How to Play Nonograms (Picross): Rules, Strategy & Free Puzzles

A Nonogram — also called Picross or Griddlers — is a picture logic puzzle. The numbers beside each row and column give the lengths of the filled blocks in order, separated by at least one empty cell. Fill the correct cells by deduction and a hidden picture appears; no guessing is ever needed.

• Skill: Line-by-line deduction
• ·
• Difficulty: Beginner to Advanced

How to play Nonogram

1. Read the clues. Each number is the length of a run of filled cells, listed in the order they appear along that line.
2. Leave gaps between runs. Separate runs must have at least one empty cell between them.
3. Fill and cross. Mark cells you know are filled, and cross out cells you know are empty to narrow the rest.
4. Finish the picture. The puzzle is solved when every row and column matches its clues exactly.

Nonogram strategy & tips

• Start with lines whose clue sum plus gaps nearly fills the length — many cells are forced there.
• Overlap the extremes: slide a run to its far-left and far-right positions; any cell filled in both must be filled.
• Cross out completed lines fully so intersecting lines gain new certainty.

Nonogram FAQ

Related puzzles

Reference: Nonogram on Wikipedia