Nonograms
How to play nonograms
- The numbers beside each row and above each column are the runs of filled squares in that line, in order, with at least one empty square between runs.
- Click or drag to fill squares. Tick the box, or use the right mouse button, to mark squares you know are empty.
- A clue is crossed out when that line matches it. Fill every square in the hidden picture to finish.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a nonogram?
Look for the fullest lines. In a row of ten, a clue of 8 has only three possible positions, and the middle six squares are filled in all of them, so they can be filled in at once. Work from the most constrained lines outwards.
What does marking empty squares do?
Nothing to the puzzle, but a great deal to your head: crossing off squares that cannot be filled is how you turn a row of possibilities into a certainty. Most solvers mark far more empty squares than filled ones.
Do the puzzles need guessing?
No. Every puzzle here is checked by a line-by-line solver before you see it, and only those that logic alone can finish are used. If you are stuck, there is always a line that can be pushed further.
Is the picture of anything?
No. The patterns are random, which is why there are no recognisable shapes. The puzzle is the logic, not the picture.
What do 0 clues mean?
That the line is empty: no squares in it are filled. They are useful footholds, so look for them first.
Are they called picross or griddlers?
All the same puzzle. Nonogram is the general name; picross comes from the Nintendo games, and griddlers, hanjie and paint by numbers are other names for it.