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How to Create a Rock-Paper-Scissors Game in Batch Script

Building a "Rock, Paper, Scissors" game in a Windows Batch script moves beyond simple linear guessing logic and introduces multi-conditional evaluations. Because the computer must generate a random move and then rigorously assess whether the human's input beats, ties, or loses to that specific move, this game heavily utilizes nested IF/ELSE statements and string mapping.

In this guide, we will build a resilient Rock, Paper, Scissors game leveraging the %RANDOM% variable and extensive logic structures.

The Strategy: The %RANDOM% Modulo and String Arrays​

  1. Accept human input for their choice.
  2. Generate a random computer move. Since %RANDOM% generates a number between 0 and 32767, we use the modulo operation (%% 3) to reduce that result to a strict range of 0, 1, or 2.
  3. Map those integers (0,1,2) to strings (Rock, Paper, Scissors).
  4. Evaluate all 3 possible outcomes for the human's choice against the computer's choice to declare a Winner, Loser, or Tie.

Implementation Script​

@echo off
setlocal

:: Setup the Terminal
title Rock Paper Scissors
color 0E

:: Track Scores
set "wins=0"
set "losses=0"
set "ties=0"

:GameStart
cls
echo ==========================================
echo        ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS
echo ==========================================
echo Score: Wins:%wins% ^| Losses:%losses% ^| Ties:%ties%
echo.
echo Choose your weapon:
echo [1] Rock
echo [2] Paper
echo [3] Scissors
echo [Q] Quit
echo.

:: 1. Gather User Input
set "playerChoice="
set /p "playerChoice=Select (1/2/3/Q): "

:: Handle Quitting
if /i "%playerChoice%"=="Q" goto EndGame

:: Validate Input
if "%playerChoice%"=="1" (
    set "playerString=Rock"
) else if "%playerChoice%"=="2" (
    set "playerString=Paper"
) else if "%playerChoice%"=="3" (
    set "playerString=Scissors"
) else (
    echo [!] Invalid selection. Please choose 1, 2, or 3.
    pause
    goto GameStart
)

:: 2. Generate Computer Move
set /a "compMove=(%RANDOM% %% 3) + 1"

if %compMove% equ 1 set "compString=Rock"
if %compMove% equ 2 set "compString=Paper"
if %compMove% equ 3 set "compString=Scissors"

echo.
echo You chose:      %playerString%
echo Computer chose: %compString%
echo.
echo --------------------------------

:: 3. Evaluate Results
if "%playerString%"=="%compString%" (
    echo Result: IT'S A TIE!
    set /a "ties+=1"
    goto ReplayPrompt
)

:: Evaluate Player Win states
if "%playerString%"=="Rock" if "%compString%"=="Scissors" goto PlayerWins
if "%playerString%"=="Paper" if "%compString%"=="Rock" goto PlayerWins
if "%playerString%"=="Scissors" if "%compString%"=="Paper" goto PlayerWins

:: If it wasn't a tie, and the player didn't win, the computer won.
goto ComputerWins

:PlayerWins
echo Result: YOU WIN! %playerString% beats %compString%.
set /a "wins+=1"
goto ReplayPrompt

:ComputerWins
echo Result: YOU LOSE! %compString% beats %playerString%.
set /a "losses+=1"
goto ReplayPrompt

:ReplayPrompt
echo.
pause
goto GameStart

:EndGame
echo.
echo ==========================================
echo           FINAL SCOREBOARD
echo ==========================================
echo Wins:   %wins%
echo Losses: %losses%
echo Ties:   %ties%
echo ==========================================
echo Thanks for playing!
pause
exit /b
:ReplayPrompt
echo.
pause
goto GameStart

:EndGame
cls
echo.
echo ==========================================
echo           FINAL SCOREBOARD
echo ==========================================
echo   Wins:   %wins%
echo   Losses: %losses%
echo   Ties:   %ties%
echo ==========================================
echo.
echo Thanks for playing!
echo.
pause
exit /b

How It Works​

  1. Mapping Indices: Batch does not possess objects or hash maps. By assigning input 1 precisely to Rock, and mapping the computer's modulo math + 1 precisely to Rock, we bridge numeric randomization to human-readable strings flawlessly.
  2. Simplified Evaluation Layout: Rock-Paper-Scissors possesses 9 possible combinations (3 Tie scenarios, 3 Player Win scenarios, 3 Computer Win scenarios).
    • The first check (if A == B) knocks out all 3 Tie scenarios instantly.
    • The next block sequentially maps out the 3 specific Player Win scenarios.
    • Because there are only 3 possible outcomes remaining (the Computer wins), we entirely bypass writing extensive code for evaluating losses; if the logic survives the Tie and Win checks, it forces the script into goto ComputerWins.
  3. Score Tracking: Using standard expansion alongside %wins% lets the script dynamically tally the score. Since labels like :GameStart are re-parsed on every goto, the variables are expanded with their current values without needing Delayed Expansion.

Conclusion​

Rock-Paper-Scissors highlights elegant logic flow reduction. Identifying combinations efficiently transforms an otherwise messy 20-line nested IF/ELSE disaster into a clean, rapidly executable conditional evaluation tree. Constructing simple mechanics like this natively hones precision and syntax hygiene for more massive automation scripts.

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