Hangman
A classic console word game built in C# with random word selection, input validation, and progressive ASCII art.
About the Project
Hangman brings the classic word game to a focused console application. Each session selects a random term from a JSON dictionary. The player reveals letters while every incorrect guess advances the ASCII drawing by one stage.
The goal was to build a complete and easy-to-follow game loop: load a word, validate input, reveal matches, and reach an unambiguous win or loss state.
What I Built
- Random word selection from an external
dictionary.json - Dictionary deserialization with
System.Text.Json - Case-insensitive letter input
- Validation for empty and previously used guesses
- Synchronized incorrect-guess count and ASCII drawing stages
- Dedicated output for winning, losing, and a missing data file
Technical Structure
The selected word is represented by a character array filled with placeholders. After every guess, the game iterates over the word and replaces matching underscores with the guessed letter. Once the array no longer contains a placeholder, the round is complete.
The dictionary deliberately lives outside the source code. This makes it possible to extend or replace the available vocabulary without restructuring the application.
What I Learned
The project demonstrated how much even a small console game benefits from clearly defined states. Input, game logic, and presentation already form a complete loop. The next step would be separating these responsibilities into methods or classes, making the rules easier to test and features such as multiple rounds or difficulty levels easier to add.
Development Notes
The devlog covers the dictionary, character array, and progressive ASCII stages in more detail: