Hangman
Hangman is the word game almost everyone learned on paper, and this version keeps the rules while dropping the gallows.
Two things make it better than the version you remember. Every puzzle comes with a clue, so you are never guessing blind at a word with no context. And the penalty for a wrong letter is a balloon rather than a body part, with a beast closing in as they pop. It is the same tension, aimed at a wider audience.
How to play Hangman
- A hidden word appears as a row of blanks, with a clue above it.
- Guess a letter by clicking it or typing it on the keyboard.
- Correct letters fill every position where they appear.
- Wrong letters cost you a balloon, and the beast gets closer.
- Fill the word before you run out of balloons.
There are over six thousand puzzles in the set, which is enough that the words stop repeating long before you stop playing.
Tips and strategy
- Read the clue first and let it narrow the field before you guess anything. A clue about weather and a clue about cooking point at completely different letters.
- Open with vowels, but not all of them. E and A pay for themselves. U almost never does, and spending a balloon on it early is a common way to lose a winnable word.
- After the vowels, go for R, S, T, L and N. Those five appear in a large share of English words and they are the letters that break a word open.
- Count the blanks. A three letter word and an eleven letter word want different guesses, and long words are usually easier because they contain more common letters.
- Once you have a suffix, stop guessing letters and start guessing the word. Seeing ING or TION at the end tells you more about the stem than another single letter will.
If you would rather guess whole words than single letters, Guess Word gives you six attempts and colour feedback instead.
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Orientation
Built for a landscape screen. On a phone, turn the device sideways.
Last updated
Frequently asked questions
How many puzzles does Hangman have?
Over six thousand, each one with its own clue.
Does every puzzle come with a clue?
Yes. The clue sits above the blanks, which makes this version considerably fairer than guessing at a word with no context.
How many wrong guesses am I allowed?
You lose a balloon for each wrong letter, and the round ends when they are gone.
Can I type instead of clicking?
Yes. The keyboard works on a desktop, and an on screen keyboard appears on touch devices.
Is Hangman free?
Yes. It runs in the browser with nothing to install and no account.