Nonogram
Play nonogram puzzles free online (Picross): use row and column number clues to reveal the hidden picture. Three grid sizes, deduction hints, X marks. No download, no signup.
Left-click fills a cell, right-click (or X mode) marks it empty. The clues count consecutive filled runs in each row and column.
Quick Answer
Nonograms (also called Picross, Griddlers, or picture cross puzzles) are logic puzzles where numbers on each row and column tell you the lengths of consecutive filled runs in that line. Mark cells that must be filled, X out cells that must be empty, and cross-referencing the clues gradually reveals a hidden picture. Our free version offers 5×5, 10×10, and 15×15 puzzles with deduction-based hints — entirely in your browser.
How It Works
Read the row and column clues — they list consecutive filled runs
Fill cells forced by full lines and overlaps
X-mark proven-empty cells to keep count
Cross-reference lines until the picture appears
Key Facts
- Classic nonogram rules: clues = lengths of consecutive filled runs
- Three sizes: quick 5×5 up to brain-bending 15×15
- Left-click fills; right-click or X-mode marks empties
- Logic hints that find cells forced by the current state
- New random picture every deal
- 100% client-side: no downloads, no sign-up, works offline
Frequently Asked Questions
How do nonogram clues work?
Each number on a row or column is the length of one consecutive run of filled cells, in order, with at least one empty cell between runs. A row marked "3 1" has exactly three filled cells together, then a gap, then one more — the gaps before, between, and after can be any size ≥ 1.
What is the best way to start a nonogram?
Start with the extreme clues: a line whose clue sums to (length + gaps) exactly — like "5" on a 5-wide row or "3 1" filling a 5-wide row edge to edge — can be filled immediately. Then work outward from overlaps: if a clue says 7 on a 10-wide row, cells 3–6 (the overlap of all placements) are always filled.
What do the X marks mean?
An X marks a cell you have deduced must be empty. Marking empties is technically optional, but it makes counting easier, prevents accidental fills, and is how experienced solvers track what remains in each line. Toggle X mode or right-click to place them.
Do you ever need to guess?
In a proper nonogram, no — every cell is deducible from the clues alone. If you are stuck, the Hint button finds a cell that is logically forced by your current marks, showing you the next deduction instead of the final picture.
What are other names for this puzzle?
Nonograms are widely known as Picross (Nintendo's branding), Griddlers, Picture Cross, Paint by Numbers, and Japanese crosswords — all the same rules: number clues in rows and columns describing runs of filled cells that reveal a picture.