About Nonograms
Nonograms are picture logic puzzles where you reveal a hidden image by filling cells on a grid according to number clues. They combine the satisfaction of logical deduction with the joy of seeing a picture emerge from an abstract grid of numbers.
History of Nonograms
The nonogram puzzle was independently invented by two people in 1987. Non Ishida, a Japanese graphics editor, came up with the idea for a puzzle based on grid paper. Around the same time, Tetsuya Nishio, a professional puzzler, developed a similar concept. The name "nonogram" comes from Non Ishida's first name.
The puzzle gained worldwide popularity when it was featured in Japanese puzzle magazines and later adopted by newspapers in the UK and around the world. Nintendo brought the concept to gaming audiences with their "Picross" series, which has been running since 1995 on various Nintendo platforms.
The Many Names for Nonograms
This puzzle goes by a remarkable number of names across different countries and contexts:
- Nonogram / Nonograms — the original name, from inventor Non Ishida
- Picross — Nintendo's trademarked name (picture + crossword)
- Griddlers — common in the UK and puzzle magazines
- Hanjie — a name used by some British publications
- Japanese crossword — descriptive name used in several countries
- Paint by numbers — referring to the picture-revealing aspect
- Pixel puzzles — a modern name reflecting the grid-based art
- Pic-a-Pix — used by Conceptis Puzzles
- Majiang — occasionally confused with mahjong but entirely different
Why People Love Nonograms
Nonograms appeal to a wide audience because they require no specialized knowledge — just logic. Unlike crosswords (which need vocabulary) or sudoku (which uses numbers), nonograms are purely about deduction. The added reward of seeing a picture emerge makes completing a puzzle especially satisfying.
They're also endlessly variable: puzzle sizes range from tiny 5×5 grids that take a minute to massive 40×40 or larger puzzles that can take hours. Our site offers sizes from 5×5 to 20×20 at multiple difficulty levels.
About This Site
free-nonogram.com offers unlimited free nonogram puzzles generated on the fly in your browser. Every puzzle has a guaranteed unique solution. No accounts, no downloads, no ads blocking your puzzle. Just pure nonogram solving.