Logic Puzzle
Free Nonogram Puzzles Online
Play nonogram puzzles online for free. Solve daily nonogram challenges, from easy 5x5 grids to expert 15x15 nonograms. No download required.
How to Play Nonogram
Learn how to play nonogram puzzles in 3 simple steps. Master the rules and start solving nonograms online today.
Each nonogram puzzle has numbers along the top and left sides. These clues tell you how many consecutive cells to fill in each row and column. Multiple numbers mean separate groups with gaps between them.
Click or tap to fill cells in your nonogram. Use logic to determine which cells must be filled based on the clues. Start with rows or columns that have large numbers.
Mark cells that must be empty with an X. This nonogram solver technique helps you track progress and avoid mistakes as you work through the puzzle.
What is a Nonogram Puzzle?
A nonogram is a grid-based logic puzzle where you decode number clues to reveal a hidden picture. Think of it like this: someone drew a pixel art image, then erased it and left only the "recipe" - how many squares to fill in each row and column. Your job is to reconstruct the original picture using pure deduction.
The puzzle goes by many names depending on where you encounter it. Japanese players call it "Oekaki Logic" (drawing logic). If you've played Nintendo games, you know it as "Picross." British newspapers popularized "Griddlers" and "Hanjie." They're all the same puzzle - the name just depends on who introduced you to it.
Here's what makes nonograms different from most puzzles: there's no guessing, no luck, no trivia knowledge needed. A well-designed nonogram has exactly one solution, and you can always find the next logical step if you look carefully enough. When you get stuck, the answer isn't to guess - it's to look harder.
Our collection ranges from 5x5 grids you can solve in a minute to 15x15 challenges that might take half an hour. We add a new daily puzzle at midnight UTC, so there's always a fresh challenge waiting.
The History of Nonogram Puzzles
In 1987, something unusual happened: two people on opposite sides of Japan invented the same puzzle without knowing about each other. Non Ishida, a graphic designer working at a magazine, got the idea while looking at Tokyo's skyline at night - the lit and unlit windows of skyscrapers formed patterns that looked like pictures. She entered her "Window Art Puzzle" concept in a Tokyo design competition and won.
Around the same time, professional puzzle creator Tetsuya Nishio was developing what he called "Paint by Numbers Puzzles" for a puzzle magazine. When the two discovered each other's work, they found their puzzle rules were nearly identical. In 1988, Ishida published the first collection of these puzzles in Japan, and they quickly became a sensation in puzzle magazines.
The puzzles might have stayed a Japanese curiosity if not for James Dalgety, a British puzzle collector who encountered them in 1990. He coined the name "Nonogram" (from Non Ishida's first name) and brought them to The Sunday Telegraph newspaper. British readers loved them - by 1998, the paper's readers had voted to call them "Griddlers."
Nintendo saw the potential and released Mario's Picross for Game Boy on March 14, 1995. The game flopped in North America and Europe - Western players weren't familiar with the puzzle type. But Nintendo didn't give up. When they released Picross DS in 2007, riding the wave of the Brain Age puzzle game craze, it finally clicked. Today, the Picross series has sold millions of copies, and online nonogram sites draw players from around the world.
Which Size Should You Start With?
Bigger isn't always better. Here's what each grid size actually feels like to solve.
Only 25 cells, so mistakes are obvious and recoverable. You'll solve these almost automatically once you get the hang of it. Good for learning, or for a quick puzzle while waiting for coffee.
The sweet spot for most players. Big enough for interesting pictures and satisfying logic chains, small enough that you won't lose track of where you are. This is what Nintendo's first Picross game used as its standard size.
Now we're talking. These puzzles have room for detailed images and require you to hold multiple deductions in your head at once. Expect to hit walls and need to backtrack. Very satisfying when completed.
Marathon puzzles. The picture reveals are spectacular, but you'll need sustained concentration. Some players break these into multiple sessions. Not for the impatient - but incredibly rewarding for those who persist.
Nonogram Solving Strategies
Tips That Actually Help
Before diving into complex logic, scan the entire puzzle for freebies. A '0' clue? That whole line is empty. A '15' in a 15-cell row? Fill everything. A single '1' clue? You can't solve it yet, but you know there's only one filled cell somewhere. These quick wins build momentum.
New players often ignore the X marking feature. Big mistake. Marking confirmed empty cells is just as valuable as filling cells - it constrains where blocks can go. A row with several X marks becomes much easier to solve because the remaining space is smaller.
Staring at the same row for five minutes? Stop. Move to a completely different part of the puzzle. Often, solving cells elsewhere will give you the information you need. The puzzle is interconnected - progress in one area unlocks progress everywhere.
Benefits of Playing Nonogram Puzzles
Nonogram puzzles aren't just fun - they're great for your brain. Here's why you should play nonograms regularly.
Solving nonogram puzzles strengthens deductive reasoning skills. Each cell you fill requires logical analysis, training your brain to think systematically and make evidence-based decisions.
Nonogram puzzles demand focused attention. Playing nonograms regularly can improve your ability to concentrate for extended periods, a skill that transfers to work and study.
Nonograms train your brain to spot patterns quickly. As you solve more nonogram puzzles, you'll naturally become faster at recognizing common configurations and solving techniques.
The meditative focus required for nonogram solving can be deeply relaxing. Many players find that daily nonogram sessions help them unwind and clear their minds.
From children learning logic to seniors keeping mentally sharp, nonogram puzzles benefit everyone. The scalable difficulty makes nonograms accessible yet challenging at any skill level.
Unlike crosswords, nonogram puzzles are purely visual. This makes nonograms perfect for international players and those learning new languages - only numbers and logic needed!
How Nonograms Compare to Other Puzzles
If you enjoy one type of logic puzzle, you might wonder how nonograms stack up. Here's the honest comparison.
Sudoku is about numbers and constraints; nonograms are about space and shapes. Both share the satisfying "no guessing needed" guarantee. The main difference: Sudoku solutions are abstract, while nonograms reward you with an actual picture. If you like seeing a visual payoff for your mental effort, nonograms might be more your speed.
Completely different skills. Crosswords test what you know - vocabulary, trivia, wordplay. Nonograms test how you think - pure logical deduction from the clues given. You can solve a nonogram without knowing a single word of the language it's displayed in. Crosswords are social and cultural; nonograms are universal.
Same puzzle, different name. When Nintendo released their puzzle games in 1995, they trademarked "Picross" (picture + crossword). If someone says they play Picross, Griddlers, Hanjie, or Paint by Numbers, they're all talking about nonograms. The rules are identical everywhere.
This comparison comes up because both involve grids and numbers. But Minesweeper has a fatal flaw: sometimes you have to guess. A 50/50 choice at the end can ruin a perfect run. Nonograms never put you in that position - if you can't find the next logical step, it's because you missed something, not because the information doesn't exist.
What to Expect When Playing
Start your day with a quick 5x5 nonogram puzzle. Many players enjoy a morning nonogram session alongside their coffee - it's a gentle way to wake up your brain before tackling the day.
Begin with easier grids and gradually work up to larger nonograms. Most players find the learning curve rewarding - what seemed impossible at first becomes achievable with practice.
Experience the thrill of breakthrough moments when a tricky pattern suddenly clicks. Nonogram puzzles reward patience and logical thinking with genuine feelings of accomplishment.
Enter a state of calm concentration as you work through each puzzle. Many find nonograms to be a meditative escape from daily stress - engaging enough to distract, yet peaceful enough to unwind.