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Logic Games

Puzzle practice guide

How to play Nonogram

Use overlap and separators to reveal the picture.

Practice Nonogram picture puzzles online by reconciling clues across rows and columns. You do not need to recognize the final picture to solve the grid. Begin with lines that contain the most constrained runs, then carry every new filled or empty cell into the crossing clues.

Practice NonogramPlay a generated puzzle

01 / The essentials

Nonogram rules

  • Numbers beside a line describe consecutive runs of filled cells, in order.
  • Separate two runs in the same line by at least one empty cell.
  • Fill the grid so both the row clues and column clues match. Mark confirmed empty cells to narrow later deductions.

02 / Build the habit

Nonogram strategy

Calculate minimum space

Add the run lengths and one separator between each pair. If that total equals the line length, every filled and empty cell in the line is determined.

Find the overlap

Compare the earliest and latest possible positions of a run. Cells covered in every legal placement must be filled, even if the run’s endpoints are still unknown.

Close completed runs

When a run’s identity and full length are confirmed, mark its immediate neighboring cells empty where they exist. Recheck the crossing lines after every such separator.

03 / Worked example

A five-cell run in seven cells

A line of seven cells with the single clue 5 can start at cell 1, 2, or 3. All three placements cover cells 3, 4, and 5, so those middle cells are filled. The outer cells remain undecided until column clues provide more information.

Start 1
Start 2
Start 3
The three outlined columns are filled in every placement.

04 / Put it into practice

A Nonogram practice plan

  1. On an easy board, resolve lines whose minimum space equals their length.
  2. Next, search only for overlaps and explain why each filled cell appears in every placement.
  3. Try a larger puzzle and alternate row and column passes instead of repeatedly staring at one blocked line.
Practice NonogramPlay a generated puzzle

A common mistake

Do not merge neighboring clue numbers into one run. Clues 2, 3 require at least six cells: two filled, a separator, and three filled.

Are Nonogram, Picross, and picture cross puzzles related?

These names commonly describe the same family of picture logic puzzles: ordered row and column clues identify runs of filled cells. Follow the specific board’s clue rules when variants add colors.

Keep exploring

Related games & guides

Guide updated . Rules describe the version on Logic Games.