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Nonogram
Quick controls
- Click / tap or drag
- Fill squares (or mark X with the X tool)
- Right-click
- Mark a square as empty with X
- Arrows, then Space / X
- Fill or mark from the keyboard
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How to play Nonogram
Nonogram, also called Picross, Griddlers or paint by numbers, is a logic puzzle that hides a picture in a grid. The numbers beside each row and above each column tell you the runs of filled squares in that line. Work out which squares must be filled and which must be empty until the picture appears.
Click, tap or drag to fill squares. Mark squares you know are empty with an X by right-clicking or switching the tool to Mark X. A clue fades once its line matches it. Turn on Check mistakes to show wrong squares in red, and use Undo to step back. Your puzzle is saved in your browser as you play.
Pick a 5×5, 10×10 or 15×15 practice puzzle as often as you like, or choose Daily for a 10×10 Nonogram that is the same for everyone on the same day. Stats shows your solved puzzles, best times and daily streak.
- Players 1
- Plays on Phone, tablet and desktop
Nonogram rules
- Each number is a run of consecutive filled squares in that row or column.
- Runs appear in the same order as their numbers, left to right and top to bottom.
- Runs in one line are separated by at least one empty square.
- A 0 means the whole line is empty.
- The puzzle is solved when every row and column matches its clue. Each puzzle has exactly one solution and can be solved by logic alone.
Controls
- Click / tap
- Fill a square, or clear it again
- Drag
- Fill or clear a run along one row or column
- Right-click or Shift+click
- Mark a square with X
- Fill / Mark X
- Choose what a tap does on a touch screen
- Arrow keys, Home, End
- Move between squares
- Space, Enter or F
- Fill or clear the square
- X
- Mark or unmark the square with X
- Backspace or Delete
- Clear the square
- M
- Switch between Fill and Mark X
- C
- Turn Check mistakes on or off
- U or Ctrl+Z
- Undo
Nonogram questions
Does every Nonogram have one solution?
Yes. Each puzzle is generated in your browser and accepted only when row-and-column logic alone reaches the picture, which proves it has exactly one solution and never needs guessing.
What do the numbers mean?
Each number is a run of filled squares in that row or column, in order. Runs are separated by at least one empty square, so 3 1 means three filled squares, a gap, then one more. A 0 means the line is empty.
What is the X mark for?
An X marks a square you know is empty. It does not count toward the picture, but it helps you keep track of your deductions. Right-click, switch the tool to X, or press X on the keyboard.
How does the daily puzzle work?
Daily gives everyone the same 10 × 10 Nonogram on the same day, with a new one at midnight. Solving it on consecutive days builds your daily streak in Stats.
Start with a forced line
A clue of 5 on a five-cell line fills every cell. A clue of 3 overlaps the middle cell in every possible placement. Cross confirmed empty cells before moving to another row or column.