Hangman
Classic hangman for parties: take turns guessing letters before the stick figure is drawn, or solve the whole phrase for big points. Play from the deck or set secret words for each other.
2–12 players · free · no app to installHost a gameHangman is the word game everyone knows from the back of a school notebook: guess the letters of a hidden word or phrase before the stick figure is finished. We've turned it into a game for a group, with turns, points and a scoreboard.
Each player guesses from their own phone. Right letters score a point for every time they appear and earn another go, and a bold early solve scores big. The drawing grows on every screen with each mistake, which gets the whole room shouting suggestions.
Play from built-in categories (Bollywood films, Hollywood films, places, animals and food) or switch to player mode, where you take turns setting secret words for each other. It works for 2 to 12 players and suits kids learning to spell as well as adults who think they know every film title.
How to play
- 1
Setting up
Two to twelve players join on their phones. The host chooses who picks the words (the deck or the players) and a category. From the deck you play 3, 5 or 10 rounds; in player mode everyone sets one or two words each, so there are that many rounds per player. Each round is one word or phrase. - 2
Taking turns
Players take turns guessing one letter at a time. A right letter scores a point for every time it appears, and you go again, up to three right letters in a row before the turn passes. - 3
Wrong guesses
A wrong letter or a wrong solve adds a body part to the drawing and passes the turn. Six wrong and the hangman is complete: the word is shown and nobody scores the solve. - 4
Solving
Think you know it? Tap Solve and type the answer. Get it right and you score 3 points plus one for every letter still hidden. With a turn timer on, opening Solve adds 10 seconds to your turn, once. - 5
Player mode
Players take turns setting the word. The setter types a secret word or phrase (up to 30 letters and spaces) within the pick time, and if they run out of time a deck word is used. The setter scores a point for every wrong guess, up to 6, and can change the word to fix a typo before the first guess. Until that first guess the host can also swap the word for a deck word (say, if it's unfair), and then the setter scores nothing for that round and guesses along with everyone else. - 6
Between rounds
The answer and the round's points are shown for a few seconds (the host picks 3, 5 or 8) before the next round starts. - 7
Winning
After the last round, the player with the most points wins. - 8
Timer and leaving
With a turn timer (15, 30 or 60 seconds), the turn passes on when time runs out, with no penalty. If you leave, you keep your points and drop out of the guessing. If nobody is left to guess, the word is shown and nobody scores it.
Host options
- Who picks the words
- The deck (built-in phrases, with the category shown as a hint) or Players (each round one player types a secret word).
- Time to pick a word
- In player mode: 30, 45, 60 or 90 seconds.
- Category
- Bollywood, Hollywood, Places, Animals, Food or Mixed. In player mode this is the backup deck if a picker runs out of time.
- Rounds
- With the deck: 3, 5 or 10.
- Words each
- In player mode: each player sets 1 or 2 words, so the game has that many rounds per player.
- Show the answer for
- 3, 5 or 8 seconds between words.
- Turn timer
- Off, 15, 30 or 60 seconds. When time runs out, the turn passes on with no penalty.
- I'm playing too
- Switch off to just run the game.
Hosting tips
- Player mode is the most fun with friends who know each other well: inside jokes make great secret words.
- For kids, use the Animals or Food category and a 60-second timer.
- Five rounds is a good length for a party; ten works when everyone is hooked.
- On a TV the drawing and the letters tried are big enough for the whole room to follow and heckle.
Themes & packs
Questions
Is hangman online with friends free?
Yes. It's free, with no app to install.
Do we need an app?
No. Everyone plays in their phone's browser after signing in with Google.
How many can play?
2 to 12 players, each on their own phone, plus an optional TV screen.
Can we play on a TV?
Yes. Open the TV link from the waiting room to show the word, the drawing and the scores on a big screen.
Can we use our own words?
Yes. In player mode one player types a secret word each round and scores a point for every wrong guess.
Is there Bollywood hangman?
Yes. Pick the Bollywood category for Hindi film titles, or Mixed for a bit of everything.
How is hangman scored?
A point for every time your letter appears, and 3 points plus one per hidden letter for a correct solve. In player mode the setter scores for wrong guesses.
How many wrong guesses do you get?
Six. Each wrong letter or wrong solve adds a body part, and the sixth completes the drawing.