=[]
for k in range(5):
if c=='6' or k==int(c)-1:
for word,hint in banks[k]:choices.append((word,hint,k))
w,h,k=choices[randint(0,len(choices)-1)]
used.append(w)
mixed=scramble(w)
left=tries;hinted=False;won=False
while left:
clear()
print('ROUND',r+1,'OF',rounds)
print('SCORE',score,'STREAK',streak)
print(names[k])
print('WORD:',mixed)
print('TRIES:',left)
if hinted:print('HINT:',h)
print('1 Guess 2 Hint')
choice=input('Choice? ')
if choice=='2':
if not hinted:
hinted=True
print('Hint unlocked!')
else:print('Hint already shown')
continue
if choice!='1':continue
a=input('Your word? ').strip().upper()
if a==w:
won=True
streak+=1
gain=10+min(streak-1,5)*2
if hinted:gain=max(1,gain-5)
score+=gain
clear()
print('CORRECT! +',gain)
if streak>=3:print('ON FIRE!')
break
left-=1
streak=0
print('NOPE!')
if left:input('Press Enter ')
if not won:
clear()
print('OUT OF TRIES!')
print('WORD WAS:',w)
input('Press Enter ')
played+=1
if score>best:best=score
if score>=100:wins+=1
clear()
print('GAME OVER!')
print('Score:',score)
print('Best:',best)
print('Games:',played)
print('100+ games:',wins)
if input('Again? Y/N ').upper()!='Y':break
clear()
print('QUACK QUACK!')
print('hiddenwordscanner.com')
intro()
game()

Filename: WORDSCR.py
Size: 3466 bytes
SHA-256: 16569306db96075abfdb21deaf6f423d390a4b5eab38c6201d4aa6bdb52edea1

Usage

Inputs

A category from 1 to 6 (6 mixes all five), or 7 to quit
A level: 1 Easy (4 tries), 2 Medium (3 tries), or 3 Hard (2 tries)
1 to guess or 2 for a hint, then the unscrambled word
Y to play again, anything else to stop

Outputs

The scrambled word with its category, round, score, streak, and tries left
A hint on request, CORRECT with the points earned, or NOPE
Final score, best score, games played, and 100-point games

Units: Points; no units.

Assumptions and limitations

Assumptions

The game has 25 words in five categories: Animals, Tech, Space, Fantasy, and Science, five words each.
Words are picked and shuffled at random by the calculator; a word does not come back in a game until every word in the chosen category has been used.

Constraints

Type a single number at the Category and Level prompts.
Answers are compared in capital letters, so tiger and TIGER both count.

Known failures

A category or level outside the menu simply shows the menu again.
The best score and game totals reset when the program is started again.

Compatibility and review

Review status: Owner-tested on a TI calculator
Tested on: Owner reports personally playing this game on a TI-84 Plus CE Python calculator; the test date, OS version, and Python App version were not recorded
What happened: Owner reported pass on the calculator before the Category and Level menu checks were corrected so that an empty or two digit answer shows the menu again instead of stopping the program. The rest of the game is unchanged; this exact file has not yet been rerun on a calculator.
Dependencies: random
Suggested calculator name: WORDSCR — you can give it another valid, unique name when you transfer it
Desktop test cases: Not available for this interactive-only source

This exact source auto-launches an interactive calculator session, so compatibility evidence comes from the recorded physical-device review rather than an importable desktop fixture.

Transfer and launch

Download the .py file, send it to your calculator with TI Connect CE as WORDSCR or another name, then open the Python App and start a game. Press [on] to stop at any time. This release has no verified calculator OS or Python App version; treat transfer and execution as unverified until independently tested.

Full installation and troubleshooting guide. Check your teacher's or exam's rules before using any program.

Version history

1.0.0 — current version, published 2026-10-12. Download this reviewed version

Related guide

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Overview

Before you run it

Play it here first

How to play Word Scramble

About the game

Controls

How to play

Tips

Good to know

Source code

Usage

Inputs

Outputs

Assumptions and limitations

Assumptions

Constraints

Known failures

Compatibility and review

Transfer and launch

Version history

Related learning