Featured: ChessHangman Online: Free Word Guessing Game
Guess the hidden word one letter at a time before the drawing is done. Pick from 12 categories and 3 levels, solve the daily word, or race friends on the same word.
How to play Hangman
See the blanks
The hidden word is shown as a row of empty slots, one for each letter. A gap between slots means a space between two words.
Guess a letter
Tap a key on the screen or type on your keyboard. A right letter appears in every slot where it belongs.
Watch your lives
A wrong letter costs one life and draws the next part of the picture. Each letter can only be guessed once.
Solve the word
Find every letter before your lives run out to win. Solve words in a row to build a streak.
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Hangman rules and scoring
Hangman is the classic pencil and paper word game, now in your browser. One word is hidden behind blank slots, and you guess it one letter at a time. A correct letter fills every slot where it appears. A wrong letter costs a life and adds a part to the gallows drawing.
Show every letter to win and set the little figure free to celebrate. When your lives run out, the word is revealed. Spaces are never hidden, so ICE CREAM shows two groups of slots.
In solo play your streak counts the words you solve in a row, and the game remembers the words you have seen in each category so they do not come back too soon.
The three levels
| Level | What you get |
|---|---|
| Easy | Short common words of 3 to 6 letters and 8 lives. The first letter is filled in and the clue is shown from the start. |
| Normal | Words of 5 to 8 letters and 6 lives, like the classic game. You can reveal the clue once, and it costs one life. |
| Hard | Long words and two word phrases, only 5 lives and no hints. |
| Daily | One word for everyone, played on Normal. |
The drawing always has one part for each life. Clues describe the word but never contain it.
Game modes
Daily word and streak
Every day brings one new word, the same for every player, with its category shown. It uses the Normal rules with 6 lives. Solve it to grow your daily streak, then share your result as a grid of green and red squares that shows how you played without spoiling the word. A countdown tells you when the next word arrives.
Solo with 12 categories
Pick one of 12 categories or Mixed, choose a level and press Play. There are more than 1,500 family friendly words in total, every one with its own short clue. When you solve a word, the next one is a single tap away and your streak keeps growing.
Race friends on the same word
Create a room and invite up to three friends with the code or an invite link. The host picks the category, the level and 3, 5 or 7 rounds. In every round all players get the same hidden word and guess it at the same time, each on their own board. Live progress shows how many letters each player has found and their lives, but never which letters.
A correct solve scores 100 points plus a speed bonus: 90 for the fastest solver, 60 for the second and 30 for the third. Each wrong letter takes away 4 points, and running out of lives or time scores nothing. A scoreboard follows every round, then the final standings and a rematch button.
Hangman tips and strategies
Start with common letters. E, A, R, I, O, T, N and S appear in most English words. Two or three vowels early on usually show the shape of the word.
Use the length and the gaps. A short word leaves fewer places to hide, while a long word often ends in a common pattern such as ING, ER, TION or LY. A space tells you it is two words.
Think in pairs of letters. After a Q, guess U. TH, SH, CH and CK are very common.
Let the category help. Countries often end in IA or AND, jobs often end in ER or IST, and many foods end in Y or O.
Save rare letters for last. J, Q, X and Z cost a life most of the time. Only try them when the visible letters point to them.
Reveal the clue at the right moment. On Normal the clue costs a life, so it is worth most when many letters are still hidden and you have lives to spare. In a race, a quick clue can win you the speed bonus.
Why play Hangman
Hangman is a quick and gentle way to practise spelling and grow your vocabulary. It trains you to notice letter patterns, a round fits into any short break, and the race mode turns it into a lively party game for families, friends and classrooms.
Hangman FAQ
Is this Hangman game free to play online?
Yes. Hangman on OnlineGames2Play is free and runs in your browser on any phone, tablet or computer. There is nothing to download and no sign up. Online rooms only ask for a nickname.
How many wrong guesses do you get in Hangman?
It depends on the level. Easy gives you 8 lives, Normal gives you 6 like the classic paper game, and Hard gives you 5. Every wrong letter costs one life and draws the next part of the gallows.
What is the difference between Easy, Normal and Hard?
Easy has short words, 8 lives, the first letter filled in and a free clue. Normal has words of 5 to 8 letters, 6 lives and a clue that costs one life. Hard has long words and phrases, 5 lives and no hints.
What is the Daily Hangman word?
One new word every day, the same for every player, with its category shown and the Normal rules. Solve it to grow your daily streak, then share a grid of green and red squares that shows how you guessed without giving the word away.
How do I play Hangman with friends online?
Choose Race friends, enter your name and create a room. Share the code or the invite link with up to three friends. The host picks the category, the level and 3, 5 or 7 rounds.
How does scoring work in a Hangman race?
A correct solve scores 100 points plus a speed bonus of 90, 60 or 30 for the first three solvers, minus 4 for each wrong letter, so the fastest solve always scores most. Running out of lives or time scores 0.
Can other players see the secret word or my letters?
No. Only the host's game knows the word during a round. Each player receives only their own revealed letters, and live progress shows just how many letters each player has found. Everyone sees the word when the round ends.
Is Hangman good for kids and learning?
Yes. All words are common, family friendly English words with simple clues, and the stick figure jumps for joy when you win. Hangman builds spelling and vocabulary, and Easy mode with short words and 8 lives is a great start for younger players.
More word and puzzle games
See all free word games, read the Fivefold daily challenge tips or browse the OnlineGames2Play blog.