Everything about nonograms, in one place
Nonograms — also called picross, griddlers, or hanjie — are logic puzzles where number clues tell you which cells to fill to reveal a hidden picture. Whether you have never solved one or you are chasing faster times on 20×20 grids, these guides walk through the rules, the deduction techniques the experts use, the puzzle's surprising history, and the vocabulary that makes it all click. Every example is solvable by pure logic — never guessing.
Start here
The complete beginner's guide
From a blank grid to your first solved picture. Rules, reading clues, and the first four moves to make on any puzzle.
Strategy · 12 minAdvanced solving techniques
Overlap, edge logic, gap-splitting, forcing, and the contradiction test — the tools that crack hard grids without guessing.
Compare · 7 minNonograms vs. other logic puzzles
How picross stacks up against sudoku, kakuro, and crosswords — and why it is the only one that draws a picture.
Reference
The history of nonograms
From a 1980s Tokyo window display and a London competition to Nintendo's Picross and the daily puzzle you play today.
GlossaryNonogram terms, defined
Run, clue, gap, overlap, line-solvable — the full vocabulary, in plain language with examples.
FAQFrequently asked questions
Do nonograms always have one solution? Is guessing ever required? Are they good for your brain? Answered.
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