title: How to hide/reveal letters in python game?
body: <p>I'm new to coding and am currently trying to make a simplified game of Hangman using Python 3. For the most part, I have it down, except for the most important part, how to hide the letters of the random word, and then how to reveal them once guessed. Mainly, I just need a quick answer. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here's my code so far (sorry if it's long, like I said, I relatively new at this, and thanks again!):</p>
  
  <pre><code>import random
  
  #list of words for game
  hangmanWords = ("Halloween","Hockey","Minnesota","Vikings","Twins","Timberwolves","Wild","Playstation","Achievement","Minecraft","Metallica","Portal","Xbox","Guitar")
  
  #randomizes the word chosen for game
  index = random.randint(0,len(hangmanWords)-1)
  
  #assigns radomized word to variable
  randomWord = hangmanWords[index]
  
  
  '''
  menu function, provides user with choices for game, user chooses via imput
  '''
  def menu():
     print("""
  Welcome to Hangman!
  
  Select a difficulty:
  1. Easy (9 Misses)
  2. Medium (7 Misses)
  3. Advanced (5 Misses)
  
  4. Exit Game
  """)
     selection = int(input("What difficulty do you pick (1-4)?: "))
     return selection
  
  '''
  the function for easy mode, prints the word chosen by randomizer
  asks the player to enter a letter that they guess is in the word
  player gets 9 guesses to figure out word, correct guesses don't
  count, returns player to main menu when they lose
  '''
  def easyMode():
     wrongGuesses = 0
     listOfGuesses = []
     print(randomWord)
     while(wrongGuesses != 9):
        x = input("Enter a letter: ")
        if x.lower() in randomWord.lower():
           print(x,"is in the word!")
           listOfGuesses.append(x)
           print("Letters guessed so far: ",listOfGuesses)
           print()
        else:
           print(x,"is not in the word.")
           wrongGuesses += 1
           print(wrongGuesses, "wrong guesses.")
           listOfGuesses.append(x)
           print("Letters guessed so far: ",listOfGuesses)
           print()
  
     print("You lost the game!")
     return x
  
  '''
  the function for medium mode, prints the word chosen by randomizer
  asks the player to enter a letter that they guess is in the word
  player gets 7 guesses to figure out word, correct guesses don't
  count, returns player to main menu when they lose
  '''
  def medium():
     wrongGuesses = 0
     listOfGuesses = []
     print(randomWord)
     while(wrongGuesses != 7):
        x = input("Enter a letter: ")
        if x.lower() in randomWord.lower():
           print(x,"is in the word!")
           listOfGuesses.append(x)
           print("Letters guessed so far: ",listOfGuesses)
           print()
        else:
           print(x,"is not in the word.")
           wrongGuesses += 1
           print(wrongGuesses, "wrong guesses.")
           listOfGuesses.append(x)
           print("Letters guessed so far: ",listOfGuesses)
           print()
  
     print("You lost the game!")
     return x
  
  '''
  the function for advanced mode, prints the word chosen by randomizer
  asks the player to enter a letter that they guess is in the word
  player gets 5 guesses to figure out word, correct guesses don't
  count, returns player to main menu when they lose
  '''
  def advanced():
     wrongGuesses = 0
     listOfGuesses = []
     print(randomWord)
     while(wrongGuesses != 5):
        x = input("Enter a letter: ")
        if x.lower() in randomWord.lower():
           print(x,"is in the word!")
           listOfGuesses.append(x)
           print("Letters guessed so far: ",listOfGuesses)
           print()
        else:
           print(x,"is not in the word.")
           wrongGuesses += 1
           print(wrongGuesses, "wrong guesses.")
           listOfGuesses.append(x)
           print("Letters guessed so far: ",listOfGuesses)
           print()
  
     print("You lost the game!")
     return x
  
  '''
  main function, deals with what happens depending on
  what the player selected on the menu
  '''
  def main():
     select = menu()
     while(select != 4):
        if(select == 1):
           easyMode()
        elif(select == 2):
           medium()
        elif(select == 3):
           advanced()
  
        select = menu()
  
     print("You don't want to play today? :'(")
  
  main()
  </code></pre>