Hangman is a classic pencil-and-paper pastime that has transcended generations and cultures, characterized by its simplicity and its ability to stimulate memory, vocabulary, and mental agility. It is played between at least two participants: one chooses a secret word and represents it with underscores, each corresponding to a letter, while the other tries to guess it by suggesting letters of the alphabet. Each correct guess reveals the letter's position in the word, but each incorrect guess adds a line to the drawing of a hanged man, starting with the head and continuing with the body, arms, and legs, until it is complete. The challenge is to guess the word before the drawing is finished, which generates tension and excitement with each attempt. Its origins date back to 19th-century guessing games, and although it was traditionally played on paper, digital versions exist today in apps and websites that remain popular. It is a game that combines chance and strategy, as the player must decide which letters to try based on their frequency of use in the language and the context of the hidden word. Furthermore, it is widely used in educational settings because it helps reinforce spelling and word recognition, making it a fun learning tool. Hangman also adapts to different difficulty levels: it can be used with simple words for children or with technical and complex vocabulary for adults, making it versatile and accessible. Its dynamics are simple yet effective: each mistake brings the player closer to defeat, and each correct answer motivates them to keep trying, creating a balance between risk and reward. In many places, it is known by alternative names such as "hangman" or "mystery word," and it is played both at family gatherings and in classrooms, serving as a resource for entertainment and education simultaneously. The essence of the game lies in the psychological tension it generates: the feeling of being against the clock and the possibility of losing due to a miscalculation make each game unique. Although the hangman image is symbolic and does not seek to represent real violence, its iconography has been maintained as part of the tradition, and in some modern versions, it is replaced by more child-friendly figures, such as wilting flowers or deflating balloons. In short, Hangman is a game that combines fun, learning, and strategy, which has survived the passage of time thanks to its simplicity and the excitement it evokes in those who play it, becoming a true universal classic that remains relevant both on paper and in digital format.