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Haunted Words

Guess the word before the candles go out.

Hangman for Halloween: one spooky word, seven candles and a room full of guessers. Every wrong letter snuffs a candle — keep the ghost away.

Create a roomJoin a roomNo sign-up

How to play

  1. 1The host sets up the round; everyone else guesses together — it's co-op, not a race.
  2. 2Players take turns guessing one letter from a haunted word bank: ghosts, witches, graveyards and more.
  3. 3A right letter fills in everywhere it appears; a wrong letter snuffs out one of the seven candles.
  4. 4Reveal the word to win. When the seventh candle goes out, the ghost arrives and the round is lost.
  5. 5Host can deal a fresh word without anyone leaving.

How to play Haunted Words online

Haunted Words is Hangman for Halloween. The secret word comes from a spooky bank (ghosts, witches, graveyards, cauldrons and the like), and instead of a gallows you have seven candles. Every wrong letter snuffs one out, and when the last flame dies the ghost arrives.

Create a room and share the four-digit code, the QR code or the link. It's co-op: the host sets up the round and everyone else guesses together, taking turns to call a letter. Nobody needs an account, and it runs in the browser on a phone, tablet or laptop.

Playing alone? If the host is the only person in the room, they guess too, so you can still play a round, and a computer player can fill empty seats.

Haunted Words rules in full

  • The secret word is chosen from a Halloween word bank. It's never sent to the guessers' devices until the round ends.
  • Guessers take turns, one letter each. If someone drops out, another player present can keep the round moving.
  • A correct letter fills in every place it appears. A wrong letter puts out one of the seven candles.
  • Reveal the whole word to win. Put out the seventh candle and the round is lost.
  • A new round won't repeat a word you've already played in the same room.

Tips for winning at Haunted Words

  • Start with vowels. 'E', 'A' and 'O' show up in most of the words.
  • Think about the theme. Every word is something you'd find at Halloween, so a few letters usually narrow it down.
  • Common endings are worth trying early: 'ing' in 'howling', 'ed' in 'haunted' and 'cursed'.
  • You have one more strike than in classic Hangman, so don't panic after the first miss.

Haunted Words questions

How many players can play Haunted Words?
One to eight. The host sets up the round and everyone else guesses, or the host guesses too when playing alone.
How is it different from Hangman?
It uses a Halloween word bank and gives you seven wrong guesses (candles) instead of six. Everything else works the same way.
Is Haunted Words free?
Yes. There's no sign-up and nothing to install.
Is it suitable for kids?
Yes. The words are spooky but family-friendly, and it's fine from about six years old.
Start a Haunted Words roomJoin with a code

At a glance

Players
1–8
Length
3–8 min · Quick
Ages
6+
Difficulty
Easy
Online play
Yes — join strangers

Haunted Words guides and articles

If you like Haunted Words