Hangman is the classic word-guessing game you’ve likely enjoyed playing. But as a beginner web developer, have you ever thought about building your own Hangman game? Building a hangman game is not only fun and engaging but also provides an excellent opportunity to enhance your web development and problem-solving skills.
If you’re unfamiliar, Hangman is a word-guessing game where players try to guess all the letters of a randomly generated word within a given number of tries. There is also a hangman illustration that will progressively appear on the gallows for each incorrect guess.
In this beginner-friendly blog post, I’ll show you how to build a Hangman game in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. By creating this game, you’ll gain practical experience and dive into essential concepts of web development, such as DOM manipulation, event handling, conditional statements, array usage, and many more.
Video Tutorial of Hangman Game HTML & JavaScript
If you enjoy learning through video tutorials, the above YouTube video is an excellent resource. In the video, I’ve explained each line of code and provided informative comments to make the process of building your own Hangman game beginner-friendly and easy to follow.
However, if you like reading blog posts or want a step-by-step guide for building this game, you can continue reading this post. By the end of this post, you’ll have your own Hangman game that you can play or show off to your friends.
Steps to Build Hangman Game in HTML & JavaScript
To build a Hangman game using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, follow these step-by-step instructions:
- Create a folder. You can name this folder whatever you want, and inside this folder, create the mentioned files.
- Create an
index.htmlfile. The file name must be index and its extension .html - Create a
style.cssfile. The file name must be style and its extension .css - Create a scripts folder with
word-list.jsandscript.jsfiles. The extension of the files must be .js and files should be inside the scripts folder. - Download and place the Images folder in your project directory. This folder includes the necessary images and gifs for the game.
To start, add the following HTML codes to your index.html file. These codes include essential HTML elements, such as a modal box and a container for the game. Using JavaScript later, we’ll add or modify these elements and randomize game letters, hints, and keyboard keys.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<!-- Coding By CodingNepal - www.codingnepalweb.com -->
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<title>Hangman Game JavaScript | CodingNepal</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">
<script src="scripts/word-list.js" defer></script>
<script src="scripts/script.js" defer></script>
</head>
<body>
<div class="game-modal">
<div class="content">
<img src="#" alt="gif">
<h4>Game Over!</h4>
<p>The correct word was: <b>rainbow</b></p>
<button class="play-again">Play Again</button>
</div>
</div>
<div class="container">
<div class="hangman-box">
<img src="#" draggable="false" alt="hangman-img">
<h1>Hangman Game</h1>
</div>
<div class="game-box">
<ul class="word-display"></ul>
<h4 class="hint-text">Hint: <b></b></h4>
<h4 class="guesses-text">Incorrect guesses: <b></b></h4>
<div class="keyboard"></div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>
Next, add the following CSS codes to your style.css file to apply visual styling to your game: color, font, border, background, etc. Now, if you load the web page in your browser, you will see the Hangman game with its various styled elements. You can play around with colors, fonts, borders, backgrounds, and more to give your Hangman game a unique and appealing look.
/* Importing Google font - Open Sans */
@import url("https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Open+Sans:wght@400;500;600;700&display=swap");
* {
margin: 0;
padding: 0;
box-sizing: border-box;
font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif;
}
body {
display: flex;
padding: 0 10px;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
min-height: 100vh;
background: #5E63BA;
}
.container {
display: flex;
width: 850px;
gap: 70px;
padding: 60px 40px;
background: #fff;
border-radius: 10px;
align-items: flex-end;
justify-content: space-between;
box-shadow: 0 10px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
}
.hangman-box img {
user-select: none;
max-width: 270px;
}
.hangman-box h1 {
font-size: 1.45rem;
text-align: center;
margin-top: 20px;
text-transform: uppercase;
}
.game-box .word-display {
gap: 10px;
list-style: none;
display: flex;
flex-wrap: wrap;
justify-content: center;
align-items: center;
}
.word-display .letter {
width: 28px;
font-size: 2rem;
text-align: center;
font-weight: 600;
margin-bottom: 40px;
text-transform: uppercase;
border-bottom: 3px solid #000;
}
.word-display .letter.guessed {
margin: -40px 0 35px;
border-color: transparent;
}
.game-box h4 {
text-align: center;
font-size: 1.1rem;
font-weight: 500;
margin-bottom: 15px;
}
.game-box h4 b {
font-weight: 600;
}
.game-box .guesses-text b {
color: #ff0000;
}
.game-box .keyboard {
display: flex;
gap: 5px;
flex-wrap: wrap;
margin-top: 40px;
justify-content: center;
}
:where(.game-modal, .keyboard) button {
color: #fff;
border: none;
outline: none;
cursor: pointer;
font-size: 1rem;
font-weight: 600;
border-radius: 4px;
text-transform: uppercase;
background: #5E63BA;
}
.keyboard button {
padding: 7px;
width: calc(100% / 9 - 5px);
}
.keyboard button[disabled] {
pointer-events: none;
opacity: 0.6;
}
:where(.game-modal, .keyboard) button:hover {
background: #8286c9;
}
.game-modal {
position: fixed;
top: 0;
left: 0;
width: 100%;
height: 100%;
opacity: 0;
pointer-events: none;
background: rgba(0,0,0,0.6);
display: flex;
align-items: center;
justify-content: center;
z-index: 9999;
padding: 0 10px;
transition: opacity 0.4s ease;
}
.game-modal.show {
opacity: 1;
pointer-events: auto;
transition: opacity 0.4s 0.4s ease;
}
.game-modal .content {
padding: 30px;
max-width: 420px;
width: 100%;
border-radius: 10px;
background: #fff;
text-align: center;
box-shadow: 0 10px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);
}
.game-modal img {
max-width: 130px;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.game-modal img[src="images/victory.gif"] {
margin-left: -10px;
}
.game-modal h4 {
font-size: 1.53rem;
}
.game-modal p {
font-size: 1.15rem;
margin: 15px 0 30px;
font-weight: 500;
}
.game-modal p b {
color: #5E63BA;
font-weight: 600;
}
.game-modal button {
padding: 12px 23px;
}
@media (max-width: 782px) {
.container {
flex-direction: column;
padding: 30px 15px;
align-items: center;
}
.hangman-box img {
max-width: 200px;
}
.hangman-box h1 {
display: none;
}
.game-box h4 {
font-size: 1rem;
}
.word-display .letter {
margin-bottom: 35px;
font-size: 1.7rem;
}
.word-display .letter.guessed {
margin: -35px 0 25px;
}
.game-modal img {
max-width: 120px;
}
.game-modal h4 {
font-size: 1.45rem;
}
.game-modal p {
font-size: 1.1rem;
}
.game-modal button {
padding: 10px 18px;
}
}
Next, add the following JavaScript code to your word-list.js file: This script includes a list of various words along with corresponding hints. Feel free to expand this list to make your Hangman game even more enjoyable and challenging for players.
const wordList = [
{
word: "guitar",
hint: "A musical instrument with strings."
},
{
word: "oxygen",
hint: "A colorless, odorless gas essential for life."
},
{
word: "mountain",
hint: "A large natural elevation of the Earth's surface."
},
{
word: "painting",
hint: "An art form using colors on a surface to create images or expression."
},
{
word: "astronomy",
hint: "The scientific study of celestial objects and phenomena."
},
{
word: "football",
hint: "A popular sport played with a spherical ball."
},
{
word: "chocolate",
hint: "A sweet treat made from cocoa beans."
},
{
word: "butterfly",
hint: "An insect with colorful wings and a slender body."
},
{
word: "history",
hint: "The study of past events and human civilization."
},
{
word: "pizza",
hint: "A savory dish consisting of a round, flattened base with toppings."
},
{
word: "jazz",
hint: "A genre of music characterized by improvisation and syncopation."
},
{
word: "camera",
hint: "A device used to capture and record images or videos."
},
{
word: "diamond",
hint: "A precious gemstone known for its brilliance and hardness."
},
{
word: "adventure",
hint: "An exciting or daring experience."
},
{
word: "science",
hint: "The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world."
},
{
word: "bicycle",
hint: "A human-powered vehicle with two wheels."
},
{
word: "sunset",
hint: "The daily disappearance of the sun below the horizon."
},
{
word: "coffee",
hint: "A popular caffeinated beverage made from roasted coffee beans."
},
{
word: "dance",
hint: "A rhythmic movement of the body often performed to music."
},
{
word: "galaxy",
hint: "A vast system of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity."
},
{
word: "orchestra",
hint: "A large ensemble of musicians playing various instruments."
},
{
word: "volcano",
hint: "A mountain or hill with a vent through which lava, rock fragments, hot vapor, and gas are ejected."
},
{
word: "novel",
hint: "A long work of fiction, typically with a complex plot and characters."
},
{
word: "sculpture",
hint: "A three-dimensional art form created by shaping or combining materials."
},
{
word: "symphony",
hint: "A long musical composition for a full orchestra, typically in multiple movements."
},
{
word: "architecture",
hint: "The art and science of designing and constructing buildings."
},
{
word: "ballet",
hint: "A classical dance form characterized by precise and graceful movements."
},
{
word: "astronaut",
hint: "A person trained to travel and work in space."
},
{
word: "waterfall",
hint: "A cascade of water falling from a height."
},
{
word: "technology",
hint: "The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes."
},
{
word: "rainbow",
hint: "A meteorological phenomenon that is caused by reflection, refraction, and dispersion of light."
},
{
word: "universe",
hint: "All existing matter, space, and time as a whole."
},
{
word: "piano",
hint: "A musical instrument played by pressing keys that cause hammers to strike strings."
},
{
word: "vacation",
hint: "A period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation."
},
{
word: "rainforest",
hint: "A dense forest characterized by high rainfall and biodiversity."
},
{
word: "theater",
hint: "A building or outdoor area in which plays, movies, or other performances are staged."
},
{
word: "telephone",
hint: "A device used to transmit sound over long distances."
},
{
word: "language",
hint: "A system of communication consisting of words, gestures, and syntax."
},
{
word: "desert",
hint: "A barren or arid land with little or no precipitation."
},
{
word: "sunflower",
hint: "A tall plant with a large yellow flower head."
},
{
word: "fantasy",
hint: "A genre of imaginative fiction involving magic and supernatural elements."
},
{
word: "telescope",
hint: "An optical instrument used to view distant objects in space."
},
{
word: "breeze",
hint: "A gentle wind."
},
{
word: "oasis",
hint: "A fertile spot in a desert where water is found."
},
{
word: "photography",
hint: "The art, process, or practice of creating images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation."
},
{
word: "safari",
hint: "An expedition or journey, typically to observe wildlife in their natural habitat."
},
{
word: "planet",
hint: "A celestial body that orbits a star and does not produce light of its own."
},
{
word: "river",
hint: "A large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream."
},
{
word: "tropical",
hint: "Relating to or situated in the region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn."
},
{
word: "mysterious",
hint: "Difficult or impossible to understand, explain, or identify."
},
{
word: "enigma",
hint: "Something that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand."
},
{
word: "paradox",
hint: "A statement or situation that contradicts itself or defies intuition."
},
{
word: "puzzle",
hint: "A game, toy, or problem designed to test ingenuity or knowledge."
},
{
word: "whisper",
hint: "To speak very softly or quietly, often in a secretive manner."
},
{
word: "shadow",
hint: "A dark area or shape produced by an object blocking the light."
},
{
word: "secret",
hint: "Something kept hidden or unknown to others."
},
{
word: "curiosity",
hint: "A strong desire to know or learn something."
},
{
word: "unpredictable",
hint: "Not able to be foreseen or known beforehand; uncertain."
},
{
word: "obfuscate",
hint: "To confuse or bewilder someone; to make something unclear or difficult to understand."
},
{
word: "unveil",
hint: "To make known or reveal something previously secret or unknown."
},
{
word: "illusion",
hint: "A false perception or belief; a deceptive appearance or impression."
},
{
word: "moonlight",
hint: "The light from the moon."
},
{
word: "vibrant",
hint: "Full of energy, brightness, and life."
},
{
word: "nostalgia",
hint: "A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past."
},
{
word: "brilliant",
hint: "Exceptionally clever, talented, or impressive."
},
];
Finally, add the following JavaScript code to your script.js file. This script code will be responsible for the game’s logic, including generating a random word, managing user input, keeping track of guessed letters, checking for correct guesses, and updating the hangman’s visual representation as the game progresses.
const wordDisplay = document.querySelector(".word-display");
const guessesText = document.querySelector(".guesses-text b");
const keyboardDiv = document.querySelector(".keyboard");
const hangmanImage = document.querySelector(".hangman-box img");
const gameModal = document.querySelector(".game-modal");
const playAgainBtn = gameModal.querySelector("button");
// Initializing game variables
let currentWord, correctLetters, wrongGuessCount;
const maxGuesses = 6;
const resetGame = () => {
// Ressetting game variables and UI elements
correctLetters = [];
wrongGuessCount = 0;
hangmanImage.src = "images/hangman-0.svg";
guessesText.innerText = `${wrongGuessCount} / ${maxGuesses}`;
wordDisplay.innerHTML = currentWord.split("").map(() => `<li class="letter"></li>`).join("");
keyboardDiv.querySelectorAll("button").forEach(btn => btn.disabled = false);
gameModal.classList.remove("show");
}
const getRandomWord = () => {
// Selecting a random word and hint from the wordList
const { word, hint } = wordList[Math.floor(Math.random() * wordList.length)];
currentWord = word; // Making currentWord as random word
document.querySelector(".hint-text b").innerText = hint;
resetGame();
}
const gameOver = (isVictory) => {
// After game complete.. showing modal with relevant details
const modalText = isVictory ? `You found the word:` : 'The correct word was:';
gameModal.querySelector("img").src = `images/${isVictory ? 'victory' : 'lost'}.gif`;
gameModal.querySelector("h4").innerText = isVictory ? 'Congrats!' : 'Game Over!';
gameModal.querySelector("p").innerHTML = `${modalText} <b>${currentWord}</b>`;
gameModal.classList.add("show");
}
const initGame = (button, clickedLetter) => {
// Checking if clickedLetter is exist on the currentWord
if(currentWord.includes(clickedLetter)) {
// Showing all correct letters on the word display
[...currentWord].forEach((letter, index) => {
if(letter === clickedLetter) {
correctLetters.push(letter);
wordDisplay.querySelectorAll("li")[index].innerText = letter;
wordDisplay.querySelectorAll("li")[index].classList.add("guessed");
}
});
} else {
// If clicked letter doesn't exist then update the wrongGuessCount and hangman image
wrongGuessCount++;
hangmanImage.src = `images/hangman-${wrongGuessCount}.svg`;
}
button.disabled = true; // Disabling the clicked button so user can't click again
guessesText.innerText = `${wrongGuessCount} / ${maxGuesses}`;
// Calling gameOver function if any of these condition meets
if(wrongGuessCount === maxGuesses) return gameOver(false);
if(correctLetters.length === currentWord.length) return gameOver(true);
}
// Creating keyboard buttons and adding event listeners
for (let i = 97; i <= 122; i++) {
const button = document.createElement("button");
button.innerText = String.fromCharCode(i);
keyboardDiv.appendChild(button);
button.addEventListener("click", (e) => initGame(e.target, String.fromCharCode(i)));
}
getRandomWord();
playAgainBtn.addEventListener("click", getRandomWord);
That’s all! To understand JavaScript code better, I recommend watching the above video tutorial, paying close attention to the code comments, and experimenting with the code.
Conclusion and Final Words
In conclusion, building a Hangman game from scratch using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is an enjoyable and rewarding experience that can strengthen your web development and problem-solving skills. I believe that by following the steps in this post, you’ve successfully built your very own Hangman game.
Remember to experiment and customize your game to add personal touches and make it even more engaging. To continue improving your skills, I recommend exploring my blog post on How to Build Snake Game in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
If you encounter any problems while building your Hangman game, you can download the source code files for this game project for free by clicking the Download button. You can also view a live demo of it by clicking the View Live button.
