Play Nonogram Online
Reveal a hidden picture by filling cells that match the row clues.
How to Play Nonogram
Modes: Easy · Medium · Hard · Daily
Nonogram is a picture logic puzzle: fill in squares so that every row and column matches the clue numbers beside and above it.
Each number tells you the length of a run of filled squares. For example, a row clue of “3 2” means a run of 3 filled squares, then one or more empty squares, then a run of 2.
Click a square to fill it. Click again to mark it with a cross, and a third click clears it. Crosses help you remember where squares must stay empty.
When every row and column matches its clues, the filled squares reveal a hidden picture.
Rules
A clue number is the length of a consecutive run of filled squares in that line.
Runs appear in the order shown by the clues, always separated by at least one empty square.
A line with no clue number contains no filled squares at all.
Scoring
| Win | reveal the full picture correctly |
| Time | fastest solve wins |
History & Origins of Nonogram
Nonograms — also called Japanese puzzles or Picross — were independently invented in Japan in 1987 and first appeared in a Japanese magazine before spreading worldwide.
Their logic is deceptively simple: row and column numbers describe consecutive filled runs, and you deduce the picture cell by cell without guessing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Filling by guesswork instead of deducing runs.
- Skipping X marks — knowing where cells are empty is half the puzzle.
- Reading run order loosely: runs must appear in order with at least one empty gap.
Tips & Strategy
Start with the longest clues: a run of 8 in a 10-wide row almost forces where it must sit, and you can fill the overlap.
Mark crosses wherever a square must stay empty — they unlock deduction in the crossing rows and columns.
Compare a line’s clue total with its length: if only one placement fits, the whole line is solved.
Work from the edges inward, and revisit solved lines to unlock their crossing lines.
Use the Hint button when stuck — it fills a square that logic already determines.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Nonogram free to play?
- Yes — Nonogram on ThinkyPlay is completely free, with no download and no sign-up.
- What is the difference between Nonogram and Picross?
- They are the same puzzle — Picross is another name for Nonogram. Fill squares so every row and column matches its clue numbers to reveal a picture.
- Can I play Nonogram on my phone?
- Yes — tap squares to fill, cross, or clear. It works on desktop, tablet and mobile.
- Do I need to mark empty squares?
- No — crosses are optional aids. You win as soon as every square that should be filled is filled.
- What do the numbers in a nonogram mean?
- Each row and column shows the consecutive runs of filled cells, in order, that you must place.
- Are all nonograms solvable without guessing?
- Yes — every ThinkyPlay nonogram is generated with a unique solution reachable by logic.