Nonogram Rules — How to Play
Nonograms are logic puzzles played on a rectangular grid. Your goal is to determine which cells should be filled and which should be left empty, using only the number clues provided for each row and column. No guessing is needed — every puzzle can be solved through logical deduction alone.
How to Play Nonogram Puzzles
Each nonogram puzzle starts with an empty grid. Along the top and left side, you'll see groups of numbers — these are your clues.
- Row clues (on the left) describe the pattern of filled cells in that row, from left to right.
- Column clues (on the top) describe the pattern of filled cells in that column, from top to bottom.
Each number represents a consecutive group of filled cells. If a row has the clue "3 1", it means there is a group of exactly 3 filled cells, then at least one empty cell, then exactly 1 filled cell somewhere in that row.
What Do the Numbers Mean?
The numbers tell you:
- How many groups of consecutive filled cells are in each line
- How long each group is
- The order they appear (left to right for rows, top to bottom for columns)
Between each group there must be at least one empty cell. A clue of "0" means the entire line is empty.
Example
Consider a 5-cell row with the clue "2 1":
- There's a block of 2 filled cells and a block of 1 filled cell
- They must appear in that order with at least one gap between them
- Possible solutions: ■■ _ ■ _ or ■■ _ _ ■ or _ ■■ _ ■
Filling and Crossing Cells
You have two tools when solving a nonogram:
- Fill (click or tap) — marks a cell as definitely filled (shown as a solid square)
- Cross / X (right-click, or use Cross mode) — marks a cell as definitely empty. This is optional but highly recommended — marking cells you've deduced as empty helps you keep track of your progress.
Nonogram Solitaire Rules Summary
- Fill cells based on the number clues for each row and column
- Numbers represent consecutive groups of filled cells
- Groups must appear in the given order
- At least one empty cell must separate each group
- Use logic to cross-reference row and column clues
- The puzzle is complete when all filled cells are correctly placed
What is a Nonogram?
Nonograms go by many names worldwide: picross (Nintendo's name), griddlers, hanjie, Japanese crosswords, paint by numbers logic puzzles, or pixel puzzles. Regardless of the name, the rules are the same. They were independently invented in 1987 by Non Ishida in Japan and by a graphics editor at a newspaper — and have since become one of the world's most popular logic puzzles.
Picross Rules vs Nonogram Rules
Picross and nonogram rules are identical. "Picross" is simply the name Nintendo uses for nonogram puzzles in their games. Whether you search for picross rules, griddler rules, or hanjie rules, you'll find the same puzzle described above.