High score programming in python across programs: why do one of these work but the other doesn't?

import random
import os


CELLS = [(0, 0), (1, 0), (2, 0), (3, 0), (4, 0),
         (0, 1), (1, 1), (2, 1), (3, 1), (4, 1),
         (0, 2), (1, 2), (2, 2), (3, 2), (4, 2),
         (0, 3), (1, 3), (2, 3), (3, 3), (4, 3),
         (0, 4), (1, 4), (2, 4), (3, 4), (4, 4),]

def clear_screen():
    os.system("cls" if os.name == "nt" else "clear")

def get_locations():
    return random.sample(CELLS, 3)


def move_player(player, move):
    x, y = player
    if move == "LEFT":
        x -= 1
    if move == "RIGHT":
        x += 1
    if move == "UP":
        y -= 1
    if move == "DOWN":
        y += 1
    return x, y

def get_moves(player):
    moves = ["LEFT", "RIGHT", "UP", "DOWN"]
    x, y = player
    if y == 0:
        moves.remove("UP")
    if y == 4:
        moves.remove("DOWN")
    if x == 0:
        moves.remove("LEFT")
    if x == 4:
        moves.remove("RIGHT")
    return moves

def draw_map(player, door, monster):
    print(" _" * 5)
    tile = "|{}"

    for cell in CELLS:
        x, y = cell
        if x < 4:
            line_end = ""
            if cell == player:
                output = tile.format("X")
            elif cell == door:
                output = tile.format("O")
            elif cell == monster:
                output = tile.format("M")
            else:
                output = tile.format("_")
        else:
            line_end = "\n"
            if cell == player:
                output = tile.format("X|")
            elif cell == door:
                output = tile.format("O|")
            elif cell == monster:
                output = tile.format("M|")
            else:
                output = tile.format("_|")
        print(output, end = line_end)

def game_loop():
    player, door, monster = get_locations()
    playing = True
    move_count = 0
    print("The high score is currently held by {} with a score of {}!".format(first_place[0], high_score[0]))

    clear_screen()
    while playing:
        clear_screen()
        high_score.sort()

        draw_map(player, door, monster)
        valid_moves = get_moves(player)

        print("You're currently in room {}".format(player))
        print("You can move {}".format(", ".join(valid_moves)))
        print("Enter 'QUIT' to quit")

        move = input("> ")
        move = move.upper()
        clear_screen()

        if move == 'QUIT':
            print("\n** See you next time! **\n")
            break
        if move in valid_moves:
            move_count += 1
            player = move_player(player, move)
            clear_screen()
            draw_map(player, door, monster)


            if player == monster:
                print("\n ** Oh no! The monster fot you! Better luck next time **\n")
                playing = False
            if player == door:
                new_high = move_count
                high_score.sort()
                print("\n** You escaped in {} moves! Congratulations! **\n".format(new_high))
                if new_high < high_score[0]:
                    high_score.insert(0, new_high)
                    print("\n** You have the new high score!!! **\n")
                    first_place = input("What is your name? \n > ")
                else:
                    print("The high score is still held by {} with a score of {}!".format(first_place[0], high_score[0]))
                playing = False
        else:
            input("\n ** Walls are hard! Don't run into them! **\n")
    else:
        if input("Play again? [Y/n]").lower != "n":
            game_loop()

if __name__ == '__main__':
    clear_screen()
    print("Welcome to the dungeon!")
    input("Press return to start!")
    clear_screen
    high_score = [15]
    first_place = ["Niel Armstrong"]
    game_loop()

import random

import os

def clear_screen():
    os.system("cls" if os.name == "nt" else "clear")

def start_game():
    low = 1
    high = 10
    secret_number = random.randint(low, high)

    #This is a Test Line 
    #print("The number is {}".format(secret_number))

    print("""
    ================================================
    Welcome to the Number Guessing Extravaganza!!!!
    ================================================
    """)

    print("""
    The rules are simple; choose a number between 1 
    and 10, and we will tell you if the secret 
    number is higher or lower than that. Try and 
    guess the secret number in as few guesses as
    possible!
    """)
    print("The current high score is {}, held by {}. Try and beat it!".format(high_score[0], first_place[0])) 

    attempts = 0
    while True:
        try:
            guess = int(input("What is your guess?  "))
        except ValueError:
            print("Please enter a whole number!")
            continue
        if guess == secret_number:
            attempts += 1
            print("You got it!")
            print("You guessed the secret number in {} try(s)!".format(attempts))
            high_score.sort()
            if high_score[0] > attempts:
                first_place[0] = input("What is your name? ")
                high_score.insert(0, attempts)

                print("You have the new high score!")
            else:
                print("The high score is currently {}, held by {}".format(high_score[0], first_place[0]))

            print("Thanks for playing!")
            replay = input("""Would you like to play again? [y]es or [n]o? """)
            if replay == "n":
                print("Thanks for playing!")
                break
            if replay == "y":
                clear_screen()
                start_game()

        if 1 <= guess < secret_number:
            attempts += 1
            print("Too low!")
            continue
        if 11 >= guess > secret_number:
            attempts += 1
            print("Too high!")
            continue
        if guess > 10:
            print("The number must be between 1 and 10.")
            continue
        if guess < 1:
            print ("The number must be between 1 and 10.")
            continue

if __name__ == '__main__':
    high_score = [7]
    first_place = ["Jim-Bob"]    
    start_game()