Hunt the Wumpus

A terminal-based Python port of Gregory Yob's Hunt the Wumpus (1972), as it appeared in More BASIC Computer Games (Ahl, 1979).

Navigate a cave built on the topology of a dodecahedron. Hunt a monster by smell and sound. Avoid bottomless pits and super bats. Try not to shoot yourself.

About This Port

This project is faithful to the original with three small adjustments:

• The Wumpus cannot start the game adjacent to the player
• Arrows are tracked and reported; running out of arrows ends the game
• Typing Q at the Shoot or Move prompt triggers an unannounced exit — a small easter egg not mentioned in the instructions

The terminal experience is intentionally retro. The code underneath tries to be idiomatic, readable Python.

This is a learning project — part of a structured Python curriculum I'm working through as a retired STEM educator. I'm interested in what's possible when you bring modern programming practice to classic computing history, and in making that journey visible to other learners and educators.

Requirements

• Python 3.6 or higher
• No external dependencies

Usage

python wumpus.py

Background

Hunt the Wumpus is one of the earliest text adventure games and a landmark in computing history. The cave topology — a dodecahedron with 20 rooms, each connecting to exactly three others — gives the game a spatial logic that rewards careful play. The original BASIC source is available at roug.org if you want to compare.

Contributing

This is a learning project, not a production codebase, but feedback and ideas are genuinely welcome. If you spot a bug, have a suggestion, or just want to talk Wumpus, open an issue.

Some directions I'm considering for future versions — no commitments, just possibilities:

• Multiple cave topologies (Möbius strip, circular, procedurally generated)
• Persistent high scores
• Game replay and move logging
• Difficulty settings (arrow count, Wumpus speed, hazard density)
• A hint system based on logical deduction from known information
• A map the player builds as they explore

If something else occurs to you, open an issue and make the case. The best additions will change the experience of playing and teach something interesting to build.

License

MIT License — see LICENSE for details.