Play Hangman Online — Free Word Guessing Game
Introduction
Hangman is the word game that needs no introduction: a hidden word, a row of blank spaces, and a drawing that grows with every wrong guess. Pick letters one at a time, fill in the word before the drawing is complete, and win with your vocabulary intact. It is one of the oldest word puzzles in the world and still one of the best for a quick mental warm-up. Play it free in your browser with no download, no account and no pressure.
About Hangman
Hangman has been played on paper for generations and moved naturally into the digital world with the first home computers. The rules are the same everywhere: the computer picks a hidden word, you guess one letter at a time, and each wrong guess adds a line to the drawing. Correct guesses reveal every occurrence of that letter in the word.
The game is a pure exercise in deduction and vocabulary. You do not need to know every word in the dictionary — you need to know which letters English words are built from, and how to eliminate possibilities efficiently. The best players guess vowels and common consonants first, then use the revealed pattern to narrow the word down.
This version is an open-source implementation by abdoutech19, released under the MIT licence. It runs entirely in your browser with a built-in word list, works with a physical or on-screen keyboard, and plays like the classic paper game. No download, no sign-up and no waiting for an opponent.
How to Play Hangman
Look at the blank spaces.
Each blank represents one letter of the hidden word. Longer words give you more information but also more room to run out of guesses.
Guess a letter.
Type a letter or tap it on the on-screen keyboard. If the letter is in the word, every occurrence appears in its space. If not, part of the drawing is added.
Watch the drawing.
Each wrong guess completes more of the hanging figure. When the drawing is fully complete, the game is lost and the word is revealed.
Solve the word.
Fill in every blank space before the drawing is finished and you win. The faster you narrow the word, the more room you have for mistakes.
Play again.
Start a new round with the New Game button for a fresh word. There is no limit on how many rounds you can play.
Hangman Controls
| Action | Desktop | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Guess a letter | Type any letter key A to Z | Tap a letter on the on-screen keyboard |
| See which letters are used | Used letters are marked on the on-screen keyboard | Used letters are marked on the on-screen keyboard |
| Start a new word | Click the New Game button | Tap the New Game button |
| Restart mid-game | Click the New Game button at any time | Tap the New Game button at any time |
| See the correct word after losing | The word is revealed automatically when the game ends | The word is revealed automatically when the game ends |
| Start a new round after losing | Click New Game on the result screen | Tap New Game on the result screen |
| Fullscreen | Click the fullscreen button above the game | Tap the fullscreen button above the game |
| Exit fullscreen | Escape key | Tap the fullscreen button again |
Hangman Tips & Strategies
Guess vowels first
Almost every English word contains at least one of A, E, I, O or U. Guessing the vowels early reveals the skeleton of the word and gives you far more information than any single consonant.
Then try the common consonants
S, T, R, N, L and D appear in a large share of English words. After the vowels, these letters are the most likely to score a hit and fill in useful pattern shapes.
Read the pattern, not the letters
A revealed pattern like _ A _ _ E _ tells you a lot even without the missing letters. Think of words that match the shape and length before you burn more guesses on new letters.
Avoid rare letters early
Z, Q, X and J are so rare that guessing them early is almost always a wasted move. Save them for the late game when the pattern has narrowed the word down.
Keep track of eliminated letters
The on-screen keyboard marks letters you have already tried. Before you guess, check that you are not repeating a letter that was already wrong — a silent mistake that costs a whole turn.
Watch for repeated letters
Words like MISSISSIPPI use the same letter several times. If a guess scored once, do not assume the word is short — the letter may appear again in a different blank.
What makes Hangman worth playing
- Classic hangman word guessing with a built-in word list
- Runs entirely in your browser with no download or plugin
- Works with a physical keyboard or the on-screen keyboard
- Unlimited rounds — play as many words as you like
- Open source under the MIT licence with credit to the developer
Game Info
| Developer | abdoutech19 |
|---|---|
| Released | 2021 |
| Genre | Word, Puzzle |
| Players | Single player |
| Technology | HTML5 / JavaScript |
| Platforms | Desktop, Tablet, Mobile browser |
| Average session | About 4 minutes |
| Licence | MIT |
| Last updated |
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Hangman — Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hangman free to play?
Yes, completely. The game is open source under the MIT licence and free to play here with no payment, no trial and no premium version.
Can I play Hangman on my phone?
Yes. The game includes an on-screen keyboard, so no physical keyboard is needed and it works normally in portrait mode on iOS and Android browsers.
How many wrong guesses do I get?
The classic game allows a fixed number of wrong guesses, one for each part of the drawing. When the drawing is complete the game is over and the word is revealed.
Are the words always English?
Yes. The game uses a built-in list of common English words. The list is bundled locally, so the game keeps working even if your connection drops after the page loads.
Is Hangman suitable for children?
Yes. The game uses everyday vocabulary, has no timers and no fail state beyond the drawing itself, and is a popular classroom word game for practising spelling.
What other word games are on this site?
If you enjoy guessing words, Five Letters is a colour-clue word puzzle with the same deduction feel, also free in your browser with no download.
Licence & Attribution
Based on hangman-game by abdoutech19 · MIT License
Licence verified .