Free Nonogram Puzzles

A nonogram is a grid with numbers beside every row and above every column. The numbers describe the runs of filled squares in that line, and working out which squares must be filled — and which must be empty — reveals a picture. You may also see them called Picross, Griddlers, Hanjie, or paint-by-numbers.

A clue of 3 1 means a run of three filled squares, then at least one blank, then one filled square, in that order. Extra blanks may appear anywhere before, between or after the runs — the clue fixes the order and the lengths, not the positions.

A clue of 0 means the whole line is empty, which is often the most useful clue on the board.

Start with the lines that are nearly full. In a row of ten with a clue of 8, wherever that run starts it must cover the middle six squares — so you can fill them immediately without knowing where it begins. That overlap idea is the single most useful technique in the game.

Then work between rows and columns. Every square you settle in a row constrains its column, and vice versa. Most puzzles unravel by going back and forth rather than by finishing any one line.

Use the ✕ mark for squares you have proved are empty. It is optional but it is what experienced solvers do: an X splits a line into smaller sections, and small sections are far easier to reason about. Without them you tend to re-deduce the same squares repeatedly.

Switch between Fill and ✕ with the toggle above the grid, and drag to apply the same mark across several squares at once.

The board sizes here run 5×5, 10×10, 15×15, 20×20 and 25×25, but size is not the same as difficulty. The label under the grid — Straightforward, Steady, Demanding, or Needs a guess — comes from how the solver actually behaved on that puzzle: how many rounds of deduction it took, and whether pure logic was enough to finish it.

Every puzzle is verified to have exactly one solution before it is offered. That check is not a formality: a puzzle with two solutions would tell a player who solved it correctly that they were wrong.

The Daily is the same puzzle for everyone, worked out from the date on your own device — nothing is fetched and nothing is sent. Its difficulty rotates predictably through the week. Solving it on consecutive days builds a streak, kept in this browser only.

What is a nonogram?

A nonogram is a picture logic puzzle. Numbers beside each row and above each column tell you the runs of filled squares in that line, and you use those numbers to work out which squares are filled. Finish it and the filled squares form a picture. They are also known as Picross, Griddlers, Hanjie and paint-by-numbers.

Do the numbers have to be in order?

Yes. The clue 3 1 means a run of three filled squares, then at least one blank, then a single filled square — in that order, reading left to right or top to bottom. There may be extra blanks before, between or after them.

Is every puzzle solvable without guessing?

Every puzzle here has exactly one solution, which is checked by a solver before you ever see it. Most are solvable by pure logic; a few of the larger ones need one careful assumption near the end. The difficulty label under the grid tells you which, because it is worked out from how the solver actually behaved rather than from the size of the board.

What is the X for?

Marking a square you have proved is empty. It is not required, but it is how experienced solvers work — every X narrows what the remaining clues can do, and without them you end up re-deducing the same squares over and over.

Can I use hints?

Yes. A hint finds a square that logic already settles from where you are and tells you which row or column proves it, so it teaches the deduction rather than just giving you a square. Hints are counted, and a puzzle solved with hints does not set a personal best.

Is anything uploaded?

No. The puzzles are made and checked on your device, in your browser. Your times and streak are stored in this browser only. There is no account and no server involved.

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