Build a simple Excel guessing game with three cells: one for a target number, one for the player’s guess, and one for feedback. An IF formula can report whether the guess is too low, too high, or correct; conditional formatting can color each message. For a first version, enter the target manually so it stays fixed while the player guesses.
Set up the game board
In a blank worksheet, use these labels and cells. The example uses a target of 42; choose any whole number you like.
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| Cell | Label or value | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| A2 | Target | Identifies the number to guess. |
| B2 | 42 | The target number. Keep it visible for setup, or hide the row or column after testing if you want the player not to see it. |
| A3 | Your guess | Identifies the player’s input. |
| B3 | (player enters a number) | The cell where the player types each guess. |
| A4 | Feedback | Identifies the result. |
| B4 | Formula | Displays whether the guess is correct, too low, or too high. |
Excel formulas begin with = and can use cell references and built-in functions. See Microsoft’s overview of formulas in Excel for the basics.
Write the feedback formula
Click B4 and enter:
=IF(B3=B2,"Correct",IF(B3<B2,"Too low","Too high"))
The outer IF first checks whether the guess equals the target. If not, the nested IF checks whether it is less than the target. A guess that is neither equal nor lower must be higher, so the final result is “Too high.” Excel’s conditional-formula guide explains how IF returns a result based on a logical test.
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Try entering 30 in B3: B4 should show “Too low.” Enter 50 and it should show “Too high.” Enter 42 and it should show “Correct.” These checks confirm the three logical outcomes before you add colors.
Color the game states with conditional formatting
Create a rule for each feedback message so the result is easy to scan. In Excel for Windows or Mac, select B4, then use Home > Conditional Formatting > Highlight Cells Rules > Text that Contains. Enter the text for a state, choose a format, and confirm. Repeat for “Too low” and “Too high,” choosing a distinct fill or font color for each. Menu wording and steps can differ by platform; Microsoft’s guide includes separate instructions for desktop Excel and Excel for the web.
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For exact matching, or to apply a formula-based rule, create a new conditional-formatting rule and use a formula that evaluates to TRUE or FALSE. With B4 as the selected cell, example rules are:
=$B$4="Correct"=$B$4="Too low"=$B$4="Too high"
Choose a format for each rule and make sure the “Applies to” range covers B4. If you extend the game to multiple rows, adjust the references to match the first cell in the range; absolute and relative references determine how Excel applies a rule across cells. Check rule precedence if rules overlap. Microsoft also notes that errors in cells can stop conditional formatting from applying and recommends using functions such as IS or IFERROR where appropriate. See Use conditional formatting to highlight information in Excel for rule setup and reference behavior.
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Decide whether the target should be fixed or random
Fixed target: simplest for a first game
Type a number directly into B2 and leave it there for the round. This keeps the comparison stable while the player changes B3. When you want to start another round, replace B2 with a new target and clear B3.
Random target: useful, but it changes on recalculation
To generate an integer from 1 through 100, enter =RANDBETWEEN(1,100) in B2. Microsoft’s RANDBETWEEN reference states that the function returns a random integer between its bottom and top arguments and generates a new value whenever the worksheet recalculates. That includes recalculation caused by changes elsewhere in the sheet or by pressing F9. In a live game, the target can therefore change while the player is guessing.
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If you want a random target but a stable round, generate it when starting the round and then preserve that value instead of leaving a recalculating formula in B2. One simple manual approach is to copy B2 and paste it back as a value before play; when starting the next round, enter the random formula again, then preserve its result. This avoids macros and makes the reset deliberate.
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For a small extension, use A5 for “Attempts” and B5 for the count. If each guess is entered into a new row, you can keep a running history and count the guesses. For example, put each guess in B3, B4, and subsequent rows, then use a count formula in the counter cell. This changes the layout, so move the feedback formula to a separate column and reference the target cell for each guess. The core game does not need an attempt counter; keeping the first version to one guess cell and one feedback cell makes it easier to follow and reset.
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Test and reset a round
- Enter a target in B2 and the feedback formula in B4.
- Type a number below the target in B3 and confirm the low message and its formatting.
- Type a number above the target and confirm the high message and its formatting.
- Type the target itself and confirm the correct message and its formatting.
- To reset a fixed-target round, replace B2 with the next target and clear B3. To reset a random-target round, generate a new value and preserve it as described above before accepting guesses.
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