Magic 8 Ball console application in C#

Here is a simple Magic 8 Ball console application in C# with a detailed explanation of each part of the code.

This app simulates the classic Magic 8 Ball toy that gives random answers to yes-or-no questions.

What the App Will Do

Prompt the user to ask a yes/no question.
Randomly select and display a response from a list of 8 Ball-style answers.
Repeat this process until the user decides to quit.

Full Code

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;

class Magic8BallApp
{
    static void Main()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Welcome to the Magic 8 Ball!");
        Console.WriteLine("Ask any yes/no question, or type 'quit' to exit.");

        // List of Magic 8 Ball responses
        List<string> responses = new List<string>
        {
            "It is certain.",
            "Without a doubt.",
            "You may rely on it.",
            "Ask again later.",
            "Cannot predict now.",
            "Don't count on it.",
            "My sources say no.",
            "Very doubtful."
        };

        Random random = new Random(); // Used to pick a random response

        while (true)
        {
            Console.Write("\nAsk your question: ");
            string question = Console.ReadLine();

            // Check if user wants to quit
            if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(question) || question.ToLower() == "quit")
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Goodbye!");
                break;
            }

            // Simulate thinking
            Console.WriteLine("Shaking the Magic 8 Ball...");
            System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1000); // Pause for effect

            // Get a random index from the list
            int index = random.Next(responses.Count);
            string answer = responses[index];

            // Display the random answer
            Console.WriteLine("Magic 8 Ball says: " + answer);
        }
    }
}

Detailed Explanation

using System;

Provides access to base classes like Console.

using System.Collections.Generic;

Allows us to use generic collections like List<string>.

class Magic8BallApp

Defines the main class that contains our application.

static void Main()

The entry point of the application. This is where execution starts.

Inside the Main() Method:

1. Greeting the User

Console.WriteLine("Welcome to the Magic 8 Ball!");
Console.WriteLine("Ask any yes/no question, or type 'quit' to exit.");

Introduces the app and explains how to exit.

2. List of Possible Answers

List<string> responses = new List<string>
{
    "It is certain.",
    "Without a doubt.",
    "You may rely on it.",
    "Ask again later.",
    "Cannot predict now.",
    "Don't count on it.",
    "My sources say no.",
    "Very doubtful."
};

This is the core of the app. These are the possible answers the Magic 8 Ball can give.

3. Random Number Generator

Random random = new Random();

The Random object will be used to generate a number to pick a response from the list.

4. Loop to Handle Multiple Questions

while (true)
{
    // input, logic, output
}

The program runs in a loop until the user types quit.

5. Reading the User’s Question

string question = Console.ReadLine();

Takes input from the user.

6. Exit Condition

if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(question) || question.ToLower() == "quit")

If the user types nothing or enters “quit”, the app ends.

7. Delay to Simulate Shaking

System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1000);

Adds a one-second pause to make it feel more interactive.

8. Choosing a Random Answer

int index = random.Next(responses.Count);
string answer = responses[index];

Randomly selects one of the responses from the list.

9. Displaying the Answer

Console.WriteLine("Magic 8 Ball says: " + answer);

Shows the selected answer to the user.

How to Run This App

Open your C# IDE (Visual Studio, VS Code, etc.).
Create a new Console App project.
Replace the content of Program.cs with the code above.
Build and run the project.

Optional Ideas

Add more responses for variety.
Log the questions and answers.
Change text colors for fun.
Add input validation for invalid inputs.

Magic 8 Ball